88 



Tile Cherubim of the tabernacle, like every thing connected with 

 the Jewish ceremonial, possessed a twofold character ; the one 

 simple and posi live, the other typical, and extending itself to a re- 

 lation with circumstances considerably affecting the general interests 

 of the human race : of each of these in their order ; and first 

 shortly, of the positive nature of this figure. 



The names of Cherub and of Cherubim, (the Hebrew plural,) 



stood. I shall refer to the devices from the valuable collection of antiquarian relics which 

 belonged to the late Sir William Hamilton, for an obvious illustration of this truth ; and, par- 

 ticularly to one example of exceeding high antiquity, where the entire story of the nocturnal 

 expedition of Diomede and Ulysses, and their characters, are elucidated by the symbols which 

 are bonie upon their shields. (V. 3. p. 103.) — Modern heraldry has ever been, and still is 

 used, as an additional record of the greatest events ; and even bearings the most un- 

 meaning in appearance, the pales, cheverons, &c. commemorate the champion of the tourna- 

 ment to have been the founder of the family. But of the modern art I shall be content 

 to remark, that one part of its language bears a connexion so remarkable with original hiero- 

 glyphic, that I cannot think it merely accidental : the various colours used in armoury, when 

 applied to the bearings of Princes, are named from the sun, moon, and planets, by which 

 in antient hieroglyphic such persons were symbolized. It is scarcely necessary to observe the 

 indispensable assistance which armorial representations have allbrded towards the construction 

 of prophecy, whose language, which Bishop Porteus calls " a speaking hieroglyphic," is re- 

 plete with such symbols. The right understanding of these is requisite, also, to the illustra- 

 tion of many allusions throughout the entire of the sacred volume. 



I cannot dismiss this subject without the mention of one instance, which is particularly re- 

 markable, of the utility of heralc'ic emblems in the illustration of important subjects. The 

 princes of modern Europe have frequently assumed peculiar devices ; that which the vanity 

 of Louis XIV. led him to adopt, as emblematical of his character, was the sun, with the 

 motto, " nee pluribus impar.'' (Burnet Hist, of his own times, v. 2. p. 26^. fol. Edit.) 

 Fleming, in his discourse of " I'he rise and fall of the Papacy,'' (Ed. 1701, in 12mo. p. 68.) 

 Supposes this device to be alluded to in the Apocalypse ; and, relying upon this construction, 

 predicts the downfal of the French Monarchy, ascertaining the very year of this event, and 

 announcing its probable occurrence, above 70 years before it took place. 



See further, upon the uses of this study for these purposes, Maurice's Hist, of Indostan, and 

 Observations on the ruins of Babylon, &c Particularly pages 96 and 211 of the latter. 



