THE OLIVE LEAF. 



of the mercy-seat, of the same dimensions with itself, so 

 as exactly to cover it ; both forming together one vessel 

 of the sanctuary. Out of its two ends were beaten the 

 cherubim, originally placed at the east end of the Gar- 

 den of Eden to keep the way of the tree of life, one at 

 each end, with their outstretched wings meeting and 

 over-shadowing the mercy-seat ; associated, not with the 

 flaming sword of vengeance, but with the symbol of the 

 Divine grace. We have, therefore, to regard it always 

 as a whole. It is the one vessel, as I have said, with 

 reference to which all the ministrations and ritual of the 

 tabernacle service are conducted. Over it the God to 

 whom all the worship is paid, and from whose presence 

 alone it derives its sanction and blessing, dwells in the 

 Shechinah cloud, and manifests His glory. Before it 

 the holy perfume of the incense altar yields its per- 

 petual fragrance ; and on it the blood of the sin-offering 

 of atonement is annually sprinkled. Thus we find, if 

 we study carefully the description given of the different 

 vessels of the tabernacle, that there was a clear and dis- 

 tinct intention on the part of God to link them together 

 into one great harmony of meaning and service. Each 

 vessel has its own distinct use, and each can be viewed 

 apart from the others ; and yet in every act of priestly 

 service, all are joined together, and are in active opera- 

 tion at the same time. It needs the combination of the 

 whole to make a complete and perfect act of worship, 

 just as it needs the harmonious action of all the mem- 

 bers of the body to constitute the act of living. And 

 just as the golden taches link the curtains of the taber- 



