A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 3 · Part 4
ZOROBABELS TEMPLE, REBUILT BY HEROD.
CHAP. I. The mean preparations for building this Temple.
§ 1. THe seventy years of the Babylonish captivity expired, God moved the spirit of Cyrus Cyrus his proclamation.(whose name the ProphetaIsa. 44. 28. mentioneth two hundred years before his birth) not onelyonly by hisbEzra 1. 1. proclamation to permit Gods people, to return to their native Countrey, and thereby to encourage others to contribute necessaries unto them; but also restored the vessels of Solomons making, and furnished them with provisions out of his own Exchequer, for the erection of a second Temple, which came after the former, not moe years in time, then degrees in magnificence. A thing no whit strange, if the disparity betwixt the builders be seriously considered.
§ 2. First,Difference in power. Solomon was an absolute Prince, full of wealth and power, in his peaceable Countrey, where no dog durst bark against him (save two c1 King. 11. 14. 23.or three whapping curs toward the end of his reign) whilest the builders of this second Temple were but raw captives, newly returned to their native land, where they met with much disturbance, and constant opposition from their enemies. Wherefore, no such (almost miraculous) silence observed at the second Temple, like that in the first, whereind1 King 6.7. no tool of iron was heard, it being probable, here was knocking of hammers, and (certain) here was clashing of malicious foes agains… the faithfull Israelites.
§ 3. Secondly,In number. Solomon (though alternately) employed seven score e1 King 5. 15.and ten thousand hewers and burden-bearers, besides three thousand three hundred overseers at the building of his Temple; whereas the totall sum, and whole company of this Remnant, or rather, Reversion of the Iews, with their servants fEzra 2. 64. 65.and maids, exceeded not fifty thousand, not amounting to a full third of the former number. As few the men: so were they ill furnished with all kinde of cattell. And whereas Camels had been necessary creatures to be used by them, for bearing of burdens at this structure, so meanly were they provided therewith, thatgCompare Iob 1. 3. with Ezra 2. 67. Iob a private man, had six times (and after his restoration twelve times) more Camels, then all the whole nation of the Iews had in their possession, when returning from captivity.
§ 4. Thirdly,In wealth. Solomon had (besides other vast in-comes, and a bank provided by David his Father) the gold of Ophir swimming unto him in the ships h1 King. 9. 28. & 10. 22.of Tarshish, making their trienniall returns. Whereas no such golden fleet arrived to the building of this second Temple. As for silver, in Solomons time it wasi1 King. 10. 27. in Ierusalem as stones in abundance; but, in Zorobabels time, silver was as silver in scarcity, and esteem, and the exchange of all coin ran very high in valuation. And, whereas the cost expended by Solomon on his Temple amounted to many thousands ofk1 Chr. …2. 14. & 1 Chr. 29. 4. Talents, unto which are added ten l1 Chr. 29. 7.thousand drams of gold (onelyonly as a supernumerary fraction, or odde sum above the entire Talents) the free-will-offering to the second Temple is not at all computed by Talents, which would have disgraced their poor provisions, but (to stick to our new translation) is onelyonly summed up bymEzra 2. 69. drams (as the silver not by Talents, but pounds) for the greater grace and credit of their contribution, so small in it self, but large (no doubt) in proportion unto their poor estates.
§ 5. Lastly,No eminent ar…izan. here was not (as in the making of the Tabernacle) any Bezaleel, or Aholiab, filled with the nExod. 31▪ 3.Spirit of God in all manner of workmanship; no Hiram (as at the building of the Temple)o1 King. 7. 14. filled with wisedome, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass; no extraordinary artificer specified by name, employed therein. Yet, probably, they entertained the best workmen that age did afford, their purses or credit could procure, to polish, and adorn the building. And therefore the ingenuous pRibera de Temp. sabr. li.…. cap. 27.Romanists acknowledge a gross errour in their vulgar Latine, where they readqEzra 6. 4. ordines de lapidibus impolitis tres, three rows of unpolished stone, which should be polished stone. For, foreign Eben Gelal in the originall, is a stone turned, rolled, and tossed about, to smooth, and levigate every side thereof, and byrAnti. Iul. lib. cap. Iosephus is rendred foreign,…n. some copies foreign as Ribera ci…es it. of shaved, hewed or carved stone. However, our last translation (following Tremellius therein) reades it GREAT STONES, as if the state consisted, rather in their bigness, then beauty; amplitude, then art bestowed upon them.
