East and the South-East But as to the most precise determination of its distance and position if some curious Artist residing among our Consuls in the Levantine Countries had formerly or should hereafter exquisitely observe a Lunar Eclipse at Jerusalem which might be visible and also observed at London the very same time we might obtain a more punctual decision of this Inquisition upon which we have insisted But least the situation of Jerusalem as to the Altitude of the Pole there and its distance from the first Meridian should not prove by some Eclipses perhaps to be observed hereafter at the same time in both places by the mutual consent of some able Astronomers resident in each to have been exactly stated by fore-cited Authors We shall adde its bearing and distance from some famous Towns in the same Countrey and so conclude In the first place not being fully satisfied about the direct Position of Joppa the Port-Town of Judea before-cited out of Quaresmius to be 40 miles from Jerusalem I observed out of Ptolomy who being a neer Neighbour in Aegypt might possibly himself have made Observations in Syria that the Longitude of Joppa from the Canaries is reckoned at 65 gr 40 min. and its Latitude from the Aequator at 32 gr 6 min. According to these Data having calculated by the former method I found it to be neer about 27 minutes distant from Jerusalem in a direct line which being resolved into miles by Mr. Oughtred's allowance of 66 to a degree brings forth their distance to be of English miles 29 42 60. or 7 10 or which is all one 3696 feet that is almost ¾ of a mile But seeing the English miles exceed the Italian by 280 feet in each mile there will arise 31 miles and 1816 feet of Italian measure for their distance If there were no Hills nor Windings in the common-high-ways according to the supposed stating of Joppa's Situation by Ptolomy But according to Gassendus and Norwood which I rather adhere to allowing 73 Italian miles to a degree the 27 minutes distance will produce 32 51 60 miles upon Earth in a straight line To which agrees the modern Observation of one Timberlake an English Traveller in the Description of his Pilgrimage to the Holy-Land setting it just at 32 miles distance Brocardus the Monk I know sayes it was eight Leagues from Jerusalem Pag. 33. Edit Colon. 1624. which at 4 to a mile makes 32 miles Although I confess in the Preface to his Book a League is said to be an easie hours travel But I rather suspect an errour in the Copy because the same Author pag. 45. tells us that Rama was ten leagues from Jerusalem and in the same Rode that Rama was three from Joppa which by three to a League makes 39 miles To which account Breidenbachius sometimes Dean of Mentz in Germany doth assent in the recital of his Travels in those parts that Joppa was ten miles Edit Mentz An. 1486. pag. 36 38 82 83. or three leagues from Rama and that Rama was thirty long miles or ten leagues from Jerusalem Whereby as also by Moryson's Travels in Turkie giving in the same distances it appears to be the common account of the Countrey I have spoken the more of Joppa because thence was brought the Timber of Mount-Lebanon all by Land which though distant in a direct line but about 33 Italian miles yet might be 40 miles according to the crooked Windings and the great Hills that were in the way according to the Observations of modern Travellers both of our own Nation and Forreigners A tedious way to bring all the Timber of the Temple through But the noble Heart and large Purse of Solomon thought nothing too much for the House of his God Now as to other Towns round about Jerusalem St. Hierom in his small Tract of Hebrew places sayes That Bethel was 12 miles Anathoth 3 Bethlehem six Concerning this Bethlehem our Saviours Birth-place Justin Martyr who was born in Palestine as he himself attests in the beginning of his second Apology sayes that Bethlehem was but 35 stadia from Jerusalem Bethsur twenty Bethany two and Rama in Benjamin Antiq. l. 8. c. 2. Pag. 62. Edit p. 58. Sylburg Edit Bertij in folio p. 12. Aelia or Jerusalem 20. Eleutheropolis 24. Ascalon Ptolom Geogr. lib. 8. Asiae Tab. 4. six miles from Jerusalem Which last Josephus sayes was 40 stadia The same Father placeth Hebron 22 miles from Jerusalem and Beersheba in the outmost Border of Judea twenty miles South of Hebron I might proceed to calculate the distance of Samaria Tyre where Origen was buried according to Breidenbachius Damascus Jericho Nazareth and the rest if I intended a Geographical Description But I shall onely adde one more and that is the famous place in St. Hierom called Eleutheropolis long sought for by some Which appears out of Antonines Itinierary to lye twenty miles from Jerusalem South-Westerly in the High-way to Ascalon and that it lay 24 miles North East of Ascalon and furthermore 18 miles South of Diospolis or Lidda To conclude Jerusalem was the Head-City of Palestine a Province of Asia the Great bounded on the West by the Mediterranean Sea The longest day at Jerusalem was fourteen hours and ⅛ or 7 minutes 30 seconds according to Ptolomy But if any will state it exactlier they may according to the supposed Latitude calculate it more precisely Having now finisht this inquiry of our Cities Situation we shall conclude with a Petition for favour at the hand of every courteous Person for so long detention in this previous Discourse and draw towards a period of this first Chapter In this City thus situated stood the Mountain Moriah Nicol. Fuller Miscel sacr l. 2. c. 14. whose significations with sundry Observations annexed may be learned out of an excellent Critick of our own Nation On this Mountain stood our famous Temple which we are about to describe whose Eastern-Gate and Wall faced Mount-Olivet The Holy of Holies within this Temple stood Westward partly to imply that the Worshippers of the great and living God should not worship the Sun according to the Superstitious Customes of the Eastern Heathens Procopius Gazaeus in Reg. lib. 1. cap. 6. pag. 192. Edit Menri But the omnipotent God and Creator of that Sun who appointed his Temple to be so situated in opposition to Pagan Idolatry which is one reason of many of the Jewish Rites and Ceremonies if Gulielmus Parisiensis may be Judge Partly also it was thus situated to denote the motion of Gods presence into Europe and the Western parts of the World Or lastly as others think to have a respect to Mount-Calvary the place of our Lords suffering whose body was typified by the Temple and his meritorious death by all the Temple-sacrifices Having thus finished what was purposed by way of Preface it rests that we now proceed to the main Body of this Treatise in the Nine Chapters following
