WE LOOK NOT AT GOD'S APPOINTMENT WHEN WE HAVE LOW THOUGHTS OF THE MEANS. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS-(continued). 49 ver. Those who are made willing to acknowledge Christ in the day of small things have, with Nathanael, the promise of seeing greater things. [51 ver. Let us never fail to connect the crown with the cross; to contemplate both the sufferings of Jesus as the Son of man, with the glory that will be when the vision of Jacob at Bethel shall be realized in our house which is from heaven-the house of God not made with hands, eternal in the heavens-when, as was seen upon the ladder reaching from earth to heaven, the angels of God shall be seen ascending and descending upon the Son of man.'] Let us not lose sight of one truth by attending to another. Nathanael acknowledged Jesus as being the Son of God: Jesus reminded him of his being the Son of man; and as he, as the Son of man, was to descend to a depth of humiliation which Nathanael may not have thought of; so also was he, as the Son of God, to ascend to a height of glory, and extent of dominion, which Nathanael may not have anticipated when he called him the King of Israel. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICE. BETHABARA BEYOND JORDAN.-Bethabara signifles a place of passage; of which there were, and are, several in the course of the river Jordan. Bethabara' was a common name for such. The place of this history is supposed to have been near lake Tiberias, and in the region under the jurisdiction of Herod, who afterwards imprisoned John. Scythopolis, or the ancient Bethshan, in the south-east corner of Galilee, agrees very well with a known ford, frequently crossed by modern travellers, about eight or ten miles south of the sea of Galilee.-See ADDENDA, Sect. vii. p. 56, 'On the Ministry of John the Baptist.' ADDEND A. ON JOHN i. 15, 27-30, pp. 48, 69. It is evidently necessary that Christ should be understood to have come after, in the same way, and in the same sense, in which John himself had gone before; in other words, that the personal ministry of each respectively was to be the same, differing only in the order of succession. The successor of the Baptist, even in a common work, was such as by the superior lustre of his person, and by the corresponding authority of his teaching, could not fail to eclipse and to supersede his predecessor. For He, who was from eternity; He, who was before the Baptist, by virtue of his essential pre-existence, his sublime and mysterious Divinity, could not possibly rank, or long continue to rank, after or beneath him; but must be preferred before him. The same assertion, therefore, of his own subordination to his successor, and the same reason for that subordination; viz., that John was from the earth, Christ was from heaven; John was from below, Christ was from above; are not more piously than naturally repeated in that other testimony of the Baptist's, which holds out the torch to the meaning of this, Jno. iii. 30-.2, § 13. The only difference between the personal ministry of John, and the personal ministry of Jesus Christ, was, that John baptized, and with water, because he was not to baptize with the Holy Ghost; Christ did PRIESTS, These were superior to the Levites in dignity, and chosen from the family of Aaron exclusively. They served immediately at the altar, prepared the victims, and offered the sacrifices. They kept up a perpetual fire on the altar of the burnt sacrifices, and also in the lamps of the golden candlesticks in the sanctuary; they kneaded the loaves of shew bread, which they baked, and offered on the golden altar in the sanctuary; and changed them every sabbath day. Every day, morning and evening, a priest (who was appointed at the beginning of the week by lot) brought into the sanctuary a smoking censer of incense, which he set upon the golden table, and which on no account was to be kindled with strange fire; that is, with any fire but that which was taken from the altar of burnt sacrifice, Ex. xxx. 9; Le. x. 1, 2. And as the number and variety of their functions. required them to be well read in their law, in order that they might be able to judge of the various legal uncleannesses, &c., this circumstance caused them to be consulted as interpreters of the law, Ho. iv. 6; Mal. ii. 7, &c.; Le. xiii. 2; Nu. v. 14, .5; as well as judges of controversies, De. xxi. 5; xvii. 8-13. To them it belonged publicly to bless the people in the name of the Lord. The priests were divided by David into twentyfour classes, i Ch. xxiv. 7-18; which order was retained by Solomon, 2 Ch. viii. 14; and at the revivals of the Jewish religion by the kings Hezekiah, xxxi. 2, and Josiah, xxxv. 4, 5. As, however, only four classes returned from the Babylonish captivity, Ezr. ii. 36-9; Ne. vii. 39-42; xii. 1, these were again divided into twenty-four classes, each of which was distinguished by its original appellation. This accounts for the introduction of the class or order of Abia, mentioned in Lu. i. 5, § 1, p. 2, which we do not find noticed among those who returned from the captivity. One of these classes went up to Jerusalem every week to discharge the sacerdotal office, and succeeded one another on the sabbath day, till they had all attended. 