to mention. It will be remembered, that, when Moses was about to make the tabernacle, a very strict and solemn command was given him, (the injunction is repeatedly mentioned in the Pentateuch,) " See thou make all things according to the pattern shewn to thee in the mount." The same injunction was given to David, also, when he was desirous to build the temple. And St. Paul very particularly notices the former, as of vast importance. But whence was it that such stress was laid on this apparently unimportant matter ? It was from hence : The law was given to shadow forth the Gospel : and it was to be the model to which the whole edifice of Christianity was to be conformed, in every the minutest particular. Now, if there was any one thing added to the tabernacle, or omitted in it, or altered in any respect, it would not be a perfect representation of Christianity. But the two were to correspond with each other, as the impression with the seal : and if there were any thing in the taber- nacle superfluous or defective, the correspondence would be lost, and God would be greatly dishonoured. But the necessary care was taken : Moses was faithful in all his house as a Servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after: and the same fidelity has Christ shewn as a Son, whose house are we, if we " hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of our hope firm unto the end."
Thus it appears that we have received salvation originally from the Jews ; to whom, in every particu- lar, it was first revealed. But we go on to observe, 2dly, That we have also received it instrument ally from them, in that it has been altogether communi- cated to us through their ministrations.
It was first preached to us by Moses and the prophets. We had known nothing of a Messiah, if they had not pointed him out. We have already seen how much we are indebted to Moses for his writings : which make known to us the very first prophecy of a Saviour ; and shew us how Abel, and Noah, and Abraham, found acceptance with God. To him we owe it, that the model shewn to him in the mount