rest. Who then shall set his heart upon completing plans of usefulness or joy on earth? Who shall reckon with anxiety on fulfilling whatsoever he has taken in hand to do? Who shall not be willing, however glad he would have been to glorify God by finishing his work, yet if summoned hence, to lay it down unfinished, with no less of joy in the persuasion, that God will be best glorified by his so leaving it undone?

Thus it was that Moses submitted himself to the will of his heavenly Father. And we have this proof of his having done so, that he anxiously intercedes with God, to appoint a fit successor in his office; one who might carry on unto perfection the work he had in hand, and to whom he shewed himself all willing to resign it. That the work of the Lord be not hindered," that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd," these are his first thoughts, these his chiefest cares, when reminded that the time of his departure drew nigh. His intercession was sincere. For his prayer was accepted, and his request complied with. He is told to take Joshua the son of Nun, "a man in whom is the spirit," and to appoint him by the laying on of hands, and to "set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight." By this means they would all know that he was to succeed Moses in his office, as the governor of the nation, under God their King; and that as such he was entitled to their obedience. Whilst for his guidance in knowing the will of the Most High, he was to apply to Eleazar the priest, who would learn by the judgment of Urim," see Exod. 28. 30, and inform him what the will of the Lord might be. "And Moses did as the Lord commanded him." He was faithful in this thing also. And we doubt not that he was joyful as well as faithful; glad to do " as the Lord commanded him," glad that God had found another, fit to take his place, and to be the shepherd of his people Israel.

What a profitable lesson against selfishness and jealousy; against the spirit which makes men wish that what they cannot do themselves, may never be done by others! Let us be glad to think, that when we are called to leave our post of usefulness God has others to supply our place; that when we are taken away in the midst of working for his service, He has others who can better finish what we have begun. It is for us to do what we can; and whatsoever our hand findeth to do, to do it with all our might. It is for Him to determine when we may best be told, hitherto shalt thou go and no further, when we may best be taken from work to rest, from earth to heaven. Yes, we may here well reflect, not only that we are at best unprofitable servants, not only that God could do as well without us; but also that as He vouchsafes to use our work on earth, so He is pleased to give us wages in heaven, infinitely beyond our work's worth, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

O. T. VOL. I. PART II,

PP

The law of burnt offerings for each day throughout the year.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. 3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.

4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even; 5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.

6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. 7 And the drink offering there of shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.

8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. 9 And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: 10 This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

11 And in the beginnings of

your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;

12 And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram;

13 And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

14 And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of theyear. 15 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.

17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.

18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: 19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:

20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye

offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;

21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. 23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.

fruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: 27 But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year; 28 And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram, 29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughoutthe seven lambs; 30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. 31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings. LECTURE 290.

24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. 25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work. 26 Also in the day of the first

The due employment of the sabbath day.

The law of sacrifices, contained in this chapter and the next, sets forth, in order, the burnt offerings and drink offerings for each day, each sabbath, and each festival. First, there is the daily morning and evening sacrifice; next, the same doubled every sabbath day. Then follow directions for the offerings appropriate at the beginnings of each month, and on each of the seven days of unleavened bread, and also on the day.of the first fruits, or feast of pentecost. See Lev. 23. This directory for their public sacrifices, in the order of a calendar throughout the year, must have been most valuable for constant reference. And moreover a great part of this information is altogether new; for no where else have we met with directions as to what particular sacrifices were to be offered either on the first day of each month, or on the days of unleavened bread. And no where else have we read of the additional burnt offering of two lambs, and their proportion of flour, oil, and wine, here appointed for the sabbath. Nay, this is the only passage in the Law, in which we meet with any express injunctions as to what is to be done on the sabbath day at all. What might not be done is repeatedly set down. But what might, and ought to be, is no where specified. Nor is more revealed on this subject in the Gospel, than that "it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days." Matt. 12. 12. To this let us add a double sacrifice of prayer and praise, and both the Law and the Gospel will be fulfilled, in remembering to keep holy every seventh day.

The yearly order of the sacrifices continued.

1 And in the seventh month, on without blemish :

the first day of the month, ye 9 And their meat offering shall

shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets

unto you.

2 And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish :

3 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,

4 And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:

6 Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

7 And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:

8 But ye shall offer a burnt of fering unto the Lord for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you

be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram, 10 A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

11 One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin of fering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.

12 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ve shail do no servile work, and ye shal keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:

13 And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:

14 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bul lock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,

15 And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:

16 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. LECTURE 291.

That God would have his people to rejoice continually. The calendar of the sacred year of the Israelites is concluded in this chapter. And it is worthy of remark, that in this whole yearly course of service, amongst so many days of joy and thankfulness, there was only one on which the Israelites were especially directed to afflict their souls for sin. See Lev. 16. 29-31. There was only the great day of atonement to answer to our notion of a fast

day; whereas for feast days, there were all the new moons, sometimes twelve, sometimes thirteen, including the feast of trumpets, and the passover one day, and the seven days of unleavened bread, and the day of Pentecost, or feast of weeks, one day, and the feast of tabernacles eight days; making thirty days in the year, besides the weekly sabbaths. Now when we consider the sacrifices appointed for all these occasions, and remember, that in addition to the burnt offerings of the Lord, there was a variety of other sacrifices usually offered on the same occasions, of which the priests and the people partook, we shall see that God provided largely in the Law, that his people should enjoy the abundance of good things, which He meant to give them in the land of Canaan.

It is true that on the sabbath, and on such festival days as were appointed for "an holy convocation," no manner of work might be done, except the offering of the sacrifices to God. For "on the sabbath days the priests," as our blessed Lord remarks, but they alone, "in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless." Matt. 12. 5. But then their days were reckoned from one sunset to another. The sabbath rest was not enjoined beyond the daylight, and the animals slain as sacrifices in the morning might be dressed and eaten in the evening. It is true that no sacrifice could be offered, excepting only within the court of the tabernacle. But then it is to be remembered that on the three chiefest of the festivals all the people were to assemble in one body, and might all therefore partake of one festivity. And at other times, no doubt, the rejoicings of those who dwelt within reach of the sanctuary would not be confined to themselves, but the same kind of festivity would extend among their brethren, at the same seasons, throughout all their habitations.

It would thus appear to have been most evidently the will of God, that his people should pass the years of their pilgrimage in a state of thankful enjoyment. And to perpetuate the memory of the mercies received by their forefathers of old, He bade them partake of fresh mercies with joy themselves. He gave them cattle, and corn, and wine, and oil, in abundance; and appointed seasons of rest and leisure, in which all might partake of them abundantly. He filled their mouth with good things; that He might fill their hearts with thankfulness, and their lips with praise. Thus He dealt with them, by means of this world's blessings. To us He has given better things, a feast not of meats and drinks, but of "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Rom. 14. 17. And shall we conceive that He would wish to have our hearts less full of gladness, or our lips of thankfulness? Shall we suppose it to be his will that the Christian year should be one of fasting more than of festivity? No, let us be assured that He is pleased and honoured by our going on our way rejoicing, only not in the flesh, but in the spirit, only not in ourselves, but "in the Lord." Phil. 3. 1.