(Numbers 3:25, 26, 31, 32, 36, 37)
Section one

One of the outstanding lessons gathered from Israel’s sojourn at Sinai, is that of the long suffering kindness of God. The Israelites had broken their covenant when in deliberate disobedience they erected, and bowed down and worshipped the Golden Calf. They had sought for some tangible representation of God, when God had specifically told them that they were not to make unto themselves “any graven image, or any likeness or anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them…for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…” (Exod. 20:4, 5) Faith, can only be exercised in the realm of the invisible, for sight brings knowledge, and knowledge is the end of faith. However, after the Israelites had received their chastenings at the hands of Moses, God did permit them to erect for him a dwelling place, which should be situated in the center of the camp, where his presence would be evidenced to them by the cloud. Concerning this manifestation among them we read:

Num. 9:15, 16 – “And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony; and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.”

Accordingly, no Israelite in the camp needed ever to worry as to whether or not God was present among them, for by day or night, he might turn his face in the direction of the tabernacle, and there, not only recognize, but also feel, the protecting influences of the Divine Presence! Any one therefore, who feared, indicated his own failure to turn his face Godward. What a lesson is here for us! So long as we keep our minds stayed upon God, whether it be by day or night, we are able to feel his protecting and comforting arms about us. Our failure to enjoy the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding, is not the result of his not being near (yea, he is ever present), but is because for one reason or another, we cannot turn our hearts toward him. I can well imagine an Israelite, guilty of unjudged sin, remaining under conviction and fear, having lost all his peace, because in his wickedness he could not, and would not dare to look upon that which represented Jehovah’s presence in the camp. So too, is it with us, when we are guilty of unjudged sin, we just can’t seem to lift our hearts unto God in prayer: we fear, and lose our peace. Such is the effect of God’s presence in our camp. It is that Holy Spirit of which Jesus spoke, which would convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. (John 16:8)

But what was conviction, reproof, condemnation and judgment to one, was joy, peace, comfort, yea even fellowship to another. Ah, dear friends, let us consider this matter seriously – does the Holy Spirit really speak peace to our souls? If not, why not?

Now let it be noted that this identical cloud which bespoke the Lord’s presence in the camp, was to Israel also a guide, a revealer of God’s will concerning them. It indicated when they were to move on, or when they were to stand by, and where, for so we read:

Num. 9:17-23 – “And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed; and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched; as long as the cloud abode upon the Tabernacle they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and journeyed not. And so it was when the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the Lord they abode in their tents and according to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed. And so it was when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed; whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days or a month or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the Lord they rested in their tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.”

Ah, dear friends, would it were so with us! The Holy Spirit of God is not only for our comfort, but is ordained also to teach us, and to guide us, and to instruct us as to when we are to stand still and when we are to move on. Our conformity to the divine will gives us that peace which nothing can destroy. We think of Jesus’ words:

John 14:26, 27 – “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things…peace, I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

and again:

John 16:13 – “Howbeit, when he, the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.”

An Israelite so preoccupied with some menial task before him, might easily fail to note the movement of the cloud from over the tabernacle. To arouse such an one, and in fact, all Israelites, God gave instructions to Moses for the construction of two silver trumpets, to be used by the priests for the sounding of signals and alarms.

Num. 10:2, 8 – “Make thee two trumpets of silver, of a whole piece shalt thou make them for the call- ing of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camp…and the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance forever throughout your generations.”

Others may differ with me, but I take it that these silver trumpets were both made of one and the same piece of silver, or in other words, one piece of silver was made into two trumpets. If this thought be correct, we have a most beautiful symbolism of the Word of God, the truth. The “Word of God” is one, though it may be sounded forth from an Old Testament and/or a New Testament. How often does it become necessary for some faithful underpriest to sound these trumpets for us! Yea, perhaps even with an alarm to rouse us out of our lethargy or from the preoccupation of our common tasks, unto a fuller realization of what God’s will is, concerning us. Then too, the Lord may reverse this order, and privilege us to sound, as faithful underpriests, but in deepest humility, these trumpets unto our brethren, to reclaim them as it were from the evils and errors of their ways. Let us remember that:

“The silver trumpet settled and ordered every movement for Israel of old. The testimony of God ought to settle and order everything for the Church now. That silver trumpet was blown by the priests of old. That testimony of God is known in priestly communion now. A Christian has no right to move or act apart from divine testimony. He must wait upon the word of the Lord. Till he gets that he must stand still. When he has gotten it, he must go forward. God can and does communicate His mind to His militant people now, just as distinctly as He did to His people of old. True, it is not now by the sound of a trumpet, or the movement of a cloud, but by His word and Spirit. It is not by aught that strikes the senses that our Father guides us, but that which is spiritual that He communicates His mind.”

