SCRIPTURAL SELECTIONS.

(Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off.) And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him but Mary sat still in the house.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. Believest thou this?

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.John, xi. 18-28.

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord,

come and see.

Jesus wept.

Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!-John, xi. 32-36.

CHRIST'S WORDS TO THE SORROWING.

BROKEN-HEARTED, weep no more!

Hear what comfort He hath spoken:
Smoking flax who ne'er hath quenched,

Bruised reed who ne'er hath broken.

"Ye who wander here below,

Heavy laden as you go,

Come with grief, with sin oppressed,
Come to me and be at rest!"

Lamb of Jesus' blood-bought flock,
Brought again from sin and straying,
Hear the Shepherd's gentle voice-
'Tis a true and faithful saying-
"Greater love how can there be,

Than to yield up life for thee?
Bought with pang, and tear, and sigh,
Turn and live!-Why will ye die?"

Broken-hearted, weep no more,

Far from consolation flying:

He who calls hath felt thy wound,

Seen thy weeping, heard thy sighing;

"Bring thy broken heart to me,

Welcome offering it shall be;

Streaming tears and bursting sighs

Mine accepted sacrifice."

34

III.

THE COMPASSIONATE HIGH PRIEST.

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."-HEB. IV. 14-16.

IN

[N the Jewish economy the High Priest occupied solemn and peculiar relations. A descendant of Aaronanointed with the holy oil-clad in garments made for glory and for beauty-unblemished in person, sacred in office, and standing once each year before the mercyseat in the Holy of Holies as the mediator between God and his people Israel-he became invested with a sacredness and a majesty of character becoming to him who stood among men as the representative of God.

To this pontifical office the Jews had become much attached, and the design of St. Paul in the Epistle to the Hebrews was to transfer their love of this office as a Mosaic institution, to Christ, a High Priest greater than Aaron, in the new and Christian dispensation. This he does by showing how Christ was in all points equal to the Jewish pontiff, and in many far exceeded him; thus establishing claims to their regard and obedience beyond those which pertained to the Aaronic priesthood. This position we shall better understand by showing

wherein they were analogous, and wherein the priestly office of Christ exceeded that of Aaron or his sons.

The Aaronic high priest must be called of God. "No man," says St. Paul, taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest," but God said unto him, "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."

The Aaronic high priesthood was unchangeable. It could never depart from the family of Aaron. So Christ being made an High Priest, changeth not, "but abideth a priest continually." He hath an unchangeable priesthood."

The Aaronic high priest was to be anointed with the holy oil. The very name of our Saviour (Christ, or Messiah,) showed that he was anointed by God to execute his mediatorial office; set apart to the office, not with the anointing oil employed in the solemn consecration of Aaron and his sons, but with the antitype of that oil, the spirit of grace" poured upon him without measure by the hand of God.

The high priest must be without blemish, and holy. He must be sound and healthy in body and mind. Aaron and his sons were also originally sanctified externally by a long series of most solemn offerings and ceremonies; their garments were styled holy, and "Holiness to the Lord" was engraven on a plate, which they were directed to wear upon their mitres. Such an High Priest,' sayeth St. Paul, is Christ, who is holy, harmless, un

defiled, separate from sinners," of whom even his enemies declared they found "no fault in him." His very garments were holy, for the sick and infirm but touched the hem of them and they were made whole.

The Aaronic high priest only could enter into the Holy of Holies once each year, and then only with blood. So Christ entered into the "most holy place" above with the blood wrung from him in Gethsemane and on Calvary. The Aaronic high priest only could make a ceremonial atonement for the sins of the people; and Christ, as the High Priest of our salvation, "by a sacrifice and oblation of himself once offered, made a full, perfect, and sufficient" atonement for the sins of the world. These are some of the more prominent analogies between the priesthood of Christ and the priesthood of Aaron; and, were we to pursue the comparison further, we should find that the symbolical and temporary ministrations of the one had their end and perfection in the spiritual and unchangeable priesthood of the other.

But there are qualities and attributes far above these, which show the superiority of Christ's pontificate. The high priest of the Jews was a sinful being. The High Priest of the gospel was holy. The one, had to make atonement for himself as a sinner; the other, "knew no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." The high priest of the Jews was a man-weak, frail, mortal man-born of dust to be buried in the dusthaving the pains and sufferings of life about him. But