valuable element in our being, should all and wholly be the Lord's. Not the inferior part, not the less essential qualities, not "part of the price," but everything in us of worth our life. III. Its Gospel foreshadowing. 1. The body of Jesus is the offering pourtrayed. "A body hast Thou prepared Me." 2. He yielded to God man's duty; the dutiful life man had failed to surrender to Him. 3. He gave life in its perfectness to God. In Himself perfect, He offered Himself wholly and absolutely and perfectly to God: and the perfectly obedient Man then "seeing that all things were now accomplished, cried, It is finished, and gave up the ghost." V. 13.-Theme: COMPLETENESS IN SELF DEVOTION. "The priest shall bring it all, and burn it on the altar." 1. In this particular the Burnt offer ing differed from the Meat offering and Feace offering; for in these only a part was burnt with fire. 2. It differed also from the Sin offering, which though wholly burnt, was not burnt "on the altar.” I. Man's duty to God is the absolute surrender of all. Not of one faculty or several; but the entirety. 1. This accords with Christ's summary of the first commandment: which demands all the mind, all the soul all the affection, all the strength "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all," etc. (Matt xxii. 37). 2. The minute and all-inclusive devotion of the victim affirms the same truth. The "head," the "fat," the "legs," the "inwards" all are enumerited. Symbolic: "head" of thoughts; "fat" of vigour; "legs" of walk, conduct; "inwards "} of affections and emotions. II. Christ's performance of Man's du y to God was characterised by absolute surrender of all. up all. 1. Jesus reserved nothing; He gave Had there been but one thought in the mind of Christ not perfectly given to God, one affection in His heart not yielded to His Father's will, one step in the walk of Jesus not taken for God but for His own pleasure, then He would not have offered Himself, or been accepted, as "a whole burnt offering" to Jehovah. But all was offered, and all was consumed on the altar. 2. From first to last, in Jesus, self had no place. So entirely was His whole life devoted to His Father that it almost seems He could have had no will of His own. Everything He did or said was for God. His first recorded words were, "I must be about My Father's business"; His last, "It is finished." Yet as perfect man, He had a human will, and human affections. But no one hour was spent, nor act performed for His own advancement or gratification; all was given in entire devotedness to God. III. Christian self devotion will attempt to re produce Christ's absolute surrender of all. 1. True, this is a conception of life repuliated by the world. "Men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself" (Psa. xlix. 18). 2. Few Christians exhibit such self devotion to God. Our thoughts are for self, our ease, our interest, etc. But if David resolved "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord of that which doth cost me nothing"; if Ananias was punished for grieving the Spirit by Spirit by keeping back part of the price"; surely we wh m "the love of Christ constraineth" should rise to highest devotion of our all to God; and, like our Lord who "gave Himself" (Ephes. v 2) in all His perfectness, "yield ourselves unto God." ILLUSTRATIVE ADDENDA TO CHAPTER I. Revelation. Varro, a Roman writer of the first century B.C., states, that in his day he had been at pains to collect the various opinions on the question "What is the true object of human life?" and had reckoned up as many as three hundred and twenty ""Tis revelation satisfies all doubts, Dr. Taylor of Norwich once said to me (wrote John Newton), "Sir, I have collated every word in the Hebrew Scriptures seventeen times, and it is very strange if the doctrine of the atonement you hold should not have been found by me" "I am not surprised at this" (John Newton answered); "I once went to light my candle, and could not, for the extinguisher was on it. Now prejudice, from education, learning, etc., often proves an extinguisher; it is not enough that you bring the candle, you must remove the extinguisher." The Ascending Fire. "The symbolism of this combustion (upon the altar) is manifest. It was a sending of the gift to God. After arranging the divided or the selected portions of the carcase in the heaven-born fire, which had issued forth from the Divine presence at the consecration of the tabernacle, they were burned, that is to say, they were etherialised and they rose to heaven as 'a sweet savour.' To burn was to effectually present."-Principal Cave. Sacrifices of the Poor. The Jews at Jassy still bring offerings of the fowls. "In one house" records those who were observers of the incident, "we came to the window of the house and saw distinctly what was going on within. A little boy was reading the prayers, and his widowed mother stood over him with a white hen in her hands. When he came to a certain place in the prayer, the mother lifted up the struggling fowl, and waving it round her head, repeated these words: This be my substitute, this be my exchange: this fowl shall go to death and I to a blessed life.' This was done three times over, and then the door of the house was opened, and out ran the boy carrying the fowl to the shocket, or slayer, to be killed by him in the proper manner." This occurred on the eve of the Day of Atonement. Sacrifice is the first element of religion, and resolves itself in theological language into the love of God." -Froude, "Short Stories." Propitiation. Cowper, the poet, speaking of his religious experiences, says, "But the happy period which was to shake off my fetters, and afford me a clear opening of the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus, was now arrived. I flung myself into a chair near the window, and seeing a Bible there, ventured once more to apply to it for comfort and instruction. The first verse I saw was the 25th of the 3rd of Romans: Whom God hath set forth to be a propiti ition through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.' Immediately I received strength to believe, and the full beans of the Sun of Righteousness shone upon me. I saw the sufficiency of the Atonement He had made, my pardon sealed in His blood, and all the fulness and completeness of flis justification. In a moment I believel and received the Gospel." Consecration. "And here we offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy and lively surfice unto Thee," etc.