nml mini~tcr to him," t.1king ccrub =karov, symbolic not of the fulncss of tho Deity to come ncnr, to son·e (Hyde). 4. The en.grnv- (Bahr), nor of the sum of earthly lifo (Hcng- ings or cnn·ed figures; from carav (Syriac), stenberg), nor of tho angelic nnturo (Cnlvinh to cngrnvc (Tayler Lewis); from an Egyptian nor of the Divine mnnhood of Jesus Christ root (Cook, i·ide Speaker's Comment.ary). (Wordsworth), ·but qf redeemed and gloriji,M. 3iblicnl notices dcscri\Jc thom as living cre&• humanity (Jnmicson, Fairbairn, l\1ncdoTI11ld, turcs (F:zck. i. 5; Rev. iv. 6) in the fbrm Candlish). Combining with tho intolligenco of n man (Ezek. i. 5), with four (Ezck. i. of humnn nature the highest qualities of tho 8: ii. 23; x. 7, 8-21) or with six wings animal world, ns exhibited in tho lion, the (Rev. iv. 8), nnd full of eyes (Ezck. i. 18 ; ox, and the eagle, they wel'e emblematic of x. 12; Rev. iv. 8) ; ha,;ng each four faces, creature lifo in its_ most absolutoly perfect viz., of a mnn, of a lion, of an ox, of an form. As such they wore C11t1sed to dwell nt eagle (Ezck. i. 10; x. 16); or with one face the gate of Eden to intimate that only when each-of a mnn, of a lion, of a ea.If, nnd of perfected nnd purified could fa.lien hum:m au eagle respectively (Rev. iv. 7). Repre- nature return to paradise. Meantime man sentations of these chay' ath-LXX., l;wa- was utterly unfit to dwell within its fnilr wcrc by Dhwe directions placed upon the Cap- abode. And a 11.e.ming sword, whioh turned poreth (Exod. u::v. 17) and curtains of the every way. Literally, the.flame of a swora tabernncle (Exod. xrn 1, 31; xxxvi 8, 35), turning itself; not brandished by the che- and afterwards engraved upon the walls and rubim, but existing separately, e.nd flashing doors of the temple (1 Kings vi 29, 32, 35). out from among them (of. Ezek. i .. 4). An In the .A.poca.lypse they arc depicted a.s stand- emblem of tho Divine glory in its attitude ing in the immediate ncighbonrhood of the towards sin (Macdonald), To keep (to watch throne (Rev. i.-. 6; v. 6; vii. 11), and as ta.king over or guard; et: eh. ii. 15) the way of part in the acts of adoration and praise in the tree of life. " To keep tho tree of life which the henvenly hosts engage (ibid. v. 11), might imply that all access to it was to. be and that on the e1.-press ground of their re- precluded ; but to keep the way signilles to dcm ption (ihid. v. 8, 9). Whence the opinion keep the way open ns well a.s to keep it that most exactly answers all the facts of the shut" (Macclonald). case is, that these mystcrions creatnrcs were
HOMILETICS. Vcrs. 20-24.-Jilirst fruits of tlie promise. I. FAITH (ver. 20). The special significance of Adam's renaming his wife at this particular juncture in his history is best discerned when the nction is regarded 118 the response of his faith to the !lntecedent promise of the woman's seed. 1. It is ihe place of faith to succeed, and not to precede, the promise. Faith being, in its simplest conception, belief in a testimony, the testimony must ever take precedence of the faith. "In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salva- tion" (Ephes. i. 13). 2. Ae to the gene..~ of faith, it ie always evoked by the promise, not the promise by the faith. Adam's faith was the creation of God's promise • eo ie that of every true believer. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. x. 17). 3. With regard to the function of faith, it is not tliat of certifying or making sure the promise, but simply of attesting its certainty, wLich it does by reposing trust in its veracity. "He that receiveth his testimony l,ath set to his seal tLat God is true" (John iii. 33). And this was practically what was done by Adam when he called hie wife's name Eve. 4. The power of faith is ~een in this, that while it cannot implement, it ie able to anticipa!e the promise, ~nd, as it were, to enjoy it beforehe.nd, in eameet_a~ least, ae Adam d1~ v.:hen he realised tliat liie spouse should be the mother of all livmg. Even so "faith 1s the substance of things hoped for" (Heh. xi. 1). II. ACCEPTANCE (ver. 21). 1. In the Divine scheme of salvation acceptance ever follows on tlte exercise of faitli. See the language of the New Testamen~ generally on the subject of a sinner's justification. 'File c?ve;ing of ~ur first parents with coats of skin apart altogether from any symbolical e1gmficance m the act, could scarcely be n:cra'rded as other than a token of Jehovah'e favour. 2. According to the samo echcm~ th; clothing of a B'inner ever accompanies tlie act of his acceptance. In New_Tcste.mcnt theology the Divine act of justification is always repreeente~ as proceedmg on ~he ground that in the eye of God the sinner stands invested with a complete oovenng (the righteousness of Christ) which renders him both legally and morally acceptable. UH. Ill. 20-24.] TUE BOOK OF GENESIS. -------------------------------- - - - - - -