O Lord, into Thy rest, Thou, and the Ark of Thy strength."

It is evident, then, that the time during which the Ark rested on Mount Zion is a period of transition. The Tabernacle is the type of the Church in mortal flesh, journeying through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly inheritance. The Temple sets forth the same Church in permanence and glory. But between the two there is an intermediate stage. The Tabernacle still exists: Solomon himself honours it at the outset of his reign by going to offer sacrifice there. But the Ark has been removed from it, and has a separate existence : while the Tabernacle remains on the common earth, it is exalted to where God has set His king upon His holy hill of Zion. What can this signify but the separation of a portion of the Church from the main body, and its standing before the Son of Man in His own place? But this is only a temporary arrangement. The time comes when the Ark must merge its distinct character, and become once more only a part (though a special and prominent part) of the House of God. But it is not the Tabernacle, the Church in mortality and change, to which it returns, but the Temple, the steadfast, permanent, glorified House which is the Lord's rest for ever.

Now this is just the mystery of the 144,000, who have the Father's Name written in their foreheads. They are "redeemed from among men, a first-fruits unto God and the Lamb."* They rest not upon the common earth, but stand with their Lord-who at this time is still David, the man of war-in His own place. They shall be with Him a centre to which all shall look, and from

* See Fifth Sunday after Easter.

whence shall go forth all testimony and all help to those who are around the base of the Mount. But their separation from their brethren is only temporary: the harvest must follow the first-fruits into the garner of God. During the very period in which our David is subduing His enemies, He is preparing the materials for His future Temple. And when the reign of the Prince of Peace shall come, and the Temple be finished, then shall the Ark take up its place in the Holiest thereof, and the Body of Christ once more be seen as one.

If the sealed would constitute this Ark-as they are called to do-let them remember that which is written in the ancient story :-" there was nothing in the Ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt." Let there be nothing in us but the law of love to God and man, written on the fleshy tables of our hearts by the Spirit of the living God.

THIRD SUNDAY IN QUADRAGESIMA.

Cleansing and Filling.

Eph. v. 1-14. Luke xi. 14-28.

THE Epistle of to-day sets forth to us the standing and responsibilities of our baptism. We are God's dear children; and it is ours to be followers-that is, imitatorsof our Father, walking in His steps Who is the Son of His love. We, who were sometime darkness, are now light in the Lord; and have to walk as children of light, and to bring forth the fruit of the light. Those unfruitful works which grow in darkness we have renounced for ever. With uncleanness of word or deed, and with covetousness, we have no fellowship. Standing in the daylight, we cannot-if we would-share the wanton revellings of the night. We have awakened from sleep, and arisen from the dead, and Christ has given us light.

So through the Epistle speaks our Baptism to us. But then the Gospel takes up the tale: and, beginning with what we are by baptism, goes on to speak of the need of that presence and power of the Holy Ghost which is signified by our confirmation through Apostles' hands.

We once adorned the palace of the Adversary. A strong one, and armed, he kept his goods in peace. But there came upon him One stronger than he, and overcame him, and divided his spoils. The souls of men were set

free from the presence and power of the enemy, and became His Who had delivered them.

Into all this we enter by baptism. Our Service shows it forth. First we have the exorcism, then the christening. The evil spirit is cast out: and then comes the joining to Christ, and the baptismal vow, and the supply of grace, and the growing into an holy temple in the Lord for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

But when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house from whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it empty (St. Matt.), swept, and garnished." This is the danger of those who are content with baptismal cleansing; and go not forward to the sealing and anointing. It is not sufficient that the unclean spirit be cast out. The Holy Spirit must come, and take up His habitation in the vacant house. Only thus can it be secured against re-invasion by its former tenant. He may return: but he will see the lighted window and the smoking hearth, he will hear the hum of work and the song of praise; and he will attempt no entrance, for he knows that the Stronger than

he is there.

The practical lesson for us all is that we welcome and cherish this heavenly Guest. Be sure that nothing but the life and energy He brings can make us secure against our enemy. He that is not with the Lord is against Him; and he that gathereth not with Him scattereth. It is not enough that we keep clear of gross vices, that we sweep our souls from the dust of outer defilement, and garnish them with sound doctrine and good works. this did the Pharisees, against whom in the first instance our Lord directed His parable. We have only to look

All

on to the Crucifixion and to the fall of Jerusalem, to see the entering in of the seven other spirits, and the last end worse than the first. Let us seek to the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us, that He will fill the hearts of His faithful people, and kindle within them the fire of His love. Let us not be content till our hearts are all a-glow with that fire. Let us believe, not with the cold assent of indifference, but with the living trust of the child of God's family. Let our love be something more than the absence of enmity, and burn with the warmth and the passion of true devotion. And let our hope be the breathless thrilling expectation which has already an earnest of the joy to come, and the ardent longing of the Bride which can almost draw down the Bridegroom from the skies.

Into hearts thus filled and thus fired no evil power can enter. The place is pre-occupied; the dwelling consecrate. So fill us, Lord, and so fire us, for Thy holy Name's sake! Amen.

The Epistle to the Hebrews.

THE Evening Portions of Scripture at this period of the year are taken from the Epistle to the Hebrews. It may be profitable to sum up what is known regarding this Epistle generally, the persons to whom it was written, the object of its composition, the course of its argument, and, lastly, its authorship.*

* I am indebted for the suggestion of a good deal of the following to Dr. Thiersch, in his De Epistola ad Hebræos Commentatio Historica, and in his History of the Christian Church, Vol. I.

K