2. As the first covenant had a sanctuary, and within that sanctuary an ark containing the law of God in ten commandments,[341] and had also a priesthood to minister before that ark, to make atonement for the sins of men,[342] even thus is it with the new covenant. Instead of the tabernacle erected by Moses as the pattern of the true, the new covenant has the greater and more perfect tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man—the temple of God in Heaven.[343] As the great central point in the earthly sanctuary was the ark containing that law which man had broken, even thus it is with the heavenly sanctuary. “The temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.”[344] Our Lord Jesus Christ as a great High Priest presents his own blood before the ark of God’s testament in the temple in Heaven. Respecting this object before which he ministers, let the following points be noted:— 1. The ark in the heavenly temple is not empty; it contains the testament of God; and hence it is the great center of the sanctuary above, as the ark of God’s testament was the center of the sanctuary on earth.[345] 2. The death of the Redeemer for the sins of men, and his work as High Priest before the ark in Heaven, have direct reference to the fact that within that ark is the law which mankind have broken. 3. As the atonement and priesthood of Christ have reference to the law within that ark before which he ministers, it follows that this law existed and was transgressed before the Saviour came down to die for men. 4. And hence, the law contained in the ark above is not a law which originated in the New Testament; for it necessarily existed long anterior to it. 5. If, therefore, God has revealed this law to mankind, that revelation must be sought in the Old Testament. For while the New Testament makes many references to that law which caused the Saviour to lay down his life for sinful men, and even quotes from it, it never publishes a second edition, but cites us to the Old Testament for the original code.[346] 6. It follows, therefore, that this law is revealed, and that this revelation is to be found in the Old Testament. 7. In that volume will be found, (1) The descent of the Holy One upon Mount Sinai; (2) The proclamation of his law in ten commandments; (3) The ten commandments written by the finger of God upon two tables of stone; (4) These tables placed beneath the mercy-seat in the ark of the earthly sanctuary.[347]