Is it reasonable to suppose that in the Patterns' would be found no type of these ministering spirits? Assuming the only answer that can be given to this question to be in the negative, I then would ask, with deference to those whose attention has been more devoted to these things than mine has been, Where can we see the type or pattern of these ministering spirits, but in the Cherubim with their faces towards the mercy seat. (Exodus xxv. 20.)

Lord pitched, and not man.' (Heb. viii. | vengeance these angels have sometimes 2.) In the anointing of Aaron and his been. Now the Saviour tells us to take seed, (Exodus xxviii. 41.) by which they heed not to offend or despise one of these were consecrated to the service of the little ones, 'For (said he) I say unto earthly sanctuary, is evidently a type of you, that in heaven their angels do althe blessed Spirit; not as to his divine way's behold the face of my Father which essence, but as pertaining to the church, is in heaven.' (Matt. xviii. 10.) and in respect to those spiritual gifts and endowments by which the seed of Christ are qualified for service in the spiritual house. The Man Christ Jesus was thus anointed by the Father. (Acts x. 38.) All the spiritual seed are anointed of the same Spirit; to them the apostle is speaking. (1 John ii. 20, 27.) And this anointing includes the power of a living gospel ministry, as well as all gifts and qualifications for service and usefulness in the house of God. (1 Cor. xii. 5.) When we consider the design of the temple and its furniture, 'patterns of things in the heavens,' figures of the future,' and the strict charge that was given to Moses concerning the sameSee that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount,' we may well conclude that the patterns themselves were perfect as such, and that nothing material or essential would be omitted or fail to be represented by some type or pattern. Now looking at the heavenly things themselves, things which pertain to the church spiritually, is not the ministry of angels an essential part of the divine order? Do not these with In conclusion, I would briefly say that all their continued and countless, though I regard the cherubim in the holy place, unseen services, belong to the spiritual as a type of those angelic spirits who house? Are they not all ministering minister to the heirs of salvation, always spirits, sent forth to minister for them beholding the face of their Father who who shall be heirs of salvation?' (Heb. is in heaven, and are swift to do his will. i. 14.) Are not the least of the Lord's

Look at their nature, as mentioned in other parts of Scripture, evidently an order of angels, attending on the Lord. (Ezek. x.)

Look at their position among the types; their faces towards the symbol of the divine presence; looking upon the ark of the testimony, containing a transcript of the divine will; waiting, as it were, before the Lord of the whole earth, eager to know the good pleasure of his will; and withal, winged to execute it, so soon as the commandment comes forth from the throne. (Dan. ix. 23.)

S. F. B.

variety of opinions existed with reference to the Cherubims. We have consulted Hawker, Gill, Allen, and others; they all differ in some degree. We purpose to give a few extracts from these learned authors in future numbers, and will begin with the following from Allen.]

little ones deeply interested in this great,[We were not before aware that such a but greatly overlooked fact? Does not the Saviour declare the doctrine, and give it a practical application, than which scarcely any of the doctrines of Scripture seem to me to have less practical influence on the minds of christians, although it is abundantly evident that it is needed? Our Lord feels very tenderly for his little ones who have no power to avenge themselves when they are offended, but he gives us to understand that if we offend them there are those who are greater than these little ones and who have access at court, and will not fail to communicate to the highest authority the wrong done to these little ones; and we know, by the records of Scripture, what terrible instruments of

"These Cherubims were symbols and representations of angels; their resting on the Mercy-seat, may point out their dependance upon Christ, as he is the head of angels, of angels have their standing in him, and seall principalities and powers; the elect curity by him, before him they cast their crowns, and with their wings cover their faces before him. By their being made of gold, may denote their splendor, glory, and

duration, as Christ will come a second time | Lord went up with a shout, and God with a sound of a trumpet: and in his exaltation in glory, thousands minister unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him. Thus it appears that the Cherubims at the ends of the Mercy-seat, as they were symbols of angels, typical of their prying into the mysteries of redeeming love, they receive such knowledge, joy, and satisfaction therefrom, that the Holy Ghost styles it their food. (Ps. lxxviii. 25.)

was enabled, at times, to believe that it was the Lord's work. I believe my state,

