plagued me so much in that way, that I have done all I could to destroy them." "Well," said Mr. A., "that is the reason why you have so many caterpillars. If you were to consider how many of the eggs and grubs of insects, and other mischievous things, the sparrows devour in a day, you would see, that, for a good part of the year, these birds are doing a great deal of good. We must not then think that the sparrows, and other birds which flock together in our fields, are altogether our enemies. If they do take liberties and make too free at times, we must believe also that they are our friends at other times. Nothing is made in vain; and I believe, that, if we fully understood the works of the Great Creator, we should be able to see that there was a purpose in all his works; and a purpose intended for the benefit of all his creatures."—A Constant Reader. THE CLOCK AND THE DIAL (from De la Motte). TRANSLATED BY CATHERINE HOOD, 1801. IT happen'd on a cloudy morn "My learned friend, if in thy pow'r, The modest Dial thus replied: "Wait for him then," returned the Clock, One winding serves me for a week, While thus the boaster was deriding, A sunbeam, clear and strong, On this the Dial calmly said (More prompt t'advise than to upbraid), Thou answer'st without hesitation; "Observe my practice, shun pretence, An answer meet supplies; Blush not to say, 'I cannot tell;' Not speaking much, but speaking well, Denotes the truly wise." Sent by E. F. THE TABERNACLE. Continuation of EXODUS XXV. (31-40). THESE verses, though few, contain much truth concerning the Lord Jesus. We have seen Him set forth as "the Bread of Life," without Whom we cannot live. It is remarkable, however, that another type is given here of that which is also necessary to life, namely, light. Of this we read John i. 4, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." The herbs, fruits, trees, or flowers of earth, could not grow without light; by an unvarying law of nature, or rather "nature's God," this is necessary to the existence of the creatures He has formed. It is so with the soul. Those who are "without Christ" are described as in a state of darkness and death, "having the understanding darkened," (Eph. iv. 18,) "their foolish heart was darkened," (Rom. i. 21,) "who were dead" (Eph. ii. 1). The new birth is often compared to light. Thus Acts xxvi. 18, 66 to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light." Psalm cxix. 130, "The entrance of thy words giveth light." In ourselves we are dark, but "God is light." We have in the tabernacle this truth in type, namely, that Christ is not only our necessary food, but our light also. God does not always speak in words, but He condescends to use various methods of teaching us his meaning. We find the Lord Jesus saying (John ix. 5), "I am the light of the world." Let us examine the account of this candlestick, verse 31. It was to be of "pure gold." No union of "shittim wood" was there, no humanity. It represented Christ more in his divine nature. From everlasting, "in him was light." He was ever" the brightness" of the "glory" of "the Father." (Heb. i. 3.) His light shone in heaven from all eternity, and "when the fulness of the time was come," He was revealed on earth. But the candlestick was to be of "beaten work," with great labour and pains beaten into the exact shape. And O! how much did it cost the Lord Jesus to come into the world, to live his lifetime below, in order to be "the light of the world." "The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (John i. 5.) Here was the constant trial of the Saviour, who had not only to endure "such contradiction of sinners against himself," (Heb. xii. 3,) as no human mind can imagine, but had to contend alone "with the powers of darkness," and with Satan himself. We read after his temptation, (Luke iv. 13,)" then the devil leaveth him for a season, but for a season only; for, how terrible were his after attacks let the chapters which detail Christ's sufferings before the crucifixion tell! We cannot too often think of the life of our Lord. It is a most profitable study; and when we read what He endured, we find our affliction "light." Earth and hell concentrated their force against Him, while his bitter cry to the Father was, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" How little comparatively are his disciples called on to endure. 