I. LEVITICAL AND PRIESTLY CHARACTER.

The occupation by the child of God of the place of service in a right and godly way, amid the varied circumstances occasioned by the existing conditions of the present day, is a question the importance of which can hardly be overestimated. Our whole life is to partake of the servant character, for it is as servants for God, in one way or another, (which way must be learnt from the Fountain-Head of all service) that we are left in the world.

We are delivered through the grace of our God from bondage to sin, delivered from subjection to the power of Satan, and are now "bondmen to God," the servants of His will. We are to bear before men the testimony of the truth which has made us free. What a distinctive, yea, exalted, position is ours therefore to bear before men "the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6)!

In this way our service, like that of the Levites and priests, is all in relation to the tabernacle,-the tabernacle of witness,-which is the witness in the first place of what God is for us, and as a consequence it constitutes the witness we are to bear before men of what He has for them. Therefore the Levitical and priestly characteristics of tabernacle service are the type of the two very important parts of our own service. There is this marked distinction between them :the Levite service is toward men, though it be from God, and for God; the priestly service is toward God; the face is turned toward the sanctuary, and the censer of praise and worship is in the hand.

In the first, then, the face is toward the world, and we are to bear before it that character which will mark us as being for God, while also delivering to it the message we have from God for it, the testimony of His truth. "We are ambassadors, therefore, for Christ; God, as it were, beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). This is distinctively the Levitical character. How precious and blessed to think that we who were once in the kingdom of darkness, and subject to the rule of its king, Satan, are now privileged to proclaim to those in a like position to that in which we were enslaved, the emancipating truth which will break every' binding chain and set free for time and eternity! Many are the ways in which we may be occupied with such service. The very manner of our life should bear witness of the enfranchised position we occupy; and, accompanying this, the word of faithful and loving testimony when the opportunity is presented-the handing of a tract, or their more free distribution, if circumstances permit. How much of this kind of service is needed-perhaps we may say more important than public preaching" in a way, because many, many precious souls can be reached in this manner who could not be brought to public meetings.

We are passing through a world darkened by the awful cloud of sin, and in which, as a consequence, the power of the spiritual rulers of darkness holds sway. We are passing among men blinded by the god of this world to all true apprehension of their real condition, in whom the carnal mind, with its inherent hatred to all that is of God, controls the life. Into our hearts, beloved, God has shone "the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of Christ" (2 Cor. 4:4-J. N. D..), and this for the purpose that from us should shine forth the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Christ. It is the rays of such light which will dispel the darkness of unbelief, which will pierce the inmost recesses of the human heart and search it out. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), and we are the called and chosen to proclaim it to perishing fellow-men, since we are its depositories. In view of our great blessing and consequent responsibility, what is the measure in which this blessed light of God shines forth from us, which He would have illumine this darkened world ? Are we fulfilling, in the ways laid open to us, our Levite service ? May we consider with deeper earnestness of heart that "open door" which our blessed Lord has set before us, remembering that " no man can shut it," and go forth, in fresh energy derived from its only source, God's presence, with the wine and milk of salvation, to offer it without money and without price.

But indeed it must be in the energy, grace and strength drawn from the secret place of the Most High. And this brings us to consider the connection with Levitical service of priestly character. In this latter, as we have said, the face is Godward, its object the sanctuary. Thus, that which distinctively marks priestly position for us is that we have "boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus " (Heb. 10:19). We have access to the vary presence of God Himself, the veil being rent. We are privileged to pass by faith into that blessed glory, and pour out our hearts at a throne of grace. How blessed to turn from the heartrending sight of this sad world of suffering and shame, to pillow the head in simple faith upon the breast of our blessed Lord and Saviour! What rest, beloved-what peace! It is the peace Christ has given, which the world cannot take away. Do, we as we should, avail ourselves of the inestimable privilege of communing with God, our Father, as those who are His children-owned as such by the gift of the Spirit of adoption ? No fear, only filial love for the soul and heart to enjoy. And then, again, to Him we are a holy priesthood, for the offering up of spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. How sweet to come to the golden altar in plain sight of the throne and the propitiatory (the veil rent), and bring our incense-offering of praise, knowing full well that it is accepted in the value of Christ's precious name-an odor of a sweet smell! The darkness is cleft, and the True Light now shineth.

Whence all this blessedness ? The cup of blessing from which now we can drink to the full, God can put into our hands because He has first pressed the cup of our shame and judgment to the lips of our blessed Lord, and He has drained it to the last dark drop. The light of the glory in which we now stand is the eternal sequel to the awful darkness and anguish of the cross of Christ. We are freed because the stroke of divine righteousness has smitten Him, and now in the infinite value of that perfect sacrifice we are accepted. Yea, in the glory of His resurrection we stand before God. What a price has been paid for the blessing we are called to enjoy! How our hearts should be stirred afresh to lay hold of it all! Surely, as we do this, our hearts shall be filled to overflowing, our lips be opened to speak the praise of Him who died. Then shall we be ready, our own hearts warmed by the love and light of the sanctuary, to go forth and perform our Levitical service toward men. It is important to notice in this connection that the Levites are joined to the priests for service (Num. 3:5-10). The Kohathites could not bear any of the sanctuary vessels until the priestly house had entered the sanctuary and covered all, and of course not until Kohath had taken up his burdens could Gershon or Merari commence to take theirs. This plainly tells us that before Levite ministry there must be the priestly work ; for upon communion and worship all other ministry depends:with such a basis alone can it be real and effectual.

May we then, by God's grace, as the days shorten, enter more fully into these blessed priestly and Levitical characters, which should mark our occupation in the place of service down here for our absent Lord. J. B. Jr.