Instructions on the offerings for the priests.
Leviticus 6:13, "The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out."
I. THE PERPETUITY OF RELIGIOUS OBLIGATION.
1. As springing out of the relation between man and God, as underlying the whole of human existence. "In him we live, and move, and have our being."
2. The all-embracing love of God. The fire came originally from him, and must be kept up to betoken his ceaseless care of his creatures.
3. The positive expression of religious feeling can never be dispensed with, should be maintained in uninterrupted order.
II. The maintenance of worship is A DUTY WHICH IS DEVOLVED UPON CONSECRATED PERSONS, and their official position, in an especial manner. Vain to expect that the tire will not go out, unless appointed persons attend to it. Mere individualism is abuse of liberty, and ends in irreligious disorder and extinction of the fire of God's house.
Priestcraft is no argument against a special ministry in the Church. All must help to maintain the fire, but some must take the command as addressed to them in a special manner. They must separate themselves to the work, both by appropriate manner of life and recognition of special duties. Religion is not only in temples, but if the fire goes out there, it will go out everywhere.—R.