glory of God, he saw it but in part; and that God said nothing on this occasion, but that he was merciful and full of compassion; and that he was also righteous, and would by no means clear the guilty. God makes himself known to us in this life, as far as is necessary to induce us to fear him; that is to say, as supremely good, and perfectly just. These are his two principal attributes that engage us to serve him, and to obey his laws. III. The command God gave his people, to make no league with the Canaanites, is a warning to us of the danger of having any intercourse with wicked men, and that we ought carefully to avoid it. IV. The laws about the firstborn, the first-fruits, the sabbath, and the feasts, were in great wisdom appointed to remind the Israelites of the chief favours God had bestowed on them; and to prevent them from imitating the customs and superstitions of the idolatrous nations. V. It is something very remarkable, that, when the Israelites went to keep their solemn feasts, God suffered not their enemies to invade their country; which was a very particular mark of the divine protection over this people, and a proof that God blesses those who serve him, and defends them from the dangers to which they might be exposed by their obedience. Lastly, The shining of Moses' face, when he came down from the mount, was an assurance to the people, that he spake to them from God; and this change in the person of Moses is an emblem of that change which will be wrought in the faithful by the communication of the Deity, and of the glory of the blessed, when they shall see God, and enjoy his presence in heaven. CHAPTER XXXV.

THERE are two things to be considered in this chapter: I. The repetition of the law concerning the observation of the sabbath. II. The offering made by all the people for the tabernacle.

Reflections.

I. Moses frequently inculcates the law of the sab

bath, because the observation of that day, which returned every week, put the Israelites in remembrance of the one only God, Creator of all things, and kept them at a distance from idolatry. II. We find in this chapter, that the people contributed with cheerfulness and liberality towards the building of the tabernacle: some presenting gold, silver, and precious stones; others offering fine linen, goats' hair, and all materials for the work; every one on this occasion expressing his zeal and readiness. This example should greatly animate Christians to exert themselves heartily in every thing that may contribute to the edification of the church, and the promoting true religion.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE Contributions for the building of the tabernacle being ended, the workmen, who were appointed for this work, labour in it, as God had commanded. We see likewise in this chapter, in what manner the tabernacle was set up.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

A DESCRIPTION of what was in the tabernacle, viz. of the ark of the covenant, of the table of shew-bread, of the candlestick, and of the altar of incense.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

A DESCRIPTION of what was without the tabernacle, viz. of the altar of burnt-offerings, of the laver of brass, and of the outward court; together with a computation of the gold, silver, and brass, which were used in the building of the tabernacle.

Reflections on chap. XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXVIII. WHAT is set down in these chapters, being, except in some circumstances, only a repetition of what was said in the foregoing, it is natural to make the same

reflections. The quantity of gold, silver, and brass made use of for the tabernacle, and the sum of money arising from the half shekel which every Israelite paid, show, that they came out of Egypt with great riches, and that they freely and joyfully dedicated a part of them to the service of God.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THIS chapter contains, I. A description of the sacred vestments. II. The tabernacle being finished, the workmen present it to Moses.

Reflections.

WHAT reflections are proper to be made upon the sacred vestments, may be seen in the xxviith chapter of this book. What is particular in this chapter is, that when the tabernacle was finished, the whole work was presented to Moses, who finding it, in all respects, such as God had commanded, approved of it, and blessed those who laboured in the work, and the people who had supplied what was necessary to bring it to perfection. In all this we discover the people's ready obedience, and Moses' faithful discharge of the trust committed to him by God.

CHAPTER XL.

I. THE work appointed for the tabernacle, and for the service of God, being ended, God commands the tabernacle to be set up, and every thing placed in order. II. Which being finished, God, by the visible tokens of his presence, expressed his approbation of what was done; and signified his pleasure to make his abode in that place, and to conduct the children of Israel in all their journeys: and here ends the book of Exodus.

Reflections.

It is of use to read this last chapter of Exodus, which informs us of the nature of the tabernacle, of its several parts, and their order. The tabernacle

was a kind of tent, which might be taken to pieces, and removed from one place to another. În this tabernacle was the most holy place, where was the ark of the covenant, with its staves to support it; and in this ark were kept the tables of the law. In this place were preserved also the pot full of the manna which the children of Israel had eaten in the wilderness; and Aaron's rod which budded. Before the most holy place, which was inclosed with a veil, stood the altar of incense, with the table of the shew-bread, which was on the north side, and the golden candlestick, which was on the south side. On the outside of this place, and near the door, stood the laver or brazen sea, the altar of burnt-offerings, on which the victims were burnt, and the court where the people assembled. When this tabernacle had been thus set in order, Aaron and the other priests, after they were consecrated, began to perform divine service in it. God gave marks of his presence, by the cloud which alighted on the tabernacle, to convince the Israelites, that he would accept the service they should pay him in that place, and that he would be present in the midst of them. Every time they were to remove from any place, the cloud ascended from off the tabernacle; and when they were to stop, the cloud abode upon it. This tabernacle continued about five hundred years, being often removed from one place to another, till king Solomon built the temple of Jerusalem. Upon the whole, let it be considered, I. That the tabernacle, with all that appertained to it, had been made by God's command, and according to the pattern which he had given to Moses. II. That God, in his great wisdom, had disposed of what related to his service in this manner, the better to suit himself to the condition of the Israelites, who were a rude and unrefined people. And lastly, that all these things were figures and shadows of what was to come to pass in the times of the Gospel, when Jesus Christ was to come to esta

a

blish a more perfect service. This St. Paul teaches in the epistles to the Hebrews, where he says, that when the tabernacle was made, and all things be longing to it set in order, the priests went into it to perform the first service; but that Jesus Christ, the high-priest of good things to come, came with more noble and perfect tabernacle, and purchased eternal redemption for us, and entered into heaven itself. These reflections engage us to bless God for the advantages he has vouchsafed us, and to render him that service which our Lord Jesus Christ has prescribed, which consists in worshipping God in spirit, and in truth.

The end of the second book of Moses, called Exodus.