He "hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling savor." EPH. 5:2.

When and where was the Tabernacle first reared?

In the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year of the exodus. This was just a year after the departure from Egypt.

All its parts and appurtenances were anointed with holy oil, and consecrated by numerous burnt-offerings.

In the Holy of Holies was placed the Ark of the Testimony.

In the Ark was deposited the Book of stone: that is, the tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments, or Testimony of God.

The commandments are God's testimony or witness, declaring his will, and directing man in the path of duty.

The gospel of Christ is also a testimony or witness to all nations. MAT. 24:14.

God communed with the high-priest before the mercy-seat. The Ark was the symbol of the divine presence; without it, the Tabernacle was no longer the temple of Jehovah.

LEVITICUS;

OR,

THE BOOK OF THE LEVITES.

THIS book treats of the ceremonies of Jewish worship, as conducted by the sons of Levi.

Leviticus, along its legal stream,

Is strewn with symbols of the gospel scheme:
Rich gems beneath the ritual darkness shine
With inner light, and meanings all divine.

SACRIFICE.

What was the most important part of the Jewish worship?

Burnt-offerings, or the offering of animals in sacrifice to God, as an atonement for sin.

What animals were used for sacrifice?

Males without blemish, chosen out of the herds of domestic cattle, and from the flocks. of sheep and goats. When the offerer was poor, and had no flocks, nor herds, turtledoves

and young pigeons might be offered as substitutes.

What was the most important part of the ceremony? The sprinkling of the blood, by which the atonement was made. The blood represented life, bestowed as a redemption for life.

What offerings were made besides animals?

Choice articles from the vegetable kingdom

were brought and laid upon the altar; such as ears of corn, meal, bread, cakes, frankincense, salt, oil, and wine. They were called meatofferings and drink-offerings. Meat, in this connection, has the meaning of food. These were offerings of submission, gratitude, and praise.

What accompanied the sacrifices, as a part of public worship?

Instrumental music, and the singing of sacred

songs.

To what did all the sacrifices of the Mosaic law refer?

To the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Faith in the promised Saviour was the only ground of acceptance with God. The daily sacrifice at morning and evening, was a continual memorial of God's wrath against sin, and man's need of an atonement.

To what was the Mosaic ritual subservient?

To the gospel of Christ. It was the morning star vanishing before the light of the Sun of righteousness.

From all these offerings and laws we should learn to hate sin, and to watch against it. Above all, to be grateful to Christ, who made himself an offering for sin. 1 JOHN, 2:1.

How was the sacred fire upon the altar kindled?

LEVITICUS 9:24.

This fire is supposed never to have been extinguished, till the destruction of the temple of Solomon by the Chaldeans.

CLEAN AND UNCLEAN ANIMALS. Why this distinction in regard to food? Several reasons may be assigned for it: 1. It was a trial of obedience and faith. 2. It was necessary for the preservation of health, most of the forbidden meats being unwholesome in that climate.

3. It was a restraint upon intercourse with other nations, and thus preserved them from idolatry and superstition. Having a system of food peculiar to themselves, would tend to keep them a distinct people.

As a general rule, the unclean animals were those that lived on flesh.

We may learn from this distinction of animals, that God would have all men to be pure and holy, and to observe the divine law, even in the common affairs of eating and drinking.

Holiness of heart and life, and separation from idolaters, constituted the grounds of the precept.