142 THEOLOGY. 



3. The Doctrines and Ceremonies of the Jews, are founded on 

 their Scriptures, but especially on the books of Exodus, Leviticus, 

 and Numbers ; and that of Deuteronomy, which repeats or sums up 

 the Divine Law, as given by Moses, with frequent exhortations and 

 admonitions. This Law is regarded by Christians as consisting of 

 three distinct parts: the Moral Law, enjoining moral duties, which 

 are binding on all men, in all ages ; the Political Law, relating to 

 the civil affairs of the Jews ; and the Ceremonial Law, regulating 

 their ceremonies and forms of worship ; the two latter divisions 

 being intended for the Jews alone. The Decalogue, or Ten Com- 

 mandments, (Exodus xx. 3 17,) containing the essence of the 

 Moral Law, we need not here repeat. The first table, including the 

 first four Commandments, relates to our immediate duties to God ; 

 the second table, to our duties, divinely required, towards our fellow- 

 men. The Political Laws of the Jews also required that idolatry, 

 blasphemy, sabbath-breaking, and all palpable injustice or immorality, 

 should be punished by the magistrates, priests, or people at large ; 

 and their Criminal Law was strictly retributive, demanding " an eye 

 for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." 



The Jewish Ceremonial Law, seems to have been designed to 

 impress their minds continually with the great truths of religion ; to 

 separate them from the surrounding nations, and thus to guard them 

 against idolatry. For this reason, perhaps, their national worship 

 was confined to one place, and their select priesthood rendered 

 hereditary. They were required to construct a Tabernacle, or large 

 tent, of boards and curtains richly ornamented ; and this was divided 

 into two apartments, the holy, and the most holy place, and sur- 

 rounded by an enclosed area or court ; it being designed as a 

 sanctuary, for the Lord to dwell in, until the building of the temple 

 in Jerusalem, which contained a similar arrangement. In the most 

 holy place, or within the veil, was the ark of the covenant, a 

 beautiful chest, containing the two tables of stone inscribed with 

 the decalogue : and the golden covering of the ark, with golden 

 cherubs at the ends, was called the mercy-seat or propitiatory ; 

 above which was seen the Shechinah, or visible glory, symbolical 

 of the divine presence. In the holy place, were the golden altar of 

 incense, on which incense was daily burned ; the golden candlestick, 

 with a central lamp, and three others on each side, kept always 

 burning ; and the table of show-bread, on which bread was always 

 kept, but renewed every Sabbath, and eaten by the priests. In the 

 court, in front of the tabernacle, was the large brazen altar of 

 burnt offerings, with horns rising from the corners; and the brazen 

 laver, for the use of the priests, in washing themselves and the 

 sacrifices, stood near the door of the tabernacle. 



The priesthood was restricted to Aaron and his sons, under pe- 

 nalty of death to any others who should assume it ; ajid the Levites, 

 divinely selected, from the tribe of Levi, were the priest's assistants. 

 The priests wore a linen underdress, coat, girdle, and bonnet ; but 

 the garments of the high-priest were, besides the underdress and 

 embroidered coat, a blue robe, hung around with golden bells ; an 

 ephod, or outer short coat, without sleeves, and with a curious girdle, 