EVANGELICAL REPENTANCE AND

Gospel Liberty truly Set Forth.at this time, is best described by Kent

DEAR PASTOR :-The children of Israel were commanded to remember the time of their coming up out of the land of Egypt, and especially the day in which they stood before the Mount Horeb; and it may be the Lord may be pleased to refresh my soul, and the souls of some of his poor children in perusing and looking back upon the way the Lord took to bring me out. In doing so I shall not take notice of the many hair breadth escapes whilst in a state of nature, but come at once to the point. I was from my youth, up to the age of eighteen, a notorious sinner, with but one good trait in my character, viz., that I was an honest lad; and having come to London away from all restraint and observation, was now determined to have my fill of sin and iniquity; but the Lord was pleased to stop me in the following manner :

I had received a letter from my father informing me where a Mr. Bowers preached, (this was about May, 1834,) and cannot tell why, but I felt a great desire to find out the place, and accordingly went; everything seemed to wear a different aspect, and I thought what a happy people they were, they appeared to shine in my eyes, and I wished that I was like them. I do

not remember anything particular striking in this first discourse, further than it rivetted my attention, and I determined upon reforming my life, which I set about in real earnestness, and for the first time, went home and prayed; the next day, while meditating upon the Word, the Lord was pleased to open up something of the plague of my heart; and such an host of evil blasphemous thoughts sprang up from my heart against God, and all the enmity of my carnal mind appeared to be stirred up, and a sense of God's anger against sin made my soul to tremble, and brought me to cry out with the poor publican, God be merciful to me a sinner; and oh how I longed for the next Lord's Day to come, that I might hear the Word, for time was now of value to me. I often seemed as though every moment God would strike me dead for those awful, blasphemous thoughts, over which I had no more control than I had to keep the light from shining. But in this state I was upheld; every place was a sanctuary, and my soul was continually in earnest prayer; so that it might be said of me at this time, 'Behold, he prayeth! And when the Lord's Day came, I was astonished to hear the minister describe the state my soul was in much better than I could have related; so that I was encouraged to hope that instead of the Lord sending me to hell, as I felt I justly deserved, he was about to make it manifest I was one of his children; and even in this state, (which continued for some weeks) what times of rejoicing I had both under the word, and at prayer meetings! for I

Daily to feel thyself undone,

Will make thee haste to kiss the Son,
And on thy knees for pardon sue,

And bless, and praise, and love him too.
There were many texts and discourses
that my soul was much comforted by, that
Mr. B. preached from; more especially,
such as, And even to your old age I am
he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry
you; I have made and I will bear; even I
will carry, and will deliver you;' and 'with
joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of
salvation;' and 'they shall cry unto the Lord
because of the oppressor, and he shall send
them a Saviour, and a great one, and he shall
deliver them,' &c., and many more; and these
were food for my soul through the weeks,
and supported me daily while groaning
beneath the power of temptations, which
were from morning till night so sharp,
that I have been afraid to open my mouth,
for fear I should curse my God; but the
Lord supported me with just strength
enough, so that the enemy did not gain his
point; and what a matter of thankfulness
it was to me that I was out of hell; and I
shall never forget that hymn being sung-
Tell it unto sinners, tell,

I am,

I am out of hell.

I was enabled, at times, to rise above the power of sin and the tempter; and, though sorely tried, these words of the poet often comforted me

Boast not, ye sons of carth,
Nor look with scornful eyes;
Above your highest mirth,
Our saddest hours we prize.

For though our cup seems fill'd with gall,
There's something secret sweetens all.

I used to wonder how I could have lived all my life time in the service of sin and satan. My conscience was, at this time, so tender, that it made my very soul to tremble when I heard another swear or commit any sin; and never did I think I should ever commit any more outward sins; going back into the world was out of the question; and it was well that no poor backslider came in my way, for I should have cut him off. But to my narrative:

The enemy now tempted me to believe that I had sinned the unpardonable sin, and that there was no hope of my being saved, and down I sank lower than before. I knew not what this sin was, but surely such blasphemies was raised up in me that often made me tremble from head to foot; and often I was like poor Job, scarcely able to swallow my spittle; and often I was afraid these things would break out at my mouth, so that I have sometimes held my breath with all my might; and oh, what struggles did my soul have with the enemy! but the Lord supported me. I had Bunyan's Pilgrim; and what a comfort it was to my soul that when he got near the end of the valley of the shadow of death that one of the wicked ones came and whispered

in his ear such horrid blasphemies, that poor Christian did not know his own voice; he would not have had these thoughts for the world! and so it was with me; and greatly did this comfort and encourage me. This lasted for some weeks; and on the Lord's Days my heart was strengthened by the word; and there were times when I rose superior to my enemies. Apd on one Lord's day this hymn was sung

Vile unbelief be gone,

Ye doubts fly swift away;
God hath an ear to hear
While I've an heart to pray.

