Now, on turning to the directions about Pentecost, we find that" firstfruits "were again to be presented to the Lord, but, unlike the earlier firstfruits during the week of unl~avened bread, these were to be prepared with leaven, and they were to be accom- panied by a sin offering as well as burnt offerings and peace offerings, It is evident, therefore, that there is an element in the Pentecostal ritual which is not to be found in the previous ritual at all. If Christ is typified by the first or the firstfruits presented without leaven, his people gathered out of the nations may well be typified by the second firstfruits, the accompanying leaven indicating their sinful character, notwithstanding that they are his, and the sin offering most appropriately accompanying their typical dedication. I. LET US OBSERVE THAT THE IDEA OF THE FIRSTFRUITS IS APPLIED TO THK LORD'S PEOPLE SEVERAL TIMES IN SCRIPTURE. Thus Jeremiah calls Israel "holiness unto the Lord, and the firstfruits of his increase " (ii. 3). The same thought re- appears in Paul's Epistle to the Romans, "If the firstfruits be holy, the lump is also holy'' (xi. 16). James also speaks of the Lord's children in such terms as these: "Of his own will begat be us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first- fruits of bis creatures n (i. 18). The harvest-field of God is the world, and those who are already gathered are the firstfruits. They are so far the consecrated element in the mighty population, and in spirit are laid upon God's altar. II. THERE SEEMS A SIGNIFICANCE IN THE Two LOAVES. "Why," it has been said, "should the lump be divided into two parts, and not be presented whole? In order, I would venture to suggest, to set forth the two component parts of the Christian Church -the Jews and Gentiles, both mad8 one in Christ." 1 Out of the harvest-field of the world the Lord requires two loaves to be presented, the Jews and the Gentiles, laid in their unity on his altar, Paul brings out this with great beauty in Eph. ii. 14-18, where the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Jesus Christ is pointed out. UL A.FTBB ALL, THE CONSECRATION OF THE LORils PEOPLE IS .AN IMPERFECT THING. Christ's consecration was perfect because sinless. Ours is imperfect and "mired with the trails of sin." Well may the firstfruits be baked with leaven; well may a sin offering be presented along with them. Our holiest acts could not stand alone, but need to be repented of. Atonement has to cover the holiest efforts of the Lord's people. Thus is all spiritual pride kept under, since at our very best we are II unprofitable servants." IV. THE PENTECOSTAL OUTPOURING AFTER OUR LORD'S ASCENSION PRESENTS THE REALITY OF WHICH THE RITUAL w AS THE TYPE. In this glorious ingathering there was: 1. A penitential spirit. It was for this Peter called (Acts ii. 38). 2. A world- wide imitation (Acts ii. 39). The promise was to those" that are afar off, even as mo.ny as the Lord our God shall call." 3. A separation of many from the world, that they might consecrate themselves to God (Acts ii. 41). 4. A great unity of spirit (Acts ii. 44-47). It is this vivifying inspiration we all need ; and may God send it soon l-R. M. E. T!te Fe<UJt of Trumpets. Ch. x.xiii. 23-25; cf. Numb. x. 1-10; Exod. xix. 19; Ps. lxx.xix. 16. The first mention of the trumpet is in Exod. xix. 13, 19, in connection with the giving of the Law. "When the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount" (Exod. xix. 13). It was God's method of su=oning the people to covenant privileges. it was further used for the calling of assemblies, for the beginning of journeys, for alarms, and at the new moons and festal seasons, when it was blown over the sacrifices. 'l'hose who knew the significance of the sacrifices could rejoice in the trumpet-sound which proclaimed them complete. No wonder it is said, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound" (n~1"11;1; literally," sound of a trumpet"): "they shall walk, 0 Lord, in the light of thy countenance" (Ps. lx:xxix. 15). The analogy of faith, therefore, warrants us in taking the Feast of Trumpets as symbolical of God's message of mercy to man. The gospel preached is God's trumpet, su=oning men to the privileges and duties of the Christian life. This suggests-
. !. THE GOOD TIDINGS A.RE OF A FINISHED SACRIFICE. It is only when the sacrifice of Jesus is the foundation or the appeal that man is arrested, trumpet-like, by the 1 Lowe, ul aupra, p. 60. LEVITIOUL ... 3M THE BOOK OF LEVITIOUS. [ oH. :nm. 6-44,