Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

habitants of Jerusalem to wash | cakes, or loves of bread, in two

rows, six in a row, and on these was laid frankincense, intimating, that they were as a sweet smelling savor to God. These were to be renewed every sabbath morning, and the bread removed eaten by the priests in the holy place.

Did not this golden table, with its royal crown and nutritious food, designedly represent the royal dignity of Jesus Christ, and the royal bounty with whicli he satiates the weary souls of his fainting people? On this table were placed loaves of bread, the great support of human life, and Christ is the true bread which cometh down from heaven, of which if a man eat he shall never die. This bread was made of fine flour and Christ is the richest, purest food of the soul. The loa

in from sin and uncleanness, the blood of Christ which cleanseth from all sin. The laver was consecrated to its appointed use, and Christ was consecrated to the priesthood for ever more. The laver was a pure vessel, and so represented him who was holy, harmless and undefiled, and his ability to present all who are in him, spotless and unreprovable before the throne of God's glory. The laver of the temple, from its great capacity, may represent the infinite fulness and sufficiency of Christ, as a propitiation for the sins of the whole world. The brazen laver, and the washing of the priests in it, was peculiarly significant with respect to the evangelical ministry. It denoted, that they should be clean who bear the vessels of the Lord. That the evangelic-ves were continually before the at ministry, as the Jewish priest- Lord, and Christ for his people hood, should be purified by the is continually in the presence of washing of regeneration, and God. They were twelve; anthe renewing of the Holy Ghost. swering to all the tribes of Israel, That all who present spiritual and in Christ is bread enough sacrifices to God, should be and to spare. They were resanctified by the washing of water newed every sabbath morning, with the word. The multiplied and Christ, the bread of life, is washings of the priests implied to be exhibited by his word and renewed imperfections, and sug-institution, for the entertainment gest the necessity of renewed ap- of his people, from sabbath to plication for pardon and cleans- sabbath. They were eaten only ing, to the blood of sprinkling by the priests, and Christ is rewhich speaketh better things ceived as the bread of life, only than the blood of Abel. by believers, the royal priesthood, the holy nation.-The loaves may also represent the church of Christ, which is one bread. They were twelve, according to the twelve tribes of Israel, the representation of the whole Israel of God, the church. They were placed in two rows, and the church consisting of many members possessed of diverLII

3. The golden table. Passing through the door of the tabernacle from east to west, we have on the right hand, the golden table, or the table of shew-bread, composed of cedar and gold, with a bo. er of an hand breadth and a golden crown on the edge of it round about. On this were placed twelve VOL. I. NO. 12.

sified gifts and graces, exists in | emblem of the church, and conthe most exact order and come- sequently the whole as a glowing ly proportion. The loaves representation of Christ, the were not always continued, but true light, shining in the church, some were superseded by others, and illuminating it with the and the church exists in succes-knowledge of the glory of God, sion; one generation passeth which is eternal life, and the away, and another cometh after church acknowledging him as it-The loaves which were re-the lamp which lightens her moved, became the property of darkness-Yet the vision of the priests in the holy place, the apostle directs us more esand ministers and saints who are pecially to consider this golden not suffered to continue by rea- candlestick as representing the son of death, become the inheri-Christian church. The candletance of Christ in holy places stick was made of pure, beaten not made with hands, eternal in gold, and the church is constituthe heavens, ted of the richest materials, 4. The golden candlestick. formed by the heavenly architect As on entering the taberna- to be as a city set on an hill, by cle, we have the golden table the purity of her doctrines and of shew bread on the right hand, the sanctity of her life, to give so we have the golden candle-light to all the world-As the stick on the left. This was candlestick receives the light made of beaten gold. It consis-and diffuses it around, so the ted of a main stock, or shaft in the middle, with three branches on cach side, and each branch had three bowls decorated with a knop and a flower. It had also tongs and snuff dishes, the ne-instrument, denote the various cessary utensils, for removing branches of the church, united the snuff and preserving the to one common head, and formlight pure and ciear. This was ing one holy society, a glorious supplied with pure oil of olive, church-The knops and flowers, and lighted every evening and represent fair and beauteous promorning when incense was burnt fessions and excellent fruits—as on the golden altar. the tongs and snuff dishes, the holy discipline, which removes errors in doctrine and vices in life, those obstacles and blemishes which deform the church, and prevent the salutary influence of its light and fruit, and prepare it to give light, like a candle in a candlestick, to all in the world, and the pure oil, those influences of the Holy Spirit, or that grace of God which vivifies and invigorates the Christian profession, and makes it fruitful in those

