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according to the calculation of the learned bishop of Peterborough, was five thoufand and feventy-five pounds fifteen fhillings and a fraction, of our money. It is the most generally received opinion, that all, or fome of these feven lamps in the candlestick, were kept continually burning: that they were extinguifhed in turn, to be cleansed and supplied with fresh oil; and that their parts were made to feparate for this,very purpose. As the priests alone could enter the holy place, to them of courfe was committed the whole charge of lighting, trimming, and cleaning the lamps. It is much easier to ask many questions on this fubject than to answer one. Why the number of seven lamps in one candlestick; that number of perfection, as fome have called it, and under which fo many myfteries are fuppofed to be concealed? Why fhould it burn in a place where no eye was to fee its light, or to receive benefit from it, except a folitary prieft? Wherefore this wafte of treasure for no apparent equivalent use? To all fuch questions it must be replied, “Thus the great Lawgiver would have it." We know in part, and we prophefy in part. What he doth we know not now, but we shall know hereafter."

From this created, confined, imperfect, felf-confuming light, we are led to contemplate that pure, eternal, undecaying LIGHT which communicates, of its own splendour, whatever glory any creature poffeffes. "We are led to Him who is the true light of

the world."

We filently turn from the tabernacle in the wildernefs to adore Him who in the beginning faid, “Let there be light and there was light." We are conducted in the vifions of God, to contemplate the fplendour of the christian churches, and behold "the Son of Man, walking in the midst of the feven golden candlesticks." We are hurried forward to the laft awful hour of diffolving nature, when "the fun fhall be darkened, and the moon fhall not give her

light,

light, and the ftars fhall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens fhall be fhaken." We are tranfported to that celeftial city, which " has no need of the fun, neither of the moon to fhine in it; for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."

Without encroaching on your time and patience, or running over the fubjects with indecent and unprofitable hafte, it were impoffible to convey any proper and useful idea of the remaining utenfils of this venerable structure, and the ftill more venerable recefs inclosed within it, ftyled " the most holy place." The description of these therefore, with the history of the auguft ceremonies of fetting up the tabernacle, and the relation of the whole to the "better things to come," of which they were the fhadows, fhall be postponed to another Lecture, which will conclude the fecond book of this Sacred History, and another annual revolution of our own frail, tranfitory life.— "Teach us," O God, "fo to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wifdom."* Vouchfafe to dwell with us in thy word and ordinances; ` let "Chrift dwell in our hearts by faith," and raise us one after another to dwell with thee in the holiest of all, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

*Pfalm xc. 12.

History

History of Mofes.

LECTURE VIII.

EXODUS xl. 17, 34-38.

And it came to pass in the first month, in the fecond year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Mofes was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Ifrael went onward in all their journies. But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not, till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the fight of all the houfe of Ifrael, throughout all their journies.

EVERY production of human power and skill bears this infcription," I am made to perifh." Man himfelf, the moment he begins to breathe begins to die, and his noblest, most durable, and moft glorious works are no fooner completed, than they begin to fall to decay. In vain we look for the monuments of ancient grandeur and magnificence; they have either wholly vanished away, or present to the eye fcattered fragments, or tottering ruins, ready to dafh themfelves upon the ground. Where is now that city and tower which raised its proud head to heaven, in defiVOL. IV.

H

ance

ance of the waters of a fecond deluge? Neither the folid and coftly materials of which it was compofed, the facred purposes to which it was applied, nor the awful glory which once prefided over and refided in it, have preferved from decay and lofs, the tabernacle of the congregation, the work of divinely inspired Bezaleel and Aholiab. Of the magnificent structure on mount Zion, the wonder and glory of the whole earth, not one ftone remaineth upon another.

All that was formal and inftrumental in the ancient difpenfation feems to have been, by the fpecial appointment of Providence, deftroyed and annihilated, that the spirit of it alone might remain. The tabernacle, and temple, and their fervice exift only in defcription; and in those fimpler and more spiritual ordinances to which they have given place. And the institutions which now remain, are only preparing the way for a more auguft, more fplendid, and more durable manifeftation of the divine glory. The legal economy introduced that of grace by the gofpel, and then paffed away. The difpenfation of grace, in like manner, is now performing its work, fulfilling its day, announcing, unfolding, introducing the kingdom of glory; and "when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part fhall be done away.'

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The fatisfaction of Mofes, when the whole work of the tabernacle and of its furniture was completed, is more easily to be conceived than expreffed. To fee the pattern fhewed him in the mount exactly copied, the defign of the great Jehovah perfectly fulfilled, must have filled the good man's mind with delight ineffable. With a holy joy, fimilar to this, muft eye

ry

lover of the gospel observe the exact coincidence between "the fhadows of good things to come," and "the very image of the things;" between the predictions concerning the Saviour of the world, and their accomplishment; between the promises made unto the fathers, and the bleffings enjoyed by their children. And what will it be, chriftians, in that

world

world of blifs, which is the end of our faith, and the grand object of our hope; what will it be, to find the entire coincidence between the descriptions contained in this book, of future and heavenly glory, and the things described; between the exceeding great and precious promises of the gofpel, and the glorious realities of our Father's house above; between the fpirit which christianity now teaches and infpires, in order to dignify and bless mankind, and the spirit which all the redeemed fhall feel, enjoy, and express, when raised to the dignity of being kings and priests unto God?

In the preceding Lecture we endeavoured to lead your attention to the form, use and end of the tabernacle erected in the wilderness, and of the several parts of its facred furniture. The outward court, under the open canopy of heaven, containing "the brazen altar of burnt-offering," on which inceffantly burned the confecrated fire for offering up the daily facrifice; and close by it the laver of brass for the priests to wash in." We conducted you with trembling feet into the "holy place," concealed in front from every profane eye, by a veil which it was death to draw afide; and from above, by covering upon covering, which no eye could penetrate. In this facred recefs were placed "the golden candlestick to give light, the golden altar of incense, and the table of fhew-bread." Having spoken briefly of the first of these, we now proceed to recommend to your notice the other two.

The "altar of incenfe" was made of Shittim or incorruptible wood, overlaid with pure gold, of a cubit fquare, and its height double that dimenfion, with a golden horn arifing at each angle, and the top encompaffed with a golden border or crown. It had two rings of gold immediately under the border, to which were fitted two ftaves of the fame wood, alfo overlaid with gold, for the conveniency of transporting it from place to place, as occafion required. H 2

Its

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