of God-mighty to save, mighty also to destroy-doing as never man did, and speaking as never man spake; so that the people said "It was never so seen in Israel."

As smiting the rock-it represents Jesus as the priest pouring out his soul unto death, submitting to the stroke of his own holy law, consenting to his own death, and bringing out streams of life from his own wounds.

As blossoming and bearing almonds before the Lord-it represents the root out of a dry ground becoming a fruitful vine. It represents the fruitfulness of Jesus' priesthoodthat his sufferings are now past, that he blossoms within the vail.

5. The mercy seat.-This was a lid or covering to the ark of pure gold, of the same length and breadth as the ark itself; Exodus xxv. 17. It was the only lid which the ark had, and it fitted in exactly, so as to cover it close. The two cherubims stood upon it, being of one piece, beaten out of the same pure metal. It was upon this lid that the bright cloud, which shewed a present God, rested, so that it was called the mercy-seat.

There can be no doubt that this was intended to represent Christ, our propitiation. 1st, He is called by this very name, Romans iii. 25, where the word rendered a “propitiation" is literally "a mercy-seat." 2d, The mercy-seat was sprinkled with blood, Lev. xvi. 14, 15.-The blood of the bullock and the blood of the goat was sprinkled on the mercyseat, and before the mercy-seat upon the ground. We are nowhere told that the blood was ever wiped off that golden mercy-seat, so that there can be no doubt it was kept perpetually stained with the blood. The bright shining gold of the mercy-seat was kept constantly dimmed with the blood, and the ground before it was kept always stained with the same. 3d, It was the meeting-place with the sinners, Ex. xxv. 22; "There will I meet with thee and commune with thee from off the mercy-seat." It is the same with "the throne of grace," Heb. iv. 16; Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may find mercy." Sinners, have you come to this mercy-seat, this throne of grace, this propitiation-all washed with blood. It is here God is willing to meet with you, and bless you, and do you good. Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.

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6. The cherubim.-" And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat." The cherubims were first seen at the entrance of the garden of Eden, one on each side of the

flaming sword that kept the way of the tree of life. Moses was commanded to make two of gold; Exodus xxv. 18. They were to be beaten out of the mercy-seat, of the same piece of metal; they were to stand upon the mercy-seat, their wings overshadowing it, and their faces bending toward it. The same creatures seem to be described by Isaiah, as seraphim standing above the throne; and by Ezekiel, as bearing God's throne, Ezekiel i. 10; and by John as standing round it, Rev. iv.

It is now generally agreed by interpreters, that the cherubims were emblems of the Church of the redeemed in heaven. 1st, They were of one piece with the mercy-seat, even as the Church is united to Christ. 2d, They stood upon the mercyseat, sprinkled with blood; they have no other standing. The blood that was sprinkled on the mercy-seat sprinkled them also. 3d, They gazed down upon the mercy-seat, even as the redeemed skall spend eternity in beholding that amazing propitiation, which brought glory to God in the highest, and peace to uilty men. 4th, They are the dwelling-place of God, Ps. lxxx. 1; "Thou that dwellest between the cherubim"-literally, thou that inhabitest the cherubim ; but this is said to be the privilege of the redeemed alone. "An habitation of God, through the spirit." Ye are the temple of the living God. 5th, They sing, thou hast redeemed us; Rev. iv. Are you ever to be in heaven, dear friends, you must stand there like the cherubims, your feet upon the blood-stained mercy-seat, your eyes fixed on Jesus, our ever-fulfilling Saviour; dwelt in by God and singing, "Thou hast redeemed me.'

III. Let us consider now the meaning of the chamber itself, "The holiest of all." It typified three things.

1. Christ. He was the true holiest of all; Daniel ix. 24. The vail is expressly said to be his flesh; Heb. x. 20. The bright cloud, dwelling in frail boards and curtains, represented God manifest in flesh.

2. The gracious presence of God.-This it undoubtedly means, Heb. x. 19. Having boldness to enter into the holiest Believers are there invited to draw near into the holiest to him that dwelleth between the cherubims. It is here we are invited to pour out our hearts to God. Have you learned to spend much of your time within the vail? You would be less moved by all the changes, and bereavements, and disappointments of a passing world. Verse 16

throne of grace-mourners come draw near and pour out your sorrows there.