If we may consider the golden candlestick as a representation of the superior excellence of Ghrist Jesus, who is as the most fine gold, and his seven lamps of the integrity and perfection of the true light which lighteth every man which cometh into the world and the pure oil an emblem of that spirit of grace and holiness which was given him without measure-and the tabernacle in which it stood, an

church receives light from Christ, and communicates it to others-The various branches, united to one common stock or shaft, and forming one entire

works of righteousness which lence of his intercession. Its shape are to the glory of God.-If we foursquare, and having four correfer trimming the lamps toners might respect the four quarChrist, it signifies his constant ters of the world, and signify that care by instruction, discipline access might be had to him from and reproof to remove imper-all the ends of the earth-The fections and blemishes from the horns of this altar were to be church, that she may look forth sprinkled with the blood of the as the morning, having neither offerings with which atonement spot nor wrinkle, and mature her was made for sin, intimating gifts and graces---If we refer the that the efficacy of Christ's metrimming of the lamps and sup-rits, and the prevalence of his plying them with oil by the priests, to Christian ministers, it denotes, by them, the exercise and application of that discipline which Christ hath instituted to remove scandals from the church, preserve its purity and regulate its holy conversation, that in all respects, it may correspond with the typical pattern which was given in the mount.

5. The golden altar of incense. Entering the tabernacle, or sanctuary, as we have the golden table of shew-bread on the right hand, and the golden candlestick on the left, so we have the golden altar of incense in the front. This was four square, with four horns, constructed of cedar boards, overlaid with pure gold, and decorated with a golden crown. While the brazen altár, at the door of the tabernacle, was appropriated to burnt offerings and sacrifices, this was reserved solely for incense-(a composition of sweet spices with frankincense) which was to be offered upon it every morning and evening. This altar with its incense represented the efficacious merit and acceptable intercession of our glorious high priest Christ Jesus. Its golden crown with four horns, the royal dignity of his person, and his power with God, or the preva

intercession, are derived from his atoning blood. The incense which was burned upon it, and diffused a fragrant perfume, represented the merits of Christ, as a sacrifice, of a sweet smelling savor to God, acceptable and pleasing in his sight, and as there was no access to this altar, but by the altar of burnt offering, there is no interest in his intercession, but by faith in his atonement-While the priests burnt incense, the people stood praying without, and the merits and intercession of Christ must ever attend, and give efficacy and success to the prayers of the saints. This incense might not be imitated, nor applied to any other use; and God will not admit any substitute, nor tolerate a misapplication, or perversion of the merits of his Son-Incense was to be burned upon this altar morning and evening, intimating, that, morning and evening, the prayers of God's people should come before him as incense, and the lifting up of their hands as the evening sacrifice, which presented in the name, and through the merits of Christ, will be acceptable and find audience with him.

Lastly. The ark and the mercy-seat.

Passing by the golden altar,

tious and delicious food which will for ever invigorate and refresh the citizens of the new Jerusalem, God's holy hill, Zion? The holy of holies, the ark of the covenant, the mercy-seat, the cherubims stretching out their wings, the golden pot, Aaron's rod, and the pillar of cloud and fire, what a glowing and impressive representation of heaven itself, and God on the throne?