747 not baptize with water, because he was to baptize To each order was assigned a president, 1 Ch. xxiv. 6, 31; 2 Ch. xxxvi. 14, whom some critics suppose to be the same as the chief priests, so often mentioned in the New Testament, Mt. xxvii. 1; Ac. iv. 23; v. 24; ix. 14, 21; xxii. 30; xxiii. 14; xxv. 15; xxvi. 10. The prince or prefect of each class appointed an entire family to offer the daily sacrifices; and at the close of the week, they all joined together in sacrificing. And as each family consisted of a great number of priests, they drew lots for the dif ferent offices which they were to perform. It was by virtue of such lot that the office of burning incense was assigned to Zacharias, Lu. i. 9, § 1, p. 3; and the most honourable in the whole service. This office could be held but once by the same person. In order that the priests, as well as the Levites, might be wholly at liberty to follow their sacred profession, they were exempted from all secular burthens or labours. Of the Levitical cities already mentioned, thirteen were assigned for the residence of the priests, with their respective suburbs, Nu. xxxv.; the limits of which were confined to 1,000 cubits beyond the walls of the city, which served for out-houses-as stables, barns, and perhaps for gardens of herbs and flowers. Beyond this they had 2.000 cubits more for their pasture, called properly, the fields of the_suburbs, Le. xxv. 34. In all 3,000 cubits.-See Nu. Xxxv. 4, 5. Their maintenance was derived from the tithes offered by the Levites out of the titles by them received, from the first fruits, from the first clip of wool when the sheep were shorn, from the offerings made in the temple, and from their share of the sinofferings and thanksgiving offerings sacrificed in the temple, of which certain parts were appropriated to the priests, Le. vii. 33, .4, .6, .8; De. xviii. 3; see also Nu. xviii. 13, .5, .6; Le. xix. 23, .4; Nu. xxxi. 28-41.'-Horne's Introduction, Vol. III. pp. 275-.7. BESIDE ME THERE IS NO GOD.-Isa. xliv. 6. I AM THE LORD, YOUR HOLY ONE, THE CREATOR OF ISRAEL, YOUR KING.-Isaiah xliii. 15. PRIESTS. every day, &c.:-Ex. xxx. 9, Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.'-Le. x. 1, 2. 1,And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2, And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.' consulted as interpreters, &c.:-Ho. iv. 6, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.-Mal. ii. 7, &c., For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.'-Le. xiii. 2, When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests.'-Nu. v. 14, .5. 14, And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: 15, then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.' as well as judges of controversies:-De. xxi. 5, And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried.'-xvii. 8-13. 8, If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; 9, and thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: 10, and thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: 11, according to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12, And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. 13, And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously." divided by David into 24 classes:-1 Ch. xxiv. 7-18. which order was retained by Solomon:-2 Ch. viii. 14, And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.' by king Hezekiah:-2 Ch. xxxi. 2, And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.' and Josiah:-2 Ch. xxxv. 4, 5. 4, And prepare your selves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son. 5, And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites." four classes only returned from Babylon:-Ezr. ii. 36-.9. 36, The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 37, The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 38, The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 39, The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.' And see Scrip. Illus.,' page opposite. to each order was assigned a president:-1 Ch. xxiv. 6, 31. 6, And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. 31, These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.'-2 Ch. xxxvi. 14, Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.' whom some critics suppose to be the same as the chief priests mentioned:-Mt. xxvii. 