Ver. 8.-" Small and great, teacher and scholar." We have here an enumera• tion of the several courses of the Levites, appointed by lot to minister in due order. In the words which precede the enumeration, we have summarized the variety of ages and classes, all of whom were employed and accepted by the Lord in his service. I. AN EPITOME OF HUMAN SOCIETY AS CONSTITUTED BY Goo. Our common humanity is consistent with great variety and intermixture of elements. It has pleased God not only that generation should succeed generation, but that members of the human race of all ages should exist together in human society. It is obviously bis will that man- kind should be composed of those who teach and those who learn. II. .AN ARRANGEME:ST TO WHICH TIIE PROVISIONS OF l\EDI,;MPTION EXACTLY CORRE· SPOND. If the same God rules in providence and saves in redemption, we may expect to find a suitable provision made for the varied wants of varied classes. Accordingly we find that the Bible is equally adapted to young and old; that the redemption of Christ is limited to no age or class; that the Holy Spirit is poured out from above without regard to the distinctions upon which men often lay an undue stress; that religion is equally intended for the benefit of all mankind. III. THAT SOCIETY SHOULD BE SO CONSTITUTED IS PRODUCTIVE OF MUTUAL ADVAN· TA.GE. The great serve the small, and the small the great; the scholar is indebted to the teacher, who in tum derives many benefits from his pupils. There is no member of the human race who is not both a benefactor and a beneficiary. It is well that all should live in voluntary and cheerful compliance with this Divine ordinance. IV, ALL CLASSES AlG) AGES MAY CO-OPERATE FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL il-"'D THE SKRVICE OF Gen. The cause or Christ is one which the feeblest child may help to advance, and which may employ the abilities of the greatest and most learned. Our Lord disdains not the lowliest service; and the loftiest are honoured in being per- mitted to do his will and glorify his Name.-'!'.
Vers. 1-31.-" :I'he service of the howe of God." In this chapter, which gives the musical arrangements made for the "service of the house of the Lord," we have suggestions which take our thoughts over the wi<ler ground of public worship. We have- I. Two ELEMENTS WHICH IT SHOULD INCLUDE, Divine service is felt to be essentially incomplete without: 1. Praise. All who love the house of God rlelight "to give thanks and to praise the Lord" (ver. 3). We have such a God for our God, that we can" give thanks and praise" him whenever we remember him. 'l'he devotees of heathen deities cannot do so; they can only prostrate themselves abjectly before their gods, or depre• cate their capricious wrath: there is nothing in the beings they worship worthy of their honour. In the only wise God, in the holy and pitiful Father of our spirits, in the righteous Lord of all, in the merciful Redeemer of mankind, in the patient, striving, cleansing Spirit of God, in this God who is our God, we have One whom we can praise continually, and with all the energies and faculties of our nature, anrl then feel that we have failed to render unto him "the glory which is due unto his Name." 2. Instruc- tion. There were to be workmen" who should prophesy" (ver. 1), and they" prophesied with a harp;" i.e. their function was to utter sacred, instructive, inspiring words in their capacity as choridlers. The music of the sanctuary was to be subordinated to the utterance of Divine truth, the sound to the sense, the ear to the soul. One musical leader was even spoken of as " the king•~ seer in the words of God " (ver. 5). Here we have an argument afortiori. If in the act of praising, when the first end in view is the offering thus presented to God himself, we are 10 use words which will be instructive and elevating to the worshippern, how much more are we to provide that other parts of Divine service shall be full of sacre<l instruction, shall tend to edify, to culightea, to sustain 1 OH, XXV. 1-31.] 'l'HE FIRST BOOK OJl' THE CHRO~ICLES. 399