Shall we then admire that God's tabernacles were so amiable to the pious heart of the devout Psalmist? that he loved the habitation of his house, the place where his honor dwells? and that he desired one thing of the Lord, which he would seek after, that he might dwell in his house all the days of his life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in his temple?

and through the curtain, or door of the vail, which separated the holy from the most holy place, we enter the holy of holies, and we have before us, the ark of the covenant overlaid with gold, with its golden crown, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant. On this was the mercyseat, and upon this the cherubims of glory, shadowing it with their wings, and between these, the Shekinah, or visible symbol of the divine presence. And are not these highly significant and instructive Are not the tables of the covenant highly expressive of that perfectly righteous and eternal law, according to which God exercises an invariable government thro' his extensive, his universal dominions? Is not the mercy-seat a designed representation of that The type is now explained, throne of grace, from which he the vail of the temple removed, dispenses mercy? or the glo- the new and living way to the rious gospel? Are not the cheru-holiest opened, the mysteries of bims upon it, the visible emblems of the holy angels, the ministers of his holy kingdom, sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation? Does not their situation, their faces to wards the mercy-seat, and towards one another, denote the intensity and admiration with which they investigate the methods of God's government and grace, and their wings stretched out, the promptitude and activity with which they execute the mandates of their glorious sovereign. Is not Aaron's rod that budded, the visible symbol of Christ's efficacious and perpetual priesthood? And the golden pot which had the manna, an Impressive emblem of the nutri

it disclosed, and how august and impressive the scene! What sublime and interesting objects address our astonished and ad miring eyes! In the temple and its apparatus, have we not God, and his whole administration, the law and gospel in miniature, and heaven as it were, sprinkled with the blood, and perfumed with the merits of Jesus! And being thus come, not to the mount which might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness and tempest; but to mount Zion, and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of angels, to God the Judge of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new

covenant-let us draw near with true hearts, having grace to serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear-For our God is a consuming fire,

Religious Intelligence.

tablished in many places, and well attended. Many persons, grossly immoral in their con. duct, and some distinguished for their zeal in promoting deistical principles have been arrested by the influence of the Spirit, and hopefully converted.The graces of the people of God appear to have been quickened-a spirit of prayer poured out upon them, and the number

A STANDING rule of the Synod of New-York and New-of praying people greatly increaJersey is to spend a certain portion of their time, at their stated meetings, in hearing from each of their members a summary account of the state of religion in the congregations and neighborhood to which they belong. The following is a summary statement of the result of this conversation at their late session in Newark, October,

1808.

sed. During the year past, within the bounds of that presbytery, more than eleven hundred persons have been added to the communion of the church, the greater proportion of them are young persons-The distinguished doctrines of grace, as recognized in the confession of faith of our church, have been remarkably acknowledged and rejoiced in by the subjects of this work.

"The Synod heard from each of their members an ac- "In the bounds of the other count of the state of religion presbyteries belonging to the within their bounds, from which Synod appearances are flatterit appears that during the lasting. In some congregations in year, there have been in many these presbyteries there are of their Churches, extraordina-pleasing revivals, and throughry revivals of Religion, and out them generally the preachgreater numbers added to the ing of the word is heard with Church than in many years avidity, the vacant congregapast. tions are anxious to be supplied with pastors, and there appears to be an increasing attention to the things of religion.

"These revivals of religion have been most remarkable within the bounds of the presbytery of New-York. There the "Throughout our bounds kingdom of Satan appears to generally catechetical instruction have been greatly shaken; con- has been particularly attended binations against religion have to, and appears to have produbeen destroyed; prayer mee-ced happy effects. We rejoice tings on the Sabbath morning, that the fervor felt during the for the purpose of imploring revivals has been unaccompanied the presence and blessing of with any irregular sallies of enGod on the public ordinances of thusiasm. It is also worthy of his house; and religious socie-notice and gratitude, that a far ties on other days have been es- greater number of young men

« EdellinenJatka »