called it the tabernacle of the congregation; and every one that sought the Lord, went out to this tabernacle. This is supposed to be a little occasional tabernacle, made like a small chapel for present worship; for God resided there at the door of it in a cloudy pillar; and Moses went into this tabernacle, and talked with God there, Exod. xxxiii. 6, 7, &c. But when the great tabernacle was finished, according to God's appointment, it stood not without the camp, as appears in the following question.

27 Q. Where did the tabernacle stand 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. 918. 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 xl. 33.

29 Q. How was the tabernacle covered?

A. With four veils 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 outermost of badgers' 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 minister daily, and the most holy place, where none but the high priests 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 veil 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 most glorious building of stone and timber, raised near five hundred years afterwards by king Solomon, instead of this moveable tabernacle, 1 Chron. xvii. 5, 11, 12. 1 Kings vi. 1, 2.

33 Q. But besides these holy places (namely, the tabernacle and the temple), was not Jerusalem 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 Jerusalem, Neh. xi. 1, 2. Chron. iii. 1. and 1 Kings viii. 1.

SECTION IV.

Of the holy things, namely,altars, garments, sacrifices, &c. 34 Q What were the holy things?

A There was a great number of holy things, made of gold and silver, brass 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 considerable of these holy things?

A. The ark of the covenant, and the mercy-seat, the altar of incense, the table, and the candlestick, the altar of burnt-offering, and the laver, the priests' garments, the sacrifices, the purifying water, the holy oil, and the holy perfume, together with vessels or instruments relating to all or any of these, Exod. xxxi. 7-11.

36 Q. What was the ark?

A. It was a chest or coffer made of wood, and overlaid with gold, wherein the two tables of the law were kept, of God's own writing, with some other precious things which were afterwards laid up there, Exod. xxv. 10-16. Deut. x. 1-5. Heb. ix. 4, 5.

Note, The rod of Aaron, which blossomed and brought forth almonds, and the pot of manna, which the Israelites lived upon in the wilderness, were both laid up in the ark for a perpetual memorial of those miraculous events. Exod. xvi. 33, 34. Numb. xvii. 10. Heb. ix, 4. Though some learned men rather suppose these were only placed before the ark, and not in it.

37 Q. What was the mercy-seat?

A. It was the covering 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 mercyseat, and their faces toward each other, and toward the mercy seat also, Exod. xxv. 17-21.

Note, A cherub is used in Scripture to denote some 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 sometimes nearer to one form, and sometimes to the other.

38 Q. Why was the covering of the ark called the mercy-seat?

A. Because God dwelt on it as the God of Israel, 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. Psalm 1xxx. 1. This light was called by the Jews the Shechinah, or the habitation of God, and sometimes the glory, Rom. ix. 4.

39 Q. Where were the ark and the mercy-seat placed?

A. In the holy of holies within the veil, 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. Incense or perfume of sweet spices was burnt and offered upon it every morning aud evening, Exod. xxx. 7, 8.

42 Q. What was this 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 set there fresh every sabbath, and it was called show-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 six lamps on the branches, Exod. xxv. 31.

45 Q. When were these lamps dressed?

A. Every morning and every evening they were dressed and supplied with pure oil, to burn always before the Lord, Exod. xxvii. 20. and xxx. 7, 8.

46 Q. Where were the altar of incense, the table of show-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 brass, with shovels and fire-pans, and basins, and other vesels 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 first sacrifice that was offered upon it was burnt by fire from heaven, and that fire was always kept burning there for holy uses, Lev. ix. 24. and vi. 13.

50 Q. What was the laver?

A. A vast vessel of brass, containing a large quantity of water, Exod. xxx. 18-21.

51 Q. What was the design of it?

A. For the priests to wash their hands and their

feet when they went to do service in the tabernacle, Exod. xxx. 11–21.

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 seen the holy things that belonged to the tabernacle, let us us now inquire what were the priests' holy garments?

A. The common priest had a vest called an ephod, and some peculiar garments of fine linen appointed them when they ministered in the tabernacle; but the garments of the high priest 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 six or seven; namely, the ephod, with the breast-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 priests had such a linen coat and girdle, but not embroidered, and such 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 scarlet interwoven with plates and wires of gold, Exod. xxxix. 2, 3. 56 Q. What was the breast-plate?

A. It was made of the same work as the ephod; of a span square, with twelve jewels set in gold, ranked in four rows, and fastened to the ephod, Exod. xxxix. 8, 9, 10.

57 Q. What was engraven on these jewels?

A. The twelve names of the children of Israel, that the high priest might bear them on his breast, as a memorial before the Lord, Exod. xxviii. 29. and xxxix. 14,