THE COW. 107 



and the skin and carcass, were burned. A portion of 

 the blood was, however, to be sprinkled by the priest 

 directly before the tabernacle of the congregation, and 

 the ashes of the animal were to be laid up for " a water 

 of separation," " a purification for sin." How impres- 

 sive was this type ! It spoke of that pollution of which 

 we all partake ; it pointed to Christ, who bore our sins, 

 and suffered without Jerusalem by the hands of the 

 Romans ; and it announced that cleansing power which 

 we must experience if we would now engage accept- 

 ably in the service of God, and be prepared for His 

 everlasting kingdom. To this service, and to another of 

 a similar character, the Apostle alludes when he says, 

 " If the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of 

 an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the puri- 

 fying of the flesh : how much more shall the blood 

 of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered him- 

 self without spot to God, purge your conscience from 

 dead works to serve the living God T' Hebrews ix. 

 13, 14. Well then may we adopt the language of 

 Cowper : 



" Israel, in ancient days, 



Not only had a view 

 Of Sinai in a blaze, 



But had the Gospel too : 

 The types and shadows were a glass, 

 In which they saw a Saviour's face. 



