THE BURNT-OFFERING.

THE sacrifices of the Israelites were of different kinds, according to the kind of evil that was to be averted, or the blessing that was to be implored. Of these the burnt-offering, or holocaust, was one in which the whole of the victim was consumed either upon the altar or beyond the precincts of the camp.

Eight days after the consecration of Aaron, Moses directed him to take a young calf for a sin-offering, a ram for a burnt-offering, and a bullock and a ram for peace-offerings. These animals were slain with many solemn ceremonies, and offered as sacrifices to the Deity in the sight of the assembled people; and Aaron raised his hands towards the people and fervently blessed them. Every one was impressed with the deep solemnity of the occasion, and the great multitude was hushed to reverential silence, for the people remembered that God had promised to manifest his glory before them. Suddenly loud thunderings rent the air and the earth trembled, the gates of heaven were opened and a mighty fire came out from before the Lord, and descended upon the altar and utterly consumed the offerings. Filled with astonishment and grateful wonder, the vast multitude raised a tremendous shout, and then, overcome with

awe, fell upon their faces and offered a silent prayer to the mysterious and gracious Deity who had thus condescended to dissipate their want of faith by so sublime a revelation of his glory. Is it not a strange instance of human frailty and weakness that this favoured people should ever prove forgetful of God? That they frequently did so, should be a warning to all against too confidently trusting in their own strength.

AARON THE HIGH PRIEST.

AFTER Aaron had been consecrated as a High Priest, two of his sons, named Nadab and Abihu, presumptuously took upon themselves to perform the most sacred offices of the priesthood. They took their censers, and filling them with incense, offered strange fire before the Lord. But this impiety met with a terrible punishment; the avenging fire of God fell from heaven and consumed them even while they were engaged in the sacrilegious act.

In consequence of this, the Lord commanded Moses to warn his brother Aaron not to enter frequently or irreverently into the tabernacle. In that holy place the ark of the Lord's covenant was kept. The ark was a costly chest made of shittim wood, and overlaid, both inside and out, with pure gold. At each end of it there was a golden figure of a cherubim, with its wings expanded, and over it a golden crown. In this gorgeous ark the two tables of stone, on which God had engraved the ten commandments, were carefully and religiously preserved.

The lid or covering of the ark was called the mercyseat, and in the Hebrew language, was indicated by a word which meant "atoning for." Above the mercyseat was a miraculous cloud, in which, hidden from human sight, the Supreme Being was supposed to be sometimes shrouded; and from this cloud the commands of the Almighty were issued. This was the reason why Aaron and the priests were commanded to approach with cautious solemnity, and sometimes even to refrain from entering the tabernacle when the Lord was about to glorify it with his presence.