There is one view which St. Peter takes of Noah's ark, which is very interesting, and deeply concerns all mankind. He speaks of it as typical of the atonement which the Saviour made for sinners, 1 Pet. iii. 20, 21. If, therefore, we have an interest in that atonement, we shall be saved, when, at his second coming, the works of nature and of art shall be destroyed, not by water, but by fire. Such an event, we are certified by the sure word of prophesy, will come to pass, and that suddenly, as in the days of Noah. "They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be," Matt. xxiv. 38, 39. Of what vast importance is it, then, for all, whether young or old, to have an interest in this atonement! and how earnestly and constantly should we pray, that he would

Open the Ark, and take us in,

And save us from the wrath to come.

ARK OF THE TABERNACLE.

THE ark of the tabernacle was a coffer or chest of shittim wood, overlaid with gold, in which were deposited the tables of the ten commandments; not only the entire ones, say the Jews, but those which Moses brake when he saw the people worshipping the golden

calf, together with Aaron's rod that budded, and the golden pot of preserved manna. It was about four feet six inches long, and two feet nine inches in breadth and depth. Around the upper edge there was a rim,

or cornice, or, as it is termed in the sacred text, "a crown of pure gold;" and on each side were fixed rings of gold to receive the gold-covered poles of shittim wood, by which it was carried from place to place. These staves always remained in the rings. On the top, the ark had a lid or cover of solid gold, which was called, the "mercy seat." Upon the ends of

this lid were placed two figures of cherubim, which looked towards each other, and whose outstretched wings, meeting over the centre of the ark, completely overshadowed it. These were also of pure gold. It was on this mercy seat that the Shechinah, or Divine Presence, more immediately rested; and it was indicated both in the tabernacle and in the temple by a cloud, out of the midst of which responses issued in an audible voice, when Jehovah was consulted on behalf of his people. Hence it is, that the Almighty is sometimes mentioned in the Bible as dwelling between the cherubim. Thus the psalmist, remembering the promise of God, "I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat," Exod. xxv. 22, implores, on behalf of Israel, that he would thus show them his glory; "Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth," Psa. lxxx. 1.

The ark of the tabernacle was considered so sacred, that when it was removed, it was covered with a vail, Numb. iv. 5, and it might only be carried by the priests or Levites. No other form of conveyance was allowed, nor were any other persons permitted to touch it. Thus, therefore, was it removed from place to place, as the Hebrews travelled through the desert; but, after they had passed the Jordan, it generally occupied its proper place in the tabernacle, and it was eventually placed in the temple of Solomon. It did not, however, always remain there; for we find Josiah giving a direction to restore it to its proper place, 2 Chron. xxxv. 3, which implies that it must have

been previously removed; but who removed it is not known. It might have been the idolatrous king Manasseh, or Amon, to make room for their idols; or some zealous priests might have effected its removal, to preserve it from profanation. After it had been restored, it occupied its place in the temple till Nebuchadnezzar spoiled Jerusalem, and then it was finally lost. It was carried away, with other precious spoils belonging to that holy place, to Babylon; and it does not appear to have been restored when the people returned from captivity. This is one of the points in which Hebrew writers say the second temple was inferior to that erected by Solomon.

There are several incidents, connected with the history of the ark of the tabernacle, which must not be overlooked. As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bare the ark were "dipped in the brim" of the Jordan, which divided the Hebrews from the promised land, it is said, that "the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho," Josh. iii. 14-16. The priests entered first, and stood still in the mid-channel until the whole host of the Israelites had gained the opposite shore. They appear to have been so placed, that the people passed not on each side of them, but below them, or between them and the sea; the ark of God thus interposed between the

people and the suspended waters, and, doubtless, this inspired many a fainting heart with courage to pass onwards. When all had passed, the priests also went up with the ark from the channel, and they had no sooner reached the opposite shore, than the suspended waters above flowed downwards in their course, and overflowed the banks as before.

This was a most impressive miracle: if possible, it was more wonderful than the division of the Red Sea. And for this reason: there was no natural agency employed to effect the wondrous cause, no mighty wind blew from the east to sweep a passage, and there was no backward flowing of the tide, at which the infidel might stumble. It was a stoppage of the mighty rush of the waters of the rapid flowing Jordan, in which the power of the Almighty was manifestly displayed in the sight of his people, and they could not have failed to discern his mighty hand in the transaction.

Another miracle connected with the ark took place at Jericho. The walled towns of Palestine had been considered by the Hebrews, a great and an insurmountable obstacle in the conquest of the people who possessed it; but Moses had expressly assured them, that the "cities great and fenced up to heaven,' would avail nothing before their almighty Leader. "As a consuming fire," said he, "he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face," Deut. ix. 1-3. Accordingly, when they appeared before the walls of the first city of the Canaanites,

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