in it, for the Lamb is the light thereof. The entrance of the High Priest into the Holy of Holies after having offered sacrifice for the people, is the figure of our High Priest Jesus, as St. Paul says, entering within the veil and making a new and living way for us through His own blood upon the Cross. (Hebrews, x., 20.) In the same manner, the whole of the work of Moses, as made by him according to the pattern showed him in the mount, would be found to contain in other respects numerous figures of the Church in which God was Himself to dwell under the veil of the Blessed Sacrament, all days, even unto the end of the world.

§ 21. The Idolatry of the Golden Calf.

Whilst this work of glory and beauty was being planned, and in progress of execution, we have now to see a very awful instance of a people's ingratitude to their God, who had delivered them from such bitter and cruel oppression, and with whom they had so short a time ago signed a covenant with blood, that they would have none other gods but Himself alone. Later in their history we shall see, how at the beginning of the week they could cry, "Hosanna to the Son of David! blessed the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that had budded. Within a golden crown surrounding the top, was placed the Mercy Seat. This was a plate of gold, serving as a kind of cover to the Ark. On either side of the Mercy Seat stood two Cherubim, bending down in adoration, with their wings extended over it. Here the Divine Presence rested, and alone lighted the Sanctuary. Into this place none but the High Priest alone might enter upon one day in the year, the day of solemn annual atonement.

The whole frame of the Tabernacle was enclosed by a tent of goats' hair and two other coverings; one of rams' skins, dyed red; and the third of fine furs.

A regular body of Levites were privileged and set apart, to carry the different parts of the Tabernacle when it was taken down and removed.

THE GOLDEN CALF.

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is he who cometh in the name of the Lord!" and before the week was over, "Not this Man, but Barabbas! Crucify Him! crucify Him!"

Moses was gone up into the holy mount to speak with God, and to receive the Law that had been spoken to the people, written by the finger of God on two tables of stone. The people seeing that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, began to gather round Aaron, and said: "Arise, make us gods that may go before us, for as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has befallen him." Aaron gave way to their will, and commanded the people to bring in their golden earrings, which he took and fashioned into the form of a molten calf; and when it was finished, and the people saw it, they cried: "These are thy gods, O Israel, that brought thee out of the land of Egypt." Aaron, seeing how delighted they were with their new image, built an altar before it and made preparation for a solemn sacrifice, sending the crier round with the proclamation. "To-morrow is the solemnity of the Lord!"

§ 22. The Prayer of Moses for Israel.

God made known to Moses in the mount, that the people were falling into idolatry, and said to him: "See this stiffnecked people. Let me alone, that my wrath may be kindled against them and that I may destroy them, and I will make of thee a great nation." Moses however, though full of sorrow and sick at heart for their sin, yet prayed for them, and said: "Why, O Lord, is thy indignation kindled against thy people,

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whom thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Let not the Egyptians say, I beseech thee, 'He craftily brought them out that he might kill them in the mountains, and destroy them from the earth.' Let thine anger cease and be appeased for the wickedness of thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel thy servants, to whom thou sworest by Thyself, saying; 'I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and this whole land that I have spoken of I will give to your seed, and you shall possess it for ever."" God hearkened to the entreaty of Moses, and thus the faithless people was saved by his

prayer.

§ 23. Moses destroys the Calf. The Tribe of Levi is chosen.

Moses now came down from the mount, carrying the two tables of testimony in his hand, graven with the hand of God. On the way, when Josue drew his attention to the sound of voices in the camp, mistaking them for the sound of battle; Moses, who knew the truth, replied: "It is not the cry of men encouraging to fight; it is the voice of singers that I hear.' And when he came nigh to the camp he saw the calf and the dances; and being very angry he threw the tables out of his hand and broke them at the foot of the mount, and laying hold of the calf which they had made, he burnt it and beat it to powder, and then strewed it into the water, and gave it to the children of Israel to drink.

Moses now called Aaron to give an account of what had been done. Aaron excused himself, and threw the blame upon the people. Upon which Moses, going to

THE GOLDEN CALF.

the gate of the camp, cried: "If any Lord's side, let him join with me. Levi came and gathered themselves

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all the sons of man be upon the to him. Moses

said to them: "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: 'Put every man his sword upon his thigh, go and re

turn from gate to gate through the midst of the camp, and let every man kill his brother, friend, and neighbour.'" And the sons of Levi did according to the words of Moses, and there were slain that day about three and twenty thousand men. And Moses said:

"You have consecrated your hands this day to the Lord, every man in his son and his brother, that a blessing may be given to you."

When the next day was come, Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a very great sin; nevertheless, I will go up and entreat the Lord, if by any means I may entreat Him for your crime."

Moses went and prayed before God, saying: "I beseech Thee, this people hath sinned a grievous sin, and they have made themselves gods of gold. Either forgive them this trespass, or if not, do Thou strike me out of the book Thou hast written.'

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The Lord answered, "He that hath sinned against Me, him will I strike out of the book I have written. Go thou, and lead this people whither I have told thee, and my angel shall go before thee, and in the day of revenge I will visit this sin of theirs."

§ 24. Moses receives other Laws for the people: the three yearly Feasts of Easter, Pentecost, and of Tabernacles are instituted.*

Moses went up again into the holy mount to confer with God. And when God appeared to him, he fell prostrate to the ground, and said: "If I have found grace in Thy sight, O Lord, I beseech Thee that Thou wilt go with us; for it is a stiffnecked people. Take away our iniquities and sin, and possess us." The Lord answered: "I will make a covenant in the sight of all. I will do signs such as were never seen upon

*The first of these three great solemnities was the Supper of the Paschal Lamb, which was to be kept in memory of the night of their delivery out of the servitude of Egypt, when the destroying angel passed over the houses which were sprinkled with the