something more specific, as e.g. prayer alone, or that form of prayer called intercession, aud so understood, to be regarded as typical of the intercession of the great Intercessor; it spoke some proffered approach of the sinful creature to the. condescendin"' Creator, fit to be set forth by the priest himself, and by none inferior to him. For th~ modern apostle of Christ, for the modern minister and prear,iier of the truth of Christ, for the modern pastor and under-shepherd of" the flock of God," there is no duty that consists in the offering of sacrifice on their behalf or the burning of incense; but upon such lies perpetual and most solemn the responsibility of pointing to the Sacrifice for sin, and of insisting on all that helps to denote the acceptableness and the fragrance of that Sacrifice so illustrious. There is nothing more incumbent on the man who professes to seek to lead bis fellow-creature to God than this. And it should have a prominence given to it, not less decided than that indicated by the place here given in this three- fold description of the priest's duties to tbo burning of incense. II. The duty TO MINISTER UNTO THE LORD. This simple and expressive description occurs above eighty times in the Pentateuchal, historical, and prophetical books of Scripture. It covers the whole range of those religious Aervices, whether of the con- gregational or of the individual kind, allowed or appointed as the acceptable methods of the approach to God of his people Israel. He was not accessible to every person directly nor by every directest conceivable method. Long and plain as were the typical teachings of the sacrifices as such, so long and plain was the typical teaching uuder the ancient system of priests, of this fact, that the high and holy One was to be approached not without introduction, intervention, interposition. The various conditions of the inter- mediate approach were committed to the faithful priest. He was to become instructed and versed in them. He was to see that the people in no way suffered loss or unnecessary delay or difficulty in complying with them. And he was answerable directly to the Lord, whose servant he was for the people's sake. Hence he is said to "minister unto the Lord," although it was on behalf of the congregation or the individual Israelite. While, again, the modern preacher and pastor bas no duty that can be described as the fac- simile of this, yet in the first place, for all congregational prayer at least, bis voice performs a service not dissimilar, as for some pastoral helps as well. But much rather would we again trace the deeper analogy. The Minister, the Intercessor, is to be pointed to, of whom it is said, "He is Minister of the sanctuary, and true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man;" and that "he bath obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much o.lso he is the Mediator of a better covenant" (Heb. viii. 2, 6). III. The duty TO DLESB IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. This completes the sketch of the priest's work. He not only presents sacrifice and burns incense; he not only ushers the worshipper and his worship into the presence of the high and holy God ; he also is privileged to speak the great God's blessings, to pronounce his favour, to assure of his pardon and mercy, and to wake to melody the hearts and voices of the vnst congrega- tion sometimes, in response to an announcement of Divine goodness and love. \Vo know now no priests who have power to pronounce in their own right the absolution or remission of sins, or to volunteer the assurance of Divine benediction. 'l'he priest~ of Isrnel had not themselves such a right. llut neither now does God authorize or inspire any class of men, or any individual man, to speak in these tones to their fellow- men, excopt on the real humble, hearty compliance of these latter with tho conditions laid down in Scripture. 'l'o these men must apply, not to the voice or oven the wisest, holiest judgment of a living man, who cannot tell the inmost heart nor gauge tho absolute sincerity of the applicant. Still, indeed, may we speak hope to the repentant, peace to the humble of heart, mercy and lovo to the trustful and true, but as it were in the quotations of Scripture, and well safe-guarded by the 8cripture conditions, All beyond this, all beside this, will be beyond our power and beside our rights. Auel instead of being the better part of a true priest, we are turned into false prophets even.
Ver. 25.-The eye open to religious opportunity. And that the eye of David showed itself now open to religious opportunity is not more p:ain than the reason of it-that his heart was open t.o it, nay, anxious and eager for it also. A c1isis has now come, for which presumablv the innermost heart of David has often longeu. 'l'hougb he had been the man of n1Uch war and of abounding activity, yet up and down his uuings anu his sayings there aro not wanting iudications that his heart si;,;hell for peace awl 880 THE FIRST DOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [en. xxm.1-32.