OFFERING, ll'OR AN ATONEMENT. Even so no service, however able and laborious, is acceptable unto God except it have been sanctified through tho sacrifice and self- sacrifice of Christ (Heb. x. 10). VI. THAT THE CHILDREN OF !SRA.EL LAID THEIR HANDS UPON THE LEVITES WHEN THEY WERE DEVOTED. Even so whatever labour be undertaken for the body of Christ, should receive recognition and sympathy from all members of the body, for all are concerned (1 Cor. xvi. 15, 16; Acts xiii. 3; xiv. 26; 1 Cor. xii. 26). VII. THAT THE LEVITES WERE" WAVED." Even so all who would labour in holy things must present themselves as a living sacrifice to God, to be wholly his and no longer S'lla! potestatu. Those who do religious work, because they like it themselves, "have their reward ; " but where the Pharisees had it, in this world only (Rom. xii. 1 ; 1 Cor. vi. 20 ; Gal. ii. 20). VIII. THAT ONLY AFTER 1'HEJR CLEANSlNG AND WAVING COULD THEY ENTER IN TO WAR THE WARFARE OF THE TADERNACLE. Even so, none can do rnal service to God unless they are wholly converted and have given themselves to him (Lul{e l[l[ii, 32 b.; Acts viii. 21; James i. 8; and cf. Judges vii. 4, 7). IX. THAT AFTER THE FIFTIETH YEAR THEY WERE RELEASED FROM DOING SERVICE BUT WERE STILL PERMITTED TO KEEP THE CHARGE. Even so it is part of the good~ ness of God that no one should be held to do laborious work in the Church when he is old ; but also part of his goodness that he should still keep such charge as is fitted to his years. Note, tkattht, Lemtesaresai.d to have macle an atonement for the children of Israel, -1. By taking upon themselves, in their separated but representative character, tl1ose religious obligations of the congregation (especially of the first-born) which they dared not attempt. 2. By performing such obligations rightly, which those could not have done. There is none of us that can do this, because we cannot even do our own duty, far less another's (Ps. xlix. 7; Luke xvii. 10; Gal. vi. 5) Where- fore this applies only unto Christ, by whom we have received the atonement (Rom. 1•. 11), and throws an important light upon that atonement. Consider, therefore-- I. Christ bath "made atonement" for us, as having undertaken for us those duties of a human life and ministry wholly and perfectly devoted and consecrated to the Father, which we for onr unworthiness durst not even have attempted (Luke ii. 49; John iv. 34; vi. 38; Heb. x. 5-9; ix. 14). 2. Christ bath "made atonement" for us, as having lived that perfect life, and rendered that perfect ministry, which we never could have lived or rendered, and therefore never could have pleased God, nor satisfied his just and necessary requirements (Matt. iii. 17; xii. 18; xvii. 5; John xvii. 4; xix. 30; Jamee iii. 2). 3. Christ bath" made atonement" for us, as having thus pleased God, as man, and as our separated and accepted representative, "the Son of man"-" the second man." 4. Christ Lath saved us thereby from the sorrow which even in heaven itself (could we have got there) our want of will and want of power to serve God acceptably would have brought upon us (Ephes. i. 6), having a£peared in our behalf in the presence of God with the offering of a perfect human hfe.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 14.-The se:paratwn of the Lemtes; oran ordination servu:e in the wilderness. "Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine." There was a threefold reason why the Levites were separated from the rest of the nation and wholly dedicated to the Lord's service. In the first place, they were to stand instead of the first-born, whom the Lord had specially claimed for himself (vera. 16-18). It was judged expedient that to the service of foe sanctuary one whole tribe should be dedicated, rather than individuals out of all tl,e tribes. Secondly, tlie due serving of the tabernacle being much too burdensome for the single fan1ily of Aaron, their brethren of the tribe of Levi were appointed to help them. But there was a third and deeper reason. All the chosen people are the Lord's, and he cluims their service. But all cannot, in person, serve him in the way of keeping th1; charge of the sanctuary. Some of them must be separated to tLiR ministry. Oflkial sen·ice is necessary under the gospel. Much more was it necessary mr. vm, o-25.J THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 71