even of the Mercy-feat fhall ye make the Cherubims on the two ends thereof: And the Cherubims fhall Stretch forth their wings on bigb, covering the Mercy-feat with their wings; and their faces fall look one to another; towards the Mercy-feat fhall the faces of the Cherubims be: And there will I meet with thee, and I will commune with thee, from above the Mercy-feat, from between the two Cherubims, which are upon the ark of the teftimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Ifrael?

new covenant.

Truth. I apprehend the Mercy-feat to be a lively prefiguration and type of CHRIST; as it was made of pure gold, it may denote the folidity and duration of his love, or the exceeding precioufnefs and glory of his perfon, as the mediator of the The title of a mercy-feat anfwers to the character that CHRIST bears, as a merciful and faithful Highpriest in things pertaining to God; it points out unto us where the treafures of mercy center, where its riches are depofited, that CHRIST is Jehovah's habitation of mercy, his dwellingplace of love, and his throne of fovereign grace; from hence mercy difplays her brighteft glories, opens all her treasures, and lavifhes forth her richeft ftores; from hence it is that mercy fweetly glides, and redemption richly flows; pardoning mercy breaks forth like a river, and extends its refreshing ftreams to the drooping mind. But then let it be obferved, that the word mercy-feat fignifies a covering, and in fome of the old tranflations, in Exo. xxv. 17. It is called a covering marcy-feat. The learned Mr. Ainfworth obferves upon the text, "That in the Hebrew it is named Caporeth, which hath "the fignification of covering or plaiftering over, Gen. vi. 14. "and it is commonly used for the merciful covering and pro"pitiation of fins, Pfal. lxv. 4. whereupon this is tranflated "in Greek, and with the allowance of the HOLY GHOST, "Hilafterion, Heb. ix. 5. that is a propitiatory, or a mercy"feat; and the Greek verfion here addeth, Hilafterion Epithema, that is a propitiatory covering, and is by the apoftle applied to CHRIST, called GOD's Hilaferion, or propitia"tory through faith in his blood, Rom. iii. 25. whom God "bath fet forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood; fo "this mercy-feat on which God did fit between the wings of "the Cherubims, was a figure of CHRIST, by whom our "tranfgreffions are forgiven and covered; and his notes upon "Pfalm. Ixv. 3. which tranflation thus renders the words, "words of iniquities have prevailed against me: Our trefpaffes

"thou wilt mercifully cover them; expiate, propitiate, purge <c away, and fo cover and forgive. Of the Hebrew Caphar, "which fignifieth to cover, the covering of the ark, the "mercy-feat, was called Caporeth, Exo. xxv. 17. in Greek, "Hilafterion, that is, the propitiatory or mercy-feat," which elucidates the mercy-feat as a covering from wrath, as fin expofes to the condemnation of the law, and renders us open and obnoxious to the wrath of GOD; fo the mercy-feat, that is the covering, the propitiation and atonement of the Saviour's blood, is our fhelter, fecurity, and fafe retreat therefrom; for it is afylum blood, an hiding-place from the wind, a cover from the ftorm, for no condemnation can ever pierce through this covering, as the foul is as fafe beneath the mercy-feat, as though he was before the throne of GOD in glory.

Friendly. But what may I apprehend by the mercy-feat being made proportionable to the ark, of the fame length and breadth?

Truth. I answer, it typically points out to us, that the righteousness of CHRIST is every way commenfurate' to the law of GOD; as the law (or the tables of the teftimony,) was put into the ark, and as the Mercy-feat covered the ark, it denotes, that the atonement of his blood was anfwerable for the penalty of it; the obedience of his life, to its commands; and the holiness of his nature, to its fpirituality and extent. Thus the righteousness of CHRIST is a fure covering to a believing foul, as it not only covers from wrath, but from all fins, paft, prefent, and to come, Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Chrift Jefus. As the Mercy-feat was as extenfive as the Ark of the Teftimony, fo CHRIST'S righteoufnefs is commenfurate to the demands of law and juftice, therefore it is that the church exults with fuch exceeding joy, Ifa. Ixi. 10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my foul fhall be joyful in my God, for he hath cloathed me with the garments of falvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.

Likewife, the Mercy-feat covering the Ark, may point out to us, the part that the blood of JESUS has in our juftification, as well as his life and obedience; as it must not only be a covering to the Ark, but it must be a Mercy-feat, a propitiatory covering. So there must not only be the life and obedience of CHRIST, to deliver us from the precepts and commands of the law, but there must be his death, and blood of atonement, to deliver us from the breach and penalty of it, for, fays the Apoftle, Rom. v. 9. Being now juftified by his blood, we shall

be faved from wrath through him. In our juftification the blood and obedience of CHRIST fhould be always confidered, his obedience as delivering us from the command, and his blood from the curfe and penalty; for it is the life and death of CHRIST that confummates our juftification before God. Though his obedience delivers us from the law, as a covenant of works, yet it is the peculiar excellency and glory of his death and facrifice, to deliver us from the penalty it enjoins to the breach of it; as the felicity of the faints is not only defcribed as having righteoufnefs imputed to them, but as having iniquities forgiven and fins covered, Rom. iv. 6. 7. Even as David deferibeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, faying, bleffed are they whofe iniquities are forgiven, and whose fins are covered.

But by the Mercy-feat being above the Ark, is pointed out to us, that all the exuberant beams of mercy must be in a way of strict justice, that the fea of mercy flows in the channel of a divine propitiation; GOD is indeed faid to be rich in mercy, but all thofe riches of mercy, communicated to penitent finners, are in a way of glory to his juftice: as his juftice is as highly glorified, in the falvation of his people, as his mercy is magnified, Rom. 3. 26. To declare, I fay, at this time his righteouf nefs, that he might be just, and yet the juftifier of them which believe in Jefus.

