Mr. Brown says, “Christ Jesus being the subject and end of scripture revelation, we ought every where to search if we can find him.” Bishop Porteus says, “When divine and spiritual things are presented by objects well-known and familiar to us, such as present themselves perpetually to our observation in the common occurrences of life, they are much more easily comprehended, especially by rude and uncultivated minds, (that is to say, by the great bulk of mankind) than if they were proposed in their _original form_.” But we have infallible authority for our guide, the Law having a shadow of good things to come. And is there any impropriety in viewing the knives spoken of in the text, as containing matters of real importance to the Church of God—and that by the daily use of these instruments upon our tables, our minds may at times be deeply affected with those instruments of death we carry about with us?—We shall just notice the text in its connexion, which will gradually open the design of the Holy Ghost, in condescending to notice these knives; and surely if it was worth the Spirit’s notice, they must deserve our highest attention, let who will ridicule it. The faithfulness of God was about to appear to his ancient people the Jews, in their return from the Babylonish Captivity—the 70 years determined were accomplished, and the Lord stirred up the spirit of the lovely Prince Cyrus, of whom Isaiah prophesied long before. This Prince made a proclamation throughout all his dominions, that the Israelites might depart to their own country, build an house to the God of Israel, and again inhabit their land. The King likewise encouraged them with wishing God to be with them; and then he kindly restored to them all the vessels of gold and silver which Nebuchadnezzar had impiously placed in the house of his god, the temple of Belus, at Babylon; these were commanded to be brought forth, and returned to the Jews, by the hand of the Treasurer, and committed to one of the trusty princes of Judah, Zerubbabel, called Sheshbazzar; it appears he had two names, one signifies he rejoiced in tribulation, the other, that he was a stranger in Babylon. The historian then relates what were put into his hands—Thirty chargers of gold and a thousand chargers of silver. These were vessels in which they gathered the blood of the sacrifices—and nine and twenty knives; probably their handles were gold and silver, as they were reckoned among the valuables, and were large knives which the priests used in slaying and cutting up the sacrifices. The chargers, which held the blood of the slain, most probably were typical of the word of truth, the writings of the Prophets and Apostles—likewise of Gospel Sermons, which are full of Christ our Passover, who was sacrificed—and which must be served by every faithful gospel minister to the Lord’s family. Those chargers which held the blood also, as well as the meat,