Exod. xxv. 8, 9. Let them make me a sanctuary ; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the in- struments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
THE more minutely we consider the Mosaic eco- nomy, the more we find it fraught with the richest instruction : and we are persuaded, that, if the lovers of literature had any idea what inexhaustible trea- sures of wisdom and knowledge are contained in it, they would not be so regardless of it, as they too generally are. We cannot read a single chapter without seeing ample ground for this remark. To go no further than the text ; wherein we have the command of God to build a tabernacle for him, and to fit it up in a peculiar manner. Even upon the face of this command there is something that invites inquiry : but, when we have explored its hidden sense, we shall discover in it a deep mystery, and derive from it much important information.
Let us consider then the direction, I. As given to the Jews —
In order to obtain a clear and just view of the subject, it will be proper to notice,
1. The general direction —
[God delights in the exercise of mercy. Mercy prompted him to separate for himself a peculiar people in the midst of a ruined world. Mercy led him to reveal himself to them in such a way as to impress them with an awful sense of his majesty, and afterwards to give an order respecting the making of a sanctuary for him, where they might obtain more easy and familiar access to Him, and He might the more abundantly display unto them the riches of his grace. It was not for his own accommodation that he gave the order, (for " the heaven of heavens cannot contain him,") but for their benefit ; that, by seeing him continually in the midst of them, they might know that he was in a peculiar manner their God. It was an honour to them that he would accept their offerings, and that he would condescend to dwell in an habitation, such as his poor and sinful creatures could provide for him.]
2. The particular limitation of it —
[Such things only as he appointed were to be used either in the framing, or the furnishing, of the tabernacle : and, that every thing might be formed agreeably to his mind, he not only gave to Moses a general description of what was to be done, but shewed him a model of every individual thing that was to be made; and enjoined him to make it exactly according to the pattern shewn to him in the mount. This order was given to