Num. 10:11, 12, 13, 17, 21 – “And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses…and the Tabernacle was taken down and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle…and the Kohathites set forward bearing the sanctuary…”

Before proceeding with our study – since the three major divisions of the Levitical tribe are here interposed – it may not be amiss to here briefly review some of the history of the Levites. It appears evident that after Moses had chastened the Israelites for their disobedience against God in the erection of the “golden calf,” some of them, perhaps more particularly the leaders of the people, took issue with and rebelled against Moses. We read:

Exod. 32:26 – “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, ‘who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me’.”

It was at this time that the tribe of Levi distinguished itself by the gathering of themselves together unto him. But more than a mere response to the call was necessary. They were to prove the sincerity of their declaration “We are on the Lord’s side,” accordingly we find Moses saying:

Exod. 32:27 – “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.”

And we find it recorded that the “children of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” (Exod. 32:28) No wonder some little time later God says unto Moses:

Num. 3:11, 12 – “…and I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn…therefore the Levites are mine.”

To meet the high designs and purposes of God, these Levites were first ceremonially purified after which they washed their clothes and were then offered by Aaron “before the Lord.” Only so could they enter into the actual service of the tabernacle. (Num. 8:21, 22)

What a picture this is for every child of God. It is not sufficient that we declare ourselves to be “on the Lord’s side,” but we must also in obedience to his will, wield the sword of the spirit in such a way as to cut off, asunder, and away from us, all that is inimical to his cause and purposes. Not only does it call for a work upon us – the purification brought about by way of the imputed righteousness of Christ; but also for a work by us – a continual washing away of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, keeping ourselves unspotted from the world. Thus purified, and with garments unspotted, we are in the hands of our high priest, Jesus, an acceptable offering unto the Lord, Levites set apart indeed to serve him and his Tabernacle.

All the Levites belonged to the Lord, yet the Lord made a difference among them, to set forth, as it were, certain differences which would prevail among the antitypical Levites. To the sons of Gershon he committed the charge of the curtains, hangings, etc. They were given two wagons and four oxen to discharge this duty. (Num. 3:25-26; 4:24-26; 7:7) To the sons of Merari he committed the charge of the boards, pillars, sockets, cords, and pins, etc., and to discharge this duty, they were given four wagons, and eight oxen. (Num. 3:36, 37; 4:31, 32; 7:8) To the sons of Kohath, however, was committed the charge of the ark, table, altars, candle- stick, etc., and THE VAIL, but this burden was not to be carried on wagons, but upon the shoulders of the Kohath- ites. (Num. 3:31; 4:15; 7:9)

Num. 10:17, 21 – “And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle…and the Kohathites set forward bearing the sanctuary.”

It probably is quite significant that Gershon and Merari, who were commissioned to carry the curtains, boards, cords, pins, etc., and were given wagons and oxen so to do, were placed under the supervision of Ithamar. (Num. 4:28, 33) To the mind of the enlightened saint, there is pictured here an outstanding characteristic of the “great company class.” Reader, think deeply! And if there be any significance here, there must also be in the fact that the Kohathites, who bore their burden upon their shoulders, were placed under the supervision of Eleazer. (Num. 4:16) Child of God, think on this! Only the Kohathite was privileged to bear the golden vessels. May we not here see an outstanding characteristic of the “little flock”?

Both Ithamar and Eleazer, are in themselves types of the “great company” and “little flock” respectively, as the following outline will clearly show:

Aaron originally had four sons, all of whom had been consecrated into the priesthood. (See Lev. 8 and 9) Of these, however, two – Nadab and Abihu – were destroyed with fire from before the Lord. (Lev. 10:1, 2) Undoubtedly, as Pastor Russell suggests in a footnote appended to page 119 of the “Tabernacle Shadows of the Better Sacrifices,” 1914 Edition, these two sons were intended to “typify the large proportion of consecrated and spirit-begotten ones who have failed to reach the high standard of heart necessary, and who will consequently not be worthy of life, but will on the contrary, sink into oblivion – the second death.”

