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contemplating his great glory, purity and mercy, until they could ap-
proach nearer him who had been the subject of all their meditations.
God had enshrouded his glory with a thick cloud, so that the people
could not behold it. The office of the elders whom Moses took with
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him, was to aid him in leading the host of Israel to the promised land.
This work was of such magnitude that God condescended to put his
Spirit upon them. He honored them with a nearer view of the glory
which surrounded his exalted majesty, that they might with wisdom
act their part in the work assigned them of guiding his people with his
fear and glory continually before them.
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount,
and be there, and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and
commandments which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.
And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua; and Moses went up into
the mount of God. And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us,
until we come again unto you; and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with
you; if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them. And
Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And
the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered
it six days; and the seventh day he called unto Moses, out of the midst
of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring
fire on the top of the mount, in the eyes of the children of Israel. And
Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount;
and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.”
Even Moses could not go at once up into the mount, for he could
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not immediately approach so nigh unto God, and endure the exhibitions
of his glory. Six days he was preparing to meet with God. His common
thoughts and feelings must be put away. For six days he was devoting
his thoughts to God, and sanctifying himself by meditation and prayer,
before he could be prepared to converse with God.
After the Lord had given Moses directions in regard to the sanctu-
ary, he again gave him special instructions in regard to his Sabbath.
And then he handed down from the cloud with his own divine hands
the tables of stone to Moses, whereon he had engraven with his own
finger the ten commandments.
But while Moses was receiving special instructions from God, the
children of Israel were corrupting themselves at the foot of the mount.
“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of