HOMILETICS. Ve!'II. 17-25.-TM perfedi<m demanded in the sacrificial flictims contains a typical, a symbolical, and a moral lesson. I. 'l'HEY MUST BE PEBFECT, THAT THEY l[AY BE TYPES OF CHRIST. The perfect ,ictim must not be represented by anything imperfect. 'l'here are but few points in which the perfection of Christ, both absolute and in relation to the work which as the appointed Victim he was to fulfil, could be foreshadowed by the animals offered in sacrifice, but this was one-that they should be without blemish and perfect of their kind. '' The blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God," is the anti type, we are taught in the Epistle to the Hebrews, to "the blood of bulls, and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean," which 11 sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh" (Heb. ii.:. 13, 14); For "ye know," says St. Peter, " that ye were redeemed . . . with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet. i. 18, 19) ; " who did no sin" (1 Pet. ii. 22); who "gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour" (Eph. v. 2). The physical freedom from blemish on the part of the animal typifies the " spotlessness " of Christ. II. TREY MUST BE PEBFECT, THAT THEY MAY SYMBOLIZE THE PEBFECT HEART WITH WHICH ALL SEBVICE MUST BE DONE TO GoD. They symbolized the integrity of soul with which the offerer made his offering, and the pnrity of intention required of all who present themselves or anything that they do to God and his service. A gift to God is unacceptable, and not accepted, if there be in it anything superfluous, viz. self- display, or anything lacking, namely, the spirit of love. God chose those whom he afterwards called into his Church to "be holy and without blame ( or blemish) before him in love" (Eph. i. 4), "that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" (CoL iv. 12), 11 that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (Jas. i. 4). Imperfection must always mark Dian and his work, seeing that "the infection of nature doth remain, yea in them that are regenerated" (Art. IX.); but the Christian must not rest satisfied with aiming at anything but the highest. His purpose, however marred, must be to please God perfectly. Ill. THEY MUST BE PEBFEC'l', BECAUSE WHAT WE GIVE TO GoD MUST BE COSTLY TO US, "ADd the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver" (2 Sam. xxiv. 24). "And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the la.me and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor ; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts" (Mal. i. 8). " But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in h\s flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my Name is dreadful among the heathen" (Mai. i. 14). The cost of our gifts to God need not be absolutely great-the widow's two mites, which make a farthing, may be more than all that the rich cast into the treasury (Mark xii. 41-44). Whatever we give, it must be of our best, the best effort of our intellect, the best affections of our hearts. Whal- ever we are most attached to, that we must be prepared to give up, if God demands the sacrifice at our hands.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-33.-Holines, of priests and sacrifices. While much that appert.ained only to a temporary dispensation, still great principles included in the formal regulations, as- L RELIOION sA.N<n'IFIEB, preserves, and perfects the whole humanity of man. ~: It preserves the true order-God first the creature subject to the Creator. 2. It ut1hzes the central power of human natur;, the moral and spiritual. The mind is the man, and the mind is not mere intellect, but moral consciousnesB and aspiration after God. OH. XXII, 1-33.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 331