the Feast of Tabernacles Our blessed Lord when brought forth into the light of this world according to his humane Nature did then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make his Tabernacle with men And so for the other that Easter and Whitsontide did resemble the Passover and Pentecost But I shall not lay stress upon these things That which is somewhat more material for such as do sacredly observe these Festivals to consider is this That at this present day we have utterly lost the true time of the celebration of them and truly a great part of the devotion is thereby extinguisht For as to the usual and common solemnization of the Nativity of Christ though we should grant contrary to the sense of Mr. Mede and several learned Authors that our Lord was born on the 25 of December between 1600. and 1700 years ago yet it may be evident to all that will seriously weigh the Truth that we are now several dayes distant from the supposed time and point of his birth For if so be the motion of the Sun from one fixed point suppose the first degree of Aries through the Zodiack to the same point again be comprehended within this space of time viz. of 365 dayes 5 hours 49. minutes and 4 seconds and other odd scruples not worth naming in this Computation According to Bullialdus or as Longomontanus 365 d. 5 h. 48 min. 55 seconds Long. l. 1. Theor. c. 5. p. 2227. and other eminent Astronomers Then there will fall out 11 min. letting passe the 2 seconds to be reserved every year for a Calculation of certain hours yea and dayes at last wherein the Julian year will transcend the true state of the Sun's mensuration For they reserve every year 6 compleat hours to make a day for the Bissextile-year being every fourth in order which doth not precisely agree with the Sun For it exceeds by 4 times 11 minutes which every fourth year arises to 44′ Or to speak more precisely (a) Buliald Astronom Phololaic ed Par. 1645. l. 2. c. 3. p. 68. The Tropical year according to exact Computation is determined to consist of 365 dayes 5 hours 49′ 4″ 21‴ 3 ' ' ' ' which fals short of 6 houres by 10′ 55″ 38‴ 57 ' ' ' ' in every year Now if we compute to the present vulgar year of our Lords Incarnation 1659 These scruples will arise to 11 dayes 13 hours 58 min. 40″ 41‴ 3 ' ' ' ' Wherein the celebration of this Festivity ought to anticipate the 25 of December in our common Julian year and ought to be celebrated almost 12 dayes before our ordinary time As to which who is so ignorant as not to know that therefore the Pontificians do according to the Gregorian Emendation precede us by 10 dayes in their account which is called the New Style But they went no higher than the time of the Nicene Council in the correction of the year and so fell short in this point of the true time The reason why they went no higher I leave for them to give As for the celebration of Easter it is not unknown to such as are but moderately versed in Ecclesiastical History what stirs there have been in the Church in the 5th 6th and 7th Centuries c. between the Greeks and the Latines nay in our Brittain between the Scots and the Saxons as appears (b) Bede Eccles Hist l. 2. c. 2. l. 4. c. 5. l. 2. c. 22. by the Writings of venerable Bede The Christians studying to conform the time of its celebration to the season of the Jewish Passover What laborious Tables Calendars and Canons were framed by Victorius Hippolytus Anatolius Dionysius Exiguus and many others Whereby it comes to passe that this Festival does so vary every year according to that Sabhath which follows the full Moon next after the vernal-Equinoxe Whereas seeing the design of the Christians was therein to commemorate the time of our Lords Resurrection If they would have kept the exact time they should have considered what day of the year he arose and what time of the morning of that day as near as may be to Scripture and by the best Rules have found out the Sun's place exactly in the Zodiack and when the Sun did Return unto that point in every year to celebrate it accordingly (a) Lang. de Annis Christi p. 415. l. 2. c. 8. Langius a learned and laborious Calculator of Scripture-times hath stated the Resurrection of our Lord in the 4746 the year of the Julian period In the 4th year of the 202d. Olympiad the Cycl ☉ 14 of the ☽ 15. the Indiction 6. and on the 5th of April according to the Julian Calendar in the 33d year from his birth according to our common Computation The Aequinoxe in those dayes fell out about the 22 of March and so the Sun will be found in the 14 of Aries upon the 5th of April at noon in the Meridian of Jerusalem or to come nearer the point having examined it by Calculation out of the late corrected Tables I find the ☉ to have been in ♈ 13° 27′ 25″ in the noon of the Resurrection-day agreeing commonly with the 23 of our March By which in any good Ephemeris every one may judge how far the present Celebration of this annual Festivity errs from the Truth and consequently that of Pentecost which depends upon this But I have insisted too