Such being the case, the remaining two sons, Ithamar and Eleazer, must of needs typify the remaining two classes of the consecrated and spirit-begotten ones, the “great company” and the “little flock.” Let us note how forcefully all this is implied in the very names of these underpriests.

Nadab – means “liberal.”

Abihu – means “he, (i.e. God) is father!”

This fact and the type with which they are so definitely associated, (Lev. 10:1-11) seems to say that the class represented by these two sons of Aaron (Nadab and Abihu, who at least typically committed the sin unto death), once recognized God as their Father, but have become so liberal and broad, through having allowed a worldly spirit to come into their hearts and lives. This spirit first be- clouded their spiritual vision, then destroyed it. So, no longer being able to “put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean” (Lev. 10:10) they presumed to offer acceptable incense as unto the Lord, thereby becoming guilty of the great transgression, meriting only the Second Death.

Eleazer – means “helped of God.”
Eleazer was the only direct son of Aaron to actually attain the high priesthood. The class thus represented is the “little flock” which, helped of God, attains membership in the glorified “royal priesthood.”

Ithamar – means “island of palms.”
Palms are symbols of victory! Ithamar never attained the high priesthood. In fact, none of his line attained unto it until the time of Eli. Thus the entrance of this line into the high priesthood is sufficiently removed from the scenes under present consideration as to establish in type the fact that the class represented was not to inherit the priesthood. Thus the “great company,” though they fail to attain membership in the “royal priest- hood” upon the throne, will nevertheless be accorded the privilege of bearing palms, before the throne. (Rev. 7:9)

Section Two (Numbers 4:5-14)

We have already considered the vessels of the tabernacle as being carried upon the shoulders of the Kohathites. In that picture the Kohathites represented more particularly the consecrated, spirit-begotten sons of God, and the vessels, the precious truths committed unto them.

But this is a general picture and must not be confused with the one now to be presented in which the vessels no longer represent the divine truths, but the saints of God, themselves, in their relationship to both God and the camp of Israel, the world.

The relationship of these vessels to God is beautifully set forth by their positions in the tabernacle while it was still standing. Thus the incense altar, the table of the shewbread, and the golden altar, though hidden from the view of all without, were nevertheless unto God, uncovered vessels of gold, serving his priesthood in the Holy of the tabernacle. The Holy itself depicted the present “in part” condition of the Church “this side of the vail,” begotten, but not yet born of the spirit. As for the ark of the covenant, this too was hidden, yet not only from those without, but also from those who, though within the Holy, had not yet passed “beyond the vail.” To God, however, it was an uncovered golden vessel, most intimately identified with himself in the Most Holy of the tabernacle. The Most Holy depicted the future, the “perfect” state of the Church “beyond the vail,” born of the spirit, glorified! The Apostle Paul in his first Epistle to the Corinthians (13:10) puts it this way: “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”

The altar of burnt-offering, while open to the view of all who entered the court, was nevertheless hidden from those without by the curtain which surrounded the holy place. And when the camp moved from one site to another, even though the altar was carried right through the midst of the congregation, it remained unseen by them because of the covering (traveling) clothes upon it. So too, with one exception, the laver, were all the remaining vessels of the tabernacle covered as they moved from place to place.

The altar, which stood four square in the Court, represented as Pastor Russell suggests (T22) Christ’s RANSOM SACRIFICE. It was made of copper to symbolize the perfect humanity of the man Christ Jesus, “Who gave himself a ransom for all.” (1 Tim. 2:5, 6) God saw, as all justified believers in the antitypical Court have also been called upon to see, Christ’s faithfulness even unto death, and for which God exalted him unto the royalty of the kingdom, giving him a name “which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” (Phil. 2:9, 10) Yet comparatively few of earth’s millions have seen any more in Jesus than an historic character, a lowly Nazarene a creature of the flesh even as others. All that they have seen is the seal skin covering over the altar; his true royalty, like the cloth of purple which covered the typical altar, remained unseen. Thus was it ordered in the type.

Num. 4:1, 5, 13, 14 – “And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying…when the camp setteth forward…they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon… and they shall spread upon it a covering of seals’ skins…”

While blue is a most apt symbol for faithfulness, fidelity, and loyalty; and red, of death, it will be ob- served that neither of these was used in the covering cloth of this altar. Purple, symbolic of royalty, was used, and how appropriately too, for even as the mixing of the blue with the red results in purple, so Jesus’ faithfulness unto death brought about his exaltation.

