(Luke ix. 24; x. 42; xviii, 22; xxi. 34 ; 1 Cor. vi. 12 ; ix. 25, ~7; 2 Tim. ii. 4 ; and cf. Mutt. xix. 12 ; 1 Cor. vii. 32). IV. THAT THE SECOND OBLIGATION OF THE NAZIRITE WAS TO DEDICATE THE FREE, UNTOUCHED GROWTH OF HIS HAIR TO THE LORD. Even BO the servant of God must dedicate to him the whole forces of his nature, unrestrained and undiminished by any conventionalities of the world, by those customs and fashions of society which cramp and limit on overy side the possibilities of usefulness and of power which are in man. The true servant of Christ, neither acknowledging the principles nor guided by the maxims of the world, must be content to be singular, to be wondered at, to be regarded as extreme ( cf. Luke vii. 33; 2 Cor. xi., xii. ; Gal. vi. 14; Phil. iii. 8). " Let your moderatwn" (Greek, ro i1r1w,l,, "forbearance")" be known unto all men" is a text much more oft.en misquoted in the devil's service than quoted in Christ's. V. THAT THE THIRD OBLIGATION 0\1' THE NAZIRITE WAS NOT TO. COME INTO CON- TACT WITH DEATH, EVEN FOR ms NEAREST RELATIONS. Even so the servant of God must cross his nearest earthly affections, and do violence to his most natural feelings, rather than expose himself to the contagion of spiritual death. Where this danger really exists may indeed be known only to God and to him; but where he knows it to exist he is bound to uvoid it at any cost of affection or of appearance, so as he make it not a cloak for escaping duty (Matt. x. 35-37; Luke xiv. 26, 33; ix. 60-62; and cf. Matt. v. 29, 30; 1 Cor. v. 11; 2 Cor. vi. 14). Few have strength and vigour of soul to mix with impunity in the society of those spiritually dead ; wisdom and loyalty alike demand that we avoid them except we can really do them good. VI. THAT THE CASE OF THE NAZIRITE BEING UNAVOIDABLY DEFILED WITH DEATH WAS PROVIDED FOB, AND PROVISION MADE FOR HIS BEGINNING AFRESH. Even so God knows that in the confusions and mixtures of life it is hard indeed to escape altogether from the subtle contagion of spiritual deadness, which will often seize upon a soul most unexpectedly from unavoidable contact with others. No pro- fession and no earnestness of self-devotion is a safeguard against this danger. But if it come to pass that the soul be thus defiled, and deadness come over it, all is not therefore lost, nor is its consecration at an end. It must offer the sacrifice of a contrite heart, and begin again with penitence and patience, not counting that which is behind, nor dwelling on its loss, but reaching forth after those things which lie before it (Ps. xxxvii. 24; Micah vii. 8; Phil. iii. 13, 14). VII. THAT WHEN THE SELF-DEVOTION 011' THE NAZIRITE WAS PERFECTED, IT STILL NEEDED TO BE COMMENDED UNTO Goo THROUGH THE FOURFOLD ~ACRIFICES OF THE LEVITICAL LAW. Even so our highest service and greatest self-denial is not accept- able to God except it be offered through and with the prevailing sucrifice of Christ. .And inasmuch ns one of these sacrifices was 11 sin offering, so is there need that the best of our best things should be purged from the sin which clings to them by the atoning death of Christ. VIII. THAT THE HAIR, THE SYMBOL 0\1' SEPARATION, WAS AT LAST TO BE PUT IN THE ALTAR FIRE UNDER THE PEACE OFFERING. Even so the good will, the earnest desire, the single purpose with which we have been enabled to serve God, is to be brought at last-when its work on earth is done-and simply laid upon the altar of the love of God, and of our thankful communion with him in peace through Christ ; and this not us being anything worthy in itself, but only as being part of our gratitude to God. IX. THAT ON THIS OCCASION, AND THIS ALONE, THE SECOND SHOULDER WAS ACCEPTED BY Goo AS IIIS OWN PORTION FROM TIIE PEACE OFFERING. Even SCI it is undeniable thut a more devoted life does infallibly lend to a greater acceptanco with God and to a fuller communion in peace and thunkfulness with him.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-21.-Separated to the service of God (the law of the Naz:irit.e). This pa89age, barren and unpromising as it looks, is nevertheless invested with an undying mterest by the circumstunce thnt three of the most famous men in the sacred history belonged to the order whose rule is here prescribed. Samson, with all his faults, was a heroic character, and he was a Nazarite from his mother's womb. Samuel, 48 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [cu. \'I. 1-21.