long on these things I shall conclude (b) Rom. 14.6 That he who regardeth the day saith holy Paul regardeth it unto the Lord and he that regardeth not the day to the Lord he doth not regard it As for these things as Paul (c) 1 Cor. 7.25 said in another case we have no commandment of the Lord. But of such as endeavour to conform themselves to Jewish Feasts the Apostle may say as of the Galatians (d) Gal. 4.10 Ye observe dayes and times and months and years I am affraid of you lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain But in this point how far Ecclesiastical Sanctions have power and Authority over Christian liberty in matters of indifferency I leave to the decision of able grave learned and holy men But yet however whoso do incline to keep these times certainly they cannot but think their devotion and zeal to be much cooled by the false assignation of the time of their celebration Having thus briefly hinted at the principal Jewish Festivals I shall come to the second thing proposed in the beginning of this Section touching the various sacrifices wiâ—h their Appendancies Which that they did portend and presignifie the great and only satisfactory sacrifice of the Lord Jesus is granted by all sober persons any thing versed in the comparison of the two Testaments For so the Spirit of God testifies expresly concerning him when he is brought in by an Elegant Prosopopoeia speaking to the Father on this wise (a) Psalm 40.6 Heb. 10.5 c. 1 Pet. 2.24 Burnt offering and
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Josephus onely expresses the force of the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which any moderate Hebrician knows to be used in Scripture sometimes when the figure of a building is quadrangular as I shall shew below cap. 5. As when he speaks of the thirty side-chambers that were built by Solomon about the Temple he uses the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 239. G. This Wall then thus compassing the Covered Temple Ribera pag. 45. was but three Cubits high as Josephus relates for this end says one that the people might look over and behold the Priests and their Sacrifices For according to the common acception of a Cubit it answers well near to a yard and ½ of our measure giving admission to the eyes of ordinary cized men Secondly in this Story of Josephus you may observe an outward Court compassing the inward which is cleared by this passage that it had Gates opening to the four Winds of Heaven Whereas if this outward Court stood onely ab anteriori parte just before the inward Court toward the East then it had not any Gate properly belonging to it opening to the West for that Gate on the West of the Outward Court fancied to be of this anterior situation was the famous East-gate of the Priests Court and properly belonged to the inner-Court Whence it will follow that the exteriour Court according to this their conjectured Situation will have no West-gate at all But to let this pass at present the quantity and measure of the West-Wall of the outward Court together with the situation of its gates puts all out of controversie For by what hath past and shall be cited you may perceive that each side of this outward four-square Court was a Furlong at least in length Thirdly It 's famously known that the outward Court or exterius Fanum as Gelenius renders those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had those rare Cloisters built by King Solomon which seemes in some measure manifest by Scripture it self Because we find in the second Temple John 10.23 Act. 3.11 5.12 that our Lord and Saviour conversed with his Apostles and they with the People in Solomon's Porch Which though ruined by the Chaldeans was yet afterward upon Solomon's own foundations of 400 Cubits deep that were not by them destroyed as shall be spoken to in succeeding pages re-edified and did bear his name Now these holy Persons being not Priests could not by the Law be admitted into the inner Court Wherefore it rests upon the proof of that assumption that Solomon's Porches built on such rare and stupendious foundations were on the East side of the outward Court in those ancient daies I say it followes that there was such an exterior Court extant in those times thus porched by that magnificent King whose example for the form and the expresse tract of Walls and Porches was generally imitated by the Architects of the second Temple as I have often mentioned according to the sense of grave and serious Authors not without good probability of truth Now this assertion of Solomon's Porches being built in the outward Court is expresly recorded for truth by Josephus himself in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joseph Antiq lib. 20. cap. 8. pag. 699. G. c. or thus in English The People perswaded the King that is Herod to repair the Eastern Porch now this Porch was in the outward Court and was built upon Walls raised up out of a deep Vally 400 Cubits of pure white foursquare stones The length of each stone was 20 Cubits the height six the work of King Solomon who at first built the whole Temple Here you see his mind fully as to those admirable foundations concerning which Apparat. part 1. lib. 2. cap. 8. the learned Villalpandus hath spent a whole Chapter labouring to prove that Solomon's building of Millo mentioned in the Book of Kings is to be interpreted of this stately Pile which he raised out of the Vally after he had finished his own house of Lebanon and the Queen's so that he is clear in the point that all the immense Substructions or Foundations round about the precipitious Verge of the Mountain being the compasse of the outward Court were built by King Solomon with severall Gates and a Wall but with Porches at first only on the East side which he proves more at large Explanat in Ezek. cap. 40. Tom. 2. Part. 2. lib. 2. Isagog cap. 