Concerning the vessels which stood within the Holy of the tabernacle we read:

Num. 4:7-12 – “And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue…and they shall spread upon them, (dishes, spoons, covers, and the bread) a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of seals’ skins.…And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light…and they shall put it…within a cover- ing of seals’ skins…And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of seals’ skins…And they shall take all the instruments of the ministry where- with they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of seals’ skins…”

It should be remembered that the furniture which travelled, was the identical furniture which stood in the tabernacle, but that its relationship to Israel as it travelled, was quite different from its relationship to God and his tabernacle, especially when the latter was erected for service. Herein lies the secret of the travelling clothes! The candlestick was still the golden candlestick but it didn’t enlighten Israel on its journeyings, as it did the priesthood in the tabernacle; the table of the shewbread was still the table of the continual bread, and the bread was even upon it, but it did not feed Israel in its journeyings as it did the priesthood in the tabernacle. As was the case of the altar of burnt-offering, so too was it with the candlestick, the table of the shewbread and the incense altar, they were all covered as they moved through the camp, the outermost covering in every instance being the seals’ skin covering, as if to say, that as we journey through the world, our true position in the sight of God is quite different from that in which the world sees us. God sees our faith, he recognizes our obedience and sacrifice, and on their account, accounts unto us the divine nature, so well pictured in the golden vessels themselves. The world, can of course not see us so, for all it sees is our flesh. Those who by way of consecration and spirit-begettal have been privileged to enter the Holy of the antitypical tabernacle, there to be enlightened by the golden candlestick, and to be fed from the golden table of the shewbread, and to offer up incense at the golden altar, are themselves also represented in these vessels. We quote from the pen of Pastor Russell:

“THE GOLDEN TABLE which in the Holy bore the shewbread, represented the church as a whole, including Jesus and the apostles, all the sanctified in Christ who serve in ‘holding forth the word of life.’ (Phil. 2:16) The great work of the true Church during this age has been to feed, strengthen and enlighten all who enter the covenanted spiritual condition. The bride of Christ is to make herself ready. (Rev. 19:7) The witnessing to the world during the present age is quite secondary and incidental. The full blessing of the world will follow in God’s due time, after the Gospel Age (antitypical Day of Atonement with its sin offer- ings) is ended.

“THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK or lamp stand, which stood opposite the golden table, and gave light to all in the Holy was of gold all of one piece hammered out. It had seven branches, each of which held a lamp making seven lamps in all, a perfect or complete number. This represented the complete Church, from the Head, Jesus, to and including the last member of the ‘little flock’ that he is taking out from among men, to be partakers of the divine (gold) nature. Our Lord says, ‘The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches’ (Rev. 1:20), the one Church whose seven stages or developments were symbolized by the seven congregations of Asia Minor. (Rev. 1:11) Yes; that candlestick represented the entire church of the Firstborn, not the nominal, but the true church whose names are written in heaven, the true light bearers, the ‘Royal Priesthood’.” (T115)

“THE GOLDEN ALTAR in the Holy would seem to represent the little flock, the consecrated church in the present sacrificing condition. From this altar ascends the sweet incense, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ – the willing services of the priests; their praises, their willing obedience – all things whatsoever they do to the glory of God.” (T120)

One may recall that in an earlier study it was suggested that the seals’ skin covering over the tabernacle represented Christ’s flesh – his humanity. This may give rise to a question in someone’s mind as to whether our flesh, our humanity can also be represented in the seals’ skin coverings of the tabernacle’s furnishings. It is just this fact, however, that establishes for us a most beautiful picture, corroborating all Bible testimony to the effect that the church is the body of Christ, which suffers with him in the sin-offering. Christ Jesus died as the ransom, but suffered as a sin-offering. In the former, the Church does not share; but to share in the latter she has been most graciously invited. And has she not been baptized into Christ’s death? Does she not suffer with him that she may also reign with him? Is she not a joint-sacrificer with her master? (Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:27; Rom. 8:17 2 Tim. 2:11, 12) It is this doctrine of participation in the sin-offering that is particularly typed in the tabernacle and its ritual. The Atonement Day sin-offering consisted of two animals, a bullock and a goat. Both of these animals were offered on the selfsame altar, by the selfsame priest, and their blood was carried in the selfsame fashion through the Holy into the Most Holy and there sprinkled on and before the mercy seat, to accomplish the atonement. The bullock represented Christ, and the goat, (i.e. the Lord’s goat) represented the Church, his “body.” The two animals really constituted one sin-offering, Jesus’ sin-offering! The Church in the flesh is thus identified with Christ. She, as his “body” is as truly Christ as he the Head. Did not Jesus say to Saul of Tarsus, while the latter was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Church, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?” Thus if we are truly one with Christ Jesus, we must also be represented in the seals’ skin coverings of the tabernacle’s furnishings, though as is obvious, not in the seals’ skin covering of the tabernacle itself. But while our justified and consecrated humanity, our flesh, is thus identified with Christ Jesus, the world does not, and cannot, recognize it so. It has seen the Christ suffer in the flesh, but it has not recognized it. Says Pastor Russell:

