Preface

Some years ago, while perusing the Book of Leviticus in the course of his daily study of the Scriptures, the author was arrested amid the shadows of a past dispensation nd led to write short notes as he went along. Not long after, another perusal of this inspired book — conducted in a similar way, and with much prayer for the teaching of the Spirit of truth — refreshed his own soul yet more, and led him on to inquire what others had gleaned in the same field. Some friends who, in this age of activity and bustle, find time to delight

themselves in the law of the Lord, saw the notes, and

urged their publication.

J’here are few critical difficulties in the book; its

chief obscurijyarises from its enigmatical ceremonies.

The author fears he may not always have succeeded in

discovering the precise view of truth intended to be

exhibited in these symbolic rites; but he has made the

attempt, not thinking it irreverent to examine both sides

of the veil, now that it has been rent. The Holy

Spirit surely wishes us to inquire into what he has written; and the unhealthy tone of many true Christians may be accounted for by the too plain fact that they do not meditate much on the whole counsel of God. Experience, as well as the Word itself (Ps. i. 2, 3), would lead us to valutf very highly the habit of deeply pondering the discoveries of the mind of God given in all parts of Scripture, even the darkest.

Throughout this Commentary, the truth that saves, and the truth that sanctifies, is set before the reader in a variety of aspects, according as each typical rite seemed to suggest. It may thus be useful to all classes of persons. And what, if even some of the house of Israel may here have their eye attracted to the Saviour, while giving heed to the signification of those ceremonies which to their fathers were signposts (ninix, Ps. lxxiv. 9) in the way of life. It is a book which Romaine called, “The Gospel according to Leviticus;” and of which Berridge said, “It is the clearest book of Jewish Gospel.”