Vere. 15, 16.-Appointed ministrations. The priests were an essential element in the Mosaic system, and their duties were prescribed with a precise exactness. After the Captivity, they still fulfilled their appointed duties, although their relative importance was probably diminished, whilst the scribes became growingly the religious lE:aders and teachers of the people. In the dispensation of the Spirit, the priesthood, so far as it is perpetuated, has been widened so as to include the whole Christian congregation. I. MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH IB THE APPOINTMENT OF Goo. As the priesthood was instituted by Divine wisdom, so the will and pleasure of the great Head of the Church is that the members of the spiritual society should regard themselves as called by God to the fulfilment of varied duties as his servants. I!, MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH IS UPON THE PATTERN OF THE MI~ISTBY OF CHRIST THE HEAD, The Son of man came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister, The Lord was himself Servant of all, and those who are his are summoned to follow the example of him who declared that he was among his people as One who served. III. MINISTRY m THE CHURCH IS FOB MUTUAL BENEFIT. It iB sometimes taken for granted that there are certain persons who minister to their fellow-Christians, whilst the rest simply receive and enjoy the advantages of their services. But in reality there is no one member of the true Church who is not commissioned for some special work which it is for him to do, who has not some gifts and opportunities for serving his fellow-disciples, for the edification of the body of Christ. IV. MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH IS FOB THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD. The Jewish Church was restricted; the Christian Church has a universal mission-a mission for the benefit of mankind. They who have Christ's Spirit will live as disciples of him who said, " I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself." V. MINlSTRY IN THE CHURCH INVOLVES ACCOUNTABILITY TO Goo. With calling and gifts and influence there is associated responsibility. And this responsibility is to him who is the one, only, all-sufficient Judge and Lord. From this responsibility there is no escape ; and it must ever be the aim and the hope of every Christian that he himsalf and his work may be acceptable and approved at last, when e,ery man shall have praise of God.-T. Ver. 23.-" The differen.CtJ between the holy and profane." It was one great office of the Jewish priesthood to instruct the people to discern between the unclean and the clean. No doubt this office was often discharged in a perfunctory manner; yet a valuable purpose was answered by the importance which the Israelites were thus encouraged to attach to obedience to the behests of the great King. l. THERE IS AN A.BBITRA.BY AND FAOTITIOUB DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE HOLY AND THE PLlOFANE. Such is the distinction drawn in heathen communities, simply in the iuterests of the priests themselves, with no moral bearing or intention. II, THERE IB A CEREMONIAL AND BYllBOLIOAL DIBTINCTION BETWEEN THE HOLY AND THE PROFANE. Such was the difference which was established by the Law given by Moses to the Israelites, and maintained by Divine command by the instrumentality of the priests of Jehovah. III. THERE IS A SPIRITUAL AND REAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE HOLY AND THE PROFANE. It cannot be doubted that the ceremonial differences were intended to be the emblems of deeper and more real distinctions of a moral nature. In the Christian dispensation men were early taught upon the highest authority to call nothing common or unclean. But whilst Christ abolii;hed distinctions, which were a means to an end, which served a temporary purpose of preparation, he emphasized those distinctions which, in the sight of a holy God, are real and important. Especially was this the case with the eternal difference between moral good and evil, between what is in accordance with, and what is repugnant to, the nature, the character, and the will of God. This distinction is one which the Church of Christ is bound to maintain, both by teaching and by conduct, before a sinful and disobedient world,-T,
Ver. 28.-The Lord the lnherita~ qf his people. There was a special sense in which the Lord was the Inheritance of the Levites and priests among tho sons of Israel. A provision was made for them to compensate them for the lack of a territory such as was apportioned to the other tribes. Jehovah himself undertook the can, of those who ;i!:ZEKXEL-Il, l:: _, 402 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oH. XLiv.1-3L