3. Heaven itself.-Verse 24, "Into heaven itself.”— Proved also by the promise of the hidden manna; Heb. vi.

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"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, and which entered in within the vail." Christ is the sum of heaven. He is the ark in which God's law eternally dwells-the mercy seat where we shall ever meet with God. He is the hidden manna on which we shall eternally feed. He is the rod that budded-the true vine that shall nourish us to all eternity.

Just as the cherubim there stood gazing on the mercy seat, and on the bright cloud that covered it; so the Redeemed shall spend eternity in beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. Are you to enter there? you must have blood, the blood of Jesus, in your hand. You must have the smoke of the incense around you, and the white linen coat girding you. Thus and thus only will you enter into glory. Even in heaven we must be covered with Christ's death and righteousness. You must live in Christ, and die in Christ, and spend eternity in Christ.

PIECES ALREADY PUBLISHED

EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS

ANSWER TO QUERIES ON THE SUBJECT OF THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN ST PETER'S PARISH, DUNDee,

Submitted to a Committee of the Presbytery of Averdeen.

In December 1840, the Presbytery of Aberdeen appointed a Committee to inquire into the Revivals which had recently occurred in different parts of the country, or were taking place at that time. The Committee, besides hearing evidence viva voce, issued queries, which were sent, amongst other ministers, to Mr M'Cheyne. The following are copies of these queries and of his answers:—

"I. Have Revivals taken place in your parish or district; and, if so, to what extent, and by what instrumentality and means? "II. Do you know what was the previous character and habits of the parties?

"III. Have any who are notorious for drunkenness, or other immoralities, neglect of family duties, or public ordinances, abandoned their evil practices, and become remarkable for their diligence in the use of the means of grace?

"IV. Could you condescend on the number of such cases?

"V. Has the conduct of any of the parties been hitherto consistent; and how long has it lasted?

"VI. Have the means to which the Revivals are ascribed been attended with beneficial effects on the religious condition of the people at large?

"VII. Were there public manifestations of physical excitement, as in audible sobs, groans, cries, screams, &c.?

"VIII. Did any of the parties throw themselves into unusual postures?

"IX. Were there any who fainted, fell into convulsions, or were ill in other respects?

"X. How late have you ever known Revival meetings last? "XI. Do you approve or disapprove of these meetings upon the whole? In either case, have the goodness to state why.

“XII. Was any death occasioned, or said to be occasioned, by over excitement in any such case? If so, state the circumstances, in so far as you know them.

"XIII. State any other circumstances connected with Revivals in your parish or district, which, though not involved in the foregoing queries, may tend to throw light upon the subject."

ADDITIONAL QUERIES.

"XIV. What special circumstances in the preaching or ministrations of the instruments appear to have produced the results in each particular case which may have come under your notice?

"XV. Did the person or persons whom you described as the instruments in producing the effects above adverted to address children? At what hour? In what special terms? And what might be the age of the youngest of them?

MR M'CHEYNE'S ANSWERS.

Answer to Query I.—It is my decided and solemn conviction, in the sight of God, that a very remarkable and glorious work of God, in the conversion of sinners and edifying of saints, has taken place in this parish and neighbourhood. This work I have observed going on from the very beginning of my ministry in this place in November 1836, and it has continued to the present time; but it was much more remarkable in the autumn of 1839, when I was abroad on a mission of inquiry to the Jews, and when my place was occupied by the Rev. W. C. Burns. Previous to my going abroad, and for several months afterwards, the means used were of the ordinary kind. In addition to the services of the Sabbath, in the summer of 1837, a meeting was opened in the church on Thursday evenings for prayer, exposition of Scripture, reading accounts of Missions, Revivals of Religion, &c., Sabbath schools were formed, private prayer meetings were encouraged, and two weekly classes for young men and young women were instituted with a very large attendance. These means were accompanied with an evident blessing from on high in many instances. But there was no visible or general movement among the people until August 1839, when, immediately after the beginning of the Lord's work at Kilsyth, the Word of God came with such power to the hearts and consciences of the people here, and their thirst for hearing it became so intense, that the evening classes in the school-room were changed into densely crowded congregations in the church, and for nearly four months it was found desirable to have public worship almost every night. At this time, also, many prayer-meetings were formed, some of which were strictly private or fellowship meetings, and others, conducted by persons of some Christian experience, were open to persons under concern about their souls. At the time of my return