eady may we be,
As those who long their LORD to see.

'A little while'--'twill soon be past!
Why should we shun the shame and cross?
Oh! let us in His footsteps haste,
Counting for Him all else but loss.
Oh! how will recompense His smile
The sufferings of this 'little while.'"

THE DEDICATORY OFFERINGS: verses 10, 11.

_"And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day
that it was anointed.... And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall
offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of
the altar."_

The offerings recorded in the early verses of this chapter were given in
connection with the setting up of the Tabernacle, and had reference to
its transportation. But the offerings now to be considered had reference
to the altar, and the sacrifices to be offered thereon. Their number,
their character, and their value are full of significance; and the
space accorded to their record by GOD shows the Divine estimation of the
altar, and of those gifts which pertain to sacrifice to Him.

The altar points us to our incarnate SAVIOUR, the CHRIST of GOD, and
reminds us that _without shedding of blood there is no remission of
sin_. The altar sanctified the gift; the fire on the altar first came
down from heaven; all fire that did not come from the altar was strange
fire, and could only bring death to the offerer when used in worship, as
in the case of Nadab and Abihu.

Do we not need to remember this in the present day, when false teachers
deny the atoning character of the death of CHRIST, and vainly imagine
that GOD can be served with the unhallowed fires of fleshly activity?

THE DISPLAY OF THE GIFTS.

The twelve princes, the representatives of the Israel of GOD, brought
their offerings before the altar, and would have left them there: they
were all exactly alike, and the gifts might have been speedily accepted,
and briefly recorded, if recorded at all. But the LORD said unto Moses,
They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day,--or, literally,
_one prince a day_, a sentence which is expressed twice in the Original,
showing GOD'S regard for order and method in all things which concern
His service, and that He graciously receives and remembers the offerings
of each of His faithful. Accordingly all the offerings of each of the
princes are here registered by the HOLY SPIRIT in GOD'S Book, as an
encouragement to Christian liberality in all ages" (_