Friendly. My dear Truth, what is to be understood by the Cherubims, and their faces towards one another, towards the Mercy-feat fhall the faces of the Cherubims be?

Truth. I anfwer, thefe Cherubims were fymbols and reprefentations of angels; their refting on the Mercy-feat, may point out their dependance upon CHRIST, as he is the head of angels, of all principalities and powers; the elect angels have their ftanding in him, and fecurity by him, before him they caft thir crowns, and with their wings cover their faces before him. Their being made of gold, may denote their splendor, glory, and duration, as CHRIST will come a fecond time in the glory of his holy angels. Their being made out of the Mercy-feat, may point out to us, that Cherubims and Seraphims, angels and archangels, have all their glory from CHRIST; or that much of their happiness will fpring from their knowledge of him as the propitiation and mercy-covering of his people. And their faces being one towards another, may denote the harmony, and concord, among the angels, their focial affection, their happy agreement, and sweet in,

timacy together. Their wings being ftretched on high, may fhew us, the readiness and alacrity of angels to obey the will of their great Creator, as they are faid to excel in ftrength, and hearken to his commandments. But by covering the Mercy-feat with their wings, is undoubtedly denoted, the intenfe defire of the angels, in prying into the profound deeps of the incarnation, righteousness, death, and fufferings of the great IMMANUEL, which, being interpreted, is, God with us. They ftretch their wings of knowledge, and pry with intense defire into the manifold wisdom of GOD, difplayed in the falvation of his people, 1 Pet. i. 10. 11. 12. Of which falvation the prophets have enquired, and fearched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; fearching what, or what manner of time, the spirit of Chrift which was in them, did fignify, when it teftified beforehand of the fufferings of Chrift, and the glory that should follow: Unto whom it was revealed, that not unte themfelves, but unto us they did minifter the things that are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, which the Holy Ghoft fent down from Heaven, which things the angels defire to pry into. And it is evident, that the angels had a knowledge of CHRIST's incarnation, by the types, fhadows, and adumbrations under the Levitical law, or by the prophecies of the Old Teftament, which predicted his coming, inafmnch as they were the happy harbingers of it to mankind, Luke ii. 10. And the angel faid unto them, fear not, for behold 1 bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people! And, indeed, we find that they pryed into his birth, as they could tell the place of it, and every circumftance that attended it, Luke ii. 12. and this fhall be a fign unto you; ye fhall find the habe wrapped in fwaddling cloaths lying in a manger. And as it was not in the fingular, but in the plural number, Cherubims that were to cover the Mercy-feat, fo it was not a fingle angel, but a multitude of them, myriads of them, that were with intenfe defire prying into his birth and incarnation; they seemed loft in profound amazement, and abforbed at the view of the God of nature, grace, and glory hanging at the breafts of his creature, and lying in a manger, until their profound admiration broke forth in a fong of tranfport and joy, Luke ii. 13. 14. and fuddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly boft, praising God, and faying, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good will towards men. We likewite fiid them prying into his life and the tranfactions thereof, Mark i. 13. fo likewife into the mystery of his death and fufferings, Luke xxiv, 4. as well as his refurrection, Alts i. 10. 11. and his

afcenfion thousands of thousands attended him, for the LORD went up with a fhout, and GOD with a found of a trumpet? And in his exaltation in glory, thousands minifter unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand ftand before him. Thus it appears, that the Cherubims at the ends of the Mercy-feat, as they were fymbols of angels, typical of their prying into the myfteries of redeeming love, they receive fuch knowledge, joy, and fatisfaction therefrom, that the HOLY GHOST ftiles it their food, Pf. lxxviii. 25. But, GoD dwelling between the Cherubims above the Mercy-feat, may denote, the divine Shekinah, or the glorious Majefty of GoD, dwelling in CHRIST, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; Second, it may point out to us, that reft and complacency which GOD takes in the difplay of his mercy to fenfible finners, Fer. ix. 24. for in these things do I delight faith the Lord; on which account he is faid, to keep mercy for thousands.-Third, his dwelling above the Mercy-feat, and the Mercy-feat being above the Ark of the Teftimony, may denote, his readiness and delight to crufh, forgive, or cover, the accufations of the law (that might arife in the foul in its drawing near to him) with the Mercy-feat, the propitiatory covering of the SAVIOUR'S blood and atonement, 1 John ii. 2. and he is the propitiation for our fins; and it likewife points out the foul's access to GoD, to be only by CHRIST, and through the atonement made by his blood. And, by the Mercy-feat being sprinkled with blood upon the day of atonement, (as the Mercy-feat was within the Vail) it was typical of the blood of JESUS, and of its being carried within the Vail, and spread before the throne of GOD, as the atonement made for his people, and a way thereby opened of accefs unto the Holy of Holies, Heb. ix. 24. For Chrift is not entered into the holy place made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the prefence of God for us.

And GoD communed with Mofes from off the mercy-feat, Exod. xxv. 22. and faid, there I will meet with thee, and there will I commune with thee. Here let it be observed, that the moft holy place, where the ark and the mercy-feat were, and where GOD dwelt, Pf. lxxx. 1. is called Debir, the oracle, or fpeaking place, 1 Kings vi. 23. from whence GOD fpeaks by a foft and ftill voice, as the learned Ainsworth obferves upon Lev. i. 1. And as he fpake from the mercy-feat, it may be typical of those foft and alluring words of comfort contained in the promises of his word; for faith the LORD to his church, Hof. ii. 14. I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness, and