18. There yet rests an other place of Josephus to be urged Joseph Antiq lib. 15. cap. 14. pag. 543. G. when treating of what Solomon performed veâ—y expresly and with great diligence in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The Brow of the Hill was rocky and steep gently arising from towards the East side of the City up to the highest top This Brow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rocky Verge of the Hill Solomon our King by the direction of God first of all walled up to the top with mighty workmanship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 round about the top of the Verge of the Mountain He built also beneath beginning under the foot of the Hill which is compassed with a deep Vally toward the South On the inside of the Wall from top to bottom the stones were fastned to the rockes with Lead so that it was wonderfull to behold the vastness and heâ—ghth of this foursquare structure As to the greatness of the stones it was openly conspicuous to view But inwardly their Joynts were fastned one to another with iron unmoveable against all the injuries of time Having wrought up this foundation thus fastned together to the top of the Hill and fill'd up the hollow places between the upright Wall and the declivity of the Hill he made the Plot of ground eeven and smooth to appearance on the top of the Hill Now all this did contain in compasse round about full four Furlongs each Angle containing in length one furlong that is each side from Angle to Angle where by the way take notice that Josephus expounds himself what he meant by those words before cited 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not circular but quadrangular as we before expounded him But within this even just upon the top another stone Wall did compasse the Hill about upon whose Eastern Ridge there was built a double Porch equall in length to the Wall that is a Furlong the middle whereof lookt toward the Doores of the Temple Thus far Josephus After which words concerning the buildings of Solomon he tells you what other Kings and particularly what Herod performed Though I must here confesse the Latine Translation doth not fairly represent it for Solomon's yet if we observe the Greek words narrowly the Antithesis will inferr it For speaking of that glorious King he saies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He built above round about the summity or top and adds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But beneath he built a farr more admirable work which he prosecutes
pag. 91. col 1. lin 14. At length to conclude the consent of many very learned men both Jews and Christians in this particular is very considerable Though indeed Montanus doth somewhat vary from others in the frame and form of the compassing Courts conceiving them to be largest at the East end and narrowest at the West But of the Courts encompassing the Temple never did any doubt that I yet read of till Ribera upon the misconstruction of Iosephus in that forecited passage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had obtruded upon other oversequacious pens the same conceit whereof sufficiently in foregoing lines Recapitulatio Thus much may then suffice as to the number of Courts in Solomon's daies First that for certain there were two in number Secondly that most probably there were two onely Thirdly that for form they were quadrangular and both compassing the Temple If you will adhere to Montanus then you must not conceive each Quadrangle to be aequi-lateral but the East Wall to have been far longer then the Western Yet if you will follow the generall opinion Then the Courts wherein the covered Temple stood were each of them of a square aequi-laterall Figure one within the other Fourthly it 's most probable that the new Court or Womens Court together with the Chel or separate place of 11 Cubits broad enclosing both the Priests and the Womens Court round about with a Wal were not extant in Solomon's daies But that they were laid out during the first Temple and enclosed with walls it 's imagined by some to be manifest in a good measure from Scripture it self and the Testimony of Jewish Writers But because their last Erections were not digested by Solomon nor distinctly mentioned in Scripture we have taken leave to dismisse them to the descriptions of the Rabbies and their Sectators and the Commentators on the visionary Temple of the Prophet Ezekiel Of the Quantities of the Courts SInce then we have found out two Courts encompassing the Temple let us try if Josephus will yet lend his hand any further from the Records and Traditions of the Jews to determine their Quantities and Dimensions who may well be creâ—ited having with his own eyes beheld the admirable and vast foundations of Solomon's on the East side of the Temple raised up out of the deep Vally and not destroyed in his time Nay some or Solomon's civill buildings remained in the dayes of Rabbi Benjamin pag. 43. Edit L'Empereur 80 1633 if he may be credited in his Itinerarium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaking oâ— what he saw at Ierusalem viz. Some remnants of the Stables of Solomon ' s Court which Solomon saies he built with very strong Buildings and with great Stones the like whereof no where to be found This Rabbi wrote his Travels in the common year of our Lord 1173 as L'Empereur in his praevious dissertation doth manifest If this be true it 's very probable the vast foundations of the Temple might be much more extant in Josephus his daies who hath told us plainely that each side of the outward Court even in Solomon's dayes was a compleat furlong For though that King should be supposed to have built the Eastern Porch only albeit Josephus saies he porcht it round and that it was four-square lib. 8. as above cited yet if that eastern part were a furlong in length as he saies lib. 