cherubim upon the mercy-seat, bending down, in order to search into the mysteries contained in it0. The great mystery there shadowed forth was, the Lord Jesus Christ (the true Ark), containing in himself, and having fulfilled for us, the law: and God the Father, extending mercy to all (for the mercy-seat was of exactly the same dimensions as the ark) who should come to him by Christ. This mystery they saw unravelled when Christ came into the world, and executed his high office for the salvation of man. But in it there are yet depths utterly unexplored, even by the highest archangel ; and the wonders of wisdom and love contained in it will be more and more unfolded, as long as there shall continue any portion of that mystery unfulfilled.]
3. The felicity arising from this exercise of his
perfections —
[When man fell, the angels could expect no other than that the fate of the fallen angels would be his. But, when a salvation was revealed, whereby millions, numerous as the sands upon the sea-shore, shall be restored to God, with what surprise and joy must those benevolent beings be penetrated ! We are told, that even " one sinner turning" with penitential sorrow to his God causes joy throughout all the angelic hosts. What then must they have felt, when this mystery, whereby millions of millions shall be saved, was revealed ! How must they be transported with joy at the continual increase of the Lord's people on earth, and the constant influx of perfected saints to the regions of bliss, and the consequent augmentation of the choir, by whom praise is continually ascribed to God and to the Lamb ! Nor is their surprise a little heightened by this, that whereas, if men had continued upright, they would have possessed a glory commensurate only with a crea- ture s righteousness, they are now clothed with the righteous- ness of their Creator himself, and put into possession of a glory and felicity proportioned to it. With what amazement must the whole of this dispensation fill them !
Besides, their own happiness is also greatly augmented by this : for though they have never sinned, and therefore derive not salvation from Christ, as we do, their views of the Deity are marvellously enlarged : and, as their happiness, from necessity, arises from beholding the glory of God, it must have been increased in proportion as their knowledge of this mys- tery has been enlarged. All this they had yet to learn, before that salvation was proclaimed to man : but, by the revelation of it to the Church, they have been instructed in it; and their views of it, and blessedness arising from it, will yet be more
0 Traparvyat.