Page images
PDF
EPUB

xxxiii 6, 7, &c. But when the great Tabernacle was finifhed, according to God's Appointment, it ftood not without the Camp, as appears in the following Question.

27 Q. Where did the Tabernacle ftand when it was reared up?

A. It stood within a large Space of Ground which was called the Court of the Tabernacle, one hundred Cubits long, and fifty Cubits broad, Exod. xxvii. 9-18. and all the Tribes pitched their Tents round about it, Numb. ii.

28 Q. How was the Court of the Tabernacle inclosed?

A. It was inclosed by a Row of Pillars on each Side, with Curtains reaching from Pillar to Pillar, Exod. xxvii. 9-18. and chap. xl. 33.

29 Q. How was the Tabernacle covered?

A. With four Vails or Curtains; one of fine Linen, one of Goats Hair, the third was made of the Skins of Rams dyed red, and the fourth or outermoft of Badger-Skins to endure the Weather, Exod. xxvi. 1—14.

30 Q. Into what Rooms was the Tabernacle divided?

A. Into the holy Place, where the Priests entered to minifter daily, and the mot holy Place, where none but the High Prieft entered, and that but once a Year, Heb. ix. 6, 7.

31 Q. How was the holy Place divided from the most holy?

A. By a Curtain or Vail of fine Linen of various Colours embroidered with Cherubs, and hung on four Pillars overlaid with Gold, Exod. xxvi. 31, 32, 34.

32 Q. What was the Temple?

A. A moft glorious Building of Stone and Timber raised near five hundred Years afterward by

King Solomon, instead of this moveable Taberna-cle, I Chron. xvii. 5, 11, 12. 1 Kings vi. 1, 2.

33 Q. But befides thefe holy Places (namely, the Tabernacle and the Temple) was not Jerufalem called the holy City?

A. Yes, because God appointed the Tabernacle in David's Time to be removed to Mount Zion, and because the Temple was built by Solomon on Mount Moriah, both which are included within the City of Jerufalem, Neh. xi. 1. 2 Chron. iii. I. and 1 Kingsviii. 1.

I

SECT. IV. Of the HOLY THINGS, namely, Altars, Garments, Sacrifices, &c.

34QWHAT were the holy Things?

A. There was a great Number of holy Things made of Gold and Silver, Brafs and Wood, and fine Linen, and other Materials both dry and liquid, which were used in the Jewish Worship.

35 Q. What were the chief or most confiderable of thefe holy Things?

A. The Ark of the Covenant, and the MercySeat, the Altar of Incenfe, the Table and the Candlestick, the Altar of Burnt-Offering and the Laver, the Prieft's Garments, the Sacrifices, the purifying Water, the holy Oil and holy Perfume, together with Veffels or Inftruments relating to all or any of thefe, Exod. xxxi. 7—11.

36 Q. What was the Ark?

[ocr errors]

A. It was a Cheft or Coffer made of Wood, and overlaid with Gold, wherein the two Tables of the Law were kept, of God's own Writing, with fome other precious Things which were afterward laid up there, Exod. xxv. 10-16. Deut. x. 1-5, Heb. ix. 4, 5.

Note, The Rod of Aaron,which bloffomed and brought forth Almonds, and the Pot of Manna, which the Ifraelites lived upon in the Wilderness, were both laid up in the Ark for a perpetual Memorial of thofe miraculous Events, Exod. xvi. 33, 34. Numb. xvii. 10. Heb. ix. 4. Though fome learned Men rather fuppofe these were only placed before the Ark, and not in it.

37 Q. What was the Mercy-feat?

A. It was theCovering of the Ark, and it was made of pure Gold, with a Cherub of Gold at each End of it, with their Wings stretched 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 angelic Power under the Figure of some strange Animal. It is described always like a living Creature with Wings, and probably with cloven Feet too; but whether it be rather in the Shape of an Ox, or of a Man, the Learned are not agreed. Perhaps it was fometimes nearer to the one Form, and fometimes to the other.

38 Q. Why was the Covering of the Ark called the Mercy-feat?

A. Becaufe 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. Numb. vii. 89. Pfalm xxx. 1. This Light was called by the Jews the Shechinah, or the Habitation of God, and fometimes the Glory, Rom. ix. 4.

39 Q. Where were the Ark and the Mercyfeat 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, Exod. xxx.

41 Q. What was done here?

A. Incenfe or Perfume of fweet Spices was burnt and offered upon it every Morning and Evening, Exod. 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, Exod. XXV. 23-30.

43 Q. What was put on this Table?

A. Twelve Cakes of Bread were fet 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 Side, and thus it would hold one Lamp on the Top, and fix Lamps 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, Exod. 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 other Veffels belonging to it, Exod. xxvii. 1--5. 48 Q. What was the Use of it?

A. All the Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices were offered upon it, Exod. 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 chap. vi. 13.

50 Q. What was the Laver?

A. A vaft Veffel of Brafs, containing a large Quantity of Water, Exod. 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.

52 Q. Where did the Altar of Burnt-offering and the Laver stand?

A. In the Court of the Tabernacle, under the open Sky, Exod. xl. 29, 30.

53 Q. Having feen the holy Things that belonged to the Tabernacle, let us now inquire what were the Priests holy Garments?

A. The common Priefts had a Veft called an Ephod, and fome peculiar Garments of fine Linen 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. 1, 27, 41.

54 Q. What were the High Priest's chief Garments?

A. These fix or feven, namely, The Ephod, with the Breaft-plate and Girdle of curious Work, the Robe of the Ephod, the embroidered Linen Coat, and the Mitre with a Golden Plate, Exod. xxviii.4. Note here, The common Priefts had fuch a Linen

Coat and Girdle, but not embroidered, and fuch a Mitre of Linen, but without a golden Plate, Exod. xxviii. 40.

55 Q. What was the Ephod?

A. It was a Sort of short Vest without Sleeves, to be worn above all the other Garments; it was made of fine Linen, with blue, purple, and fcarlet

« PreviousContinue »