15. Antiq. l. 15. And the whole work likewise was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in quadrangular form and that the rest of the sides were aequall to this as the same Author asserts it will then prove 4 furlong in compass Each furlong or stadium of Josephus being 600 Grecian feet or 625 Roman which is all one as before I mentioned out of the Commentator upon Censorinus The story is that Hercules running in his greatest speed as much as he could at one lusty breathing finished the space of 600 of his own measured feet and there being out of breath made a stop or station and thence arose the measure of the Olympick Stadium which the Grecians afterwards generally received Now the Roman foot as I said before being half an inch less then the Grecian 625 of theirs consequently will be commensurate to 600 of the Olympick feet and make but the compleat measure of one and the same Stadium So then from 625 Roman feet 625 4 2500 De re rust l. 5. Origin l. 15. c. 15. being quadrupled for the Walls of the four sides of the Outward Court there arises 2500 Roman feet for the compass of the Wall of the Outward Court which being divided by five because five Roman feet make one of their Paces as Columella and Isidorus and many others truly relate gives in the Quotient five hundred Roman Paces that is just half a mile of their measure for the exact Circuit of the Wall of the outward Court of the Temple But there was more ground upon the Mountain of Moriah then this which was thus sacred by two whole Stadiums whereupon afterwards the Tower Antonia was built For Josephus testifies that the whole compass of the Temple together with this Tower was six Furlongs and it 's also clearly manifested by that Learned Dr. Lightfoot in his Second Temple De bello Judaico lib. 6. cap. 6 Pag. 4. out of an ancient Rabbin To reduce the compass of the Holy Ground to English measure let us first remember that every Statute-mile is three hundred and twenty Perch in length or eight Furlongs each Furlong containing fourty Perch and every Perch sixteen foot and ½ Secondly let every English foot be divided into twelve Inches or one thousand Parts and each part into twelve Scruples so that each Inch or twelfth part of those thousand will contain 83 of those parts and four subdivided scruples Thirdly according to this Division let 's remember that the English foot exceeds the Roman by 33 such 1000 parts that is the Roman foot contains in length but 967 of those thousand 33. 1000. whereinto the English foot is divided as the Learned Mr. Greaves hath fixed it which 33 1000 parts of the Roman foot 's deficiency in respect to the English being substracted from 83 parts and 4 scruples that are equal to one English Inch as abovesaid leave fifty parts and four scruples remaining of one of our Inches so that the Roman foot is somewhat above the third part of our Inch deficient as to it 's co-extension with our English foot Consequently each English Pace of five foot or five thousand such Parts before-mentioned to a Pace will exceed the Roman Pace by 165 of the same parts  164 12 1. Inch 83 4  81 8 that is of our measure one Inch eighty one Parts and eight Scruples Furthermore five hundred English Paces arise to three Furlong thirty one Pole eight Foot and six Inches or five hundred Parts of a Foot of English Measure Furl Pole Feet Inches Part. Scrupl 3 31 8 005 83 4 0 5 0
stones of King Solomon's building It being most absurd and irrational to place so divine a quality in Subjects inanimate and artificial But if we understand the holinesse to be ascribed to it upon the account and under the notion of consecration as things or persons which are separated from profane or civil use and dedicated to God we may then safely allow of that famous place that it was in the most solemne splendid and heroick manner imaginable devolved over to Gods holy Majesty by King Solomon If again we shall consider that place as which God himself did choose and pick out from among all the dwellings of Jacob to be the (l) 1 Chron. 28.2 Psal 99.5 132 7. Lam. 2.1 footstool of his holy presence among his people and in which he was pleased to dwell for many generations smelling a savour of rest in their sacrifices and delighting in communion with them so long as they kept up the beauty and lustre of his divine worship If we consider moreover that this was the very place whither (m) Psal 122.4 the tribes went up the tribes of the Lord unto the testimony of Israel to give thanks unto the name of the Lord three times in the year and that there the choisest and most fragrant flowers of legal worship did smell most sweetly even in the Courts of that most famous building We may safely hence apply to it the words of holy Jacob concerning Bethel (n) Gen. 38.17 This was none other then the house of God this was the gate of Heaven Finally when we seriously call to mind the admirable divine Mysteries which were engraven upon its stones enammelled upon its gold carved in its Cedar infolded within its doors retired behind its veils and laid up in its most holy Ark we must not we cannot but break forth into solemn and joyful songs of its praise Seeing that this Mountain of holiness was not only (a) Psal 48.1 2. beautiful for situation the joy of the whole Earth but that God himself was also known for a refuge within her stately Palaces and sacred Chambers The divine signification whereof I shall proceed to explain with all submissive reverence and adoration of the Divine Majesty residing within those Mystical walls most ardently imploring that (b) Dan. 2.28 29 47. God of gods and Lord of Kings who is the onely revealer of secrets to cause the (c) Act. 9.18 scales of ignorance to fall from the eyes of my understanding and to grant me graciously the visions of truth within his Sanctuary The covered body of this Sacred Building I shall then proceed