p. 120 | The Mercy Seat

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Oct 18, 1853

The Mercy Seat.

"And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee." Ex. xxv, 21; xxvi, 34; xl, 20; Heb. ix, 4, 5.

The testimony here mentioned is the ten commandments, written on the tables of stone. These were put in the ark; and the mercy seat formed the top of the ark. Rev. xi, 19; xv, 5, shows what is "beneath the mercy seat." The following beautiful lines are to the point:—

"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. 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. There is a scene where spirits blend, Where friend holds fellowship with friend; Though sundered far, by faith they meet Around one common 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? There, there on angel's wings we soar, And sin and sense seem all no more; The Lord comes down our souls to greet, And glory crowns the mercy seat. Oh let my hand forget her skill, My tongue be silent, cold and still; This bounding heart forget to beat If I forget the mercy seat."