Eighth Evening. THE SCAPE-GOAT. "No blood of goats, nor heifer slain, The death of Christ shall still remain A soul oppressed with sin's desert Is our best sacrifice." I Annie. You desired me to meditate upon what you said respecting the passover. can assure you, the observations you then made were so new to me, and the subject, which produced them, appears to be so very important, that both have engaged my serious attention ever since: and, as you purPose saying more relative to the sacrifices, I am come to-night with no small desire to listen to your discourse. Mother. After such an encouraging statement, Annie, most cheerfully shall I resume my interesting task; and, believe me, what remains to be spoken, will be found as deserving your regard as that you have already heard. I now come to consider the expressive ordinance of the SCAPE-GOAT, which was appointed for the anniversary of general atonement. The ceremonies connected with this day, though in themselves but carnal, were, as has been shewn in the ordinance of the passover, shadows of "good things to come," and, doubtless, must have been so understood and entered upon by the spiritual Jews in every age. Let us employ a few moments in gathering some particulars, which marked the solemn day of atonement. The Jewish high-priest did not first array himself with his most costly attire, but with his linen garments. So Jesus, "the apostle and high-priest of our profession," when he came to expiate our sin, did not cover himself "with light as with a garment," but with the robe of our human nature, which, though "clean and white," displayed no external splendour. On this day, the high-priest offered expiatory sacrifices "for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel." Not so He, whom Aaron typified: "For (observes the apostle) such an highpriest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high-priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's for the law maketh men highpriests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore." The high-priest on this day entered into "the holy place made with hands" with the blood of bulls and goats. This the inspired interpreter shews to be emblematical of the H 66 entrance of Jesus Christ, the high-priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle," into the holy place 66 'not made with hands," even "heaven itself," having obtained eternal redemption for us. But, beside the bullock and the ram, which Aaron was to offer on the day of atonement, the first for himself, and the second for the people, he was also to take, for all the congregation of Israel, two kids of the goats for a sin-offering. They were to be presented "before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." Annie. In what part of the Bible shall I find an account of the origin, and the several particulars connected with the sacrifice of the scape-goat? Mother. The sixteenth chapter of the Book of Leviticus presents you with an ample detail of the services which took place on the day of atonement. But, give me your patient attention, and I will narrate, from what is handed down to us, through the medium of Jewish history, several interesting facts, not to be found in the Scriptures. It would seem, that the institution of the important day in question was occasioned from this: that Moses, on that very day, after three several forty days' fasts, came down from the Mount, having obtained Israel's reconciliation with God, and brought with him the renewed tables, and a full commission to build the tabernacles, and to establish worship in the midst of them. Seven days before the day of expiation, they put the high-priest apart from his own house, lest any impurity should render him unfit for that day's service: and, in case such unfitness should arise, another priest was appointed as his substitute, that the service of the day might not be prevented. Each day of the seven they caused him to sprinkle the blood of the daily sacrifice, to burn the parts of it, to offer the incense, and dress the lamps, that he might be well practised in the services to be per |