HOMILETICS. Vel'8. 41-l>O. -The pri_e,stly <lt<YMment. We see in this section the priesthood of the anointed at once exercised and vindicated in the fullest and highest sense by shielding from wrath and death those who were appointed to die on account of sin. The spiritual .meaning so far and so plainly eclipses the literal that we might well suppose the passage to have been written in the light of the finished work of Christ· as it is we cannot possibly refuse to read the "mind of the Spirit" testifying bef~re of thJ atonement and intercession of our High Priest. Consider, therefore- !. THAT WRATH RAD GONE FORTH AGAINST ALL lsR.AEL BECAUSE OF THEIR ACTIVE OR PASSIVE PARTICIPATION IN REBELLION AGAINST THE WILL AND ORDINANCE Ol!' GoD. Even so had wrath gone forth against all mankind, for that all were compromised (albei~ not all to the same _degree, or ~! the same deliberate choice) in sin and rebellion (Rom. v. 12, 14; n 32; Eph. u. 3). II. THAT MOSES DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO PRAY AT THIS TIME FOR ISRAEL, BE• CA.USE THE SENTENCE WAS G-ONE FORTH, AND EVEN HIS PRAYER HAD BEEN UNAVAILING. Even so, however much the intercessions of righteous men may have been heard in other and lesser matters (James v. 16 b.), yet could not any human means avail to turn A.Side from us the sentence of death which follows upon sin (Gen, ii. 17; Ps. x1ix. 7, 8; Rom. vi. 23 ; vii 24 ). And note that as far as we can see.,fven the incarnate Son had not saved us as Lawgiver and Ruler except his intercessions had been based upon bis meritorious cross e.nd passion. Moses mllSt give place to Aaron here. Ill. THAT THE PLAGUE ADVANCED ALL THE WHILE WITH FRIGHTFUL CELERITY. Even so sin and death made havoc of an evil world ere Christ ea.me forth to stay the plague (Rom. i.; ill.; v.). And still, where it is not stayed, its progress is as rapid and as irresistible a.a ever. Thousands are daily swept away to destruction. IV. T:!liT THE FERVENT, SELF-SACRIFICING LOVE Ol!' MOSES FOR HIS PEOPLE (WHO RAD OPPOSED A.ND REJECTED HIM) DEVISED THIS NEW REMEDY, UND0WN BEFORE. Even so it was the infinite, self-abasing love of the eternal Son which devised the means of our salvation, albeit we had rebelled against him and cast off his dominion (Ps. ii 2, 3 1 12; Luke xix. 14; John ill. 16; Acts iii. 26; Rom. v. 8; 1 John iv. 10). V. THAT THIS REMEDY WAS FOUND lN AN INCENSE OFFERING (1) MADE BY AARON, (2) m 'l'HE CENSER, (3) AMONG THE DYING PEOPLE. Even so the one Divine deliver- ance from eternal death ia (1) in the high priestly intercession of Christ, (2) offered in the golden censer of his infinite merits, (3) offered "in the midst of the congre- gation," i. e. in our nature, wherein he lived and died, and in which he ever liveth to make intercession (Luke mii. 34; John xvii.19, 20; Rom. v. 9, 10; Heh. ii. 12-17; vii 24, 25; Rev. viii. 3, 4). VI. THAT THE INCENSE WAS TO BE LIGHTED WITH FIRE FROM OFF THE ALTAR OF BUll.NT OFFERING, otherwise it had been as ineffectual for good as the offering of Nadab and Abihu (Levit. x. 1). Even eo the intercessions of Christ whereby we Jive are not only offered as of his infinite merits, but as based upon bill one perfect and sufficient sacrifice. It is fire from the altar of the cross which kindles e.nd makes to ascend in fragrance his " much incense " before the throne. From another point of view it is the burning love which prompted and inspired his death which inspires and kindles his unceasing intercession for us. Vil. THAT A.ARON II.AN INTO THE CAMP TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR THE PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF ANY DANGER TO IUHSELF. Even so our Lord hasted in his great zeal to expose himself to all danger in our midst in order to work out our salvation (Pe. xl. 10; Mark x. 32; Luke xii. 50). VHL THAT A.ARON STOOD BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING-all on one side of him (aa it should seem) dead, all on the other side alive, through hie intervention. Even so our High Priest stande, and stands alone, between us and death. Nothing separates us from the eternally lost but the saving efficacy of hie intercession ; had he not appeared upon the scene we too had perished. Moreover, he stands between the living and the dead in this sense, that all souls are divided by him and his cross into two lots, the living who a.ccept, the dead who reject him. Thus he hung between CB. XVI. 41-50.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 221
the penitent nnd impenitent robbers, and thus he will place the goats and the sheep on the one side of him and on the other. IX. THAT THE PLA<lUE WAB STAYED BY AARON'S INTERPOSITION OF HIMSELF BETWEEN IT AND ITB VIOTIMB. Even so Christ has averted death from us, and taken away its sting, by placing himself between it and us, by interposing between the wrath of Heaven and our souls (Rom. vii, 25 ; viii. 1). And so long as we are sheltered behind bis atonement and intercession we are absolutely safe. X. THAT AARON, AFTER MAKIN<l AN ATONEMENT, RETURNED TO THE MOST HOLY PLACE WITH BIB CENSER (cf. Heh. ix. 4). Even so our Lord after making atonement for us upon the cross, and breaking the empire of sin and death, returned to that heaven from which he came, leaving us free from the power of death. XI. THAT THIS WAS THE GLORIOUS VINDICATION OF AARON'S PRIESTLY OFFICE, I~ THAT IT BROU<lHT LIFE AND DELIVERANCE TO THE VERY MEN WHO RAD DESPISED AND SLANDERED IT. How much better and more effectual than if a thousand Korahs had been slain by reason of it l Even so the true vindication of the priesthood of Christ, in whatsoever sense or by whomsoever assailed, is its marvellous and ever- living efficacy for the healing of sinners, and for their salvation from spiritual death. Those that are ready to strive against it to the uttermost to-day will know themselves beholden to it for life and liberty to-morrow. Whatever belongs to the priesthood of Christ must here, and here only, find its defence and confirmation, not in smiting down them that oppose themselves (which is of the law only), but in saving them from the fatal consequences of their own sin and blindness (which is of the gospel .~lone). Cf. Luke ix. 55, 56; John xii. 47; 2 Cor. x. 8; xiii. 10; Gal. i. 23; 1 Tim. II, 4.