ceremony of purification. First, the priests and Levites sanctified themselves, and then sanctified the people, and afterwards the gates and wall of the city were purified.

These ritual observances, though now abolished, are more to us than mere matters of history. So, at least, the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews thought, and has there taught us. He alludes to them as showing their connection with the Christian economy, and as types of that all-atoning and allcleansing blood of our adorable Redeemer; types of that 'better Sacrifice' which is at once the propitiation for human sin, and the means without which there can be no purification from its guilt, or deliverance from its power and in-being.

And now the ceremony of purifying over, and the musical arrangements all in order, the work of dedication proper is entered upon.

A procession is formed. Then,' says Nehemiah, 'I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof the one went on the right hand upon the wall' (verse 31), 'and the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall' (verse 38).

It is interesting to note that Ezra was present, and had an honourable place in the procession. After giving the names of some in the first com

pany referred to, it is added, 'and Ezra the scribe before them.' This is understood to mean that Ezra went before all, except the thanksgiving company of verse 31-just as Nehemiah took this position in the other band.

We incline to this view in preference to that which states that while Ezra led one of the two companies, the other was followed by Nehemiah, and which sees in this order 'the absence of selfcomplacency on his part' (London Quarterly Review, Oct., 1880). As we read the chapter before us, it is not difficult to picture to ourselves these two companies, starting from the same point, and wending their way in opposite directions round the wall, till they meet in the temple; and there at that sacred shrine they gather, in grateful adoration; and unitedly praise God-the God of their fathers— through Whose good hand upon them, the great work that day dedicated to Him, had been achieved. 'So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I and the half of the rulers with me, and the priests . . . and the singers sang loud with Jezrahiah their overseer.'

We have here the climax of the day's proceedings-the brightest hour of the brightest day Nehemiah had known in Jerusalem. Very impressive and very cheering must the scene have appeared. The thronged temple, the full-voiced choir, and the manifest interest taken in the proceedings were

vivid and delightful memories, we may be sure, to many, and certainly to Nehemiah the governor.

Some speak of the dedication of the wall as a new thing. If there was no direct precedent for it, there was for the method of its observance. The lines laid down at the consecration of the first temple, and which served as the pattern when the second temple came to be dedicated, were again followed in this case.

'Great sacrifices' were offered, and 'great joy' displayed on the occasion. So verse 43 informs us. It is as follows: 'Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced; so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.'

Those who promoted the procession were well aware that imposing procession and swelling chant, needed to be supplemented by sacrificial rites to render the ceremony acceptable to God. These rites were not omitted. Brief as is the allusion to the sacrifices offered, it is sufficiently explicit to show that these formed a prominent feature in the solemnities of the day.

Nor can any dedication in which we may engage find favour with God, but through the shed blood of Christ our Saviour, to Whose one grand oblation the bleeding victims of the Old Testament dispensation pointed.

It was a day of gladness. Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced.' The joy was divine in its origin, 'for God had made them rejoice; deep in its nature, with great joy;' and widely diffused and demonstrative, 'the wives also and the children rejoiced; so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.'

We may just say that, exceptional as was the occasion, similar joy as to its source and its fulness may be realized by you and me. May it come to us! May the joy springing from conscious acceptance with God be ours more and more!-'joy of salvation,' 'joy of the Holy Ghost,' may it dwell with us! May it be shed abroad more richly in us, and manifested more clearly by us! And as we recognise 'the good hand of our God' in protecting and prospering His Church, in vouchsafing 'times of refreshing,' seasons of blessed revival, let us, like Jerusalem of old, rejoice with a joy that shall be heard 'even afar off.' May wives and children, too, be partakers of it!

Observe, in conclusion, what further occurred in connection with the dedication: 'And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures,' etc. (verses 44-47). These verses read as if the occasion had been the dedication of the temple rather than of the city wall. In thus improving the event, we see the value of order, and of departmental work; in the management of ecclesiastical affairs.

XIII.

Final Reforms.

'Remember me, O my God, for good.'-NEH. xiii. 31.

SUCH are the closing words of this book. In the course of our remarks on it, chronological difficulties have been met with in several places. Again they confront us in this last chapter. There is a point of this nature in the first sentence of the chapter: On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people.'

It has been asserted that the 'day' here mentioned was that of the dedication of the wall. According to another view, the day' referred to was at a later period than the dedication. It is easier to state the difficulty than to settle it. We confess our inability to settle it. Whichever opinion be correct, a day did come when a public reading of the law took place; and this public reading of the law, as heretofore, was fraught with important social consequences to the Hebrews. On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that