13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their 'images, and cut down their groves:

14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

15 Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;

16 And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

17 Thou shalt make thee no molten gods. 18 The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

19 All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.

20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

22 ¶ And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.

3

23 Thrice in the year shall all your menchildren appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.

24 For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.

25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.

26 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.

28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither cat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten 'commandments.

29 ¶ And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

31 And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.

32 And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.

33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.

34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.

35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him. (3) Heb. revolution of the year.

(1) Heb. statues. (2) Or, kid.

Heb. words.

In this chapter, Moses is directed to prepare two tables of stone, like unto the first, on which the Lord would write all the words that were written in the first tables, which he had broken. He is then commanded to be ready in the morning to come again to God on the top of the mount alone; no one was to be with him; and there the Lord would meet him, and answer the prayer recorded in the previous chapter (v. 1—3).

That prayer embraces two things. Moses did not understand how the Lord could deal with such a people and not destroy them; nor how such dealing could consist with his glorious character and perfections: he, therefore, prayed in the first instance, "If I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way" (ch. xxxiii. 13): and in the next place, "I beseech thee, shew me thy glory (ch. xxxiii. 18).

That prayer was now to be answered. The Lord would shew him both his way and his glory; how he would deal with his people; and how he would be glorified thereby. One

display of his great and glorious name would satisfy him in both respects; and what was the tenour of that glorious name? The Lord descended and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. "And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." (v. 6, 7.)

Such is the Lord's covenanted, gracious, and glorious name. A true understanding of this name explains all his dealings with his people, in all ages, and throughout all generations. On looking over the several parts of this glorious name, what would you say is its prevailing character? Must you not perceive that mercy rejoices over judgment? Must you not say, that grace abounds? Is not this his gospel name? His own character is "merciful, gracious, long suffering, abundant in goodness and truth" (v. 6). His method of dealing in such character is, he has "mercy for thousands;" he forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin (v. 7). All these imply, that the persons with whom he thus deals, are wicked transgressors, and sinners. Who, then, are the guilty whom he will not clear? (v. 7.) Not simply they who are wicked transgressors, and sinners, for all are such; and, if that were the case, none could be cleared; and, therefore, none would be saved. The expression rather describes those who, being guilty, despise that gracious mode of dealing, by which alone they can be saved; and so they are doubly guilty, and perish, because they reject the only way of life. Does not this also accord with the gospel? There is a Saviour provided, and the way is opened; but, if you believe not that "I am He," you shall die in your sins. (John viii. 24.) Thus, under the gospel, too, he will by no means clear the guilty.

What was the effect produced by the proclamation of this glorious name upon Moses? He was deeply humbled; he "made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and

worshipped" (v. 8). He prayed that he might be dealt with according to this glorious name. How will that heart be affected, that is favoured with the saving view of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? Just as Moses was affected thereby. There will be deep humility, coupled with fervent prayer for all the blessings of that salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

After these things, the Lord further informs Moses of what he would do. The people were to take heed. Idolatry had been their snare already, and would be again; they must guard against it; they must not mix with idolaters; all the Lord's instituted ordinances they must observe. Must we not do the same? Must we not come out and be separate? Must not the Lord be our God? Must we not remember our great deliverance? Are not all believers in Christ to be devoted, as the first-born, unto God? Is not the sabbath devoutly to be observed? Are not all bound to attend the solemn worship of God? Must we not beware of all kinds of error, delusion, insincerity, superstition, selfrighteousness, and hypocrisy? Waiting upon the Lord, and loving, honouring, and serving him, as he has ordained in the gospel of his Son, should we not enjoy the blessedness of such communion and fellowship with him? When Moses came down from the mount his face shone with some beams of the glory he had been beholding. And would it not be visible, too, in the calmness of your mind, and in the comfort and peace of your soul, when you possess fellowship "with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ?" (1 John i. 3.) Might we not "take knowledge of you when you have been with Jesus," and see something of the blessedness you have been enjoying by its holy and sanctifying effect upon your spirit, ways, and works? Not, indeed, that you will need to put a vail over your face as Moses did when he conversed with the people. That is done away in Christ. The great privilege of all true believers in Christ is, with open face to behold "as in a glass the glory of the Lord;" and the real evidence of beholding that glory is, the being changed thereby "into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor. iii. 13-18.)

