Page images
PDF
EPUB

with hands" were

[ocr errors]

were "the figures of the true; both" the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry," were "patterns of things in the heavens1." Moses made all the holy places, and all the holy things in them, "according unto the pattern which the Lord had showed Moses m." They were the "shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of GOD when he was about to make the tabernacle, for see, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount".'

[ocr errors]

Between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, was set a laver of brass, and water was put thereino, and it was ordered, that Aaron and his sons should wash their hands and feet thereat, when they went into the tabernacle, that they died not P; "when they came near not; unto the altar, they washed." When the people were about to appear before the Lord at Mount Sinai, Moses, at the command of the Lord, "sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes." Jacob said to his household, "Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments."

* Hebr. ix. 24.

'Hebr. ix. 21, 23.

m Numb. viii. 4.

Isaiah

P Exod. xxx. 19-21.

q Exod. xl. 32.

r Exod. xix. 10, 14; xl.

n Hebr. viii. 5. Exod.

12, 32.

xxv. 40.

• Gen. xxxv. 2.

Exod. xxx. 18.

[ocr errors]

"Be bap

a

says, "Wash ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings." St. Paul says, tized and wash away your sins";" 66 ye are washed, ye are sanctified"; our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." Christ has washed us from our sins in his own blood". The robes of the saints are washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. Christ washed the feet of his disciples, and wiped them "with the towel wherewith he was girded "," and said, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me ";" thus did He, by this act, represent His washing them from their sins, and His wiping away their uncleanness with the righteousness wherewith He was girded. When Moses, then, sanctified the people, by making them wash their garments; and when the priests washed themselves before they presented themselves at the altar, that they died not; these acts of ablution represented the sanctification and purification of mankind by "the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which is shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviourd," who gave Himself for His church," that He might sanctify

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

L

Rev. vii. 14.

a John, xiii. 4—13.

b Isaiah, xi. 5.

Heb. x. 9, 10.

and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word "." It is the blood of Jesus that "cleanseth us from all sin f."

[ocr errors]

The priest was clad in "holy garments; he wore an "embroidered coat of fine linen"," "girt with a curious girdle;" and he had a breastplate of judgment, in which were "settings of stones" upon which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes', and in the breastplate were put the Urim and the Thummim", which names signify Light and Perfection. On his head he wore a mitre", in the fore-front of which was "the golden plate, the holy crown"," upon which were engraved words which signified "HOLINESS TO THE LORD ":" of this crown it was said, "It shall be "It shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord P." Isaiah says of the Redeemer, "He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head1;"

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

"He hath clothed me with the garments of sal vation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." "Fine linen is the righteousness of the saints." Of the Branch of the "stem of Jesse" it is said, "Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins t." "The Son of man was clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle"." The seven angels were "clothed in pure and white linen, having their breasts girded with golden girdles"." The armies of heaven were "clothed in fine linen, white and clean." The WORD of GOD was clothed in a "vesture dipped in blood;" "and on His head were many crowns2;" the garments of Aaron were sprinkled with blood. Solomon, at the consecration of the temple, says, "Let thy priests be clothed with salvation." As the high priest, then, represented Christ, so did his garments of fine linen which had been sprinkled with blood, represent the righteousness with which Jesus has clothed mankind by the sprinkling of His blood; they represented" the garments of salvation" and "the robe of righteousness." Christ is “the Lord

Isaiali, lxi. 10.

S Rev. xix. 8.

t Isaiah, xi. 5.

" Rev. i. 13. Dan. x. 5, 6.

w Rev. xv. 6.

* Rev. xix. 14; iv. 4; vii. 9.

y Rev. xix. 13.

2 Rev. xix. 12.

a Exod. xxix. 21.

b 2 Chron. vi. 41.

99

our righteousness," we are made "the righteousness of GOD in Him." The breastplate of the priest represented "the breastplate of righteousness" which Christ put on, and which we are commanded to put on also. The Urim represented "the Light of the world;" the Thummim was a figure of the Perfection of Him who was" without blemish and without spot "," and who, being made "perfect through suffering," "became the author of eternal salvation i.' The holy crown, bearing the words Holiness to the Lord, which being put upon Aaron's head made him "bear the iniquity" of the people, "so that they might be accepted before the Lord," made Aaron a still stronger figure of Christ, who "bare our sinsk," and hath made us " partakers of His holiness'," that we might be accepted in Him". As the priests had "linen breeches to cover their nakedness "," so hath Christ given us white raiment, and hath covered us with "the fine linen of righteousness, that we may be clothed, and that the shame of our nakedness do not appear." "Blessed is he that

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »