MOSES RECEIVES THE TABLES OF STONE.

THE ceremonial law just referred to, was distinct

from the moral law, chiefly in this respect, that

the former was for a peculiar people, and for a stated time, and therefore abolished under the Christian dispensation; but the moral law was perpetual and universal in its nature and obligation. The moral laws of the Jews, which lie scattered up and down in the books of Moses, are, as it were, reduced into a small compass for the memory in the ten commandments, first given on Mount Sinai, and there written, as it is said, with the finger of God, on two tables of stone. 'And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.' Again, 'And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables

were written on both their sides. And the tables were

the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.'-Ex. xxxi.

HE rebellion and unbelief of the Jews was on no

THE

occasion more signally manifested than during the

absence of Moses on the mount, when he was receiving the law. And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what has become of him.' They therefore persuaded Aaron to make them a golden calf and an altar. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings :

AARON'S SACRIFICE.

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and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for the people which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.'-Ex. xxxii.

ARON and his two sons had been consecrated to

the priestly office by Moses, at the divine command, and now a sin-offering and a burnt-offering, by the same authority, were appointed as a sacrifice for the

people, and for himself also. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; and he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering, without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation; and all the congregation drew near, and stood before the Lord. And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin-offering, and thy burnt-offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the Lord commanded. And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin-offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first. And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering.'-Lev. ix.

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NADAB AND ABIHU SLAIN.

NADAB AND ABIHU SLAIN.

OS all the rites and ceremonies of the Jews were particularly enjoined and minutely described by

God Himself, it was evident that any other kind of worship, which God had not commanded, could not be acceptable to Him, but must be highly sinful in His sight. It is strange that Aaron's own sons should have ventured, and that so soon, and so publicly, to transgress, by offering that for which they had no authority or permission. The nature and consequences of their fatal presumption are thus recited :-' And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them; and they died before the Lord.' The dead bodies were taken out of the camp, and the family of Aaron were forbidden to mourn on their account.-LEV. x.

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