designed-each had his own work to attend to and perform. Jn the New Testament Ohurch Christ gives "to every men his work" (Mark xiii. 34). (3) The workR rlis- tribnted Rmongst them wero such as pertained to the temple-worship, viz. the offering of sacrifice, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, and the ministering, i.e. giving th,,nks and praising by means of vocal and instrumental music, "in the gates of the camp of the Lord "-a remarkable expression (see next homily). 2. The .~tate service of rcli:;irm provided/or. 'l'he expense of keeping up that part of the temple-worship which was, properly speaking, national, i.e. the morning and evening burnt offerings, with the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, the new moons, and the set feasts prescribed in the Law of Jehovah (Numb. xxviii., xxix.), the king took upon himself and discharged out of his own possessions (eh. xxxii. 27-29). As the crown wealth was, to all intents and purposes, the nation's property, the act of the king was right; still, in so far as the national wealth was under his control, his act was a deed of liberality. Whether kings or parliaments under the Christian dispensation are required or permitted to allocate national wealth to the support of religion may be open to debate; there is no room for doubting that neither kings nor statesmen a.re hindered from devoting portions of their own wealth to the cause of Christ, i.e. to the up-keep and propagation of the true religion. 3. A maintenance assigned to the ministers of religion. 'l'he portion which belonged to the priests and Levites by the Law of Jehovah, i.e. the firstfruits (Exod. xxiii. 19; Numb. xviii.12, 13; Deut. xxvi. 2-4), and the tithes of land and beast (Lev. xxvii. 30-33; Numb. xviii. 21-24)-the :fi.rstfruits being assigned specially to the priests, and the tithes to the whole tribe of Levi-the king comrnanJed the people residing in Jerusalem to render. Under the Christian dispensation the support of the ministers of religion devolves exclusively upon believers (1 Cor. ix. 7-14; 2 Cor. xi. 7-12 ; Gal. vi. 6; 1 Thess. ii. 6). Kings and parliaments in their official capacities have not been charged with the duty of supporting ministers of religion out of public revenues. LESSONS. 1. It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing, such as the suppres- sion of idolatry. 2. It is not permissible under the gospel to suppress idolatry by violence, but only by argument and the force of truth. 3. The lawfulness of state establishments of religion in Christian times cannot be inferred from the existence of such an institution among the Hebrews. 4. Compulsory payments in support of Christ's religion are indefensible. 5. It is open to all to practise Christian liberality.-W.
Ver. 2.-"The camp of the Lord." I. To WBAT THIS DESIGNATION BELONGED? 1. To the tabernacle. (1 Chron. ix. 19.) The religious centre in Israel from the days of the conquest till the times of David and Solomon. 2. To the temple. (Ver. 2.) On Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, which Ahaz had closed during the latter years of his reign (eh. :xxviii. 24), but Hezekiah had now opened, cleansed, and rededicated to the worship of Jehovah (cb. xxix., xxx.). 3. To the <Jhurch of God. (1) Under the Old Testament dispensation (Lev. xiv. 8; Numb. v. 2; Deut. xxiii. 10), and (2) under the New Testament di~pensa.tion (Rev. xx. 9). II. WHAT THIS DESIGNATION MEANT. 1. That the Lord had pitched his tent there. This was true (1) ot tne tabernacle, which was usually styled the dwelling (Exod. xxv. 9), and, when finished, was filled with the symbol of the Divine presence, the glory of the Lord (Exod. xl. 34, 35); (2) of the temple of Solomon, which also was similarly named (eh. vi. 2) and inhabited (eh. v. 13, 14); (3) of the Old Testament Church as distinguished from its institutions (Ps. cxxxii. 13, 14); and ( 4) of the New Testament Church or assembly of believers (Matt. xviii. 20; xxviii. 20; 2 Cor. vi. 16). 2. That those amongst whom tlie Lord dwelt were warriors. This, again, was true (1) of Israel, in the wilderness and in Canaan, her principal occupation in the latter place being :fighting, not always with the Lord's enemies, as should have been the case, but frequently with one another; and worshipping, though much oftener idols than Jehovah. So should it be true (2) of Christian believers, as it is when they in anv degree realize the idea.I of their vocation-to fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. vi. 12), and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 'l'im. ii. 3).-W.
Vere. 6-19.-A nation's libel"ality; or, a lecture on tithes. I. THE IMPOSITION OF TDE TITHEB. Done by the commandment of Hezekiah (ver. 5), not, however, acting w 350 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [cu. nxr. 1-21,