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What lesson for us? This very plain one-that God's law is to be our guidethat our wills are to be subordinated to God's will; and that we are to follow the Lord whithersoever He leadeth. This is the path of duty, and of happiness as well.

Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 21.-Psalm lxxxiv. 10-12.

Subject to be proved-God requires Spiritual Worship. Golden Text-"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them."-Matthew xviii. 20.

NOTES. This is the New Testament promise of Christ's abiding presence with His Church. Just as the tabernacle among the Israelites was the abiding symbol of God's presence among them; so here, in an equally felt way, Christ says He will be among His people. And not merely in the Church, as we understand that word, but where two or three are gathered together. But note, the gathering is in His name. And every gathering-alas! too many gatherings are not in His name; and such cannot expect His presence. Too often they do not want it. His presence would be considered an evil. So it must be in His name. How will He be in the midst ?-By His Spirit, who will take of His things and shew them unto them. Christ is still in His Church by His SpiritHe is still in the smallest gatherings of His people by His Spirit-He is still in the heart of each believer by His Spirit. Is He in yours?

Lesson 126.-May 31.

THE CONSECRATION OF AARON.-Leviticus viii. 1-13.

I. Aaron and his sons were taken from among the people. They were of the people-bone of their bone, and flesh of their flesh. Why so? (See Heb. v. 1-3.) The reason is very touching, and appeals to our human sympathies. Wherein does our High Priest resemble this? (See Hebrews v. 7-9; and the exquisitely tender consequence in Hebrews ii. 17, 18, particularly verse 18.) As Aaron, being compassed about with infirmities, could have compassion on the ignorant and the erring, so our High Priest, having suffered being tempted, is able to succour those who are tempted.

"With sympathetic feelings touched,
He knows our feeble frame;
He knows what sore temptations are,
For He has felt the same."

No man takes

II. The Consecration was open-public. himself, (Heb. v. 4.) The people were to understand that choice. So Christ did not take this honour upon himself. to it by God. (Hebrews v. 5 compared with Psalm ex. 4.) God's anointed one-the very power of God, and the wisdom well use the language of Matthew x. 40.

III. The Consecration:

this honour upon Aaron was God's He was appointed So, then, Christ is of God. He may

(a.) Aaron was stripped of his own garments, and washed in water, (ver. 6.) The meaning of this was very plain. Our righteousness is as filthy rags-our old nature-the old man-must be put off. But this is not sufficient. There must be actual cleansing-actual washing-actual regeneration. Note.-There is no analogy between our High Priest and Aaron in this respect. Christ Jesus required no personal purification-He was the sinless one.

(b.) There is not only a putting off, there is also a putting on. Here the various parts of the High Priest's dress may be noticed:

(1.) The Coat or Tunic was worn next the skin, and fitted tolerably close round the body. It had arm-holes, and sometimes sleeves, and reached down like a long shirt, below the knees.

(2.) The Girdle-the common girdle was for binding the coat. It was bound round the waist.

(3.) The Robe was like a long shirt, having no sleeves, but only holes for the arms, with small, handsome binding round the opening for the neck. It reached down to the ankles, and upon the hem, or its lower part, were 72 little golden bells.

(4.) The Ephod consisted of two parts, one of which was hung over the back, and the other over the breast, both pieces being united by a clasp or buckle on each shoulder, made of onxy stone, each having engraved on it the names of six tribes, and secured by

(5.) A curious Girdle round about under the arms.

(6.) The Breastplate was a square piece of cloth, measuring only a span each way. On one side of it was set four rows of precious stones, each row having three, on every one of which was engraved the name of one tribe.

(7.) The Urim and Thummim set in the breastplate. What these exactly

were we cannot tell.

(8.) The Mitre, made of pure linen, folded many times round, and finished with peculiar elegance.

(9.) The Plate of the Mitre-a plate of pure gold fixed on the front of the Mitre, bearing the inscription-"Holiness to the Lord."