§ 6. Timber they fetched fromtEzra. 3. 7. mount Libanus (the magazeen of Cedars) brought thence in ships to Ioppa, Cedars fetched from ….and thence conveyed by landcarriages to Ierusalem. But, we may be assured, that Solomon long agoe had flitted the cream of the choicest trees in that mountain, this second generation being lesser, lower, and fewer, then those before them. Yea, in process of time, Cedars were so rarified in Libanus, thatuB…ddulphs Travel…. pag 40. modern travellers saw but four and twenty in their passage over this mountain, and heard but of a few moe (and they all in one place) extant there at this day.
§ 7. Some will object,Great promises ill performed. all these defects were eminently supplyed by the favour of Cyrus, who in his Charta Magna for the building of the Temple, had privided, that the expences be wEzra 6. 4.given out of the Kings house; and water may sooner be wanting at the well-head, then they lack accommodations, who commanded the coffers of so mighty a Monarch. But, such must take notice of the great space of ground, betwixt Ierusalem and Babylon; and the bounty of Kings (especially at so great a distance) maketh more noise in the mouths of the reporters, then it brings profit into the hands of the receivers. So that all things considered, whilest Solomons Temple, like the eldest son, and heir, went away with the solid inheritance of a world of wealth; this latter, like the younger brother, was contented with a poor pension of the peoples bounty allotted unto it, especially at the inconsiderable beginning thereof.
§ 8. Wherefore at the foundation of this Temple,The old men weep. the old menxEzra 3. 12. wept at the laying thereof, who could call to minde the greatness, and gallantry of the former. How great was the griefe of our first parents after their expulsion ou… of paradise, when comparing their present with their primitive condition, and what was lost, with what was left unto them? Enough to drown them in despair, if not supported with certain expectation of the promised Seed.
§ 9. But the youngsters,The youngmen shout for joy. being moe in number, and greater in strength, shouted for joy, conceiving the foundations newly laid a matchless fabrick for magnificence, having never seen better, nor other in that place. Thus, such as have been bred in the dark, when first brought into the twilight, admire at the incomparable lustre thereof. But, what saith our proverbe? Better children weep, then old folk: and it had been happy, if here (by a transposition of their passions) whilest the young folk sorrowed, the old men had rejoyced: the former thinking themselves to have just occasion of mirth, the latter knowing they had too much reason for mourning.
§ 10. But, what saith the Prophet,God delighteth in minims. in reference to this mean fabrick? Who hath despised the day of small things? yZech 4 10.God, who is all in all, delights to improve such things, as are next to nothing. He that loved the Iews best, who werezD…ut. 7. 7. the fewest of all people; who made Gedeon a Judge, who was theaIudg. 6. 15. least in his Fathers house; Saul a King, whose family was theb1 Sam. 9. 21. least of all in his Tribe▪ Paul a preacher, thec1 Cor. 15. 9. least of the Apostles; who delighted in dPsal. 68. 27.little Benjamin their ruler, the little hill of Hermon, theeLuk. 1. 48. lowliness of his handmaiden; who multiplyeth mustard-seed the fMat. 13. 32.least of all grains into a tree, did cherish and hatch this weak building under the wings of his protection, bringing it from feeble beginnings; by faint proceedings, to full perfection.
CHAP. II. The dimensions of the Temple, and the foundations thereof laid.
