heard; "for after the tenor of these words," said the Lord, "I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel."

Thus, after spending another period of forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai, during which he neither ate nor drank, Moses came down again, with the two new tables of testimony in his hand; on which God had written the words that were on the first tables.

A striking miracle attended his descent and reappearance before the Israelites. His face shone with such a bright and radiant glory, that when Aaron and the people beheld it, they were afraid to come nigh him. He was himself ignorant of the cause; and calling his brother and the rulers of the congregation, who, encouraged by his voice, obeyed the summons, he ascertained the reason of their fears. He, then, covered his face with a veil, and the people approaching, "he gave them in commandment, all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai."

It seems that after this, when Moses went in before the Lord in the tabernacle, to speak with him, he took the veil off until he came out, when he put it on again while delivering the divine commands to the people.

He now, in the presence of the whole congregation, once more enjoined upon them the strictest observance of the Sabbath, and then proceeded to

give the directions which he had received on the mount for the building of the tabernacle, and the preparation of its furniture and the garments of the priests.

'Take ye from among you," said he, an offering unto the Lord; whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it,"-of the various materials which would be needed,—" gold and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, and oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, and onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate. And every wisehearted," or ingenious and skilful," among you shall come," added Moses, and make all that the Lord hath commanded."

The injunction was speedily obeyed. The offerings were presented in abundance; each bringing the requisite things which he happened to have in his possession; the women who had skill in the art, spinning much that was to be prepared in that manner; and the rulers furnishing the precious stones, the spices, and the oil.

Moses, also, made it known that Bezeleel and Aholiab, as we have seen, were chosen by the Lora to superintend the work, and endued with the requisite wisdom and understanding, themselves to execute its most difficult parts, and to teach others

how to assist them. The latter was an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue and in purple, and in scarlet, and in fine linen. Under their direction, and according to the pattern which Moses had received on the mount, the important undertaking commenced. He was soon informed, so prompt and liberal were the people, that they were bringing much more than was needed; and he caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp that the offerings might cease.

It was a great and magnificent work; for a particular description of which the reader is referred to the Scriptures, and recommended to use such helps as may be accessible, for the full understanding of the subject. To go into it minutely here, would occupy more time than the limits of the author will permit.

Each Israelite who was twenty years old and upward, was taxed half a shekel of silver, (about twenty-five cents,) as a contribution to the object; making in the whole about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. And in order that this might be done, Moses took an account of all the people of that age, and found the number to be six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty. sides this, it is estimated that the offerings of gold and brass amounted to more than eight hundred and eighty thousand dollars,- -a vast sum in the aggregate, and showing, with the other costly ma

Be

terials that were employed, how rich the spoils were which the Israelites took from their oppressors when they escaped from Egypt.

Six months were occupied by the workmen in their labors, that is, from the sixth month of the holy year, after the departure from Egypt, to the first day of the first month of the following year, A. M. 2514.

When all was completed, after giving it a critical examination, and finding that every thing was done according to the divine direction, Moses expressed his approbation, and pronounced a blessing both upon the workmen and the people.

Blessed, indeed, are those who fulfil in all respects the divine will. Happy is that individual who not only gives bountifully of his substance to the service of the Lord, but unreservedly consecrates to it himself, and all that he is, and has!

What have been your offerings, my young friend, to help build a tabernacle for the Most High among men, a holy dwelling-place for his Spirit in every heart? The work is a great one. A few are pressing it forward; but ah! how many more laborers are needed for its completion, and what an abundance still of free-will offerings, and of contri butions, to sustain it?

What are you giving? What are you doing? God has given you the means of giving and doing something, it may be much, for this great work.

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Propose the question to your own conscience. Christ has done every thing for you. How are you showing your gratitude to this compassionate Redeemer?

CHAPTER XL.

The tabernacle being completed, God descends, and fills it with his glory. Nadab and Abihu destroyed.

In the first month, on the first day of the month, in the second year of the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, Moses reared the tabernacle. He completed, too, all its internal arrangements, with every thing which it was to contain. He placed the altar of the burnt-offering, and the laver for the necessary ablutions, before the door of the tabernacle; and he set up the court round about it, and the hanging at the court gate. He set the bread in order upon the table. He lighted the lamps. He burnt sweet incense upon the golden altar. He offered up the burnt-offering and the meat-offering, before the door of the tabernacle in the presence of the people.

All this being done in exact conformity with the