-Communion Servi e. "From henceforth thou shalt learn that there is love to long for, pureness to desire, a mount of consecration it were good to scale.”—Jean Ingelow. On the seal of the Baptist Missionary Society is the figure of an ox, standing patiently, with a plough on one side, and an altar on the other, with the beneath: inscription Ready for either," to serve or suffer. 66 Calvin's motto was: "I give Thee all; I keep back nothing for myself." CHAPTER II. Bloodless Sacrifices: The Food-Offerings. SUGGESTIVE READINGS. V. 1. His offering shall be of fine flour.-Sacrifices for the "meat offering" were from the vegetable, not animal, kingdom. Food offering more expresses the idea. Prepared from wheat, and presented in various forms; fine flour, and cakes of four different kinds, and wheat in the grain. These were products of husbandry, not spontaneous growths entailing no anxiety in provision, or labour in preparation; they represent human labour; were the daily food of man, essential to his life; suggestive, therefore, of his dependence on God, to whom he offered them, his gratitude to God, from whom he received them, his dedication to God, whom he worshipped in the act of sacrifice. As typical of Christ: His excellency is indicated in the quality of the flour, disposal of it. God looks for grateful returns from those who share the gifts of “fine,” and His sufferings in the His bounty in Providence: "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me ?". How much more He should receive responses of our thankful love for His greatest Gift whose worth and virtue are prefigured in this "fine flour burned upon the altar" as 66 made by fire." a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord Oil and frankincense. Symbolic of the Holy Spirit's grace, and the sacred joy of a consecrated life. If" flour" suggests the product of human labour, the “vil " points to the added sanctity of the Spirit, needful in order to our offering being worthy a place on God's altar; and "frankincense" denotes the devout gladness with which we should make fragrant every act of sacrifice and service to the Lord. Compass God's altar, enriched by the Spirit's unction, and inspired with holy fervour; thus our consecration becomes "a sweet savour unto the Lord." V. 2. Burn the memorial of it.-As a heavenward appeal to God that He would remember both the offerer and His "word unto His servants on which He had caused them to hope." So David pleads-the Lord "remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice" (Psa. xx. 3); and thus the prayers and alms of Cornelius rose up "for a memorial before God." We may send up to Heaven our "incense of a pure offering," and keep a memorial continually before God of our enduring hope in Him and of His covenant engagements for us. V. 3 The remnant.-The priests of the tabernacle lived upon these consecrated gifts. As" priests unto God" (Rev. i. 6) we Christians have a share in all the provisions of God's house: the Bread of Life, the grace of the Spirit, the delights of Divine fellowship. This is "the feast of fat things" which they within the Church enjoy. "Eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness" (Isa. lv. 2). V. 8. Bring the Meat Offering.-Choose which kind of offering you prefer (three kinds are specified in vv. the mediation of our Divine "Priest"; and He who prizes the "prayers of the 4-7), then come with it "unto the Lord"; through saints" and loves the "sacrifices of joy," will seal our offerings with acceptance, and "hear from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand" (Psa. xx. 6). V. 11. No offering with leaven nor any honey.-They would produce fermentation. "Leaven" is symbolic of pride and hypocrisy, malice and wickedness; and "honey," though sweet to the taste, soon begets sickness, thus suggesting a soul quickly satiated and nauseated. God desires "truth in the inward parts," worship from a "honest heart," sacrifices from those whose delight in Him is not quickly reversed, whose love changes not. A mingling of corruption and insincerity spoils our finest offerings. What need to pray, "Create in me a clean heart," etc., and to examine ourselves and our motives when employed in sacred occupations, lest we offend with leaven and honey. V. 13. Season with salt.