Page images
PDF
EPUB

with their Wings ftretched out to cover the Mercy-feat, and their Faces toward each other, and toward the Mercy-feat alfo, Exod. xv. 17-21.

Note, A Cherub is used in Scripture to denote fome angelick Power under the Figure of fome ftrange Animal: It is defcribed always like a living Creature with Wings, and probably with cloven Feet too; but whether it be rather in the fhape of an Ox or of a Man the Learned are not agreed perhaps it was fometimes nearer to one Form, and fometimes to another.

[ocr errors]

38 Q. Why was the Covering of the Ark called the Mercy-feat? A. Because God dwelt on it as the God of Ifrael, between the Cherubs, in a Body of Light, or a bright Cloud, and appeared there as a God of Mercy, accepting their Sacrifices and their Prayers, Exod. xxv. 22. Lev. xvi. 2. Num. vii. 89. Pfal. lxxx. 1. This Light was called by the fews the Shecinah, or the Habitation of God, and fometimes the Glory, Rom. ix. 4.

39Q. Where were the Ark and the Mercy-feat placed? A. In the Holy of Holies within the Vail, Exod. xxvi. 33, 34.

40 Q. What was the Altar of Incense ? A. An Altar made of Wood, covered with Gold, with a Crown or Ledge of Gold round about it, Ex. xxx,

41 Q. What was done here? A: Incense or Perfume of fweet Spices was burnt and offered upon it every Morning and Evening, Ex. xxx. 7, 8,

42 Q. What was the Table? A. The Table was made of Wood, covered with Gold, and had a golden Crown or Ledge round it with golden Dishes and Spoons, Ex. xxv. 23-30.

43Q. What was put on this Table? A. Twelve Cakes of Bread were set there fresh every Sabbath, and it was called Shew-bread, Lev. xxiv. 5.

44 Q What was the Candlestick? A. It was made of pure Gold like a Pillar or Shaft, with three Branches on each fide, and thus it would hold one Lamp on the top, and fix Lamp on the Branches, Exod. xxv. 31.

45 Q. When were thefe Lamps dreffed? A. Every Morning and every Evening they were dreffed and fupplied with pure Oil, to burn always before the Lord, Ex. xxvii. 20. and xxx. 7, 8.

46 Q. Where were the Altar of Incenfe, the Table of Shew-bread, and the Candlestick 'placed? A. In the Holy Place.

47 Q. What was the Altar of Burnt-Offering? A. It was made of Wood, and overlaid with Brafs, with Shovels, and Fire-pans, and Bafons, and o ther Veffels belonging to it, Ex. xxvii. 1-5.

48 Q. What was the Ufe of it? A. All the Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices were offered upon it, Ex. xxxviii. 1.

49 Q. What was one of the chief Glories of it? A. That the firft Sacrifice that was offered upon it was burnt by Fire from Heaven, and that Fire was always kept burning there for holy Ufes, Lev. ix. 24. and vi. 13.

50 Q. What was the Laver? A. A vaft Veffel of Brafs containing a large Quantity of Water, Ex. xxx. 18-21.

51Q. What was the Defign of it? A. For the Priefts to wash their Hands and their Feet when they went to do Service in the Tabernacle, Exod. Xxx. 18-21.

52Q. Where did the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Laver ftand? A. In the Court of the Ta bernacle under the open Sky, Ex. xl. 29, 30.

53 Q. Having feen the holy Things that belonged to the Tabernacle, let us now enquire what were

the

Chap. V. the Priefts holy Garments? A. The common Priests had a Veft called an Ephod, and fome peculiar Garments of fine Linnen appointed them when they miniftered in the Tabernacle; but the Garments of the High-Prieft were very peculiar, and exceeding rich and glorious, 1 Sam. xxii. 18. Exod. xxxix. I, 27, 41.

54Q. What were the High-Prieft's chief Garments? A. These fix or feven, (viz.) The Ephod, with the Breaft plate and Girdle of curious Work, the Robe of the Ephod, the embroidered Linnen Coat, and the Mitre with a golden Plate, Exod. xxviii. 4.

Note here, The common Priests had fuch a linnen Coat and Girdle, but not embroidered, and fuch a Mitre of Linnen, but without a golden Plate, Exod. xxviii. 40.