“…The world has seen the Priest, Head and Body, suffer as a sin-offering during this age. Jesus manifested to the Jews in the flesh (as a sin-offering), and as Paul says, so can all followers in his footsteps say, ‘Christ is manifest in our mortal flesh.’ (2 Cor. 4:11) As the whole Christ has thus been manifested and has suffered in the flesh, so they also shall be glorified together before the world.” (T84)

The blue cloth which symbolizes faithfulness, is present in the coverings of all the furniture save that of the “brazen” altar. It would seem to say that without faith (fulness) it is impossible to please God. (Heb. 11:6) And surely, if we do not please him, we cannot possibly be found anywhere in the tabernacle arrangement.…This cloth of blue was not visible while the seals’ skin covering was over it. Just so, the faithfulness of the saints though recognized of God is hidden from all those who see only our flesh.

The table of shewbread was covered with a cloth of blue and a cloth of red. Here we do not find a single cloth of purple (as covered the altar in the Court) to show forth the exaltation to the royal and kingly honor to which those faithful, even unto death, are ultimately elevated. Those represented by this table are no longer in the Court, but are in the Holy, possessors as it were, of a heavenly treasure though this still be in an earthen vessel. The treasure, the divine nature, being represented in that the table was of gold. There is, however, a significance to the fact that a cloth of blue and a cloth of red were used to cover this table. Unlike the faithfulness unto death pictured in the altar of burnt-offering, where death was virtually on behalf of the world of mankind (the camp), faithfulness unto death here must be in the laying down of life for the brethren – for those who as priests of God are serving in the Holy. Such priests are the body of Christ. As Jesus laid down his life, (not only for the world, but) for his body’s sake, so that it might be sustained in life, so too, are we to lay down our lives for the brethren. “Hereby perceive we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16) The Apostle Paul de- lighted in this, for he says, “…I Paul am made a minister; who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ for his body’s sake, which is the church…” (Col. 1:23, 24) Such faithfulness on behalf of the brethren is even as food unto their souls. This is undoubtedly the reason why the cloth of blue and the cloth of red are manifest only in the coverings of this table, and not in connection with those of the remaining vessels of the Holy. Yet as already stated so many times, such faithfulness unto death will not be appreciated by the world for they see only the seals’ skin covering – the flesh, our humanity.

Concerning the one and only piece of furniture which stood in the Most Holy of the tabernacle we read:

Num. 4:5, 6 – “And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come and his sons and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it; and shall put thereon the covering of seals’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue.”

Unlike the other furniture of the tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant had for its external covering a cloth wholly of blue, the seals’ skin no longer remained visible. And is it not true of those who attain the condition represented by the Ark – the state of the glorified Christ beyond the vail – that their flesh is no longer visible to those who once knew them, and saw them as merely fleshly, human creatures. They receive the reward of their faithfulness, the victory of faith, but note, it is beyond the vail, which vail represents death. It will have been noticed that in the type that the seals’ skin covering was beneath the cloth of blue, but at the same time above the vail which directly covered the Ark. How exquisitely beautiful! As if to say that these New Creatures are no longer visible in the flesh but are in the fullest sense partakers of the Divine Nature, yet their flesh has not passed beyond the vail, for truly, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 15:50) The blue covering which has the significance of faithfulness, being the external covering over the Ark seems to say, “This Class was faithful” and that the world of mankind will sooner or later be called upon to recognize this. This temple class shall have been glorified together with their head, Christ Jesus, beyond the vail.

Rom. 11:33-36 – “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past find- ing out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory forever, Amen.”