the spotless and unblemished man Christ Jesus. Neither could honey, which, though at first sweet, soon becomes corrupt and sour, be an emblem of Him who was "the altogether lovely." Honey may resemble the sweetness and amiability of the natural character, but fallen nature is subject to change, and stands in striking contrast with Him who could say concerning the Father, "I do ALWAYS those things that please Him," and of whom it was said touching His people, whom He loved, "He loved them unto the end." Truly there is a deep and affecting emphasis in the exclusion of leaven and honey, which portrays the perfectness, and tends to heighten the glory of the Person that is here set forth.

Further, as the measures of knowledge and faith are not the same in all saints, so we have different degrees (if I may so speak) of the meat offering brought before us in chap. ii. But the great principles of all are the same. The bruised or "beaten corn" is the substance of each grade, and salt is in every case to be combined, while nothing of a corrupting or impure tendency must be associated with it.

But, as before alluded to, the meat offering was not only a sweet savour unto Jehovah, but it provided food

vened." Ex. xii. 20. See also Ex. xiii. 3, 7. Ex. xxxiv. 25. Lev. ii. 11; vi. 17; x. 12. "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Luke xii. 1. "Purge out the old leaven." 1 Cor. v. 6-8. Gal. v. 9. Matt. xiii. 33.

for the priests also. They were to eat it in the holy place. Lev. vi. 16. It was their exclusive privilege, by God's gracious appointment. It satisfied God, and also satisfied them. They fed together on the same bread. And surely this is very plain: for we know who is "the true bread"- the "bread of God" which came down from heaven; and we well know also, that He alone can satisfy the daily cravings and desires of our souls, as He said, "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me." And truly this is fellowship, even the same meat ministering delight and satisfaction, both to God and to us-the imperishable food of the Father's house-God-glorifying, soul-refreshing, soulsatisfying bread. Blessed it is, when in the energy of the Spirit, as "priests unto God," our souls feed on Him, and experience that His flesh is meat indeed, and that His blood is drink indeed. The soul has active faculties, and will seek to find comfort in something, and we may be sure, if it be not drawing consolation, strength, peace, and refreshment out of Christ's fulness, that the vessel is vainly borne to some broken cistern, or that the heart has wandered into some idol's temple. Is Christ our daily food? is a weighty question, concerning which we cannot deal too closely with ourselves, or judge ourselves too severely, for "the inward man is renewed day by day," and the Lord's glory, and also the welfare of the church of God, is connected with it.

Let it, beloved, be more than ever our daily business to enter into the holiest, for the express purpose of eating the meat offering, by considering the infinite glory of our dear and lovely Lord Jesus, by meditating on His life and sufferings, His death, His triumphant resurrection, His all-prevailing intercession, and by tracing in the Holy Scriptures His lowliness, patience, pity, compassion, tenderness, sympathy, unchangeable love and grace-that love, that could not be more, could not be greater-His everlasting, perfect love. Thus, shall we be "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might:" thus, shall we be increasingly happy, for we shall sit under His shadow with great delight, and find His fruit sweet unto our taste: thus, shall we progress in practical holiness also, for by "beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord;" thus, will our walk be characterized by an unworldly step, for by realizing the fellowship, refreshment, and joy of the Father's house, there will be no relish for "the husks that the swine eat:" thus will our love to God and His people, His ways and His word, grow and abound, for "we love Him because He first loved us:" thus also, by being "strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus," will self-denial be easy, suffering for His name sake be counted an honor, and His yoke be found easy and His burden light. LORD, EVERMORE

GIVE US THIS BREAD!

EXODUS XXXv.—xl.

JUST previous to the time of these chapters the people had been put on new moral ground. They had been convicted and humbled, and made to take the place, willingly to take the place, of poor sinners. They had become all alive to the ways of the Mediator (chap. xxxiii.) instead of being full of the thought of their own sufficiency (chap. xix.) This was the new ground to which their soul had been brought. And it is the business of these chapters, which I have now before me, to exhibit the fruit of this-which fruit, I may say, will be found to be of fine and excellent quality.

Zeal for the Lord was abroad in the camp. That is the great characteristic. There was life among them as well as within them-life in their ways and doings, as well as in their souls. It was no longer the deadness and drought of a self-righteous, self-satisfied mind, nor the indolence and vacancy of selfishness, but the quickened soul within, and energy and zeal in the service of the Lord abroad. And these chapters present some of the fine attributes of this zeal which had now been awakened.

We see it, first, in its internal heat. The people are stirred up. They are made willing either to give or to

H

work. All was cheerfulness of heart, and alacrity among them. We see it then in its self-denial. They empty their tents and strip their persons of ornaments, and dedicate whatever they have of gold, or purple, or precious stones-thus denying vanity and covetousness at the bidding of zeal for the Lord.

We see it then in its wisdom-for though zeal is a fervent principle, when genuine it will act discreetly, because it consults for the glory of God in God's own way. And so is it here. Each one in the camp labours according to his measure, either of natural skill, or of gift from God.

All

Thus was it in the camp at this happy moment. were occupied in giving or in working, male and female, nobles and simples. There was no drone in the hive. All were busy. And the giving and the working came from willing hearts, and were in the measure, and according to the character of each one's ability, whether of nature or of the Spirit.

Zeal was abroad, as I

It was a fine moral moment. have said. The camp was alive. All was quickened within and among them. And so it went on to the end. There was no weariness or cessation, till all was accomplished. And Moses has but to approve all that the people had done, as being good according to the commandment of the Lord, and to bless them.

Moses himself, as the mediator, has then to act. The matter passes into his hand; and under the direction