98 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



Moses so frequently repeats the expression * as 

 the Lord commanded.' 



" In reading the account of the Jewish taber- 

 nacle, as well as of the various ceremonies of the 

 law, we should always consider for what ends 

 God was pleased to ordain those things. St. 

 Paul informs us that the Jewish law was an 

 imperfect dispensation from the first, and added, 

 that though it was adapted to the weakness of 

 the Jews, its several institutions were intended 

 to typify the more perfect dispensation of the 

 Gospel. Thus, the Jewish high priest was a 

 manifest type of our Saviour ; and the ark in 

 the Holy of Holies, with its mercy-seat, from 

 whence God communicated his will, was an 

 emblem of Him from whose mouth we afterwards 

 received the perfect law. 



" The religious services ordained, were sacri- 

 fices of different kinds, and various purifications. 

 All these apparently burdensome rites were, 

 however, aptly significant of many things tending 

 to preserve an inward, true religion ; such as the 

 constant acknowledgment that all the blessings 

 we enjoy are the direct gifts of God ; 2dly, the 

 feelings of reverence due to his temple, and to 

 all the things appropriated to his service ; 3dly, 

 the necessity of curbing our passions, and of 

 atoning for past errors ; and further, the impos- 

 sibility of rooting out our evil habits without 

 vigorous exertions, These and other moral 



