After twelve years of joint-editorship in the monthly issue of “_Things New and Old_,” the reader will not be surprised at this mutual love of identification in sending forth another volume of “Notes.” But for this, there is no reason why I should appear. The wonderful sale of the three former volumes, and the desire that has been expressed on all hands for the fourth, bespeak for it a large circulation. We will now glance for a moment at the _character_ of the book of Numbers. Fuller details will be found in the “Notes.” It may be regarded as a divine history of the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness for about thirty-eight years and ten months, commencing with the first movement of the camp after the tabernacle was reared; and also as a perpetual memorial of Jehovah’s patient, tender, and unwearied care of His murmuring and rebellious people. It is emphatically a wilderness book, and characterized by journeyings, service, and all the vicissitudes of wilderness life. As such, it is deeply interesting, most instructive, and easily applied to the Christian in this present evil world. (Compare Numbers i. and xxxvi. 13 with Deuteronomy i. 3.) The first thing that attracts our attention in reading the book, is sweet and precious to the heart beyond all expression—_God has His people numbered and gathered around Himself_. He dwelt in the camp.—“_In the midst whereof I dwell_.” Could love do more? Impossible! The twelve tribes guarded the tabernacle of the Lord. The Levites encamped directly around the court; and Moses, Aaron, and the priests guarded the entrance whereby God was approached. The circumference of the camp, thus arranged, and all facing the tabernacle, is generally supposed to have been at least twelve miles. But that which gave unity, strength, and glory to the camp in the wilderness, was the presence of God in His tabernacle, as the centre of His chosen people. Blessed shadow of good things to come—of Christ as the centre, life, and glory of His Church now! Rather more than a year from the epoch of the Exodus, Jehovah commanded Moses to number the people that were able to bear arms, from twenty years old and upwards. The tribe of Levi, being exempt from military service, was numbered separately. But the complete number, _twelve_, was made up by the division of Joseph into Ephraim and Manasseh. (Chapters, i, ii, iii.)