The Hebrew word is translated into the Greek ȧyios, and it is translated into the Latin "sacer." Those who have read the Latin poet, will recollect the "auri sacra fames," which would be, literally translated, "the sacred thirst of gold," a rendering that would be absurd; it 66 means the accursed thirst of gold." So, in the Hebrew, the word which is translated "holy," means simply "dedicated," separated from one use and set to another. Now, the word "holy," as applied to garments, does not imply that there was anything in them intrinsically holy, but it means that they were sequestered, set apart from every-day use to temple, or religious, or spiritual use. The word "holy" was applied to things set apart under the ancient economy; and when applied to Christians, it means persons who are set apart. The humblest believer is as truly consecrated as the highest minister; that is, he is sequestered, set apart from profane and common purposes, to a holy, a spiritual, and a heavenly life.

You will notice, in the next place, that there were to be precious stones; the onyx stone was so called from its resemblance to the root of the human nail on the finger. The onyx stone was to have an engraving upon it. Then there was to be the topaz, the carbuncle, the diamond, the emerald, the sapphire, and other stones, which are also alluded to in the Apocalypse, and which I believe are so far identical with the stones that are called by these names now. is singular that one stone is here called the amethyst. It was called so from the superstition that prevailed that it would cure drunkenness. It means toxicated;" and it was supposed that if this stone was put into a drunkard's cup, it would prevent drunkenness. Hence the name which was applied to it.

It

66 not in

It was a precious stone; still, I believe, of great value, and was one of those that were on the high priest's breast-plate.

Then upon these stones there were to be engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; and when the high priest went into the holy place, he was to have these stones upon his heart, and the names of the tribes beautifully cut or engraved upon them. Does not this show the exact correspondence between the high priest of the Israelites and the Great High Priest, and that the one was the prefiguration of the other? We read that Jesus has entered, not into the holy place made with hands, but into the true holy place, there to appear in heaven for us. Jesus appears now in heaven, bearing, not upon the stones, however precious, from which the engraving may be wasted and worn, but bearing upon his heart the names, not of tribes nor of nations, but of every individual believer, however humble, who has washed his robes, and made them white in the efficacy of His precious sacrifice.

When the high priest went into the holy place, he was to have upon his breast-plate the "Urim and the Thummim." The literal translation of these words is "lights and perfections." It has been a great dispute among the Jewish Rabbis, as also among Christian commentators, whether the "Urim and the Thummim" were not the same, or identical with the precious stones that contained the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. At all events, it was something upon his breast either these stones, or some special robe that he wore upon his breast when he went into the holy of holies, where he received from God from the Shechinah, or the glory that dwelt between the cherubim-answers to his difficulties, directions for the government of the nation, promises, comforts, truths; all that Israel needed. These words are frequently alluded to in other parts of the Bible. For instance, Jesus Christ is called "light." That is evidently an allusion to this; and many of the robes of the high priest are alluded to significantly

in the New Testament, if not by their names, by words corresponding to their meaning.

Then, when the high priest went into the holy of holies, he was to have "a golden bell and a pomegranate," the fringe of his robe was hung with pomegranates and bells-small bells and the object of this, it is supposed by the Rabbis, was to let the people know that when he went into the holy of holies, he was still alive. The Jews had the idea that, to see God and to die, was almost the one, the necessary result of the other. No one but the high priest alone, and he only once a year, was permitted to go into the holy of holies, where was the Shechinah, or the bright, supernatural glory that burned upon the mercy-seat, between the cherubim; and they say, that the tinkling of the bells inside was the evidence to the people that the high priest was still alive. We read in the Psalms, "Oh, blessed are the people that know the joyful sound;" that phrase is borrowed from the fact, that the tinkling of the bells of the high priest in the holy of holies was to every Jew a most joyful sound, because it was proof to him that the sacrifice offered without was accepted, and that the high priest was interceding within. But where were the Jews when the high priest was within ? They were all waiting outside, till the high priest should come forth and bless them. That is just our position now. Jesus has offered up a sacrifice once for all on the cross; He is now in the holy of holies, with the names of all his people on his heart, pleading for us; and the joyful sound, or the preached Gospel, still in our ears, is the evidence to us that Christ has entered within the veil, and we are waiting outside till the High Priest shall come forth, as He will do soon, and pronounce that grand and lasting benediction that will strike down into nature's heart, and make her very deserts to rejoice, and her bleakest and her most solitary places to blossom even as the

rose.

The pomegranate was a fruit with which you are all acquainted; it has a sort of pulpy substance inside, a little larger than an orange, and is full of seeds; and in fact the origin of the word pomegranate is pomum granatum, that means an apple with a great many seeds in it. And pomegranates were the symbol of fruitfulness, and were the sign to the Jews-the constant sign-that the whole earth should yet be covered with Christ's glory, and all flesh see his salvation.

Upon the high priest's mitre there was the inscription, "Holiness to the Lord," which was meant to denote how completely he was sequestered to God; how truly he was dedicated to Him; and that holiness to God was the great end and object of that economy of which he was the chief.

FRAGMENTS FROM FALLEN FOLIAGE.

By what different eyes, and in what different lights, are the brown, withered leaves regarded! The child, as he trundles his hoop in among them, listens with joy to the pleasant rustling he produces-the artist embellishes his picture with picturesque bare trees, and scattered leaves-the poet, in his rhapsodies, converts each leaf into some ideal form of beautyand the philosopher discourses of the reflux of the sap into the root, and the physical causes of decay.

But the Christian-the heavenly-minded believerin what language do the leaves speak to him? In one which cannot be understood by the artist, the poet, or the philosopher, unless in addition to his peculiar gift, he has also the Spirit of God in his heart. Then the voice he hears tells of the death of the frail body, but reminds him of the blessed immortality of the soul-of the curse pronounced upon

the sinner; and, at the same time, of the promise made to the faithful.

Solemn thoughts were raised in our minds the other day, while visiting an ancient castle, and which had once witnessed the splendour of Queen Elizabeth's court. There were the chair of state which she had occupied; the room in which she had danced; and the piece of tapestry, worked by her own fair fingers—all in a state of perfect preservation; but where is she? Long since gone to the tomb, and where her immortal part is, is not for us to decide.

But it was when emerging into the courtyard, that the beauty of the natural scenery around most impressed us. There it all was, just the same as when the haughty courtiers of England's haughty queen had gazed upon it in the sixteenth century. The blue hills, the verdant slopes, the ancient trees, still occupied the same places; and the same blue sky overshadowed all. But where are those spectators ? What is the employment of those voices which once rang in joyous tones through these courts? Are they singing the praises of their God and Redeemer with the glad spirits above? Or do they sigh forth bitter groans, and mutter deep curses with the banished from God's throne ?

On leaving the ancient pile, we proceeded to an avenue, whose shade seemed to invite the thoughtful to rest awhile. And while we paced its length, we heard another voice besides our own and that of the birds above us. Reader, it was the warning voice of the falling and fallen leaves!

"A wither'd leaf, all sere and dead,

Came flutt'ring through the sky;
And as it passed me, softly said,
Sic transit gloria mundi."

And now as we pause beneath these aged boughs,