I was here a match for satan, for I could
do nothing else but pray; the more he
tempted, the more I cried; and when he
tried to persuade me I had committed this
sin, my soul replied-

God hath an ear to ear,

While I've an heart to pray;

and I have an heart to pray! And so, through
grace divine, the devil was fairly foiled upon
this point. But he soon came with another. I
now began to see that salvation was all of
grace, flowing through the blood of Christ,
to guilty sinners; and as this was the last
trial before my deliverance, so in this trial
my soul sunk the deepest; satan suggested
and raised up such awful things in my
heart, against that precious blood, (which I
daily longed to feel in its cleansing power
and virtue in my conscience,) that it some-
times seemed to me as though hell was
within me. In this state I envied even the
brute creation, and thought there was more
hope for any one else than myself; but
did not finally sink; my soul was constanly
in prayers, in groans, and sighs unutter-
able. I was continually praying, 'Lord
save me through thy precious blood. Lord
pardon my sins through thy precious blood.'
I was at a prayer meeting one Lord's Day
afternoon, and they gave out a hymn of
Kent's which I shall never forget.-

Art thou a son for sin distress'd ?
Doth guilt lie heavy on thy breast?
In Christ, the Lamb, deliv'rance see,
His blood's a peaceful sign to thee.
Once Jesus, as thy Surety, bled,
Was crown'd with thorns, to Calv'ry led;
From Sinai's curse to set thee free,

His blood's a peaceful sign to thee.

I cannot express the hope and expectation that rose up in my heart from these words, and went with me for two or three weeks, and supported me in the fiery furnace, till at last my soul sunk down again under the fire of the enemy, and sometimes I scarcely knew how to take my natural food; indeed the time had come that something must be done, for my poor frame began to wear away, and every one round me said they hated to look at me, I was so wretched. One day in this week I was at work all alone in a room, and engaged in sharp conflict with the enemy, and kneeled down and begged the Lord that this conflict might make me stick closer to him; and

here my soul seemed a little strengthened, and a little breathing time was granted me, for which I felt truly thankful to the Lord, and tried to take encouragement from the Word; more especially from 'I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.' And a little light appeared to shine upon these words. But Saturday came, and none but the Lord can tell the conflict my soul went through towards night; behind the counter, with a shop full of customers, what sighs went up from my heart, what fiery darts were hurled by satan; verily thought it was all over now; that it was of no use; and in this state, worn out in soul and body I went bed. I rose in the morning of that day, never to be forgotten, and oh, I thought what a poor miserable wretch I was, and what would be the end. I had a friend (a man of God,) who I knew was going to call for me in the morning; and oh, how I dreaded his coming, my soul was in such a state, and no signs of being better. We went in the morning to hear Mr. B.; his text was, ' But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.' I thought, what a portion! how suited to my case! But the more he was led to speak of the preciousness of this word, so much the more was my soul afflicted. All the promises and consolations that this word appeared to give, stood as I thought, against me. I did verily believe that I had trodden under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing. What awful grandeur to me, shone upon those words of the apostle,' But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel.' I say these words, or rather all the glory contained in them, shone like a sun beam upon my soul, not to comfort but to heighten my misery, for I could see for myself nothing but blackness and darkness for ever. In this state I went to the prayer meeting where my soul had often found comfort, and there was a young man there that read a chapter out of Revelations where it begins in ascribing praise to God for judging the great whore, and when he came to the words-And again they said, Alleluia, and her smoke rose up for ever and ever,' my knees smote together, and I sunk down in despair. What! thought I, 'must the saints of God shout Alleluia at my damnation? and must I bear this enmity and blasphemy in my heart as long as I live, and then sink to rise no more, and to see the saints rise to eternal glory, shouting and praising God for his righteous judgments in my condemnation?' But, notwithstanding, guilt,