1, § 89.-Ac. iv. 23-... ..v. 24-.. .ix. 14, 21. 14, And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.' 21, But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests ?'-xxii. 30, On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.-xxiii. 14, And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain. Paul.'-xxv. 15, About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.'-xxvi. 10, Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.' their maintenance was from the tithes, &c.:-Le. vii. 33, 34, .6, .8. 33, He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. 34, For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the chil dren of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.' 36, Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations.' 38, Which the LORD commanded Moses In mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.'-De. xviii. 3, And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.'-Nu. xviii. 13, .5, .6. 13, And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it. 15, Everything that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. 16, And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.'-Le. xix. 23, .4. 23, And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of. 24, But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal.'-Nu. xxxi. 28-41. 28, And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep: 29, take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the LORD. 30, And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD. 31, And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses. 32, And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep, 33, and threescore and twelve thousand beeves, 34, and threescore and one thousand asses, 35, and thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him. 36, And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep: 37, and the LORD'S tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen. 38, And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the LORD's tribute was threescore and twelve. 39. And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the LORD's tribute was threescore and one. 40, And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD's tribute was thirty and two persons. 41, And Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD'S heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.' THE LEVITES. out your generations.'-ver. 1, 2. 1, And the LORD Levi assisted Simeon, c.:-Ge. xxxiv. 25–30; xlix. 5-7. spake unto Moses, saying, 2, Make thee two trumpets see p. (77). appointed to the service of the sanctuary:-Nu. iii. 12, 13. 12, And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13, because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.'-viii. 18, And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.' in lieu of the firstborn males:-Nu. iii. 14-6. 14, And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15, Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them. 16, And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.'-viii. 17, For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.' in David's time they were thirty-eight thousand:-1 Ch. xxiii. 3, Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.' twenty-four thousand divided into twenty-four courses: -1 Ch. xxiii. 4, Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD: and six thousand were officers and judges.'-2 Ch. xxxi. 17, Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses.' the first class to wait on the sons of Aaron, &c.:-1 Ch. xxiii. 28, .9. 28, Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; 29, both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size.'-2 Ch. xxix. 34, But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.'-xxxv. 10-4. 10, So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment. 11, And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them. 12, And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen. 13, And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people. 14, And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron." some of the chief, &c. -1 Ch. xxvi. 20, And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.' the second class consisted of four thousand:-1 Ch. xxiii. 5, Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.' the temple choir divided into twenty-four courses:-1 Ch. xxiii. 30.-xxv. the temple choir... wind and stringed instruments :— 2 Ch. vii. 6, And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.'-xxix. 26, And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.'-1 Ch. xv. 16, 24. 16, And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. 24, And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.'