3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

4 ¶ And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,

5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,

6 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,

7 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,

8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,

9 And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

10 And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;

11 The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,

12 The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering,

13 The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread,

14 The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,

15 And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,

16 The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,

17 The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court,

18 The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,

19 The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron

the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.

20 ¶ And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.

21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD'S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.

23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them.

24 Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD'S offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.

25 And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.

26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair.

27 And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;

28 And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. 30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;

31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;

32 And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

33 And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.

34 And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the en

graver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, eren of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

(1) Heb. holiness.

We must notice the several things enjoined in this chapter for our profit and improvement. Remember what has already been spoken by the Lord to Moses, and then observe what is here commanded.

Here is, first, the observance of the sabbath. How much hath God spoken about the sabbath! Time after time, and chapter after chapter, we meet with the constant repetition of the same command; doubtless because of its vast importance. If that day has been blessed by God, and appointed by him to be a day of blessing to man, then how can he be blessed who disregards or violates its sacred obligations? Before they entered upon the execution of the several parts of the tabernacle, they must observe the sabbath; and while those works are going on, they must still observe that holy day. The position of this command in the context before us clearly implies this fact. "Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord" (v. 2). Let this be attended to by all; for it concerns all; and it is a duty incumbent on all.

Here is, next, the information which Moses gave to the people about the work of the sanctuary; and the solemn appeal he made to them in the name of the Lord. The work was to be done by voluntary contribution; whoever felt disposed to help it forward, let him contribute willingly of his substance for that sacred purpose. Various things would be required, and, as every one had somewhat which was needful, let them all consider in their heart what they might have to bestow; and those who felt inclined to assist the work itself, let them come forward in like manner. Having thus addressed them, the people retired for the purpose of mutual deliberation (v. 4-20). In furthering good and useful designs, would it not be a wise plan always to imitate the conduct of Moses on this occasion? He assembled the

people together; he told them what the Lord intended to do; he laid before them the nature of the work which was to be done, and what would be required for its execution; he then appealed to their hearts for a willing contribution for that purpose; the people returned to their tents to consider the matter, and the result we shall soon see.

unto the Lord.

What a lovely Now, cannot the

Here is, thirdly, a statement of the offerings brought by the people for the erection of the sanctuary. Every thing required was given; every thing was offered willingly; every article came in abundance; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses, brought a willing offering What a delightful spirit! sight do we here behold! Lord still make the hearts of all persons disposed to contribute willingly, largely, and abundantly, for the extension of his kingdom, and the glory of his name? Whether the help be needful at home or abroad; whether among ourselves or others; whether for the conversion of Jews or heathens, he can give a willing heart to all who have the means in their hands to provide for the work; he can enable them effectually to carry it on; and cause the whole to redound to his praise.

Here are, lastly, the persons before chosen of God for the purpose, now willingly coming forward and offering themselves for the execution of the work assigned them. Is not this the finger of God? How wonderful are these things when we calmly consider them! And cannot the Lord do the same still? Assuredly he can not only provide the means, but the instruments also. He can dispose men to give willingly of their silver and their gold; and incline others to offer themselves, by a willing dedication to his service, to carry the design for which such free-will offerings are made, into full effect? What a source of encouragement is this for all who are engaged in missionary and Bible societies; and in all plans, formed according to the will of God, both at home and abroad, for the wider diffusion of the gospel of Christ our Lord! Never let your hands hang down; never let your heart be fearful; trust in the Lord; all