es of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvellous light."[708] And to this description given by the apostle,
primarily of the dispersion, but not limited to them, corresponds that
by another apostle of himself and all who believe, in their grateful
adoration,--"Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his
own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;
to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."[709]

In order to commemorate the deliverance which God wrought for Israel
when he slew the first-born of Egypt, for a sign he claimed, as
consecrated to himself, all the first-born of their males, "Thou shalt
set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling
that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord's."
"And it shall be for a token upon thine hands, and for frontlets between
thine eyes: for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of
Egypt."[710] The first-born of their sons represented the whole nation
as a holy priesthood. Princes and heads of families, whether fathers or
eldest sons--succeeding to their fathers' privileges--had performed the
duties of priests. Such a character, therefore, the first-born in Israel
would have come to sustain. When religious services should have been
performed by them, the whole people, as a nation of priests, would have
worshipped. And of whatever they were the token, the people at large,
accordingly, were also the sign. But instead of them, subsequently the
tribe of Levi was taken, and the special duties of the priesthood were
confined to Aaron and his sons. Hence that appointed priesthood, and the
Levites their attendants, conducted public services instead of, and for
the whole nation, a kingdom of priests. And as the first-born of Israel
were a sign of a great deliverance wrought for them because of his
covenant, the people themselves, the ordained priesthood among them
were, and all the people of God will continue to be, a Covenant sign.

And according to their character is this holy priesthood as a sign
employed. Different from the other signs, their language with theirs is
designed to harmonize. As willing ministers of God's pleasure, to other
signs they give regard, proving themselves a living sign. When the
rainbow displays its spiritual glories, by others unperceived, like Noah
standing by the altar of God, they present sacrifices of thanksgiving,
or vow and swear