The Girdle is also an important part of the ordinary garments of the believer, as a priest and

servant.

In Luke xii. 35, 36, the Lord exhorts His disciples to be ready for His return. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord."

They are to have the true attitude of expectancy, which can only be maintained by constant activity in service, and letting the light of truth shine out. The hope of the Lord's return will not really abide in the heart, unless we keep our loins girded as engaged in our Master's work, and let our light shine out before men. An inactive believer is sure to become a worldly minded one, and he will begin to eat and drink with the drunken. He will have companionship with the men of the world, whose intoxicating pursuits of avarice, ambition, and pleasure, deaden their hearts and consciences to all the truth of God. "Occupy till I come," is another precept of Jesus of the same kind, as "let your loins be girded.' The light also must not be hidden. The bed and the bushel are two snares to the believer. Men indeed do not put the candle under either; for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. Indolence and supineness, of which the bed is an emblem, enervate many of those who ought to let their light shine brightly; whilst the active and engrossing pursuits of life, legitimate in their way, trade and commerce, of which the bushel is a "resemblance." Zech. v. 6, alas! too often bury out of sight the manifestation of the life and light of the believer.

We find another exhortation Ist Peter i. 13, "wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace which is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Here believers are especially addressed as strangers and pilgrims on their journey through a foreign country into their own

land, where an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away is reserved for them.

Two subjects of an all engrossing nature are presented to them. Subjects which the very prophets who spoke of them understood not, though they enquired and searched diligently, and which the angels of glory desire to look into: "the sufferings of Christ, and the glories after these." If we would press on as strangers and pilgrims, we must gird up the loins of our mind, to the constant contemplation of the great Salvation, which comprises these two subjects.

A man who allows his garments to be loose, and who girds not up his loins, will make but little progress on his journey. We must therefore gather in our loose floating thoughts and wandering imaginations, and learn to fix more continually our minds and understandings upon the death, resurrection, and coming of Jesus, and the great truths connected therewith, if we would pursue our path with less distraction. The girded priest and pilgrim must also be sober. The Lord gave a precept to Aaron and his sons, not to drink wine or strong drink when officiating in the Tabernacle. Lev. x. 9. The pilgrim also will walk unsteadily if he indulge himself in intoxicating draughts. We live in a world especially given up at the present time to drunkenness of all kinds. Men are hurrying on their projects with a determination of purpose, an eagerness of mind which prove that they have drunk largely of Babylon's golden cup of abominations. What with science, commerce, exhibitions, politics, wars, commotions, men have no time for considerations respecting eternity. The god of this world has filled up with consummate skill every moment of human existence; and all hurry with railroad velocity, along the broad road that leads to destruction. In the midst of this scene the girded servant of the Lord must be sober, and hope on to the end, assuredly knowing that grace will be brought to him, (even the glory itself, for glory is

grace,) at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Ist Peter i. 13. The revelation of that hidden One whom the world has rejected, and of whom it is willingly ignorant.

In the Revelation, the Son of Man, as seen in visions by John, was "girt about the paps with a golden girdle." The object of this girdle seems not to have been to strengthen Him who wore it for priestly service of judgment, but rather to bind the robe of blue-the robe of heavenly love and peace firmly around His heart, so that in the midst of searching words of reproof and warning, mercies might be poured forth from breasts of consolations.

In Rev. xv. 6, the seven angels having the seven plagues, are seen coming out of the temple clothed in pure and white linen, their breasts girded with golden girdles.

Here again the girdle is not upon the loins, the emblem probably being, that the heart of the angels to whom the vials of wrath were entrusted, needed to be strengthened for their terrible work of judgment. The fine linen, expressive of righteousness was therefore firmly girt with gold around their breasts.

THE BONNETS.

"And bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.-Exod. xxviii. 40.

"And goodly bonnets of fine linen.-Exod. xxxix. 28.

THE word (migbahgohth) translated "bonnets" only occurs four times, and is exclusively used for the head dress of the priests. It is derived from a verb signifying "elevation," often used for a hill. They apparently differed from the mitre of the high priest, in the fact that they were bound round the heads of the priests, which is never said of the mitre.

And put (margin bind) the bonnets on them. Exod. xxix. 9.

And put (margin bound) bonnets upon them. Lev. viii. 13.

They were probably rolls of fine linen, folded like a turban round the head. The word translated "goodly," (Exod. xxxix. 28,) is worthy of notice. It is rendered" bonnets." Isa. iii. 20,; Ezek. xliv. 18,; "tire of the head." Ezek. xxiv. 17, 23,; "beauty." Isa. "Ornaments.” Isa. lxi. 10, and is derived from a verb, signifying "to beautify, or glorify."

Ixi. 3.;

These head dresses were therefore for exaltation, for ornament, and for glory and beauty.

It has been before remarked that the covering of the head betokened subjection, and the recognition of being in the presence of a superior. The Jews to this day, always keep their heads covered in the synagogue; and even in private, when a strict Jew opens the Bible he covers his head. A priestly standing is one of constant subjection to the revealed will of God; and of abiding consciousness of His presence. And this is true dignity. God has raised us up in perfect righteousness, complete in Christ, ever to abide before Him; His kings and priests. And in this height of elevation, we walk in the liberty of Christ, holding Him only as our Head, subject to Him in all things, and "not the servants of man." The righteousness of faith-the obedience of faith, instead of the self-will of the flesh, and the unsubject mind, is the truly priestly clothing from head to foot. Being made free from sin we are servants of righteousness, servants of God. Rom. vi. 18, 22. Our blessed occupation is during this night of the world's darkness, to stand in the house of the Lord to praise His name. Psa. cxxxiv. I; cxxxv. I—3.

These head-tires of white are said to be goodly or ornamental. There was nothing of display to attract the common gaze, but like the adorning recommended for Christian women, (Ist Pet. iii. 4, 5,) they were types

of the meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price. Like the holy women of old who trusted in God, and thus adorned themselves, in subjection to their own husbands.

There is 66 a 'glory and beauty" in spotless righteousness which may be little accounted of by men, but which enables us to approach God with confidence, and fits us for His Holy presence. Such was in type the dress of Aaron's sons the priests. Psa. cxxxii. 9.

THE LINEN BREECHES.

"And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach :

"And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.". ."-Exod. xxviii. 42, 43.

"And linen breeches of fine twined linen."-Exod. xxxix. 28.

A REMARKABLE exception here occurs, and also a difficulty, respecting the materials of which this article of priestly dress was made. In Exod. xxviii. 42, the word linen is used, but in the Hebrew (bad) is employed to express this, and not (shehsh.) This last is the word used in all other instances, and the only material of the kind said to be brought by the people, usually translated fine linen. This is not all; for in Exod. xxxix. 28, both words occur, which may be translated "and the breeches the linen, (the bad,) fine linen twined, shehsh-mashzar. It may be, two sorts of linen were woven together.