"

have given offence, by any way failing in their Duty and Allegiance to Him: So, we may conclude, this diftinguishing Mark of Favour was put upon the Tribe of Levi, out of Refpect to Mofes, that great Prophet; whom God thought fit, fo fignally to employ, firft, in the Deliverance of his People, from Egyptian Servitude; and afterwards, in fettling and establish} ing among them that Form of Government, which he judg'd to be the most reasonable and proper for them. Juand

#

Efpecially, confidering how great a fhare in the Administration of their Affairs, temporal as well as fpiritual, the Chiefs of this Tribe were fure to have, as long as the reft of them would live contented under that Political Oeconomy, which God himself had defign'd for their Comfort and Well-being. And, at the fame time, how * fufficient an Income they were

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*All the First-fruits and Tenths of eleven, or rather, twelve Tribes; were appropriated to the Maintenance of this One, befides Offerings, Vows, and Donations of all Kinds. Which, if paid regularly and fairly, without any Deduction or fraudulent Abatement, must have a mounted to, at leaft, as much, as the Revenue of any other fingle Tribe.

G

to

to enjoy; provided and brought to their
Hands without any Expence or Toil on
theirs Side,(the Ministration of the facred
Offices, excepted) that fo, they might the
more intirely devote and apply themselves
to the great
Bufinefs of their Profeffion ;
the greatest Good and Happiness of Man-
kind; and, from which, confequently, it
was the best Intereft of all the People
committed to their Charge, to use their
whole Endeavours, that they should not
be call'd off, or difturb'd, by being oblig'd
to hunt after the Neceffities and Conve-

1

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niencies of Life.

Their Portion and Allotment is mention'd in feveral Places, in the Law. The LORD fays to Aaron; Thou shalt have no Numb. inheritance in their land; neither halt 2. thou have any part amon

xviii. 20,

the

*

them: I am thy part, and thine inheritance, among the children of Ifrael. And behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel, for an inheritance; for their fervice which they ferve, even the fervice of the tabernacle of the congregation: And, in the fame Chapter, most of the Emoluments arifing to the High-Priest, are likewife fpecified.

Of

Of whose Office we will begin to treat is the first Place.

SECT. II.

The HIGH-PR LES Tith

Exod.

When God had deliver'd the Law from Mount Sinai, and given Directions' about the Tabernacle, and all its Appurtenances; he then says to Mofes, Take unto thee xxviii. 1. Aaron thy brother, and his fons with him, from among the children of Ifrael; that he may minifter unto me in the Priest's office: even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazăr and Ithamar, Aaron's fons. Of these, Aaron was the Chief or High-Prieft; his Sons, in a fubordinate Degree, only Priefts.

Jer. lii.

24.

·

2 Kings

This Distinction is frequently made in the Law; as it is alfo in other Parts of the Scripture. King Jofiah commanded xxiii. 4. Hilkiah the High-Prieft, and the Priefs of the fecond order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD, all the vessels that were made for Baal. And we are told that at the Time of the Babylonish Captivity, The captain of the guard took Seraiah the Chief-Priest, and

Zephaniah

107

Zephaniah the Second Prieft, and the three keepers of the door. And we read, after their Return from the Captivity, that Elia- Neh. iii. fhib the High-Prieft rofe up with his bre- 1. thren the Priefts, and was inftrumental in rebuilding the Walls of Jerufalem. But as the Directions about those things, which related to the High-Prieft and the rest of the Priests, are moftly given to Aaron and his Sons, what we read of as establish'd nominally in and for them, must be look'd upon as appertaining to all the HighPriefts and Priefts of the fecond Order, who were to fucceed them in after Times.

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1

By enquiring first into the Circumftances of the High-Prieft's Office, therefore, we fhall clear the way a little, and lay fome Foundation towards our better understanding all the rest, which are to follow. And as thefe Circumftances are deliver'd in the Law, under four Heads, First, the Veftments or Robes; next, the' Confecration; then, the Qualifications; and laftly, the Office of the High-Prieft; it will not be amifs, if we purfue the fame Method.

SECT.

www.aidano dɔredɔad:

SECT. He or obie i

RIEM

Exod.

201 bout Vestments of the HIGH-PRIEST, To begin, therefore, with the Veftments of the High-Prieft; concerning which the Scripture Direction is as follows: God fays to Mofes Thou shalt make holy gar xxviii. 2. ments for Aaron thy brother, for glory, and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wife-hearted (skilful in Works of this Kind) whom I have filled with the Spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to confecrate him, and that be may minister to me in the Prief's office. They were, in general, to be rich and ornamental: partly, to make him appear awful and venerable in the Sight of the People; partly, to be a Shadowing and Refemblance, as far as human Skill and Ability could reach, of the Glory of CHRIST; of whom, as a Mediator and Redeemer, by making Atonement for the Sins of the People, the High-Prieft himfelf was but a Type and Shadow. taj

tob

i

And thus the Pfalmift, typifing the Purity and Elegance of Manners, in which the

3.

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