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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, so fignally to employ, first, 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.

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Efpecially, confidering how great a fhare in the Adminiftration 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 * sufficient an Income they were

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*All the Firft-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.

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to enjoy; provided and brought to their Hands without any Expence or Toil on their Side, (the Miniftration of the facred Offices, excepted) that fo, they might the more intirely devote and apply themselves to the great Business of their Profeffion; the greatest Good and Happinefs of Mankind; 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 Conveniencies of Life.

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xviii. 20,

Their Portion and Allotment is mention'd in several Places, in the Law. The LORD fays to Aaron; Thou shalt have no Numb. inheritance in their land; neither halt 21. thou have any part among 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 service 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

Exod.

Of whofe Office we will begin to

the first Place.

SECT. II.

treat in

The HIGH-PRLES Ticht

When God had deliver'd the Law from Mount Sinai, and given Directions about the Tabernacle, and all its Appurtenan

ces; he then says to Mofes, Take unto thee xxviii. 1. Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Ifrael; that be

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may minifter unto me in the Priest's office: even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's fons. Of these, Aaron was the Chief or High-Prieft; his Sons, in a fubordinate Degree, only Priefts.

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 Priests of the fecond order, and the keepers of the door,

2 Kings

Jer. lii.

24.

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-Prieft, and

Zephaniah

I.

Zephaniah the fecond 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 Priests, and was inftrumental in rebuilding the Walls of Jerufalem. But as the Directions about those things, which related to the High-Priest 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 Priests of the fecond Order, who were to fucceed them in after Times.

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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 reft, 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-Priest; it will not be amifs, if we purfue the fame Method.

2

SECT.

Exod.

n. a idano dɔvadƆ d

SECT. I or DTO I

Veftments of the HIGH-PRIEST, To begin, therefore, with the Vestments 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, zoh

7

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.wi

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

the

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