55 Q. What was the Ephod? A. It was a fort of fhort Veft without Sleeves to be worn above all the other Garments; it was made of fine Linnen, with blue, purple, and scarlet, interwoven with Plates and Wires of Gold, Exod. xxxix. 2, 3.

56 Q. What was the Breaft-plate? A. It was made of the fame Work as the Ephod, of a span fquare, with twelve Jewels fet in Gold, ranked in four Rows and faftened to the Ephod, Ex. xxxix. 8, 9, 10.

57 Q. What was engraven on thofe Jewels? A. The twelve Names of the Children of Ifrael, that the High-Prieft might bear them on his Breaft as a Memorial before the Lord, Exod. xxviii. 32. and xxxix. 14.

58Q. What was the Urim and Thummim on the Breast-plate? A. It was fomething whereby the Mind and Will of God were made known to the High-Prieft when he enquired in Cafes of Difficulty, Exod. xxviii, 30. Num. xxvii. 31.

Note

Note here, On this Ephod was the Urim and Thummim in the Breaft-plate, which are sometimes called the Oracle, because the High-Prieft by confulting this in any Inquiry of Importance found the Mind of God, and told it to the Inquirer. But we know not now what this Urim and Thummim were, or by what Signs or Tokens, or in what Manner the Mind of God was made known on or by this Breaft-plate to the Priests; whether the Answer was given by a particular Luftre on fuch Letters on the Breaft-plate as fpelled out diftinct Words, or whether by a Voice from the Ephod, or from the Mercy feat, is not hitherto agreed by the Learned, and their Conjectures about it are very various and uncertain.

59 Q: What was the Girdle of the Ephod? A. A curious linnen Girdle of embroidered Work, to bind the Ephod with other Garments close to the Body, Exod. xxviii. 8. and some suppose it to have been faftened to the Ephod.

1

60 Q. What was the Robe of the Ephod? A. It was an upper Garment woven al all of blue, with wrought Pomgranates, and golden Bells hanging on the Hem of it, to make a found when the HighPrieft went into the Holy Place, Exod. xxxix. 31, 33, &c.

61 Q. What was the Coat? A. An under Garment, clofer to the Body, made of Linnen and finely embroidered, Exod. xxviii. 4, 39.

[ocr errors]

62 Q. What was the Mitre? A. It was a Cap of fine Linnen, with a Plate of pure Gold faftened on the fore-part of it with a Lace of blue, Exod. xxviii, xxxvi, and xxxix. 28, 30.

63Q What was engraven on this Plate? A. HOLINESS TO THE LORD, because Aaron was to bear the Iniquity of their holy, Things, that they might be accepted before the Lord, Exod. xxxix. 28, 30, 31. and xxviii. 36-38.)

64 Q. Thus much for the holy Garments: Now

let

let us hear what are the Sacrifices that were appointed, which are alfo numbered among the holy Things? A. All Sacrifics were Offerings made to God: Some were of Corn, or Wine, or Oil; and others were Offerings of living Creatures, Birds or Beafts, which were generally to be flain: But all Sacrifices must be perfect in their kind, and without a Blemish, Lev. xxii. 19, 20.

Note, There is one fingle Exception to this Rule, Lev. xxii. 23. where a Bullock or a Lamb, which had no other Blemish but fome fmall natural Imperfection or Superfluity, might be offered in the Cafe of a mère Free-Will Offering, but in no other Cafes: The current Language of Scripture feems every where else fo plainly to require Sacrifices without a Blemish, that fome Commentators think this Text muft be explained fome other

way.

65 Q. Where were thefe Sacrifices to be offered? A. In no other Place but at the Door of the Tabernacle, or the Temple, Lev. xvii. 8, 9. Deut. xii. 13.

66 Q. But do we not read of Gideon, and Samuel, and David, and Elijah building Altars and offering Sacrifices in other Places? A. This was not lawful to be done but by Prophets and infpired Men, or at God's exprefs Command.

67 Q. How were the Sacrifices offered to God? A. In some Sacrifices the whole was burnt on the Altar; in others, a part was burnt, and other parts were given to the Priefts for their Subfiftence : and in some Sacrifices the Person who offered them was allowed to partake alfo. See the feven firft Chapters of Leviticus.

68 Q. What was done with the Blood of the liv ing Creatures that were facrificed? A. The Blood was never to be eaten, but to be poured out or fprinkled according to God's Appointment, for the

Blood

« PreviousContinue »