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God commandeth Moses to rear the tabernacle.
And the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying,

2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.

4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.

5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.

6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.

8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. 9 And thou shalt take the an

ointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof and it shall be holy.

10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar and it shall be an altar most holy.

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11 And thou shalt anoint the laver, and his foot, and sanctify it. 12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

LECTURE 182.

We must aim at perfect obedience.

It is observable, that whilst the history of the creation of the world is told in a single page and chapter, many chapters and many pages are occupied with describing, over and over again, the workmanship and services of the tabernacle. Hence it appears, that it is the object of Scripture to instruct us in the works of grace, not in those of nature. And it is our privilege in these repeated accounts of God's worship, under the elder covenant, to be aided in understanding how we ought under the Gospel to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The Law is to us, as well as to the Jews, a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. See Gal. 3. 24. Are we as nigh to Him at present as we ought to be? Do we think of Christ as often, love Christ as much, as we might? If not, let us see what help we can derive in approaching to our Saviour, from the passage of the Law before us.

On the first day of the first month the tabernacle was to be set up. May not this well remind us of Him, who said, "Behold, I make all things new"? Rev. 21. 5. The ark of the testimony was to be put therein, and covered with the vail. Can we not see in this, the vail of Christ's flesh, under which was hidden the glory of the godhead, and the mercy seat, God's mercifulness, and the testimony of his covenant with mankind in Christ? The table and the shewbread thereon, the candlestick and the burning lamps; will not the review of these things set before our thoughts Him, who is as bread, the staff of life, and as a light to give light to all that come into the world? The altar of gold, for the incense, reminds us of the intercession continually made in our behalf before the throne of the Father by the Son. The altar of the burnt offering, sets forth Jesus as our sacrifice. In the laver, we see Him that washed us by his blood. In the court round about, we see the multitude of them that believe in Christ; and are led by that sight to pray more earnestly, that when so many are admitted, we ourselves may not be shut out. And what now is the boly anointing oil, with which Moses was to anoint the tabernacle, and all that was therein, and "the altar, and his vessels," and "the laver, and his foot," and "Aaron and his sons"? Is it not this, that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power"? Acts 10. 38. And is it not this also, that we have an unction from the Holy One, see 1 John 2. 20, and that He which stablisheth us in Christ and hath anointed us is God? See 2 Cor. 1. 21. Yes, it is the Spirit that testifies of Christ. It is the Spirit that must draw us nigh to Christ. It is the Spirit that must make us like to Christ. And if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

"Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he." This is that which is so often pressed upon our attention, in the saints and servants of the Lord. This is that which we are apt to suppose an impossibility: to do all that the Lord has commanded us. But take, my brethren," says St. James, "the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience." James 5. 10. Take them for an example of patience in well doing. Take Moses, and observe how he did all that the Lord commanded him." What could seem more nigh to impossibility, than to induce the people to give up the spoil they had taken from their enemies, the ornaments they wore upon their persons, and the mirrors in which they bebeld themselves when adorned; and further to find workpeople capable of working up the materials, into the form described? And how was all this compassed? By the grace of God. He gave the willing heart, the understanding mind, the skilful hands. He gave Moses the disposition to trust in his assistance. Moses believed, had the help he trusted in, did the work appointed him. Let us believe, and trust in God. His strength will be made perfect in our weakness.

Moses reareth up the tabernacle.

17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.

18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared his pillars. up

19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses.

20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the

ark:

21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.

22 And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.

23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. 24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.

25 And he lighted the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:

27 And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD com

manded Moses.

28 And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.

29 And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.

30 And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.

31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat :

32 When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. LECTURE 183.

Our joy on admission to the church in heaven.

That we may be the better impressed with the care which Moses took, to do all things as God commanded him, we are here told of his doing each particular thing, in order, as he did it. And now, when he was putting the work together, it is not improbable that some would be tempted to object, of what use is it to rear up this tabernacle, when we are just about to set off on our journey towards Canaan? Certainly there are many who argue thus, in regard to their own attendance on divine worship, and the devotion of themselves to the service of God. If their habitations, or their plans of life, are unsettled, they think this a fit excuse, for delaying all attention to religious ordinances.

