The Ark and the Mercy-Seat.
. In the sanctuary of the first covenant, the ark and the mercy-seat were placed in the holiest of all, and were connected, the mercy-seat being placed on the ark. Heb. 9:1–5; Ex. 25:10–21; 26:33, 34. And if one exists in the heavenly sanctuary of which Christ is a minister (Heb. 8:1, 2), most certainly both exist there. How natural and reasonable the view that the ark containing the commandments of God the Father, which are the rule of man's life, should be closely connected with the mercy-seat where mercy and pardon may be found through the blood of the Son of God for the transgression of that holy law. Christians have had much to say relative to the mercy-seat as really existing in the present dispensation; but they have been almost silent about the ark on which it rests. The mercy-seat has been dwelt upon with pleasure. The servants of the Lord have pointed to it as existing in Heaven as really as God and Christ; and have, in their prayers and songs of praise, named the mercy-seat with great delight. And why not preach, pray, and sing about the ark containing the ten commandments, as well as the mercy-seat which rests upon it? Those who will examine the subject will find as much evidence, to say the least, for the existence of the ark in this dispensation as for the mercy-seat. The apostle Paul, in speaking of the first covenant sanctuary (Heb. 9:1–5), mentions the first tabernacle, or holy place, and its furniture, also "the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all," where the ark and mercy-seat were placed. An account of the typical sanctuary, with its two holies and furniture is given in Exodus. The idea of a mercy-seat now existing in Heaven is obtained from the law of types and Paul's commentary upon that law contained in his epistle to the Hebrews. The apostle declares that the priests of the law served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." Speaking of the cleansing of the typical sanctuary, also the cleansing of the sanctuary in Heaven of which Christ is a minister, Paul says: "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Heb. 9:23, 24. In this manner the apostle shows that the earthly sanctuary, its holies and furniture were patterns of the true in Heaven, consequently the mercy-seat must be there. Hence it has been dwelt upon with great delight as really existing in Heaven. And thus they have sung: "*There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all besides more sweet,
It is the blood-bought mercy-seat.
"Ah! whither should we flee for aid
When tempted, desolate, dismayed?
Or how the hosts of hell defeat,
Had suffering saints no mercy-seat?"* And there is precisely the same evidence in the law of types and the epistle to the Hebrews for the existence of the ark of the ten commandments in this dispensation that there is for the mercy-seat. Let those who doubt, search and see. It would be considered infidelity to doubt the existence of the mercy-seat, but fanciful to believe that the ark of God is in the heavenly sanctuary. Let one dare teach that the mercy-seat has the ark still to rest upon, and he will be called a fanatic, and, may be, represented as fallen from grace if he keeps all the holy precepts contained in the ark, as if he had exchanged Christ and the mercy-seat for the ark of God. But no such exchange is necessary. We affirm it to be consistent with every principle of the Christian religion to embrace both the ark and the mercy-seat which rests upon it. It would be unreasonable to believe that the mercy-seat exists, and reject the ark, if there were as much evidence for the one as for the other; but it is a fact that there is more evidence that the ark of the ten commandments now exists in Heaven than that there is a mercy-seat there. Here follow two texts to the point. "And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there were seen in his temple the ARK of his TESTAMENT." Rev. 11:19. "And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the TESTIMONY in Heaven was opened." Rev. 15:5. And let it here be understood that John had this view of the heavenly sanctuary A. D. 96, about twenty-six years after the typical sanctuary had been destroyed. He is looking forward to the events which occur under the sounding of the seventh angel, in close connection with the pouring out of the seven last plagues. Is the ark which the prophet here mentions empty? If it is then it is not "the ark of his testament." Is not the testimony, the ten commandments uttered by Jehovah, in the heavenly sanctuary? If it is not, why does John mention the "tabernacle of the testimony in Heaven"? We have given two texts of plain Bible testimony that prove the existence of "the ark of the testimony." And it is a fact that there is not one such text in all the New Testament to prove that there is a mercy-seat in Heaven or anywhere else. Let those who have much to say relative to the mercy-seat, and think us fanatical for believing that the ark exists, pause a moment and look at these facts. With great delight we make mention of the ark of God, as well as of the mercy-seat, and believe that both exist in this dispensation. We love the mercy-seat, before which our merciful High Priest now stands ready to plead the case of those who come to him in sincerity and truth. And why not love the ark of God also beneath it? Those who do, may with propriety sing: "From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat,
'Tis found beneath the mercy-seat."