-Nu. x. 8, And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever through of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeyings of the camps." the third class was the porters :-1 Ch. xxiii. 5.-See above, consisted of four thousand.'-xxvi. 1-13, .9. 1, Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2, And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3, Elam the fifth. Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh. 4. Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth, 5, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him. 6, Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour. 7, The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah. 8, All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obed-edom. 9, And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen. 10. Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;) 11, Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen. 12, Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD. 13, And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.' 19, These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.'-2 Ch. xxxv. 15, And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.'-Also viii. 14-see p. (74).—2 Ch. xxiii. 19, And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in anything should enter in.'-1 Ch. ix. 33, And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.' the Levites and priests precluded from sharing, &c. :De. xviii. 1, 2. 1, The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. 2, Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.'-Jos. xxi. in lieu thereof had forty-eight cities, &c.:-Nu. xxxv. 1-8. 1, And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 2, Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them. 3, And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. 4, And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about. 5, And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities. 6, And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. 7, So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. 8, And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.' and thus God converted Jacob's curse, &c.:-Ge. xlix. 5-7—see p. (77). David made six thousand officers and judges.:-1 Ch. xxiii. 4-see above, twenty-four thousand divided,' &c. the Levitical cities had suburbs :-Nu. xxxv. 4, 5-see above, in lieu thereof,' &c. the priests and Levites received likewise a tithe, &c.:Nu. xviii. 21, And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.' THE CONSOLATION OF THE GOSPEL INCREASES, ACCORDING TO OUR FAITH IN THE TRUTHS THEREOF. LEVITES, p. 68. The Levites were the posterity of Levi, the third son of Jacob by Leah, and one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Levi assisted Simeon in murdering the Shechemites, for which his father Jacob denounced his family to be scattered among the Hebrew tribes in Canaan, Ge. xxxiv. 25-30; xlix. 5-7. They were appointed by God to the service of the sanctuary, Nu. iii. 12, .3; viii. 18, in lieu of the 'first-born' males, iii. 14-.6; viii. 17. They were, originally, distinguished into three classes, or families, (from the three sons of Levi,-Kohath, Gershon, and Merari). To them was committed the removal and setting up of the tabernacle in the wilderness. In David's time, the whole body of the Levites amounted to thirtyeight thousand, 1 Ch. xxiii. 3, of which number he appointed four and twenty thousand to attend the constant duty and work of the temple; and these being divided into twenty-four courses, 1 Ch. xxiii. 4; 2 Ch. xxxi. 17, there were one thousand for each week. Each class had its distinct service. The first class "was to wait on the sons of Aaron, for the service of the house of the LORD," i.e., to assist the priests in the exercise of their ministry, "to purify the holy things, to prepare the shew-bread, and flour, and wine, and oil for the sacrifice; and sometimes to kill the sacrifice," I Ch. xxiii. 28, .9; 2 Ch. xxix. 34; XXXV. 10-.4. Some of the chief amongst them had the charge of the sacred treasures, 1 Ch. xxvi. 20. The second class consisted of four thousand, 1 Ch. xxiii. 5. David divided them into twenty-four courses, and formed the temple choir, who thanked and praised the Lord every morning and evening, 1 Ch. xxiii. 30 -xxv. The music was both vocal and instrumental: "As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there," Ps. lxxxvii. 