More important, however, is it to ask, what meant all this putting on? The inscription on the plate explains all. To appear in God's presence Aaron required to be clothed in robes of God's providing. (Compare Zechariah iii. 3-5.) The lesson for us is the same. Friend, where is thy wedding garment? Put off the old man, put on the new.

The High Priest carried the names of all the tribes when he entered into God's presence-our High Priest bears the names of all His people in His intercession before God."

(c.) The Anointing.-The Anointing was significant, but particularly from this that it was by an oil specially prepared. (Read carefully Exodus xxx. 22-33.) The lesson is clear. There is only one blood that sprinkles to the cleansing of the conscience-the blood of Jesus. No two ways of consecration-only one. No other oil would have done-other oil would have been pollution. His blood, and His alone, cleansed from all sin. For beautiful reference to this ointment read Psalm cxxxiii.

Subject to be proved-We Require an Intercessor.

Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 22.-Psalm cxxxiii. 1-3. Golden Text-"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."-1 John ii. 1.

NOTES.-An Advocate, or Intercessor. Explain the ordinary meaning of the word, and then its application here will be simpler. There are here three parties-(a) One of the little children, who has sinned-yea, more, any man who has sinned; (b) the Father; (c) the Advocate. Point out their relations to one another; then the main thing-the qualifications of the Advocate. (1st) He is man- -Jesus. He can therefore sympathize with me. He was tempted, and can succour the tempted. (2nd) He is the appointed of the Father-Christ; therefore His advocacy must be according to the will of God. His advocacy must be acceptable to God. He has been ordained for man in things pertaining to Goda side towards man, a side towards God. (3rd) This Advocate takes the culprit's place-the righteous. He, the righteous One, becomes sin,-I, the sinner, become righteous.

Lesson 127.-June 7.

THE SCAPE GOAT.-Leviticus xvi. 5-22.

This ceremony was in connection with the great Day of Atonement, the only fast appointed by the Jewish law. It was, as it were, the concentration into one

of all their sacrifices-an acted picture of the mysteries of redemption, full of deep significance, and pointing more clearly than any other sacrifice to the atoning work of Christ.

Notice, first, incidentally, that on this occasion the High Priest divested himself of his ordinary splendid garments, washed himself, and then put on plain linen garments. So Jesus veiled His glory, and took upon Him the form of a servant. He was rich, but became poor. Here the analogy stops. Jesus required no washing-He was the righteous One.

There are three distinct parts in the ceremony:

I. The Atonement for the High Priest and his House, (verses 6, 11-14.)—This was first. He offered the sin-offering for himself and his house. Having slain the bullock, he took of the blood and a censer of incense and went into the Holy of Holies, and having kindled the incense, he sprinkled the blood upon the mercy-seat seven times. Then, coming out, he sprinkled the blood upon the great altar, particularly upon the horns thereof.

Now, what was taught by this?-Clearly that the High Priest himself needed atonement, which could be only by blood. But our High Priest needs no such atonement. He has no personal guilt to wash away. He is holy and undefiled. In this respect there is again no analogy between the Jewish High Priest and our High Priest, Observe the use Paul makes of this difference in the Epistle to the Hebrews.

II. Thus qualified, the High Priest can make atonement for the people. Observe how. Two goats are taken-one for a sin-offering, the other for the scape goat.

The goat for the sin-offering is killed, and the High Priest sprinkles its blood exactly as he did with the blood of the bullock, making atonement for the congregation, for their uncleanness, and because of their transgressions in all their sins. The whole accumulated arrears of guilt for the whole year were atoned for, that they might have, as it were, a fresh start in newness of life. Note in connection with these two sin-offerings the exceeding solemnity of the ceremony. The High Priest alone officiated. The ceremony was only once a-year. He was alone in the tabernacle. He went into the most holy place only on this occasion. Save on this day, the veil was unlifted all the year. He dared not enter without blood.

