of the Holy Spirit
also culminates in the personal indwelling of Christ. (John
xiv. 21, 23. Eph. iii. 16, 17.) Aim at this and expect it.
2. The tabernacle with its three divisions was, as of other
spiritual truths, so the image of man's threefold nature. Our
spirit is the Holiest of all, where God is meant to dwell,
where the Holy Spirit is given. The life of the soul, with its
powers of feeling, knowing, and willing, is the holy place. And
the outer life of the body, of conduct and action, is the outer
court. Begin by believing that the Spirit dwells in the inmost
sanctuary, where His workings are secret and hidden. Honour Him
by trusting Him to work, by yielding to Him in silent worship
before God. From within He will take possession of thought and
will; He will even fill the outer court, the body, with the
Holiness of God. 'The God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly;
and may your spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved entire,
without blame. Faithful is He which calleth you, who will also
do it.'
3. God's indwelling was within the veil, in the unseen, the
secret place. Faith knew it, and served Him with holy fear. Our
faith knows that God the Holy Spirit has His abode in the
hidden place of our inner life. Set open your inmost being to
Him; bow in lowly reverence before the Holy One as you yield
yourself to His working. Holiness is the presence of the
Indwelling One.
Ninth Day.
HOLY IN CHRIST.
Holiness and Mediation.
'And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it,
HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that
Aaron may bear the iniquity of the _holy_ things, which the
children of Israel shall _hallow_ in all their _holy_ gifts; and
it shall always be upon his forehead, that they may be accepted
before the Lord.'--Ex. xxviii. 36, 38.
God's house was to be the dwelling-place of His Holiness, the place
where He was to reveal Himself; as the Holy One, not to be approached
but with fear and trembling; as the Holy-making One, drawing to Himself
all who would be made partakers of His Holiness. Of the revelation of
His Holy and His Holy-making Presence, the centre is found in the person
of the high priest, in his double capacity of representing God with man,
and man with God. He is the embodiment of the Divine Holiness in human
form, an
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