unto God-the temple was their home, the service of the altar their employment-they dwelt in the presence of God, and served him day and night continually-they might defile themselves for their near, but not their remote kindred, nor even for a sister, if married to a husband-they were holy unto God, and to esteem their relation to him superior to every other tie, they lived in constant dependance upon him, that in every transaction they might remember that the holy Lord had sanctified them, that they also might be holy.

The church of God is a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, the family of the Messiah, children of the faith, born not of corruptible, but of incorruptible seed; called of God through Jesus Christ, who as their head and representative, has made an atonement for them, and exalted them to be heirs of his heavenly inheritance. Through his adoption they have continual access to the altar of faith, engage in the service, and live by the fruit of it. Here they have no rest, no inheritance, or portion-they live as strangers or sojourners in a land which is not theirs-they only enjoy a cup of that inheritance, the hope of which is their consolation here, as the possession of it will be their happiness hereafter-they live receiving their daily bread in the service of the

altar, a supply like that of the manna, given only day by day, yet sure and adequate to all their wants-the presence of God is their abiding place, where they rejoice with a hope full of glory-walking before the Most High, his fear is ever before their eyes, and they serve him continually-they defile not themselves, but follow after holiness, without which no man can see the Lord-they are not divested of the affections belonging to human nature, nor debarred the reasonable indulgence of them, nor devoid of the desire to fulfil every duty due to their earthly relatives; but to mingle with the world, and share the pollutions of those remote from God, and living at a distance from him, is neither desired nor allowed. The calls of their almighty Master are of far greater moment than their earthly connexions, and when these interfere, they have no hesitation to which they shall yield their obedience. In every relation of life they preserve the distinction which subsists between the nominal and real church of Christ; those who, whilst professedly engaged in the covenant, are really employed in the world, and bearing its yoke; who present themselves only formally and ceremonially before God, and those who cleaving to him with full purpose of heart, rejoice before him with a joy full of immortality.

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and High Priest of our profession, Jesus Christ,"* are the words addressed by St. Paul to the Hebrew converts, in which, whilst he designates our Lord as the great Apostle sent for the declaration of the gospel, and the High Priest who had made the great sacrifice, the real atonement which fulfilled all the ceremonial ones, he also speaks of the church as composed of holy brethren, a profession, partakers of the same calling, or in other words, of the same order, service, and privileges with their leader and head; that is, priests sanctified to the work of God; enrolled among those who minister unto him, and rejoice in the blessings of access to him. They are "a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Christ Jesus." So God commanded and promised the children of Israel by Moses, "Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, an holy nation."‡ Therefore, "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."§ Bought with a price," the apostle exhorts them, "by the mercies of God that ye

* Heb. iii. 1.
Exod. xix. 6.

+ 1 Peter ii. 5.

Rev. i. 5, 6.

present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God." * Influenced by the spirit of righteousness, they mortify their members which are upon earth, reckoning themselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ, and yielding themselves unto God as those who are alive from the dead, as instruments of righteousness unto God, who is their guide, their hope, their portion. "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." †

* Rom. xii. 1, 2.

† Ps. lxxiii. 24-26.

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CHAPTER XII.

The same Typical Principle diffused through the whole of the Mosaic or Levitical Institutions.

WHEN the apostle declared that "Christ is the end," or fulfilment "of the law for righteousness, " he asserted two particulars; first, that he had fulfilled the moral law for our justification; and, secondly, the Levitical or ceremonial law, the body of prophetical or promissory institutions, all relating to him as the minister of righteousness, and to his church as benefited by his obedience. Hence this code, which was intended for the government of a typical people, and to preserve their typical existence, had a typical character interwoven with its precepts; and whilst it imposed such. restrictions or obligations as were necessary for moral purposes, it blended with these features of its symbolical nature and design.

For the same reason, not only the public na

* Rom. x. 4.