dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren. which cometh of the sale of his fine linen, and goats' hair, A patrimony. rams' skins dyed red, and l 2 Chron. xxxi, 4, 15-19. More-gers' skins, and shittim wood, 2 Chron. v, 1. Thus all the work over, he commanded the people for the light, spices for anoint that Solomon made for the house that dwelt in Jerusalem to give oil, and for sweet incense; Ony of the LORD was finished: and the portion of the priests and the stones, and stones to be se Solomon brought in all the things Levites, that they might be en- the ephod, and in the brea that David his father had dedi-couraged in the law of the LORD. plate. cated; and the silver, and the gold, And next him were Eden, and and all the instruments, put he Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Sheamong the treasures of the house maiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, of God. in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small. Besides their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges, according to their courses; Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges, by their courses: And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness. Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites. 2 Chron. xxxi, 7-13. In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel. Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them, And brought in the offerings, and the tithes, and the dedicated things, faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next. And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers, under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. Neh, xii, 44. And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities, the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. Neh. xiii, 12, 13. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn, and the new wine, and the oil, unto the treasuries. And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe; and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful; and their office was to distribute unto their silver, and threescore and seven money that was found in the Neh. x, 32, 33, 39. Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God; For the shewbread, and for the continual meat-offering, and for the continual burnt-offering, of the sabbaths, of the new-moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings, to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God. 2 Kings xxil, 3, 4. And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying, Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people. 1 Chron. xxix, 5. The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the And who hands of artificers. consecrate then is willing to his service this day unto the LORD. Aron. xxix, 4, 7-9. Even three, and talents of gold, of the of Ophir, and seven thoutalents of refined silver, to y the walls of the houses And gare, for the service house of God, of gold, five and talents and ten thoudrams; and of silver, ten and talents; and of brass, een thousand talents; and undred thousand talents of And they with whom prestones were found gave to the treasure of the house LORD, by the hand of Jehiel ershonite. Then the people d, for that they offered gly, because with perfect they offered willingly to LORD: and David the king rejoiced with great joy. Chron. xxiv, 6, 9. And the called for Jehoiada the chief, aid unto him, Why hast thou required of the Levites to Ezek. xlv, 13-16. This is the in, out of Judah, and out of oblation that ye shall offer; the lem, the collection, accord-sixth part of an ephah of an hothe commandment of Moses mer of wheat, and ye shall give servant of the LORD, and of the sixth part of an ephah of an ongregation of Israel, for the homer of barley. Concerning the macle of witness? And they ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, a proclamation through ye shall offer the tenth part of a hand Jerusalem, to bring in bath out of the cor, which is an LORD the collection that homer of ten baths; for ten baths the servant of God laid are an homer: And one lamb out Israel in the wilderness. of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel, for a meat-offering, and for a burnt-offering, and for peace-gregation, and for all his service, offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD. All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel. il, 69. They gave after Fability, unto the treasure of work, threescore and one and drams of gold, and five and pound of silver, and one fred priests' garments. a vii, 16-18. And all the Tand gold that thou canst In all the province of Babyrith the free-will-offering of Exod. xxv, 2. Speak unto the people, and of the priests, tag willingly for the house children of Israel, that they hir God which is in Jerusa- bring me an offering: of every That thou mayest buy speed-man that giveth it willingly with ith this money builocks, his heart ye shall take my offerlambs, with their meat-ing. and their drink-offer- 2 Kings xii, 4, 9, 10. And Jehoand offer them upon the ash said to the priests, All the of the house of your God money of the dedicated things is in Jerusalem. And that is brought into the house of ever shall seem good to the LORD, even the money of and to thy brethren, to do every one that passeth the acthe rest of the silver and the count, the money that every man that do after the will of your is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD. But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the 469 2. vii, 70-72. And some of the of the fathers gave unto the the Tirshatha gave to the are a thousand drams of nifty basons, five hundred irty priests' garments. And of the chief of the fathers to the treasure of the work ty thousand drams of gold, wo thousand and two hunpound of silver. And that the rest of the people gave Ewenty thousand drams of d, and two thousand pound of 2 Chron. xxxiv, 17. And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen. CHEERFUL GIFTS. Exod. xxxv, 20, 21, 29. And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the con and for the holy garments. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring, for all manner of work which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. Exod. xxxvi, 3-7. And they received of Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made; And they spake unto Moses, saying, the service The people bring much more than enough for of the work which the LORD comAnd Moses manded to make. it to be proclaimed gave commandment, and they caused throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make So the people any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. 1 Chron. xxix, 6, 17. Then the Ezra ii, 68. And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD chief of the fathers, and princes of if he that sanctified the field will the tribes of Israel, and the cap-in any wise redeem it, then he tains of thousands and of hun- shall add the fifth part of the dreds, with the rulers over the money of thy estimation unto it, king's work, offered willingly. and it shall be assured to him. I know also, my God, that thou And if he will not redeem the triest the heart, and hast pleasure field, or if he have sold the field in uprightness. As for me, in the to another man, it shall not be reuprightness of mine heart I have deemed any more. But the field, willingly offered all these things: when it goeth out in the jubilee, and now have I seen with joy thy shall be holy unto the LORD, as people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's. And if a man sanctify unto the LORD which is not of the fields of his a field which he hath bought, possession; Then the priest shall estimation, even unto the year of reckon unto him the worth of thy the jubilee: and he shall give thine estimation in that day, as a withstanding, no devoted thing, holy thing unto the LORD. Notthat a man shall devote unto the LORD, of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD. None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death. which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God, to set it up in his place. DEVOTED THINGS. Lev. xxvil, 2, 8-23, 28, 29. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation. But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him. And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy. He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy. And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the LORD, then he shall present the beast before the priest: And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be. But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation. And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the LORD then the priest shall estimate it, whether It be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand. And if he that sanctified it will redeem his bouse, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall tify unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof; an homer of barley-seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. If he sanctify his field from the year of jubilee, according to thy estimation it shall stand. But if he sanctify his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubilee, and it shall be abated from thy estimation. And be his. And if a man shall sanc voted in Israel shall be thine. the work that king Solomon made in the things which his father had 1 Chron. xviii, 9-11. Now when into the house of God the things among the priests, the Levites, ROYAL GIFTS. talents in my trouble I have prepared f 1 Chron. xxii, 14. Now, behal thousand talents of gold, and the house of the LORD an hundre thousand thousand silver; and of brass and iron wis out weight; for it is in abundane timber also and stone have I pared; and thou mayest ad thereto. the courses of the priests and because I have set my alle 2 Chron. xxx, 24. For Hezek 2 Chron. xxxi, 3. He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt-offerings, to for the morning and evening Era vi, 8, 9. Moreover I make Era vil, 14, 15, 20-23. Foras- on is in Jerusalem; And whatdever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou halt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure-house. And I, even I Artaxrxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasures which are yond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, ball require of you, it be done speedily, Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred easures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the Aing and his sons? Ps. Ixvill, 29. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem, shall kings bring presents unto thee. Acts i, 21, 22 Wherefore, of these men which have companied with us all the time that the among us, Beginning from the Lord Jesus went in and baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from witness with us of his resurrecus, must one be ordained to be a tion. Acts xv, 22, 23. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas surnamed Barsaand letters by them after this manner; bas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote The apostles and elders brethren send greeting unto the Cilicia. brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Acts xvi, 4. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. Acts xxii, 15. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 1 Cor. iv, 21. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? 1 Cor. ix, 3-5. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this; drink? Have we not power to Have we not power to eat and to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 2 Cor. ii, 6-10. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which So that was inflicted of many. contrariwise, ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such an one should be swallowed up with overmuch Wherefore I beseech sorrow. you, that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ. say unto you, He that receiveth DANGER OF REFUSAL. Matth. x, 14, 15. And whosoever 2 Cor. x, 8. For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, (which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction,) I should not be ashamed. 2 Cor. xiii, 2, 10. I told you be fore, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and be ing absent, now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to power which the Lord hath given the me to edification and not to destruction. 2 Thess. 1, 4. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. 2 Tim. ii, 2. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. of your city, which cleaveth on THE SEVENTY. come. BISHOPS. fasting, they commended them Acts xx, 17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 1 Tim. v, 17-19. Let the elders of double honour, especially they that rule well be counted worthy trine. who labour in the word and dec Thou shalt not muzzle the or that treadeth out the corn. And, For the scripture saith The labourer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder re fore two or three witnesses. ceive not an accusation, but be I thee in Crete, that thou should- also an elder, and a witness of the DEACONS. saying, If a man desire the office 1 Tim. iii, 1-7. This is a true when the number of the disciples Acts vi, 1-5. And in those days. of a bishop, he desireth a good murmuring work. was multiplied, there arose a blameless, the husband of one A bishop then must be against the Hebrews, becaUO of the Grecian haviour, given to hospitality, apt twelve called the multitude of the wife, vigilant, sober, of good be- the daily ministration. Then the their widows were neglected to teach; Not given to wine, no disciples unto them, and said, It striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; is not reason that we should lear but patient, not a brawler, not the word of God, and serve tables covetous; One that ruleth well Wherefore, brethren, look ye ou dren in subjection with all grav-report, full of the Holy Ghost and his own house, having his chil- among you seven men of honest allity; (For if a man know not how wisdom, whom we may appoint to rule his own house, how shall over this business. he take care of the church of give ourselves continually to God?) Not a novice, lest, being prayer, and to the ministry of the But we all lifted up with pride, he fall into word. the condemnation of the devil. the whole multitude: and they report of them which are without; and of the Holy And the saying pleased Moreover, he must have a good chose Stephen, a man full of faith lest he fall into reproach, and the Philip, and Prochorus, and Nisnare of the devil. Ghost, and and Nicolas a proselyte of Anticanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, och. Titus ii, 15. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with authority. Let no man despise thee. THEIR CLAIMS UPON THE Matth. x, 11-13, 41. And into Luke x, 16. He that beareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me. Titus 1, 7-9. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, lover of hospitality, a lover of not given to filthy lucre; But a good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. ELDERS. had ordained them elders in every 472 the deacons be grave, not double not greedy of filthy lucre; Hold1 Tim. ill, 8-13. Likewise must tongued, not given to much wine, ing the mystery of the faith in a also first be proved; then let them pure conscience. And let these found blameless. Even so must | use the office of a deacon, being ! their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. and their own houses well. For of one wife, ruling their children Let the deacons be the husbands they that have used the office of |