7. In David's time, there were appointed three masters of the band of music, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, 1 Ch. xv. 17, whose names are prefixed to some of the Psalms, probably because they set them to music. Asaph's name is inscribed to the fiftieth, seventy-third, and ten following Psalms; Heman's to the eighty-eighth; and Ethan's to the eighty-ninth. There was, also, over all the rest, one chief musician, or head master of the choir, to whom several of the Psalms are inscribed. At the time of writing the xxxix. lxii. lxxvii. Jeduthun was master. In the temple choir were both wind and stringed instruments, 2 Ch. vii. 6; xxix. 26. In both these passages the priests are said to sound the trumpets, see 1 Ch. xv. 16, 24, as it was prescribed in the law of Moses," The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets," Nu. x. 8; this was done "for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps," ver. 1, 2. The third class was the porters, consisting of four thousand, 1 Ch. xxiii. 5, to whose charge the several gates of the sanctuary were appointed by lot, 1 Ch. xxvi. 1-13, .9; 2 Ch. xxxv. 15; and they attended by turns in their courses, as the other Levites did, 2 Ch. viii. 14. Their proper business was to open and shut the gates, and to attend at them by day, as a sort of peace officers, in order to prevent any tumult among the people; to keep strangers and the excommunicated and unclean persons from entering into the holy court; and in short to watch over the safety, peace, and purity of the holy place and service, 2 Ch. xxiii. 19. SIMON, Simon was a son of Jonas, and brother to Andrew; was a fisherman, and native of Bethsaida in Galileesee 44 ver. Jesus called him Cephas, which is, by interpretation, A stone,' 42 ver. Simon was called to be a disciple, Mt. iv. 18-22. § 16-to be an apostle, Simon he surnamed Peter.' Mk. iii. 16, $27-walked on the sea to J., Mt. xiv. 28, § 41-blessed by Jesus as having revealed to him from God that Jesus was the Christ, xvi. 17-20, § 50-chosen to be a witness of Jesus' glory, xvii. 1-8, § 51-comp. 2 Pe. i. 16, .7-appointed by Jesus to pay the tribute, Mt. xvii. 24-7, § 52, (Capern.)-chosen with James and John and Andrew to be instructed concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and the second coming of Christ, Mk. xiii. 3, § 86, (on Mt. Olivet)-appointed Notwithstanding the meanness of their employment, yet the pious king David said, Ps. lxxxiv. 10, I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." They also kept guard by night about the temple and its courts. They are said to have been twenty-four, including three priests, who stood sentry at so many different places. There was a superior officer over the whole guard, called by Maimonides, "the man of the mountain of the house." He walked the round, and when he passed a sentinel that was standing, he said, "Peace be unto you." But if he found one asleep, he struck him; and he had liberty to set fire to his garment. This custom may be alluded to in Rev. xvi. 15," Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments." Thus were the Levites employed in the work "day and night," I Ch. ix. 33. The consecration of the Levites in Moses' time was at the twenty-fifth year of their age, and they continued until fifty; but in David's time, when the labour was less, young men were eligible at twenty. 'None of the Levites, of what degree or order soever, had any right to sacrifice, for that was the proper duty of the priests only: the Levites, indeed, were to assist the priests in killing and flaying the sacrifices; and during the time they were offered up, to sing praises unto God. Neither had they any title to burn incense to the Lord. It was on account of their burning incense, that Korah and his company (who aspiring to the priest's office in this particular of were Levites) were destroyed, Nu. xvi. 1-36. The Levites, as well as the priests, were precluded by law from sharing the promised inheritance of Canaan with the other tribes, De. xviii. 1, 2; Jos. xxi. In lieu thereof they had forty-eight cities, with their suburbs, assigned them out of the other tribes; thirteen of which belonged to the priests, and thirty-five to the rest of the tribe of Levi, Nu. xxxv. 1-8. The cities of the priests were mostly in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and consequently nearer to Jerusalem, which stood in the confines of the two tribes; whereas those of the Levites were divided to them by lot, out of the other tribes on either side Jordan. And thus God converted Jacob's curse on Levi, Ge. xlix. 5-7, into a national blessing, by dispersing the priests and Levites, whose office it was to instruct the people where they resided in the Mosaic law, throughout the whole land. They also kept the public records and genealogies. David made six thousand of them officers and judges, 1 Ch. xxiii. 