THOUGHT AND STEADINESS OF CONDUCT. The effects of "wine., or " strong drink,. ,are various in different men and at different stages. Carelessness, excitement, stupe- faction,-either might ensue, and bring upon the offender the wrath of God. The principle is obvious that the service of God may require abstention from enjoyment• otherwise permissible. As the number of priests was at this time eo limited, the in- junction of the text practically enforced almost continuous abstinence upon them. Enthusiasm stimulated by unworthy means, boldness engendered by false heat, an inability to declare the whole counsel of God, imagination running riot among bi<J precepts,-these are offensive to God in his servants, and expose the possessors to his judgments. To walk not in the path of danger is better than to calculate upon suc- cessfully encountering its risks. The householder who cuts off the supply of gas is in no fear of an explosion, nor needs continually to examine the pipes. This prudent method is to be commended where the light fornished is unsteady, or superfluous because -of the shining of the purer light. Drink not at the ruddy stream, and you will not -dread its poison.-S. R. A. Vers. 8-11.-Sobriety in the priesthood. The Jews say that Nadab and Abihu were inebriated when they sinned in offering strange fire, and that this law, forbidding intoxicants to the priests while serving in the holy place, was given in consequence. It is remarkable that, whereas both before and after this God spake "by the band of Moses," the instruction before us was given, immediately," to Aaron." The reasons for the prohibition are- I. THAT MINISTERS SHOULD BE RECOLLECTED IN TlIE PllEBENCE OF GoD. 1. He wa., :present in the tabernacle. (1) In the text, as in many places, it is distinguished as the "tabernacle of the congregation." The original (,:p,c ~nit, ohJ mohghed) might per- haps be better rendered, "tabernacle of meeting." This woulu not excluue the idea ,of the congregation or meeting of the people, while it recognizes another more impor- -tant truth, viz. that the tabernacle was the place appointed for God to meet with his people ( comp. Exod. xxv. 22; xxix. 42, 43 ; xxx. 6, 36). (2) Apart from this criticism, the fact i8 patent that the symbol of the Divine presence was there. Where the Shechinah is, the ground ie holy; and it behoves tl)e worshipper to put away irreverence, and, with clearness of intellect as well as fervour of holy zeal, to wait upon the Lord {see Exod. iii. 5; xix. 12; Josb. v. 15). (3) We should never forget that in our oChristio.n assemblies God is no less certainly present (see Matt. xviii. 20; Luke xxiv. 2G; ReT. i. 13). 2. .And God is jealous of hi8 honou1·. (1) This important truth is here intimated in the caution," lest ye die." Confused by inebriation, some error might be committed which would involve fatal consequences (see context). (2) Now, since this enactment, to to.ste the cup whose effects may expose to the liability of committing such an error, is itself a crime to be visited with death. 'l'he spirit of this instruction is that we must not tempt Satan to tempt us; that we are only safe when e.t ths utmost distance from sin. (3) Abstinence at other times was not obligatory upon the priests, but tbey might become Nazarites if they pleased.· Gospel ministers should be ,sober men (1 Tim. iii. 3). II. THAT THEY NEED THEm FACULTIES TO KEEP THEm CHARGE. 1. They have I<> judge in holy things. (1) In the service of the tabernacle some food wo.s "most holy," and had to be eaten beside the alte.r (ver. 12). This must not be eaten by "females among the priests." Yet a son of Aaron who had such a blemish as would -preclude hie attendance at the altar may eat of it (eh. xxi. 22). In some cases "holy" meats might be eaten by the priests and their fo.miliee, but not by ordinary Isre.elitee (ver. 14); while in others the offerer had his share of the offering. (2) Holy things might be polluted by accident. Thue a defiled person touching them would profane them (eh. vii. 19); or the flesh of the peace offering eaten on the third day, even by a priest, is profaned, and the priest punishable (eh. vii. 18; xix. 7, 8). Unclean persons must not eat of the holy things on pain of excommunication (eh. vii. 20, 21). (3) For the carrying out of all these laws, together with those of the distinc- -tion between persons, animals, and things, clean and unclean, the priest needed a clear head, (a) that he might save his soul alive, (b) and that he might fittingly typify Christ, whose judgment in moral and spiritual causes is true. (4) Therefore he must ab~tain Crom wine and strong drinks (sec Isa. xxviii. 7), And ministers of the gospel 164 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [ CH, L 8-20!,
must be sober. If not types, they are" ambassadors," of Christ. They need a sound judgment to pronounce cle.'\rly and firmly a:;tainst the efforts of antichrist to profane the !aver and the altar in the sanctuary. 2. They have to te(uh the stattdes of the Lord. (1) The Law is the standard of appeal. It was spoken by the Lord from Sinai. It was" given by the hand of Moses," who authl!nticated it to be the Word of God by many miracles. The gospel is the" engrafted Word" (Jas. i. 21)," spoken to us by the Son of God, confirmed by them that heard him, and authenticated by signs and wonder& and divers miracles and distributions or the Holy Ghost (Heb. i. 1, 2; ii. 3, 4). (2) 'l'h_e duty of t~~ing the laws o~-~he Old Tes.~ament dev_ol'!'ed uI!On the priests (Deut. xx1v. 8; Neh. vm. 2, 8; Jer. xvm. 18; Mal. u. 7). Christian mmisters now stand in a similar relation to the Church under the New Testament. (3) If sobriety was necessary in the teachers of the Law, it is surely no less necessary in those who teach the vital truths of the gospel (2 Tim. ii. 15; Titus i. 7-9). Ministers of the New Testament may become Nazarites if they please; they should at least be Nazaritea when" holding forth the Word of life."---J. A. M.