66 In the candlestick there were to be " seven lamps," seven being the number of perfection. (Compare Rev. i. 4, and Rev. iv. 5, with Rev. v. 6.) First we read of the seven spirits of God," and then we find these connected with "the lamb," evidently the Lord Jesus, "for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the godhead bodily." (Col. ii. 9.) Jesus is "perfect God" as well as "perfect man." There are some beautiful ideas connected with the "bowls made like unto almonds," which were to be in the candlestick. They were to hold a supply of oil. Oil is used as a type of the Holy Spirit, and thus we see more brought out concerning the Lord Jesus. That He was filled with the Spirit, let such texts as 66 The Luke iv. 1, Heb. i. 9, and many others show. The connexion of the oil and the light is remarkable. The bowls being full of oil, the light burnt brightly. A practical thought is here suggested. The candlestick may also be emblematical of the Church of Christ, one with Himself. The idea is not unfounded, when we reflect on our Lord's own words to his disciples, "Ye are the light of the world." (Matt. v. 14.) And it is very probable this truth may be intended to be taught, by there being seven churches" mentioned in Revelation. Lord Jesus having ascended to heaven, left his Church on earth as a witness for Himself, and "for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph. ii. 22.) For an illustration of this truth, the reader is requested to look at Gen. i. 3rd verse, compared with verses 14, 15, 16. The word "light" in verse 3, in the original language, signifies essential light. "God is light," but in the other verses the word translated "lights" is literally "light bearers ;" and the same word is used in Phil. ii. 15, "ye shine as lights in the world." Believers are therefore to be receiving light from Christ, and reflecting it in a dark world. The moon does this, and "when earth does not come between her and the sun," she is at her full. But how can poor weak believers thus shine? There is but one way, namely, by the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who receives of the things of Christ, and shows them to us. (John xvi. 14.) Let us then pray earnestly for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, that the bowls may be filled with the oil, that we may be "strong in the Lord." This is the hidden life of the believer, "the world knoweth us not." The great means of spiritual life is the diligent, careful study of the word of God, which should not remain in the head, but should abide in the heart. "Thy word have I hid in my heart," says David. (Ps. cxix. 11.) The word is the seed. But would there be any corn or fruits of the earth if there were no seed sown? or could the husbandman expect a plentiful harvest without properly sowing the seed? The breezes might come with sweet summer time, the showers might fall, the sunbeams might glow, and yet if the seed had been withheld, where would be the ingathering? O that we may each and all daily value, love, and read more and more the precious Bible! This is, indeed, a boon allowed to man: to study as it were the very thoughts of God. (Ps. cxxxix. 17.) There is also some meaning in these bowls being made like almonds. It is well known that the almond is an early spring blossom. The blossom even appears before the leaves are seen, and its delicate pink flowers silently tell of approaching verdure and beauty. It seems an earnest of the bountiful gifts allowed by our heavenly Father. The spring time should certainly remind us of resurrection, not only because in this lovely season the produce of the earth is renewed, but because the resurrection of the Lord Jesus took place in the spring. We trace this fact from Scripture, thus :-Exod. xiii. 4: In the month Abib (answering to our March) the children of Israel came out of Egypt. Exod. xxiii. 15: In this month they were to keep the fast of unleavened bread. And in Deut. xvi. 1, we find this was to be the beginning of months. The Jews, therefore, regard this as the commencement of their sacred year. We all know that it was at this time Jesus died and rose again. (Luke xxii., &c.) It was in the early spring time that He "became the firstfruits of them that slept." (1 Cor. xv. 20.) The practical truth for us to glean from this is, that those only who are risen with Christ" (Col. iii. 1), can be thus shining as lights in the world." The new life is a resurrection life," it is that very same principle begun in the soul which shall afterwards spring "up into everlasting life." (See John iv. 14.) It is a solemn thought, that there are only two classes of persons,-those who have this resurrection life, and those who have not. Dear reader, ask yourself before it is too late, whether it has yet been begun in you? 66 66 66 In chap. xxvii. 20, 21, we read, that these lamps were to be supplied by Aaron and his sons "with pure olive oil beaten for the light." The candlestick was sacred, and was only to be attended to by the priests, and nothing but pure olive oil was allowed for it. This was obtained with great trouble and pains. It was to be beaten. And thus again we learn that our gifts have |