adopted-it would be the only one intelligible. Even in trivial matters God's people are to be distinguishedfrom the heathen. These distinctions were not simply arbitrary, they depended on considerations sanitary, ethical, and instinctive. Thankful for the relief the gospel affords us from the burdensome ceremonies of the Law, knowing that "every creature of God is good," we have yet to do all, whether we eat or drink, to the glory of God. His gifts are to be received with thanksgiving, sanctified by the Word of God and prayer. We are not "subject to ordinances that perish with the using," yet are we to set our affection on things above, and to mortify our members which a~e upon the earth; observances which the majority of mankind practise not. The line of division between things pure and defiling is plaioly marked if we apply our eyes to survey it. Others may call us bigoted, narrow-minded, straight-laced, but we prefer the commendation of our Master to the good-will of men. 2. Possible loss of property. How vexatious to an Israelite to be obliged to destroy a vessel because it was polluted (ver. 33), or a cooking-range (ver. 35), or some moistened seed (ver. 38) I Many like a religion that costs them nothing, that is not particular about trifles. Very real is that man's religion who refuses to employ ill-gotten gain or dishonest measures, and who would renounce connection with a firm rather than be a party to unjust proceed- inus. Pity that so much evil shouhl be condoned and defiling association suffered for sake of the profit it brings! If thy hand or thy foot cause thee to stumble, cast it ofi'. 3. Oontinwl care and trouble. 'l'o touch a. dea.d anima.l necessitated ablution of the clothes, and the vessel which should be accidentally made "unclean" must be thoroughly washed, a.nd both man and utensil remained ceremonially unclean till the evening. .At any moment an Israelite might be compelled to repair the inroads of pollution, and constant caution was requisite to abstain from needlessly incurring stain. The sanctity God desires is a life-long work, and lovers of ease had better not under- take it. To be like him who was "holy, undefiled, separate from sinners," is to take up the cross and deny one's self. "Watch and pray unceasingly" must be our motto. Thanks be to him who bath opened a "fountain for sin and uncleanness," wherein at all seasons we may bathe and come forth white as snow I Thus shall we show forth the praises of him who bath called us. Let us learn to welcome the opportunity ot testifying our love to him who gave himself for us.-S. R. A. Vers. 1-47.-Holiness. Ver. 45, "For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." I. THE BASIS ON WHICH HOLINESS RESTS. The Divine call. 1. All religion must find its real strength as well as its root in Divine love. "We love him because he first loved us." A redeemed life must be holy. " He that ha.th this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." We begin our holiness with the cross of Christ. He has cleansed us with his blood, therefore we must be clean. 2. The deliverance effected by God for his people is made the pledge of an eternal life by the special covenant, which separated them from all others. We must have fa.et and positive revelation and direct promise to fall back upon. He also calls us to himself, declares himself our God. He says, "Be ye holy; for I am holy." Likeness to God is our rule; fellowship with God is our strength and joy. II. THE NATURE AND METHOD OF HOLINESS. 1. The holiness which God requires is personal holiness-holiness in life, manners, habits, food, everything which concerns the man himself. The distinctions of clean and unclean animals, etc., refer to natural laws of health and life. 2. Holiness must be the characteristic of God'a peopl~ as a community. The laws of cleanliness separated the nation as a whole from other nations. They applied to all classes, and to every individual. Tho Church must be a holy Church. The lack of discipline is a terrible hindrance to the advance of religion. We must keep off the unclean. 'l'he covenant blessing will not be given unless the covenant law be observed. "Let a. man examine himself." Defilement of sacred things is judgment io ourselves, 3. The holiness of this world's life is a promiso and prediction of the higher holiness of the everlasting lifo. The clean and unclean animals were distinguished that the taint of death might be removed in the case of those fit for food. '!'he distinction itself seemed to say all would be clean to you if it were not for death. When we are above the conditions of earthly life, then to be holy will be to be really like God-not in a mere negative purity of not being contaminated, not sinning; but. 188 THE BOOK m' LEVITIOUS. [OH, XII, 1-8.
beincr spiritually created afresh, with immortal natures, with perfect hearts to serve 0 God with life interpenetrated by his Divine glory. 'l'he holiness of the best Christian on ~rth is but an imperfect thing, largely a holiness of external regulation and separa- tion from the unclean ; but the holiness of the angelic n~ture will be a real and positive sarticipation of the Divine.-R