§ 1. BE it premised for an undeniable truth,This far less then Solomons Temple. that this Temple fell short of Solomons in the dimensions thereof. Which plainly appears, first, by the question the Prophet propoundeth;aHagg. 2. 3. Who is le…t among you, that saw this house in her first glory? and how doe you see it now? Is it not in your eies, in comparison of it, as nothing? Secondly, by the tears the old menbEzra 3. 12. shed, when thecIbidem. foundation thereof was laid, whilest they beheld the meanness of the one with their eyes, and recollected the magnificence of the other in their memories.
§ 2. But here we meet with (almost) an inextricable difficulty.Objection to the contrary. For, notwithstanding the premises so plain to the contrary, the dimensions of Cyrus his Temple appear larger then those of Solomons, if the ensuing parable be seriously perused.
1 King. 6. 2.
And the house which King Solomon built for the Lord, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.
Ezra 6. 3.
Let the foundations thereof be strongly laid, the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits.
Behold here, how Cyrus his Temple was thirty Cubits higher (just as high again) and forty cubits broader (thrice as broad) as Solomons. And, although the length of this second Temple is not expressed, yet an ordinary judgement will infer by the symmetrie of building, that the length thereof must needs be much greater, to manage such a breadth in any due proportion of Architecture. This so strong an evidence to the contrary, would almost have perswaded one to beleeve, that their old men were either deceived with their dim eyes, or mistaken in their fraile memories, and that this Temple was greater then the former, did not the infallible testimonies of thed…gga. 2. 3. Zech▪ 4. 10. Prophets so peremptorily avouch the comparative smalness thereof, in respect of Solomons.
§ 3. Many are the solutions,A Salv… rejected. which the learned produce in satisfaction of this difficulty. But, first, as for their conjecture, that Zorobabel, at the building of this Temple, purposely abated of those dimensions assigned by Cyrus (as too great for him to compass) contenting himself with a less scantling, but more proportionable to the weak power of his people: I can in no wise concur with them therein. For, in such de…alcation of measures by Cyrus allotted, he shewed little courtship to his master the Emperour, (in distrusting the performance of his promises) and less religion to the Lord his God, in not beleeving, that he, who miraculously had stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to appoint, would also vigorously inable him (or his successours) to effect the aforesaid assignment, in building of his Temple.
§ 4. Some suspect a mistake of numbers in Cyrus his Grant, Others…end…d.which notwithstanding will very hardly be admitted. For, seeing the laws of the Medes and Persians couldeDan. 6. 8. never be altered, they were highly concerned to be accurate, and exact, in their entering, and inrolling all Deeds on Record. O…hers justly make a difference in the measures, and whilest Solomons were sufficiently known to have been of thef2 Chr. 3. …. first measure, gTremellius in locum Ezrae.they conceive Cyrus his cubits to be common ones, but half as large as the former. And thus this second Temple, though sixty cubits high, was for the main body thereof, but just even with Solomons Temple. Mean time it came far short of Solomons in this respect, because Solomons had amost beautifull Porch, in nature of a Tower-steeple, h2 Chr. 3. 4.one hundred and twenty cubits high (that was double the body of the Temple) whilest no such aspiring building graced the second Temple, being all of one uniforme height.
§ 5. This difficulty in the height thus satisfied,Breadth how …aken in Scripture. by the difference of cubits, let none be troubled at the breadth of this second Temple, tripling that of Solomons, seeing here breadth is taken (as elsewhere in Scripture) for the full extent of a thing on every side. Thus in theiRevel. 20. 9. Revelation, Saint Iohn speaking of the numberless army of Gog and Magog, describes them to goe upon the breadth of the earth, that is, on the whole space of the surface thereof. Nor is the Hebrew foreign Rekbo (which properly signifieth his breadth, and is used. 1 King. 6. 2.) used in Ezra, but the Chaldee foreign which (askDe Templi …abrica. lib. 1. cap. 27. Ribera observeth) importeth the expansion, or spreading of a thing, quaquaversum, on every side. On which consideration, it is judiciously rendered by Tremellius, not latitudine, but amplitudine ejus, not the breadth, but the largeness thereof. So that Cyrus gave order, that the bigness of this Temple (length and breadth put together) should not exceed threescore cubits (perchance forty in length, and twenty in breadth) and so, both when first founded, and when fully finished, it came far short of the dimensions of Solomons.
