A sermon preached at Aldermanberry Church, Dec. 28, 1662 in the fore-noon

I Answer, This Ark was the holiest of all the things of God; it was so holy, that it made every place holy where it came, 2 Chron. 8. 11. And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh, out of the City of David, into the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the House of David King of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the Ark of the Lord hath come. This Ark was the dwelling place of God, it was the habitation of God, Psal. 99. 1. The Lord Reigneth, he sitteth between the Cherubims. Now these Cherubims were placed over the Ark: it was the speaking place of God; he met his people there, and there he gave an answer to them: Exod. 25. 21, 22. And thou shalt put the Mercy-seat above upon the Ark, and in the Ark thou shalt put the Testimony that I shall give thee: And there will I meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the Mercy seat, from between the two Cherubims which are upon the Ark of the Testimony of all things I shall give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. This Ark was Gods Foot-stool, and ⟨p. 4⟩all the people of God worship before the Footstool of God, Psal. 99. 5. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool, for he is holy. The Ark, it was the glory and the strength of Israel, Psal. 78. 61. And he delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into his enemies hand; And it was the terror of the enemies of God: And therefore when the Ark came into the Battle, the Philistines were afraid, and said, Woe unto us, for God is come down into the Camp: And indeed this Ark was called Jehovah. Numb. 10. 35. And it came to pass, when the Ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; And when it rested, he said, Return O Lord unto the many thousands of Israel. In a word, the Ark was a pledge, and a visible symptom of Gods gracious presence with his people; as long as the Ark was saved, they were saved; and when the Ark was with them, Gods presence was with them; but when the Ark was gone, God was gone; his comforting presence, his protecting presence, and his preserving presence: And therefore no wonder that this good old man sate watching here for fear of the Ark. I call him good old man; many are of opinion that he was not good, because he suffered his Sons to be so wicked;