But now let us turn to the high priest. Having been washed, he was then clothed with the garments of glory and beauty. These were

The coat or tunic.

The girdle.

The robes.

The Ephod.

The curious girdle of the Ephod.
The Urim and Thummim. (2.)
The mitre.

The holy crown.

CHAPTER III.

THE COAT.

'HE coat, or tunic, was the inner garment worn

THE

next to the person. It was made of fine white linen. Being worn next to the skin it indicated the personal condition of him who was so clothed that in God's sight he was pure. This garment must not be confounded with the plain linen garment which was worn by the high priest on the day of atonement. The garment we are considering was of fine linen, and was also embroidered.

It must be borne in mind that there were three kinds of linen garments, viz.: plain linen, fine linen, and linen of peculiar brightness. The first is rendered by the Hebrew word "bad,"-this was used in all the garments both of high priest and common priests on the day of atonement and on all seasons of humiliation, confession of sin, judgment or sorrow. This linen is that mentioned in Lev. xvi. 4.

The second kind of linen is rendered by the Hebrew word "Shesh," and is fine linen-this was used in all the garments of glory and beauty. It formed the hangings and inner curtains of the tabernacle, and

was that put upon the priests on the day of their consecration.

The third kind of linen is rendered by the Hebrew word "Bootz." It was most costly, and of a bright and resplendent whiteness. This kind of linen was worn on days of great rejoicing, on such occasions, for instance, as Esther viii. 15; 1 Chron. xv. 27; and at the dedication of Solomon's temple.

The first of these, "bad," is used when the idea is the covering of our own impurity. The second, Shesh," may be said to be used when the idea is not only the clothing of our impurity, but also the character of that clothing-as being excellent and beautiful. The third, "Bootz," may be said to refer not only to the covering of impurity, nor to the spotlessness and excellence of that covering, but to its resplendence and glory. Our covering on earth is not only from impurity-the first, but it is spotless, even Christ's own righteousness. But in heaven there will be seen in us all the radiancy of glory. Accordingly it is this last which is used when speaking of the Church's future glory (Rev. xix. 8,) and in our Lord's transfiguration when his raiment is said to have been "white and glistering."

To return, then, to the clothing of the high priest; we see that the tunic, or inner garment, was not the plain linen worn on the day of atonement, but the second of these, namely, "fine linen." It was the garment common to all the priests, and only differed from them in being embroidered. In it the high priest stands before us as a type of Christ. He was essentially holy. He is called "the Righteous One."

The ordinary priests, or sons of Aaron, are types of believers, and have also this garment. But to Christ, as our High Priest, it belongs of right; to us it only belongs by virtue of our connection with Him.

To us it is imputed, and shadows forth the great truth that what we are individually, by His grace and in His sight, we should also be practically both before God and man.

The inner covering of the tabernacle was fine white linen. That tabernacle was Christ. The inner covering of Aaron, the high priest, was fine white linen. That High Priest was Christ. Both bring before us the spotless purity of the Lord Jesus. The inner covering of Aaron's sons was fine white linen. They are believers in Christ. It shows their imputed spotlessness before God. They are what Christ is in God's

sight: as He is so are we in this world:

"I have not beheld iniquity in Jacob nor seen perverseness in Israel:" "of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption:" "ye are complete in Him."

Christian reader, are you practically what you are by imputation? Are you a living Christ down here? Remember your Lord's word, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord."