man nor beast was to be seen throughout all the mountain, the Lord descended in a cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed his glorious name: "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and fourth generation."

Q. How long did Moses remain upon the mount the second time?

A. Forty days and forty nights, as at the first; during which period he neither ate nor drank, because of the sins of the Israelites.*

Q. How did Moses appear on his descent from the

mount?

A. His face shone so brilliantly that he was obliged to use a veil when conversing with the people.

Q. Of what was this veil typical ?

of letters, in Canaan, at the period when Joshua invaded the country, establishes the fact that letters were known to the Canaanites at that early period; and, from the non-intercourse of these people with the Israelites, is fatal to the hypothesis which ascribes the origin of letters to the giving of the law. All useful discoveries must indeed be ultimately referred to Divine wisdom, Isa. xxviii. 23-29, but it does not follow that the characters on the tables of the law were the first, though "written with the finger of God." Exod. xxiv. 12.-xxxi. 18.-xxxii. 15, 16. Deut. v. 22.—ix. 10.—x. 2,4 4. * Deut. ix. 18-25.

A. Of the blindness of the Israelites, who could not look stedfastly to the end of the law, which pointed to the Messiah.*

Q. Of what was the radiance beaming from the face of Moses typical?

A. Of the glory of the law, or ministration of death, "which glory was to be done away."+

Q. What undertaking was commenced by Moses after his descent from Sinai ?

A. The construction of the tabernacle, and the ark, the materials for which were afforded in great profusion by the Israelites.‡ The artificers were Bezaleel and

Aholiab.

Q. How much time did the preparations for the tabernacle occupy?

A. About six months: in the third month the Israelites came to Sinai, where three months were taken up in the delivery of the law; and on the first day of Abib, in the second year of the Exodus, the tabernacle was set up, and the ark deposited in the holy of holies. T Q. What did the ark contain?

A. The tables of the covenant, and a golden vessel filled with manna.§

2. How was the tabernacle divided?

A. Into the holy place or sanctuary, which contained

By holy of holies, is meant the most holy; as by heaven of heavens, is meant the highest heaven; and by King of kings, § Heb. ix. 4.

the highest king.

the golden altar of incense, the golden candlestick, with seven branches, and the golden table for shew-bread; and the holy of holies, a detached part of the tabernacle, concealed by a veil of curious and costly workmanship. This contained the golden censer, the ark of the covenant, "and over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat." Here the Divine glory appeared; but no one, except the high priest on the great day of atonement, was ever permitted to enter it.*.

Q. What happened on the erection of the tabernacle? A. It was filled with the Divine glory, which by day covered it with a cloud, and by night with fire.

2. Of what was the most holy place a type? A. Of heaven where God dwells.†

Q. Of what was the veil a type?

A. Of Christ's humanity.‡

Q. What did the concealment of the holiest shadow forth?

A. That the way into it was not yet made manifest.T Q. Of what were the holy places made with hands figurative?

A. Of the true.§

Q. How were they to be entered?

A. Only with blood; "without shedding of blood is no remission."||

Q. Who was ordained high priest ?

A. Aaron; in whose family the priesthood was made hereditary.

Q. What was the business of the high priest?

A. "To offer gifts and sacrifices" for sins.

Q. By what authority was Aaron made high priest? A. By Divine authority: "And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as Aaron."*

2. Of whom was the high priest typical?

A. Of Jesus Christ the Son of God.†

Q. How does the priesthood of Christ differ from that of the family of Aaron ?‡

A. The high priests of Aaron's family were made "after the law of a carnal commandment;" Jesus "after the power of an endless life:" they were sinners, and offered sacrifice first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people; Jesus "being made perfect, became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him :" they were "made without an oath;" Jesus, "with an oath, by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec :" they entered alone, once every year, with the blood of goats and calves into the holy place; Jesus entered with his own blood, "into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:" "they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death;" but this Jesus,

*Heb. v. 4.
Heb. iii. 1.—v. 1—6.
See Heb. v. vi. vii. viii. ix.

"because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood."

Q. Who were appointed to do the tabernacle service? A. The Levites,* chosen instead of all the first-born of the Israelites, who were hallowed unto the Lord, on the day when he smote all the first-born of Egypt. Q. How long was the period of their service?

A. Twenty-five years: they entered upon their functions at twenty-five years of age, and at fifty were discharged from all laborious duties.

Q. How were the priests, and the Levites, and the costly service of the tabernacle supported?

A. By tithes; the priests and Levites having no inheritance among their brethren.

Q. How were the Israelites directed in their journeys? A. By the cloud: when it rested, they rested; and when it was taken up, they journeyed; whether by day or by night. They were preceded in their march by the ark of the covenant; when it set forward, Moses said, "Rise up, O Lord, let thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee:" and when it rested, "Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel."

Q. What followed the erection of the tabernacle ?

A. The princes made their offerings to the Lord,¶

* Their selection was probably a distinction conferred because of their zeal in the matter of the calf.

+ Numb. ix. 15–23.

This is quoted in Psalm lxviii. 1

¶ Numbers vii. 1-88.