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brass, precious stones, dyed hair and wool, were so abundant, that at length word was brought to Moses, "The people offereth more than is necessary, and

TYPE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

Moses commanded proclamation to be made by the crier's voice, that no further offering should be made.

God was with the work, and gave His spirit to two workmen Beseleel and Ooliab, to devise beautiful work was made of fine twisted linen curtains, supported by sixty pillars or rods of brass, fixed in sockets of the same metal, twenty on each side and ten at the ends. The

for all its parts. The drawings which are here given may perhaps serve to convey as correct an idea of the beauty and form of this great work of Moses to establish the worship of God, as it will be practicable to obtain at this distance of time.

The Tabernacle consisted of two separate parts. (I.) The outer court with its Altar of Holocausts and the laver. (II.) The Holy Tabernacle itself, which was also divided into two compartments. (1) The first of these contained the Loaves of Proposition, the Altar of Incense, and the Seven-branched Candlestick. (2) The second or inner chamber, was the Holy of Holies, containing the Ark of the Covenant covered with pure gold, in which were preserved the tables of the law, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that had budded, while over it were the Golden Cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat.

four centre rods at each end sustained a curtain, the ends of which looped up, and formed the entrance or doorway. Entering this doorway from the east, the Tabernacle itself stood immediately before the spectator, close to the western end of the court. In the intermediate space, stood the Altar of Holocaust, and a little to the left, the brazen laver.

The Altar of Holocaust, made of wood covered with brass plates, was about nine feet square and five feet high. It was half filled with earth. The upper part of the eastern side was grilled, to allow the ashes of the fire to be removed. The top was a loose grating, on which was placed the wood for the fire and the offerings. At each corner was a horn; and two sides of the altar had rings, with poles that were fixed into them to admit of the altar being carried. Fleshhooks, ladles, and other instruments of brass appertained to the altar for use during the sacrifice. The priest offering the sacrifice, approached to it on a slanting platform, made of earth, raised to the height of a large step.

The Laver stood to the left of the altar, and was a large bowl or basin composed of brass, standing upon a pedestal of the same metal. It was kept very bright, and it served the purpose of cleansing the hands and feet of the priests, before and during the sacrifices.

The Tabernacle itself was a building of an oblong square form, fifty-five feet long by eighteen feet in width and height, composed of boards of the imperishable

THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES.

§ 20. The Types contained in the Tabernacle of Moses.

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God had said to Moses, "See thou make all things according to the pattern showed thee in the Mount:" and St. Paul, speaking of the Tabernacle, says, that the law had the shadow of the good things to come, but not the good things themselves. The whole worship of the Tabernacle was intended to prepare the way for the good things which our divine Saviour was Himself to bring. For instance, the lamb which was offered each morning and evening in the outer court, on the altar of holocausts, was a figure of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God on the Cross. The constant washings of the officiating Priests during the sacrifices, for which purpose the brazen laver was used, were a shadow of the constant recourse that the disciples of Christ have to the Divine Sacrament of Penance, in order to cleanse themselves from the stain of the sins into which they may fall. In the first chamber of the Tabernacle itself, into which none but the Priests

setim wood; twenty on the north and south sides, with eight on the west end; the east end being left free for the entrance. These boards were entirely covered with plates of gold, and were set up by being fixed into sockets of solid silver. The boards were kept together by five bars of the same wood covered with gold, running through rings fixed to the boards in three rows. The east end was closed by a veil, supported by five pillars of the same wood overlaid with gold, each standing in a socket of brass. The interior was divided into two compartments, by another veil, eighteen feet distant from the west end, and supported by four pillars, as the outer veil was by five. The inner space thus enclosed, was the "Holy of Holies."

The eastern or outer compartment, which stood before the Holy of Holies, was draped entirely by rich hangings of fine linen, wrought with cherubim and branches of plants, in gold, purple, crimson, and blue. The first object that met the eye was the Altar of Incense, about three feet high and one foot six inches square. It had a golden crown at the top, and was covered entirely with pure gold, and from this circumstance was often called the Golden Altar. It was carried by two golden rods, passing through rings in its sides, and it was used for burning upon

consecrated to its service might enter, there stood: (1) the altar of incense, on which incense was kept continually burning: this was a figure of the continual prayers that are offered to God in the Christian Church: and it is to be remarked with regard to this offering, that Moses imposed the tax of a small annual sum upon each person, from the obligation of which none were allowed to be free, as if to show that in the Christian Church every one would be bound by the duty of prayer: (2) the seven golden lamps on the seven-branched candlestick, which were kept continually burning day and night before the entrance to the Holy of Holies: these were a figure of the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church, which are the seven golden lamps of Christian life, at all times giving their light in the Church: (3) the loaves of proposition, twelve in number, which were kept in sight of the Holy of Holies, and which were renewed from week to week: these were a figure of the priesthood and ministry of the Catholic Church, built upon the twelve Apostles, the members of which are continually renewed by the Sacrament of Orders, as each generation it the people's offering of perpetual incense. It had horns at the four corners, which in particular solemnities were touched with the blood of the victims. On its left stood the Seven-branched Candlestick of gold, composed of a stem and six branches, holding seven lamps, which were kept perpetually burning. In the right was placed the Table of Show Bread, or the loaves of proposition, made from the same wood, covered with gold; it was carved and crowned with gold in the same manner as the altar of incense. The loaves placed upon this table were twelve in number, and they remained lying upon it the whole week, being renewed previously to each Sabbath. They were kept in their places by a golden frame, and three small golden tubes were placed between each loaf to prevent mouldiness. The loaves that were removed were to be eaten by the priests alone. This table also held various small cups and bowls of gold, used in the offering of libations. Into this part of the Tabernacle none but priests might enter.

THE HOLY OF HOLIES.

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dies away. The Holy of Holies itself, which was lighted neither by sunlight nor candle, but by a Divine brightness proceeding from the Mercy Seat, is the

figure of the Heavenly Jerusalem, which is said in the Apocalypse not to need the sun or the moon to shine

The Holy of Holies was draped in a similar manner to the antechamber, and contained the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was a coffer of imperishable wood covered entirely with plates of gold, about three feet nine inches long by two feet three inches in height and width. Within it was kept the law, and beside it