The lesson of all this is clear-without shedding of blood there is no remission. This was the great truth taught. God can be approached only by sacrifice. (Compare, particularly, Hebrews ix. 11-14.) Then notice the far-reaching nature of sin. All these ceremonies were merely shadows projected upon the earth of heavenly things. The heavenlies were the realities, off which were cut, as it were, the patterns to form the earthlies by. What did this purifying of the Holy of Holies mean? (See Hebrews ix. 23-24.) In some way, which we may not understand, the heavenlies required to be purified. What an evil is sin! How far-reaching in its consequences!

III. The Sin-offering represented only one side of the atoning work. Sin had to be taken away. See how graphically this was pictured. The atonement has been made, the blood shed and sprinkled; then the scape goat is brought forward. Standing, with uplifted hands, the High Priest confessed over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat"-a transference of their sins to another a change of place-they, the sinners, made righteous by having their sins laid upon another's head. Nor was this all. The goat was sent away, bearing "upon him all their iniquities, into a land not inhabited."

The picture is complete. Atonement made. Sins borne away-clean removed-never to appear against them. The lesson is equally clear and simple. (See Galatians iii. 13; Hebrews x. 11-14; 1 Peter ii. 24; 1 John iv. 10.)

The very essence of God's method of forgiveness is in this lesson. The Holy One becomes sin-the unholy become righteous. (See 2 Cor. v. 21; Isa. liii. 3-5.) Subject to be proved-Jesus bore away our Sin.

Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 23.-Paraphrase xxv. 4-6.

Golden Text-"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."-1 Peter ii. 24.

NOTES.-The atoning work of Christ. The Notes on the Lesson can be brought in here, for the ceremonies on the Day of Atonement were an acted picture of the truth of this verse. We have just two things-Christ becoming sin, and we thereby becoming righteous. Observe the emphasis-His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree. Christ's atoning death is the groundwork of all forgiveness of sin. No remission without shedding of blood. Or, take the last clause, suggested evidently by Isaiah liii. We need healing. How is it to be obtained ?-By stripes laid on another. Always the same root idea running through all the Bible-Christ's death was a sacrifice. Keep firm hold of that. Repeat the grand statement of this central truth contained in the answer to the question-How doth Christ execute the office of a Priest?

The Teacher's

OR, ILLUSTRATIONS

Quiver;

OF THE

LESSONS.

LESSON 123.-THE ARK AND THE MERCY SEAT.-Exodus xxxvii. 1-9. 222. God Delights in Mercy, (ver. 6-9.)—A benevolent person gave Mr. Rowland Hill a hundred pounds to dispense to a poor minister, and Mr. Hill, thinking it was too much to send all at once, forwarded five pounds in a letter, with these words within the envelope-"More to follow." In a few days he sent other five pounds, with the same remark. And so on, till he had sent the whole hundred pounds.

"I

Every blessing that comes from God is sent with the self-same message, "More to follow." "I forgive you your sins, but there's more to follow.” adopt you into My family, but there's more to follow." "I educate you for heaven, but there's more to follow." "I give you grace upon grace, but there's more to follow.' "I have helped you even to old age, but there's more to follow." "I will uphold you in the hour of death, and as you are passing into the world of spirits, My mercy shall still continue with you; and when you land in the world to come there shall still be MORE TO FOLLOW."

