Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/50

46 and the ark itself was called Jehovah. Even Aaron was not permitted to enter within the veil, except with sacrifices and incense, lest he should die. By reason of the presence of Jehovah in the law, and about it, miracles also were wrought by the ark, which contained it: the waters of Jordan were divided, and so long as the ark rested in the midst thereof, the people passed over on dry ground: the walls of Jericho fell down, in consequence of the ark's being carried round about it: Dagon, the god of the Philistines, fell on his face before it, and afterwards was found lying without his head, and with the palms of his hands on the threshold of the house: the Beth-shemites, to the number of more than fifty thousand, were smitten for looking into it: and Uzzah died for only touching it. It is further to be observed, that the same ark was introduced by David into Zion, with sacrifices and thanksgivings; and afterwards by Solomon into the temple at Jerusalem, where it constituted the most sacred part of the temple: not to mention other circumstances, which are convincing proofs, that the Decalogue was the very seat and centre of holiness in the Israelitish church.

The reason why such sanctity and such power belonged to that law was, because it contained the sum and substance of all religion: for it was inscribed on two tables of stone placed together as one, in order to denote the covenant and conjunction, which is entered into between the Lord and man, while the latter observes to perform his part, the Lord being ever ready to perform his. The great duty enjoined by the ten commandments is, in brief, nothing else but love to God, and love to man: and therefore they may well be considered as a just compendium of the whole Word; for this in like manner teaches, though more fully, the very same doctrine. This is confirmed by