allude to this? What do you understand by the moth's corrupting treasures? What important lesson is taught us by the exhortation? What is meant by treasures in heaven?

8. 9. 10. What is said respecting presents of changes of raiment? Give examples from Scripture. What did Joseph signify to Benjamin, by giving him more changes than the rest? What is said of garments of many colors? Does this custom exist now, and where? What other method of showing respect, by means of garments, is mentioned? Give an instance. Is this practised in the East now? What event in the gospel history is illustrated by this custom? What have you to say of veils? What of appearing in public without veils? Does Paul refer to this, how, where?

11. 12. 13. What are the principal ornaments mentioned in 1sa. iii. 18-24? What is the substance of Jowett's testimony respecting the ornaments of an eastern lady? What does Lady Mary W. Montague say, touching the head-dresses of the Turkish ladies? What passages are illustrated by these extracts? What instruction should we gather from this passage? What is said of mirrors? Give the example from Exod. xxxviii. 8. What is the literal meaning of Paul's language, -"We see through a glass darkly"? What were the sandals, or shoes, worn by the Jews? What is said of stockings? When did they take off their shoes? Why? What people have a similar custom at this day?

8*

CHAPTER XI.

Forms of Salutation. Hospitality.

1. THE forms of salutation, among the Jews, were, in early times, as appears from the Old Testament, very simple and beautiful;- The Lord be with thee, The Lord bless thee, Peace be with thee; and, on entering a house, Peace be in this house. Judges xix. 20; 1 Sam. xxv. 6; Ruth ii. 4 ; Ps. cxxix. 8; Luke x. 5.

2. It appears, however, that in time, they became very lengthy and tedious. For the formality, extreme length, and repetition of their salutations, the easterns have, indeed, ever been remarkable. It was on this account, that Elisha charged his servant, Gehazi, when sent to restore the son of the Shunammite woman,· "If thou meet any man, sa lute him not; and if any man salute thee, answer him not again." 2 Kings iv. 29. For the same reason the Saviour said to the seventy disciples, when he sent them on their mission, "Salute no man by the way." Luke x. 4. Neither Christ nor Elisha intended, that those to whom this charge was given, should be rude or uncivil, but only that they should waste no time in useless ceremonies, but hasten, with all expedition, to the performance of the work allotted them.

3. The heartless character and unmeaning frivolity, into which these salutations degenerated, is beautifully alluded to by Christ, in his comforting address to the disconsolate disciples, when announcing to them his departure ; -"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth, give I unto you." John xiv. 27. "Not as the world giveth,” —not in the mechanical and unmeaning manner in which the crowd repeat their salutations, but sincerely and affectionately do I desire and pray for your peace and happi

ness.

4. When the person was of rank, or of great consequence, prostration was a common way of showing respect. It is a universal practice at the present day, in the East. The wise men, who came to see the child Jesus, fell down and worshipped him (Matt. ii. 2, 11); as did many who came to him during his ministry, the leper, in Matt. viii. 2; the woman of Canaan, xv. 25; the demoniac, Mark v. 6; and the Jews mocked him in this manner, xv. 19. In the same way, the servant paid respect to his master, Matt. xviii. 26; and Cornelius to Peter, Acts x. 25. The simple meaning of the word, rendered worship, is that of respect and deference due to a superior, implying, perhaps, the act of prostration, though not always accompanied with this. See Luke xiv. 10,

5. The eastern nations have ever been distinguished for their remarkable hospitality. In receiving strangers, it was customary to bring water

to wash their hands and feet. Gen. xviii. 4; xix. 2. The head was also sometimes anointed with oil and perfume. Psalm xxiii. 5. Friends were accustomed to kiss each other on meeting. Gen. xxxiii. 4; xlv. 14; Luke xv. 20. These various practices are set forth in a very lively manner, in the Saviour's reply to the Pharisee, at whose house he tarried when Mary Magdalene anointed his head with the precious ointment. "He turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, and thou gavest me no water for my feet, but she hath washed my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss; but this woman, since I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint, but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment." Luke vii. 37-46. So David expresses his sense of God's goodness and attention to his wants, by figuratively saying, that he had anointed his head with oil. Psalm xxiii. 5.

6. The custom of taking off the shoes, or sandals, which were only soles of leather, fastened to the feet by strings or straps, and of washing the feet of guests, illustrates other passages. This was the work of servants (1 Sam. xxv. 41). The significancy of John Baptist's declaration respecting Christ, is, therefore, very plain. "Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear" (Matt. iii. 11), —“whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose" (Mark i. 7), — setting forth his own infe

riority, when compared with the Messiah, which was so great, that he was scarcely worthy to be his servant. The same custom will beautifully explain the intention of the Saviour, in washing and wiping the disciples' feet, on the occasion of the last supper. John xiii. 4-17. As if he would say to them; If I am willing to do the work of a servant for you, be ye also willing to be servants to each other, and to the world; ready always to do the humblest offices of love. And what a lesson of humility and faithfulness is here presented to us by the Saviour. May the Lord enable us to learn and practise it.

7. Brown, in his Antiquities of the Jews, says, "The anointing of the hair of the head, and beard, with oil, makes an essential part of their daily dress, whilst neglecting them is considered as expressive of sorrow." This will be seen from Daniel x. 3. In his affliction, he says, "Neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled." This fact renders intelligible a passage, that, without this knowledge, has no meaning. "When thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast." Matt. vi. 16. That is, do not neglect your daily washing and anointing, and put on a dirty and slovenly appearance, that you may seem to be very sorrowful and penitent, and thus attract the attention of the multitude; but fast in reality, and be contrite and humble in heart, and not in appearance. Let us learn a lesson here, also, and be taught of the Saviour to avoid all pretence and hypocrisy, and be