to treat of in its three members or divisions following 1. The Porch 2. The Sanctuary or holy place 3. The Oracle or holy of holies Of each in their distinct order Concerning the Mysteries of the stately Porch of the Temple BY the Porch is to be understood that stately forefront of the Temple which sacred mount Olivet and the Eastern parts of the World The situation whereof toward the East was therefore injoyned by God as (d) Molin de Altar Sacrif p. 94. some apprehend to distinguish the Jews from the manners and customes of the Heathens whose Temples generally were so built that the Adyta or more sacred and inward parts where their idols stood were in the East end of their buildings and the entrances or gates were westward that their Gods might appear to them as arising out of the East and therefore the Prophet Ezekiel receiving a vision of the Idolaters in his daies beheld 25 men (e) Ezek. 8.16 with their backs toward the Temple of the Lord and their faces toward the East worshipping the rising-Sun Hence is it that the Christians of old did worship toward the East not in imitation of the Heathens whom they abhorred but in hatred to the Jews their other fatal enemies who constantly worshipped towards the West according to the site of the Mosaical Tabernacle and of this Temple of Solomon But to enlarge upon this point any further I shall deferre till I am arrived to the East gates of the Courts of the Temple whereof in their due place hereafter As to the Mystical signification of this present part of the building now before us The holy Scripture doth no where inlighten us in distinct and expresse termes we must herein therefore speak only by permission and allusion not willing to passe it over in silence because of its Connexion to the Sanctuary and upon the account of its extraordinary magnificence being a grand Ornament to the whole building For if the Sanctuary which I shall endeavour to clear up in the next place did signifie the Church of Christ and Gospel-communion with God in his holy Ordinances then may this part of the edifice as yielding admission into the Sanctuary be expounded according the 6th Canon before-mentioned of some Gospel excellencies For as much then as the Porch gave accesse to those that were to enter into the Sanctuary or Holy place who were all to passe through this previous building which was set before the other We may thence learn that men ought not rashly and rudely to rush and presse into participation in divine Ordinances but must be stopt a while by the intermediation of a Porch for the preparation and setting their hearts in frame for such holy communion We read of a mysterious Inscription upon the Gates of the Delphian Temple situated under the famous Hill (a) Heliodor Aethiopic l. 2. p. 106. Edit Franc. 1631. 8o. Parnassus in the Country of Phocis in Greece mentioned by Plutarch in a distinct Commentary upon it Where after the recension of 7 several opinions concerning that famous EI. He fixes at last upon this definitive sentence of Ammonius (b) Plutarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Edit Hen. Steph. 1572. moral Vol. 1. p. 697. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is the self-sufficient compellation and denomination of GOD which together with the word settles in the minde of the pronouncer a true notion of the power of God c. After a few words he goes on to tell us that those that use it do attribute a true unerring and sole appellation of essence competent to him alone For there is nothing of essence really to be ascribed to us Which together with many admirable and divine passages concerning the fluid nature of man and the stable and unchangeable essence of God gives a rise for a conception that the ancient Heathens before the World was totally involved in the mists of darknesse and stupid idolatry did retain some memorials of the Revelation †Dickins Delph Phaen. p. 97. of Gods name to Moses in that famous place of Exodus where the Lord commanded him to tell the Israelites that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (c) Exod. 3.14 I am that I am c. had sent him to them Ehejeh or as Plutarch afterwards calls him d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
are under the same external and visible priviledges Furthermore allowing an analogy to what hath bin spoken The great outward Court wherein the Jewes worshipped might accordingly hold out to us the visible Professors themselves under the New Testament which draw nigh to God in those Ordinances which the Gospel-Ministers typified by the Priests do handle and mannage within in the inner Court There yet remaineth a Conjecture to be mentioned of that famous and learned Critick of our Nation Mr. Joseph Mede which I shall nakedly propose and resign up the censure unto men that are able or are so immodest as to reflect upon the memory of so deserving a person in the Church as to Revelation-Mysteries This candid and Reverend man having resembled the Temple to Christ thinks there was some Chronical Mystery involved in the Courts as to the State of the Church of Christ in various times under the Gospel and conceives that the Inner Court might denote the State of the Primitive times under Rome while it was Pagan and Heathenish while scorched and burnt in the fire of persecution by the cruel Emperors and their Officers As to which point the Altar in the Priests Court seemed to denote the frequent (h) Mede on the Revel part 2. pag. 3. Edit Lond. 1650. Sacrifices of the holy Martyrs whose Souls lying under the Altar do cry (i) Rev. 6.9 10. how long how long Lord holy and true dost thou not avenge our blood c. This Altar as the (k) Rev. 4.1 whole vision was seen in Heaven that is in the Church which is so called frequently whereas by Earth the wicked and ungodly of this World are meant in those mystical pages The second or outward Court he further conjectures to have been the shadow of the State of the Gospel under Rome Antichristian and Papall for the space of two and forty moneths In the mensuration of the Temple therefore we read of a Precept given to leave the outward Court unmeasured being a place resigned up to the Gentiles to tread underfoot during the time prementioned In a way of worship saith * Lightf Templ p. 6. one even as the treading of Gods Courts in the like sense is spoken of by the Prophet †Isa 1.12 Esay and therefore commanded not to be measured because of the numerous multitude of Worshippers under the Gospel which it could not in the least measure contain according to its ancient limits But to be trodden down saith the former in way of profane contempt idolatrous Worship and persecuting fury against sincere and pure professors of the Truth Suffice it hitherto to have mentioned some Conjectures about the Mysticall meaning of these Courts in this our view wherein I shall not immodestly presume to let loose the rains of fancy but with all humble submission to the sober and godly learned I apprehend the most genuine and least forced interpretation of their typical signification if there were any set Mystery couched in them as such capacious places to be briefly this That as the inward Court was made for the Priests therein to perform the rites and ceremonies of their ancient service into which there was no admission granted to the common people unless when they brought a Sacrifice and were to lay their hands on the head of their offering and to confess their sins over it so might it possibly denote and shadow forth a Gospel-Ministry which in the various functions of the persons engaged in that sacred Office should stand in a neerer capacity of service and approximation to God then any other calling or persons whatsoever Further as the outward Court contained within its prescript limits the ancient senes when drawing nigh to God beholding of the Priests in their services within and joyning with them in the solemnities of legal worship In like manner the faithful people of the new Testament the true inward spiritual (k) Rom. 2.29 Jewes are next unto the Ministry in publick and solemn Ordinances wherein they come nigh to God under the Gospel Now whereas formerly the Gentiles could not be admitted into the Court of Israel but were afar off without the walls of the outward Court Such might shadow forth the state of carnall persons under the Gospel or of formall professors who give their presence in some measure to Ordinances but as the bodies of them under the old Law stood at a great distance so the hearts of these formalists under the new Testament are (l) Isa 29.13 farre from God But since the outward wall of the great Court which kept the Gentiles in old time from intercommuning with the Jewes is broken down by the coming of Christ who did appear sayes holy Paul for this end (m) Eph. 2.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dissolve unloose or take away the middle wall of partition or that wall which stood betwixt the Jews and Gentiles of old Now all are brought into one Court into one body and fellowship and are become coheirs of the same common salvation To conclude It is observable that the great Court whereinto the twelve Tribes did enter of old was nothing considerable in its limits then in respect to what it was set out in its circuit by the Prophet Ezekiel whereof I have spoken before Chapt. 3. p. 49. nay in the Revelation of St. John as was newly noted it was left unmeasured by reason of its quantity and the great number of worshippers as some have thought The measures mentioned in the Prophecy of Ezekiel no doubt what ever the other may denote did signifie the great fulness of the Gentiles and that the compass of the Church in Gospel-dayes should be marvellously extended Wherefore we read in holy Scripture that (m) Eph. 2.14 Princes shall come out of Egypt and Aethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God that is the Eastern Aethiopians of Asia as (n) Ps 68.31 Herodotus termes them or the Inhabitants of Arabia as a learned (o) Lib. 7. p. 408. Knight hath observed nay we read of the men of Rahab or leigh Rehoboth and Babel two Cities of the Assyrian Empire to be born in Zion The former (p) Rawleigh Hist part 1. c. 8. §. 10.3 4 5. Arias Montanus takes to be the same with Nineveh and called (q) Ps 87.4 Rehoboth for its vastness and amplitude Nay the Inhabitants of Philistia and Tyre even the Nations that are on the North side of the Holy Land as the Phoenicians of Tyre and Sidon on the West and South as the Philistims Aegyptians on the South-East and north-North-East the Cushites or Aethiopians of Arabia and Midian and the people of Assyria and Babylon nay all Nations shall come to the holy Mountain of the Church in the latter day Having brought so famous a throng of People from all quarters of the Earth within these Courts we shall leave them ar their pious devotions and consider the walls wherewith these spacious places were incompassed We