-It preserves from putrefaction; renders food savoury; denotes uncorruptedness, durability, constancy; was and is an oriental symbol of hospitality and amity. "Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt," says Christ (Mark ix. 49): there must be no corruptness allowed in the individual Christian life; and all our services should be savoured with the precious qualities of enduring fidelity and constant love. Salt, too, betokens the perpetuity of the Spirit's grace; and because of His abiding presence (glad fact in the Christian's experience, "He dwelleth with you and shall be in you") the consecrated soul retains its sweetness with God and its healthful influence on men. "Ye are the salt of the earth." SECTIONAL HOMILIES. Topic: HOMAGE GRACED WITH EXCELLENCIES (Vv. 1-3). In seeking God it should be our aim to press much into the act of adoration: not to approach Him with a poverty of graces, but with every virtue combined in the service; thought and feeling, desire and devotion all being of the highest, the finest and most fragrant. Not with one excellency alone beautifying our homage, but with manifold excellencies combined. "The preparations (plural) of the heart" are desirable; all our resources of devout feeling and intelligence; the soul's fulness of gracious yearnings and aspirations; so that our offerings are rich in excellent qualities of homage: these make worship and servico "things most holy" unto the Lord. 1. EVERY ELEMENT OF WORTH AND ATTRACTIVENESS SHOULD CONCENTRATE IN OUR WORSHIP AND SERVICE OF GOD. "His offering shall be of fine flour; and he sball pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon." By all these combined ingredients a total result would be produced which constituted the offering one "of a sweet savour unto the Lord." 1. Solitary graces are not despised by Him we worship. We may take Him gratitude, as did Noah when he burnt his sacrifice upon quitting the Ark; our appeasement sacrifices, as did Balaam on Pisgah; our penitential oblation, as David did in the threshing-floor of Araunah; we may take Him our look of faith, as did the Israelites suffering from the serpent-bite; our tears, as did Peter when he wept bitterly"; and none of these sacrifices are rejected. For he condescends to our low estate, and accepts the one ruling feeling or desire which prompts us to seek His face. 2. Yet worship should be the outflow of all noble affections and aspirations of the soul. "Fine flour, oil and frankincense," all should mingle, all should blend into an offering" of sweet savour." As when the woman 66 who was a sinner" brought her "alabaster box of ointment," and besides this, "washed His feet with tears," yea, and "kissed His feet," and then "anointed them with the ointment" (Luke vii. 37-8)-all passions of penitence, gratitude, adoration, trust, love, combining and concentrated on Jesus! 3. Preparation for such a blending of graces in worship is our evident duty. We ought not to enter God's presence with a poverty of homage, with hearts cold and heedless, with no affection astir, with no sacred graces alert; but with all holy emotions and desires awake, and intelligent perceptions quickened by forethought and pre-vision. God emphatically directs this preparatory arrangement for a right offering: "When any will offer, etc., he shall take thereout the flour and the oil and the frankincense" (vv. 1 and 2). [See Addenda, p. 29, Sweet Incense.] So David arouses and prepares himself: "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name." Having no occasion in this age of the Spirit to seek God with material presents, we may and should take Him the realities they symbolised; so that as from "golden vials full of odours" the prayers of saints might "ascend up before God" should enforce upon worshippers a deeply earnest concern to go in unto the King (Rev. v. 8; viii. 5). All this with their purest, holiest, devoutest feelings and thoughts. be hasty to utter anything before God" (Eccles. v. 1, 2). "Let not thine heart soever things are true, venerable, just, pure, lovely," etc. "whatIl. ADORABLE PRESENTATIONS TO GOD SECURE HIS GRACIOUS APPRECIATION AND LAVISH PRAISE. What a richness of approving words we have here! sweet savour unto the Lord." (Vv. 2, 3). He asks of us "An offering... of a "It is a thing most holy of the offerings," etc. 1. No poverty of approval ever repels a fervent worshipper. Affection may be wasted upon the unappreciating; pearls cast before swine will be trodden under foot; Art's beauties are insipid to the unsympathetic soul. To the imbecile and the eye void of discernment, "A primrose by the river's brim A yellow primrose is to him, Much that is beautiful in the world, and in human life, misses recognition; eyes and hearts are closed to their preciousness. But "God knoweth the heart"; sees the motive of action, the meaning of sighs and tears, the graces of desire and design in our feeblest and frustrated efforts. "It is well that it was in thine heart." "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." "It is accepted according to that a man hath." Nothing escapes Him. Jesus so instantly saw the charm of Mary's act, though against it the "disciples murmured" (Mark xiv. 6, 8, 9). God "smelled a sweet savour' when Noah sacrificed. 2. Offering such excellency of homage we shall assuredly realise that God is well pleased. If" the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering," because "by faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gift," will He fail to seal His favour upon the soul who "worships Him in spirit and in truth," seeing "the Father seeketh such to worship Him"? Did there not come transfiguration glories upon Jesus "as He prayed" (Luke ix. 23), followed by the inspiring testimony, "This is My beloved Son" "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. iv. 6, 7). God will make us glad, assured that we are of Him." accepted III. Excellences in typical offerings FORESHADOWED THE WORT..INESS OF JESUS. BEAUTIES AND 1. The quality of the flour bespeaks the intrinsic excellence of Christ. He is the faultless One, "holy, harmless, undefiled"; God's most gracious Son; "fairer than the children of men." Inheriting His virtues by faith, we are beauteous in His beauty, faultless in His perfection, "accepted in the Beloved," "made the righteousness of God in Him," so as to stand at last "perfect before Him in love." 2. The pouring oil thereon denotes the anointing of the Spirit. For the Holy Ghost descended on Him; "baptised with the Holy Ghost," Jesus was enriched |