4. Dr. Lightfoot makes these forty-eight cities to be so many universities, where the ministerial tribe studied the law, and diffused the knowledge of it through the nation. Of these, six were appointed cities of refuge, for protecting persons from the severity of the law in case of involuntary homicide. The Levitical cities had suburbs and fields surrounding them, to the extent of 3,000 cubits on every side, Nu. xxxv. 4, 5. From these suburbs they were maintained when not ministering in the temple, at which time they were supported by the dues arising from the sacrifices. The priests and Levites received likewise a tithe of a tenth of all the inheritance in Israel for their services, Nu. xviii. 21. This was done that they might give themselves wholly to the service of the Lord."* p. 71. with John to prepare the passover, Lu. xxii. 8. § 87, (at Jerusalem)-refused to suffer Jesus to wash his feet, &c., Jno. xiii. 6-11, § 87, (supper chamber)— boasted of his attachment to Christ, ver. 36, .7; Lu. xxii. 33, .4; Mt. xxvi. 33, .4, § 87-chosen with James and John to witness Jesus' agony, Mt. xxvi. 37, § 88, (in the garden)-he smote off the ear of the high priest's servant, Jno. xviii. 10, § 88-with the rest of the disciples he forsook Jesus and fled, Mt. xxvi. 56, § 88-he denied Jesus three times; the last time with an oath; and afterwards wept bitterly, Mt. xxvi. 69-75, § 89-he was the first of the apostles to enter the tomb after Jesus' resurrection, Jno. xx. 3-10, § 93-he had a special manifestation of the Lord Jesus, Lu. xxiv. 34, § 95-he threw himself into the • The Levites had under them others, called NETHINIMS, chiefly of the posterity of the Gibeonites, whose business it was to carry the water and wood that were wanted in the temple for the use of the sacrifices, and to perform other laborious services there. They had a particular place in Jerusalem where they dwelt, called Ophel, being near their place of service-the temple, Ne. iii. 26. MAN, BY NATURE, IS WITHOUT POWER TO SAVE HIMSELF, AND WITHOUT DESIRE TO BE SAVED. I WILL BETROTH THEE UNTO ME FOR EVER; YEA, I WILL BETROTH THEE UNTO ME water to go to the Lord, as he appeared to the disciples, Jno. xxi. 7, 97, (at the sea of Tiberias,) and received a special commission from Jesus to feed his lambs, &c., ver. 15-.9 was reproved, ver. 20-.2. After our Lord's ascension, Peter was the chief speaker in the church at Jerusalem, Ac. i. 15-22on the day of Pentecost he defended the brethren, ii. 14, .5, and preached a sermon to the people, when 3,000 were converted, ver. 16-41, (in Jerusalem)-he healed a lame man at the Beautiful gate of the temple, iii. 1-11, and again preached Jesus, ver. 12-26was imprisoned, &c., iv. 1-22-at his word Ananias and Sapphira fell down dead, v. 1-11-the sick laid in the streets, that the shadow of Peter, &c., ver. 15with the other apostles he was again imprisoned, ver. 17, .8, and released by an angel, ver. 19; and as they taught in the temple, were taken and set before the council, and being beaten were let go, ver. 21-40-he rejoiced in suffering, and ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ, ver. 41, 2-appointed by the church to go to Samaria, viii. 1-25-he raised Eneas, ix. 32-.5, (at Lydda)-restored Tabitha to life, ver. 36-43, (at Joppa)-was warned by a vision to go to Cæsarea, x. 9-17, (at Joppa)-baptized Cornelius, ver. 18-48. (at Cæsarea)-was imprisoned by Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee, &c., and delivered by an angel, xii. 3-17-was in Jerusalem at Paul's first visit after his conversion, Ga. i. 18-the gospel of the circumcision was committed to him, ii. 7-Peter and Paul met at Anticch, zer. 11-Paul withstood him to the face, ver. 11-.6. At the time Paul set out on his evangelical circuit from Antioch through Phrygia and Galatia, Ac. xviii. 23, A.D. 52, Peter is also supposed to have departed thence through Pontus, Galatia, &c., and passing by Corinth, to have arrived at Rome, accompanied by Mark, A.D. 54-during his stay there Mark's Gospel was written, A.D. 55-and from Babylon in Egypt, Peter wrote his first epistle, A.D. 59 he arrived in Rome a second time, A.D. 64, having ordained Mark bishop of Alexandria; and wrote his second epistle, A.D. 65-and in the same year suffered martyrdom; being, it is said, crucified with his head downwards, deeming it too great an honour even to die as his Lord. SECTION 11.-JESUS IS PRESENT AT A MARRIAGE-FEAST IN CANA: HE TURNS 1 (G. 10.) Jesus changes water into wine. John ii. 1-11.-At Cana. And the third day there-was a-marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus 2 was there: and both Jesus was-called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when4 they-wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They-have no wine. