position is that of the backslider from God I (2) By virtue of God's acceptance of a gift it becomes holy. When God receives a 8inner he sanctifies him by his Spirit. As the Levites and Nethinims kept the vessels of the snnctuary clean so are all the ordinances of religion designed to keep believers pure. Consider- ' II. THI!: TREASURERS. 1. These were twelve in mtmber. (1) This number ie sacred in Old Testament Scripture. There were the twelve sons of Jacob, and so tho twelve tribes of Israel (Gen. xxxv. 22; xlix. 28). According to the number of these tribes were the twelve pillars built by Moses; the twelve stones in the breast- plate of judgment; the twelve stones in the Jordan, and in the altar of Elijah (Exod. xxiv. 4; :xxviii. 21; Josh. iv. 8; 1 Kings xviii. 31). So the twelve cakes on the table of shewbread, &c. (Lev. :xxiv. 8). (::!) This number is no less sacred in the New Testament. Corresponding to the twelve patriarchs we have the twelve apostles (Matt. x. 2). Twelve thrones are to be assigned to the apostles for the judging of the tribes of Israel. Twelve and multiples of twelve are common measures in the Apocalypse in things pertaining to the Lamb (Rev. xii. 1; xxi. 12, 14, 21; xxii. 2). 2. They were of the chief of the priests. (1) They had a consecration to God in their birth as sons of Aaron. So ministers of Christ who have the oversight of precious souls should be regenerate persons. (2) They had also a consecration in their official separation. So ministers of Christ must have a vocation from Christ. God assigns special work to special men (see Acts xiii. 2). By this special service they become holy, though they were officially holy already (ver. 28). Every service we faithfully render to him God makes to react upon us with a sanctifying virtue. III. THEIR DUTIES. 1. They were duly to estimate the value of their charge. (1) To impress this upon them, they had all the precious things weighed. (2) The value of the soul cannot thus be estimated, yet it may be considered and pondered until the very spirit of a minister is penetrated with a sense of the magnitude of his re- sponsibility in those over whom he is placed in the Lord. 2. They were to watch over it. (1) To see that it was not lost through neglect, or by becoming mixed with other property. Ministerial neglect has resulted in the loss of many a precious soul. (2) To defend it from the cupidity of robbers. These infested the way: some openly, others stealthily. So are souls in danger of encountering those who would rob them of peace. 3. They were to present it in its integrity if the temple. (1) Having kept it amidst the dangers of the journey by the blessmg of God, the custodians present the treasure in the house of the Lord. It will be a happy thing for ministers if they can as completely fulfil their commission in leading their flock into the better Jerusalem. For parents with their children, &c. (Eph. iv. 11-13). (2) The balances of the sanctuary are true. The actions of all men will there be weighed up. May we not be found wanting in the great day of scrutiny.-J. A. M.
yers. 24~6.-Zionwards. Ezra and the company he had gathered were now fauly on theu way homewards, and we may look at them, lookir, 0 also at ourselves, UB- I. TRAVELLERS •ro JERUSALEM. 11 Then we departed to go unto Jerusalem" (ver. 31 ). They had come forth from a land of captivity and coI!::parative privation, and were on their way to the land where they would no longer be bondsmen, and where every possible privilege would be theirs to enjoy: they were II going home;" to the land consecrated to their thought by innumerable hallowing associations; to the city whose walls should, to their fond imagining, shut them in to liberty, security, and joy. Onwards we move, we who have left the land of spiritual bondage behind us, to the land of our hope; our faces are steadfastly set toward the heavenly Jeru- salem. We II seek a city yet to come." Every day we are travelling forward to its open gates ; every night we pitch our tent II a d11y's march nearer" tbis home on high. II. GUIDED AND GUARDED OF GoD UPON THE WAY. 11 The hand of our God W[tS upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy," &c. (ver. 31). In answer to their earnest prayer (ver. 23) and to their humility (ver. 23), God gave them his guidance and guardianship along the road, and whatever enemies may have been near either refrained from attacking them or were easily repelled, In answer to our earnest prayer and our humility, God will be our guide and guardian 1111.ong the 136 THE BOOK OF EZRA. [on. vm. 21--86.