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Article THE CHERUBIM. ← Page 2 of 2
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The Cherubim.
ness , but because God willed it . The followers of Mahomet have overrun the Seven Churches of Asia , not for their goodness , but because Gocl willed it . In either case we cannot impugn the justice of the Great Architect , who we may be sure never punishes without reason , or unless the recipients of privileges have abused those privileges . Here , we see in part ; hereafter , we shall know all things . Returningthenfrom the apparent digression—but which is so far
, , relevant as that it may lead us to see the appropriateness of the Cherubic Symbol to every nation under Heaven—we infer that the duty of beatific spirits in Heaven is analogous to the use for which the Cherubim were designed on earth . Ascriptions of praise formed their anthem above ; so in the Holy of Holies , or Figure of Heaven , the image of the Cherubim was intended to convey an idea to man of that divine attribute of Deity , mercy ; and
in what more appropriate way could it be pourtrayed than by describing on his footstool the great features of redemption ? In condescension to our finite capacity , and to assist us in conceiving somewhat of Deity , we read of his repenting of his decrees , of his raising his arm , of his planting his foot , and so forth . In like manner , " The chariots of God are twenty thousand , even thousands of angels . " In one of these , " a chariot of fire , and horses of fire , " was Elijah translated to Heaven ; and in 1 Chronicles , xxviii . 18 , we read of " the chariot of the Cherubim . " What , then , were the Cherubim ? They were not angels , as the 11 th
verse of chapters 5 and 7 of Revelations plainly indicates . They were " living creatures" ( or figures of them ) , intended to show what is the nature of angels , who are the ministering spirits of God . The union of the man , the lion , the ox , and the eagle , shows their understanding , their power , their patient ministration , their swiftness in executing the command of the Most High . Such is the explanation given by our pious and talented Brother Oliver—a solution of a difficulty which must
interest us , if we reflect on their continued agency to this hour , and the duty to be performed by them at the Great Assize . These " living creatures" were intended , also , to give an idea of the redemption of man from the effects of the Fall . When the Ark moved , Moses exclaimed , " Rise up , Jehovah I" whose presence ' the glory" indicated , and the emblems described his attributes as redeeming man , the lorcl of the brute creation , by the incarnate Deity . The eagle , lion , and ox
represented the noblest animals , and man their lorcl , all paying obeisance to the Lord of All . The car moved of itself— " the Spirit was in the wheels "—" they turned not , " because in God is " no variableness or shadow of turning . " The " living creatures" were in " in the midst of the throne , and round about the throne ; " they formed its basement or support , somewhat as in our times the achievements of the great are represented by supporters either on the sides or pediment of the shield . Such are the glorious quarterings of the Masonic escutcheon , and its motto . " RESURGAM . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Cherubim.
ness , but because God willed it . The followers of Mahomet have overrun the Seven Churches of Asia , not for their goodness , but because Gocl willed it . In either case we cannot impugn the justice of the Great Architect , who we may be sure never punishes without reason , or unless the recipients of privileges have abused those privileges . Here , we see in part ; hereafter , we shall know all things . Returningthenfrom the apparent digression—but which is so far
, , relevant as that it may lead us to see the appropriateness of the Cherubic Symbol to every nation under Heaven—we infer that the duty of beatific spirits in Heaven is analogous to the use for which the Cherubim were designed on earth . Ascriptions of praise formed their anthem above ; so in the Holy of Holies , or Figure of Heaven , the image of the Cherubim was intended to convey an idea to man of that divine attribute of Deity , mercy ; and
in what more appropriate way could it be pourtrayed than by describing on his footstool the great features of redemption ? In condescension to our finite capacity , and to assist us in conceiving somewhat of Deity , we read of his repenting of his decrees , of his raising his arm , of his planting his foot , and so forth . In like manner , " The chariots of God are twenty thousand , even thousands of angels . " In one of these , " a chariot of fire , and horses of fire , " was Elijah translated to Heaven ; and in 1 Chronicles , xxviii . 18 , we read of " the chariot of the Cherubim . " What , then , were the Cherubim ? They were not angels , as the 11 th
verse of chapters 5 and 7 of Revelations plainly indicates . They were " living creatures" ( or figures of them ) , intended to show what is the nature of angels , who are the ministering spirits of God . The union of the man , the lion , the ox , and the eagle , shows their understanding , their power , their patient ministration , their swiftness in executing the command of the Most High . Such is the explanation given by our pious and talented Brother Oliver—a solution of a difficulty which must
interest us , if we reflect on their continued agency to this hour , and the duty to be performed by them at the Great Assize . These " living creatures" were intended , also , to give an idea of the redemption of man from the effects of the Fall . When the Ark moved , Moses exclaimed , " Rise up , Jehovah I" whose presence ' the glory" indicated , and the emblems described his attributes as redeeming man , the lorcl of the brute creation , by the incarnate Deity . The eagle , lion , and ox
represented the noblest animals , and man their lorcl , all paying obeisance to the Lord of All . The car moved of itself— " the Spirit was in the wheels "—" they turned not , " because in God is " no variableness or shadow of turning . " The " living creatures" were in " in the midst of the throne , and round about the throne ; " they formed its basement or support , somewhat as in our times the achievements of the great are represented by supporters either on the sides or pediment of the shield . Such are the glorious quarterings of the Masonic escutcheon , and its motto . " RESURGAM . "