Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/49

Rh and celestial life, according to the degree in which they are opened and applied. In the Israelitish church they were esteemed most holy, both in consideration of their origin, and of the divine presence which accompanied them. Their supreme sanctity is evident from the following circumstances, viz. That Jehovah the Lord himself descended upon mount Sinai in fire, and there promulgated them by word of mouth: that bounds were set about the mount, lest any one should approach and die: that neither the priests nor elders approached, but Moses alone: that the commandments were written on two tables with the finger of God: that the face of Moses shone, when he carried down the two tables the second time: that the tables were afterwards deposited in the ark, and the ark in the inmost part of the tabernacle, with the mercy-seat upon it, and two cherubim of gold upon the mercy-seat: that the inmost of the tabernacle, where the ark was kept, was called the holy of holies: that without the veil, within which the ark was placed, there were various articles deposited, which represented the holy things of heaven and the church, such as the table overlaid with gold, the shew-bread, the golden altar on which frankincense was placed, the golden candlestick with seven lamps, and the curtains round about, made of fine linen, purple, and scarlet: the sanctity of all which was derived solely from the law within the ark. By reason of the sanctity of the tabernacle, derived from the law within the ark all the people of Israel were commanded to encamp about it in order, according to their tribes, and to march in order after it; at which times a cloud was over it by day, and a fire by night. By reason of the sanctity of that law, and the presence of Jehovah in it. Jehovah conversed with Moses from off the mercy-seat, between the cherubim;