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. third day-Jesus had been once and again proclaimed as the Lamb of God.' This was at length effectual in inducing two disciples to attach themselves to him, Jno. I. 35-.9, § 10-the day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee,' ver. 43-the day after this was the third, reckoning that as the first, near the close of which Jesus began to gather disciples, Jno. i. 39, § 10, p. 71-much regard is had to the third day in Scripture-see Sect. I., Jesus' first prediction of his death and resurrection.' a marriage-represents the union which shall have taken place between Christ the Bridegroom and his chosen people, previous to their restoration-see Je. iii. 14-a betrothment in faithfulness, Ho. ii. 14-20upon which the word shall be fulfilled to Zion: For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee,' Is. lxii. 5-see as to what the Lord hath done to accomplish the marriage, Ep. v. 25-33-and the importance of obeying the call to the marriage, Mt. xxii. 1-14, § 84; xxv. 1-13, § 86. Cana-there was a Kanah in the north of Asher, as well as this, Cana the lesser in Galilee, Jos. xix. 28the word may mean zeal,' or 'possession.' It was predicted that the promised Seed, referred to above, Jesus Is. Ixii. 5, would inherit the Gentiles, Is. liv. 3-they were to be given possession of the gates of their enemies, Ge. xxii. 17- Cana' is again introduced at Jno. iv. 46, § 14, and xxi. 2, § 97, in connection with the name Nathanael: the two names together express the truth, God gives possession, as Ps. xliv. 3. 2. disciples-those already mentioned as followers of Jesus were Andrew, ch. i. 40, § 10, p. 71. and another disciple, probably James; also Simon Peter, ver. 41, p. 71-Philip, ver. 43, p. 72-and Nathanael, ver. 45-they had heard of Jesus as being the Lamb of God,' ver. 36, p. 70-acknowledged him, of whom Moses and the prophets did write, ver. 45, p. 72, to be the Christ, ver. 41, p. 71-and were, as lively stones, to be built upon that one Foundation, ver. 42, p. 71– they were engaged in bringing others unto Jesus, ver. 41, .5, p. 71; and, submitting themselves to him as King of Israel, ver. 49, p. 73, they were taught to look forward to the glorious consummation of his kingdom, when he shall be obeyed both on earth and in heaven, ver. 51, p. 73. 3. they have no wine-wine had been promised in connection with the Lord's espousing a people to himself, Ho. ii. 19-22; Je. xxxi. 12 Ye shall be satisfied therewith,' Joel ii. 18, .9- the mountains shall drop sweet wine,' Am. ix. 13. NOTES. 1. Marriage. A solemn contract, whereby a man and woman engage to live together in a kind and affectionate manner. Anciently the Hebrews wore crowns on their marriage-day; and it seems, the bridegroom's was put on by his mother, Song of Sol. iii. 11. The ceremonies of marriage continued three days for a widow, and seven for a virgin, Gen. xxix. 27. During this time, the young men and young women attended the bridegroom and bride in different apartments, and the former puzzled one another with riddles, Song v. 1; Ps. xiv. 9, 14, .5; Ju. xiv. A friend of the bridegroom's governed the feast, that no drunkenness or disorder might be committed, ver. 9. At the end of the feast, the parties were, with lighted lamps, conducted to the bridegroom's house. The bridegroom, leaving his apartment, called forth the bride and her attendants, who, it seems, were generally about ten, Mt. xxv. 1-10, § 86. The modern Jews retain the most of these ceremonies: only since the ruin of their city and temple, the bridegrooms wear no crowns on the marriage-day. The mother of Jesus was there. Not invited, but as a relation. This may be inferred from her being present at the feast, and concerned about the wine. As Joseph is not mentioned, we may suppose that he died before our Lord entered on his public ministry. It is conjectured this feast was at the house of Cleopas, or Alpheus, whose wife was sister to the mother of our Lord, see ch. xix. 25, § 91, and one of whose sons was Simon the Canaanite, whom some have thought to be so called from his being an inhabitant of this Cana, Mk. iii. 18, § 27. 3. They have no wine. Or, the wine is falling short. This might very well happen, without supposing an excess on the part of the guests, probably in consequence of the arrival of Jesus and many with him, beyond the number originally expected, and attracted by his presence. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 1, 2 ver. Jesus, although a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, did not turn away morosely from witnessing the enjoyments of others. Let us 'rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with 76] 2 ver. Let us indulge in no feasts to which we cannot invite Jesus as a guest, and rejoice in a sense of his being present MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.-Matt. xxii. 14. IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND IN JUDGMENT, AND IN LOVING KINDNESS, AND IN MERCIES.-Hosea ii. 19. |