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223. "Be ye therefore Merciful, as your Father also is Merciful,” (ver. 6-9.)— A Christian man found in one of his visits of mercy a young female, about twenty years of age, living in sin, and wretched beyond all description. He soon learned her history. She had left her home some months before, had fallen into sin, and ever since had been sinking lower and lower in guilt. "Oh," she said, with bitter grief, "that I were at home once more! But my father will never receive me: I am sure that he will not. He cannot love me now he will never forgive me.' "Have you ever tried him?" enquired this Christian friend." No, I dare not." "Does your father know where you are ?"-"No, I have never written to him since I left home.' "Then I will write to him at once."-"It is of no use, sir; no use." "Well, we shall see about that: we can but try." A letter was accordingly written, and well prayed over. By return of post such an answer came back as made the good man rejoice and the wanderer weep abundantly. "Immediate" was written large on the outside; and the substance of the epistle was, 'Ready to forgive." "This," said the father, "is what I have earnestly prayed for: I have longed to know where my wanderer was, and yearned to hear that she was willing to return. Let her come back at once: I will forgive all, and love her still." And so it is with our Father in heaven. He is "a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness."

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LESSON 124.-THE TABERNACLE SET UP.-Exodus xl. 1-29.

224. There should be an Altar_in_every Family, (ver. 10-15, 27, 29.)—A very small girl, whose mother was dead, and whose father had married again, but had not resumed family worship, soon after the event accosted him-"Father, is God dead?"-"No, my child," said he. "What makes you ask that question ?" "Why, you used to pray to Him night and morning when my mother was alive; but you don't now. I did not know but what God was dead too."

225. God's Commandments should be Strictly Obeyed, (ver. 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29.)-The commander of the ship-of-war "Orient," before the battle of the Nile, placed his son Cassabianca, thirteen years of age, on certain duty, to stay at his post till relieved by his father's orders. Soon after, the father was slain. The boy held his post in the midst of fearful carnage, ignorant of his father's fate; and, while the sailors were deserting the burning and sinking ship, he cried, "Father, may I go?" The permission did not come from his dead father's lips; and there he stood alone, firm at his post, and perished in the flames. In the same faithful manner did Moses obey God. "Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he."

LESSON 125.-GOD'S PRESENCE IN THE TABERNACLE.-Exodus xl. 30-38. 226. We should not Weary in Well-doing, (ver. 33.)-At the battle of Meeanee an officer who had been doing good service came up to General Sir Charles Napier and said, "Sir Charles, we have taken a standard!" The General looked at him, but made no reply, and, turning round, began to speak to some one else; upon which the officer repeated, "Sir Charles, we have taken a standard!" The General turned sharp round upon him, and said, “Then take another." Moses rested not till he had "finished the work.”

227. Before Entering on any Duty we should Secure God's Presence, (ver. 36-38.)-The Rev. Mr. Griffith of Carnarvon was to preach one night at a farmhouse; and some time before the service began he wished to retire to a private room. He remained there some time after the congregation had assembled. As there was no sign of the preacher appearing, the good man of the house sent the servant to request him to come, as the people had been some time waiting. On approaching the door, she heard what she supposed to be a conversation between two persons, carried on in rather a subdued tone of voice. She stood listening at the door, and heard one say to the other, "I will not go, unless Thou come with me. The girl returned to her master, and said, "There is some one with Mr. Griffith, and he tells him he will not come unless the other accompany him. I did not hear the other make a reply, so I conclude he will not come to-night." "Yes, yes, he will," said the good man; "and the Other will come with him, if matters are as you represent them. We shall begin the service by singing and reading till the two come.' At length Mr. Griffith came, and the "Other" with him, and they had an extraordinary meeting that night. It proved the commencement of a powerful revival in the neighbourhood; and many were converted to God.

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LESSON 126.-THE CONSECRATION OF AARON.-Leviticus viii. 1-13.

228. God cannot Look upon Sin, (ver. 2, 6, 9-13.)-The very heathen knew this, and would not admit any one to come to their religious services until he was prepared. Hence, Virgil represents Eneas saying to his father, "Father, do you meddle with the sacrifices ? but as for me it is a sinful thing to touch them till I have washed myself in the fountain." This was an outward rite amongst them for cleansing themselves. The very heathen saw they must not meddle with holy things till they were cleansed; therefore, they had one who cried out to the people when they came to sacrifice, "All you that are unclean

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