They will wait till such or such a thing is done, till such or such a point is fixed, and then they will attend at church more regularly, then they will adopt family worship, then they will be more constant, and more fervent in their private prayers; then they will give more heed to the motions of the Holy Ghost, and cultivate that faith, and hope, and charity, in their hearts, without which all prayers are lifeless forms, all worship little else than mockery of God. But if the Israelites had waited to set up their tabernacle, until their arrival at the promised land, how few of this generation would have ever seen it at all! We know concerning all but Joshua and Caleb, that their carcases were left in the wilderness. If we wilfully put off any good that our hands find to do, or neglect any opportunity of growth in grace, how great is our risk, that death may cut us off when we least expect it; with our work not done, our talents not improved, our graces not thankfully enjoyed, our souls not fit for heaven!

Whilst some may have thus objected, the greater part, we doubt not, gladly hailed the sight of Moses rearing up the tabernacle. Welcome to their eyes was each board, and bar, and pillar, as they were put in place one by one. Welcome the curtains spread abroad. Welcome the ark of the testimony, and the table of shewbread, the candlestick, and the two altars, and the laver, and the court round about the tabernacle. More especially all they, who had in any degree assisted in the work, must have watched with the deepest interest the putting together of each part; and must have been delighted to see the glorious appearance of the whole. And may we not hope in all humility, that something like to this, will be our own emotions of wonder and joy, when we are admitted to a sight of the heavenly Jerusalem, of the things above, whereof these were figures? It is but one very small portion of the work which is entrusted to the hands of each Christian in particular. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit of God, and strengthened by his strength, we do our part, according to our power. And having taken in our work to our heavenly Master, we go to our place in peace. We awake at the

resurrection of the dead. We arise to meet the Lord in the air. We behold in all its glory the true tabernacle, reared up by Him in heaven. And can it be that we have had any part, however slight, in a work so past all words to praise as this? Have we woven or spun a single thread, in the tent of the church which is above; in which the beauty of its holiness, and the fulness of its joys surpass the utmost conception that we can possibly frame, from all that we behold glorious in nature, or from all that we feel pleasant and lovely in grace? O Lord, it is not in us, except so far as Thou givest us ability! O Lord, to Thee be all the honour, all the praise! Thine was the design, when Thou didst graciously say unto the Father in heaven "Lo I come!" Heb. 10.9. Thine was the perfect execution, when Thou didst meekly declare to men, from the cross, "It is finished"! John 19. 30.

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The privilege of living amidst Christian light.

"So Moses finished the work." Ver. 33. But see, he is not able to enter into the tent, which his own hands so lately put together; for the glory of the Lord has filled it. It is God's house. It is where He deigns to dwell. It is where He would have his people consider that they may always have access to their King. Moses is not able to enter. It must be signified to the Israelites, that there is another Mediator, and a better covenant; that it is a greater than Moses who must " appear in the presence of God for us;" Heb. 9. 24; and that it is not till there shall be "a new heaven and a new earth," that "the tabernacle of God" will be "with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." Rev. 21. 1, 3. But though we may not as yet dwell in the light of God's countenance, He shews enough of his glory to guide "all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys." It is brightness in the midst of cloud. It is the will of God, revealed in the language of men, and by means of ordinances adapted to human infirmity. Whatsoever therein seems dark, is by reason of the weakness of our sight; which could not bear its unveiled brightness. Whatsoever therein is light, this is that truth of God, which shines through the veil of cloud, to signify what glory is within. How great is our advantage in the abundance of the light of truth, in the midst of which we live! How eminent ought to be our faith, and obedience, our love, and holiness, and thankfulness; when we have not only Moses and the prophets for our guidance, but also "the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God"! 2 Cor. 4. 4.

Direct us, O Thou gracious Saviour, in all our journeying to the land of promise! Open Thou our eyes, that we may behold the wondrous things of thy Law, the inestimable value of thy Gospel! And incline our hearts that we may love to follow where Thou leadest us, from sin to holiness, from earth to heaven!

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