Meat offering.
"All the males of the sons of Aaron shall eat of it," with unleavened bread, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. "It is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering." "Every one that toucheth them shall be holy."
I. THE MINISTRY OF RELIGION SHOULD BE FULFILLED IN THE SPIRIT OF THANKFUL DEVOTION.
1. The best of the Church should be consecrated to its highest positions.
2. Their service should be rendered as a delight.
3. Their religious earnestness and cheerfulness should be cultivated by fellowship and brotherhood.
4. They should be closely united with the people, not separated from them by spiritual pride and a misanthropic asceticism.
II. HOLINESS THE IMPERATIVE REQUIREMENT OF GOD'S MINISTERS. Not mere ceremonial holiness.
1. Holiness of character and life.
2. Holiness in the service of the sanctuary—purity of worship, singleness of heart, orderliness and decency, with simplicity and manifest sincerity.
III. THE SANCTIFYING INFLUENCE OF A TRUE AND PURE WORSHIP EXTENDS THROUGH SOCIETY. Every one holy by contact with the holy.
1. The persuasive effect of a real and well-sustained religious service. The common mistake is to suppose that morality leads of itself to religion or may be substituted for it.
2. The true order of life is set before us here in the Law of Moses: the nearer to God, the holier; the more closely connected with the worship of God, the more separated from and defended against the impurities of the world.
3. The reaction of the holy life on the sanctuary. The revival of religion must be a reciprocal action of the Church on the ministry, and of the ministry on the Church.—R.