remember, that God does nothing in vain. This consideration will, we trust, exculpate us from the charge of vain curiosity, when humbly continuing our inquiries into the nature and design. of these emblematic patterns which He has himself been pleased to place in our hands and on this account there is, we think, good ground to hope that the most complacent satisfaction will result from our further inspection of them.

The long scriptural quotation just inserted, together with the many elucidatory digressions which have necessarily occurred, having greatly impeded our progress in the noble subject before us, we must request our readers to keep in mind, that the conclusions already stated have assigned our lower heavens unto a definite purpose, and that purpose is, the reception and education of probationary beings. Also, that the secondary, or intermediate heavens, has been from Scripture proved to be the holy place, or paradise, the happy region allotted for the reception of our departed spirits. The delightful inquiry in which we now engage, points to the nature of that illustrious society unto whom we shall be united in this felicitous retreat. That this will be composed of intelligents far superior to those with whom we now converse, the symbolic patterns of things in the heavens do, we think, very clearly ascertain. We must, however, here premise, that when the figurative representation of the first, second, and third heavens were primarily made by Moses in the desert, that these several divisions formed one tabernacle, as it was then

denominated, resembling, Josephus tells us, a portable temple; and it is likewise necessary, for a distinct understanding of the subject on which we are entering, to observe, that the appellation of tabernacle, as applied in Holy Writ, sometimes means and includes the whole tripartite tabernacle conjoined together; sometimes it exclusively means the second division, or holy place, though this is generally distinguished by the title of the tabernacle of the congregation; and sometimes it exclusively means the third division, or most holy place.

On the different and appropriate types affixed in these three separate divisions of the tabernacle, which, previous to the erection of a permanent tripartite temple by king Solomon, the portable temple was always called, we have already very briefly treated; and we shall now proceed to notice the hangings, walls or boundaries, of which its different divisions were severally formed. Now the hangings for the court of the tabernacle, or first division, were directed to be made of fine twined linen; and the hanging for the gate of the court was blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen wrought with needlework. (Exod. xxvii. 9, 16.) But the commandment respecting the hangings which formed the second division, the tabernacle of the congregation, or figurative representation of the holy place above, is as follows:-" Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle of the congregation, (or temporary residence of the souls of the righteous after death,) with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple,

and scarlet with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them." (Exod. xxvi. 1.) Then follows directions for the coupling of these curtains together, that it may form, as ordained (verse 6) one distinct tabernacle. The covering of this tabernacle is then directed to be made of curtains of goat's hair, coupled together, that it may be one tent, (verse 11,) and devoted to one definite purpose. And it was still further enacted, that a covering should be made for the tent of rams' skins dyed red; and a covering above of badgers' skins, (verse 14,) to protect the same, as Josephus observes, from the injuries of the weather. Here end the commandments respecting the hangings of the tent, or camp, of the congregation. That the curtains or hangings, on which such special instruction was given to have cherubims embroidered or wrought, were solely ordained for, and confined to, the purpose of encompassing the tabernacle of the congregation, very plainly appears by the ensuing directions for the formation of the third tabernacle, or most holy place. "And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing u," (when reared up, as ordered, v. 30;) and subsequent to the directions as to the manner of their being coupled and secured together, it is further commanded that all these boards should be overlaid with gold. The cherubic hangings of which the intermediate tabernacle was formed, were therefore wholly unconnected with this third and most splendid sanctum. Finally, "And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the

mount. And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work with cherubims shall it be made. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy." (Exod. xxvi. 30, 31, 33.)

That the cherubic emblems which we now propose for contemplation, were types exclusively appertaining to the tent of the congregation, is further proved by the execution of those instructions which God was pleased to repeat unto king Solomon; for we find that on the walls of the holy place he graved cherubims. (2 Chron. iii. 7.) But in the most holy house, there is no mention of cherubims being graved on the walls; it is only said that they were overlaid with fine gold. There was no symbol of cherubic beings therein affixed, save that most magnificent of types, the chariot of the cherubims, (verse 8,) thousands of mighty angels. Moreover, in the celestial vision of the heavenly temple with which the prophet Ezekiel was honoured, we are informed that the inner house, or holy place, was made with cherubims and palm trees, and that there was made on the doors cherubims and palm trees, like as were made on the walls. (Ezek. xl.) From this latter communication it is presumed, that the vail formed by Moses in the desart, and that afterwards made by king Solomon, and on which cherubims were commanded to be wrought, was so placed, that the side on which the cherubims were embroidered faced the holy

place, thereby surrounding it with these cherubic emblems; the lack of which vail in the vision of Ezekiel was supplied by the foldingdoors, on which cherubims and palm trees were delineated. These recitals and observations, we think, very clearly prove, that the typical cherubims and palm trees we have now been noticing, was a type exclusively belonging to the sacred symbol of the paradisaic region; and also pretty plainly shows that these paradisaic cherubs were of an order entirely distinct from those inhabiting the holiest of holies.† Released from out our house of bondage, delivered from our hard oppressors in these lower heavens, we then shall come unto the heavenly Elim, encamp by its crystal wells of pure and living water, with the blessed cherubims who dwell beneath its palm trees: sustained by angels' food, (Psalm lxviii. 25,) until we come unto a land inhabited-until we come unto the borders of the great celestial Canaan. That the Egyptian bondage was symbolic of our present state of bondage, and the journeyings of the Israelites subsequent to their release from it unto the land of Canaan, sym

*That by the inner house mentioned in the vision wherewith the prophet Ezekiel was honoured, and in which he beheld cherubims and palm trees alternately graved on the walls and doors, was meant the holy place, or intermediate heaven, is very plainly proved by the types therein affixed-namely, the altar of shittim wood overlaid with gold, and the table before the Lord; (Ezekiel xli. 22;) besides which, in verse 4th, he speaks separately of the most holy place.

But this is a point we shall soon take occasion to very clearly prove.