To what family was the priesthood limited?

To that of Aaron. EXODUS 28:1.

What was the penalty, if another should assume the office?

Death. NUM. 3:10.

Why were the Levites devoted to the service of the Tabernacle?

God appointed them as substitutes for the first-born, which had been consecrated to him, as a memorial that the Israelites were spared when the first-born of Egypt were slain.

THE HIGH-PRIEST.

The high-priest was distinguished from

other priests by a richly embroidered dress, connected with a breastplate and mitre. On the mitre was a golden plate, on which was engraved,

"HOLINESS TO THE LORD."

The breastplate was

set with twelve pre

cious stones of various kinds, in four rows, and contained the sacred "urim and thummim." Urim and thummim mean lights and perfcctions. What they were we do not now will understand, but by them God made known his will to the priest, as he asked for counsel before the mercy-seat.

An ephod was a kind of coat, or cloak.

The high-priest wore, on solemn occasions, the ephod and girdle, wrought with gold; the breastplate of judgment; the robe of the ephod, with small bells on its borders; the mitre and golden plate on the forehead.

What were the principal services of the priests?
To offer sacrifices, and to burn incense.
What were the services of the Levites?

To attend upon the priests, and perform all the necessary work of the tabernacle service.

The Ark was a sacred chest or cabinet, a little more than four feet in length, and about two feet and a half in breadth and depth. It was made of shittim-wood, overlaid with gold. This word Ark, is different in the original from that which is used for Noah's ark.

The tables of testimony were kept in the ark.

Shittim-wood is supposed to be a species of Acacia, the wood of which is smooth, hard, and almost incorruptible.

two yards and a half square, and one yard and a half in height. At each corner was a projection; these are called the horns of the altar. On the top was a sunk grate, or network, for the fire, and a pan below to receive the ashes. The pans, shovels, basins, flesh-hooks, were all of brass.

The brazen Laver was a large water-urn or basin, standing in another larger basin, called the foot of the laver.

The altar of Incense, overlaid with gold, was a little more than half a yard square.

The golden Candlestick, or lamp-bearer, was curiously wrought out of pure gold.

The golden Censer was a small bowl with a long handle, for burning and wafting incense.

HOLY ANOINTING OIL.

Aaron and his sons were sanctified for the priesthood by the holy anointing oil. The Tabernacle, the Altar, and all the vessels for the use of the tabernacle, were also consecrated in the same manner.

It was composed of five ingredients: Myrrh, Sweet Calamus, Cinnamon, Cassia, Oil Olive. It was death to compound any like it; or to use it for for any but sacred purposes.

This holy oil is an emblem of that unction of the Holy Spirit, with, which Christians in gospel days have been consecrated to the service of God.

INCENSE.

The sweet incense burnt upon the golden altar, was compounded of the most precious articles of perfumery known in that age, namely, Stacte, Onycha, Galbanum, Frankincense.

The bruising and burning of the incense is calculated to remind us of the death and intercession of Christ. His prayers for his people rise like continual incense to the throne of God.