Exodus 25:10— They are to make an ark of acacia wood, forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.    Vs. 17-18 — Make a mercy seat of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide. 18 Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.     Vs. 21-22 — Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the tablets of the testimony that I will give you into the ark. 22 I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

Ephesians 2: 8-9— For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not fromyourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

Rev. Thomas Hooker was a Puritan preacher in the early years during the founding of the American colonies. He is credited with the founding of Connecticut and establishing one of the first constitutions utilizing a representative government. While he lay dying, one of his friends present in the room gently told him, “You are going to receive the reward of your labors.” Hooker replied, “I’m going to receive mercy.”