the Temple and the Court. Certainly that policy is dangerous to the State which is not founded upon piety Kings must alwayes remember to go up to the house of God and make inquiry at the Temple before they set their designes on foot The sword of Gideon will prove but a weapon made of lead it the sword of the Lord do not lead the Van of his Army David when flying from Saul takes to him a consecrated sword (k) 1 Sam. 21.9 from behind the Ephod at (l) 1 Sam. 22.19 Nob a City of the Priests and proves successeful in evading the hands of his persecutor At another time when he was to fight against the Philistins he (m) 2 Sam. 5.19 consults the mind of God and at a second enquiâ—y he is commanded not to stir till he heard the sound of a going in the tops of the Mulbery-Trees For then did the (n) Vers 24. Lord go out before him to smite the host of his enemies Afterwards in the Temple-dayes godly Jehoshaphat (o) 2 Chron. 20.4 5. sought help from God and powred forth an ardent prayer against the consederated Armies of Moab and Ammon Good Hezekiah likewise being greatly troubled by the great Army of Sennacharib but more by his (p) Chr. 32.17 raising â—etters against the Lord God of Israel goes up into the House of God and (q) 2 King 19.14 spreads the Letters before him and commits his Cause to his divine protection to the terror and miraculous confusion of his adversaries the comfort of his subjects and for an example to all future Princes to commend their lawful Arms to the God of Battel Happy are those Kings who before their enterprizes seek to the face of God Blessed are the Courts of those Princes that stand within the hearing of Temple Trumpets and successeful are those Worthies that count it their highest interest to hold constant intercourse with Heaven But besides this Royal-gate there were several others in the Western wall of the outer Court of the Temple and more as far as we have any Scripture-light than on any other side possibly to denote the great and marvellous Income of spiritual proselytes to the Gospel from the Western parts of the World in future ages There were likewise gates on the North and South as before is rehearsed more fully So that on all sides there was admission for persons to the Temple-worship thereby signifying that many (r) Psal 107.3 from the East and West the North and the South should come and sit down with Abraham in the (Å¿) Luk. 13.29 Kingdome of God Behold persons coming from afar off from the North and West with others from the (t) Isa 49.12 Land of Sinim or the Country of the (u) Gen. 10.17 Sinites Southerly of Jerusalem near Sinai in the Land of Arabia Nay God hath promised to save his people from (x) Zech. 8.7 8. the East and West and to bring them to Jerusalem and there will be their God in truth and righteousnesse As the Temple So Jerusalem it self did signifie the Church Now the 12 Apostles are said to have their (y) Rev. 21.14 names written on the 12 foundations of the gates of the new Jerusalem As by whose holy and faithful (z) Potter in 666. p. 100. doctrine all other Christians have had their admission into the Church and are converted to the true faith It is observed that the lodgings of the Priests and Levites were assigned in the (a) Jerem. 35.4 36.10 Gate-Chambers of the Temple-Courts thereby premonishing the Evangelical Church what provision ought to be made for Gospel-Officers in reference to habitation convenient for their attendance upon divine worship Moreover in the sides of these Courts there were porched-walls round about commodiously fitted with seats for persons to repose themselves upon as may be supposed in the first Temple not unlike those whereof we are sure to have bin under the second seeing our Lord himself acquaints us by the pen of the Evangelist that He (b) Mat. 26.55 sate daily with them teaching in the Temple At another time we find him (c) Mark 12.41 sitting over against the Treasury beholding what gifts were cast into it All which conveniences of walking and sitting in places pleasant and defenced from impetuous weather might yield a glance of reflection upon that pleasurable delight and sweet fellowship that Saints should hold together under the Gospel in communion with each other There being no speculation so sweet in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the portico's of the antient Philosophers no converse so refreshful in the shady walks of the ancient Temple-buildings as are to be enjoyed in Gospel Ordinances no Dialogues so amiable as holy conference no disputes so mild so grave so convincing and so little intermixed with the Checquer-work of vain janglings as those that are managed by meek and holy people in the Gospel-Courts and Porches of our blessed Saviour The most famous of these was called Solomon's Porch by way of eminency as being on the East side of the outer Court most Resplendent and Majestical and as it seems bearing his name in the daies of our Lord which though formerly destroyed by the Chaldaeans as to the super-structures yet reaedified again upon the very same foundations which that glorious King had stupendiously raised out of the Vally whereof hath bin treated at large in the 2d Chapter foregoing In this place (d) Joh. 10.23 24 c. our blessed Lord did Preach himself and bespeak the people with so much perswasive Rhetorick no man ever speaking like him that many believed on his Name Over these porched piazzo's were treasure-Chambers built in several places as is generally conceived standing upon many stately marble pillars In the which were laid up provisions of several sorts for the use and service of the Temple shewing that even under the Gospel also there shall be treasures and (e) Mich. 4.13 spoyles dedicated of mens substance to the Lord of the whole Earth The open places of both these Courts as hath bin formerly mentioned were admirably paved with great variety of curious stones laid in checquered work Shewing how decently all places in and about the Temple were fitted for use what handsome and splendid Ornaments were bestowed upon that beautiful Temple what cost was expended what neat and cleanly provision was made for all the parts of that antient and legal worship To remember us surely that though there be not such holinesse now to be ascribed to publick places of worship as was of Old and although the main stresse of our service lies upon the spirituality of our hearts and sincerity of our minds in drawing nigh to God yet certainly that as to the very places where we now worship there ought to be care taken for all decency and comlinesse so far as may not trend upon the border of superstition If so be the very Rooms of our Houses wherein we lodge