CHAP. III. After many obstructions, finished at last.
§ 1. NOw went the building hopefully on,Samaritanes the…r false friendship. probable in some competent time to come to perfection; when the Samaritans (the envious enemies of Israel) first by fraud, then force, endevour to obstruct their proceedings. First, they tenderaEzra. 4. 15. their service to be fellow-builders with the Iews, (claiming a joynt-interest in their Temple, as serving the same God) which by Zorobabel, and the Elders of Israel was wisely refused, as knowing, such seeming helpers would prove reall hinderers. Thus, whenb2 Chr. 11. 14. Satan transformes himself into an Angel of light, as pretending to sing Gloria in excelsis, with the rest of those heavenly Spirits, it is onelyonly out of design to disturbe their harmony, and (if possible) to put that celestiall Quire out of …une.
§ 2. Their first project failing,Their open enmity. the Samaritanes accuse the City of Ierusalem in the Court of Artaxerxes King of Persia, to have been formerly acEzra. 4. 15. rebellious city, referring themselves to the Court-rolls for the proof thereof. See what it is to be a Rebell on record, their posterity may fare the worse for it, many years after. Indeed, it cannot be denied, but that Zedekiah King in Ierusalem, though sworn by God to the contrary,d2 Chr. 36. 13. rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, so that this suggestion of the Samaritans, had too much of truth, though more of malice therein. For, hence they inferred, were the place rebuilt, the people would return to their former stubbornness, whereby, in process of time, the Persian Monarchy would be deprived of all command, andeEzra 4. 13. 16. revenue on this side the river of Iordan.
§ 3. Power,The I…ws forbidden to build the Temple. and Profit are the two apples of Princes eyes, woundable with the least touch thereof. No wonder therefore if upon the premises, a Prohibition was presently from Artaxerxes sent, and served upon the Iews, commanding them to desist from building till farther order should befEzra 4. 21. given them. Thus the work ceased till the second of Darius. Mean time private palaces in Ierusalem were finished, and garnished withgHaggai 1. 4. ceiled work, whilest Gods Temple lay waste. Did not those priva…e houses blush at their own bravery, as serving-men may be justly ashamed, to see themselves finer then their Masters?
§ 4. Then arose Haggai, Fall a building it again encouraged by the Prophets.and Zachary, andhEzra 5. 1. encouraged the people to build again. What, must the Pulpit be obeyed before the Throne? iEccles. 8. 4.In the word of a King there is power, but is there more in the mouth of a Prophet? Oh! a greater then Artaxerxes was here, these Prophets being warranted by divine inspiration. On goes the Temple afresh, whilest the enemies of Israel seek in vain to hinder it the second time. For, upon search, the originall grant of Cyrus is produced from amongst the Records of thekEzra 6. 2. Medes, in pursuance whereof, Darius did not onelyonly give leave, and liberty to the Iews to build their Temple, with a penalty on such as refused it, but also enjoyned Tatnai, lIbid. ver. 8.Shethar-Boznai, and others beyond the river (which sided with the Samaritans) to contribute all necessaries towards the finishing, and furnishing thereof. No doubt the Iews (formerly refusing their persons) accepted their purses to build with, as knowing, though the men were false, their money might be made faithfull towards the farthering of the work.
§ 5. As for the many chronologicall differences,Chronologicall difficulties justly declined. wherewith the building of this Temple is encumbred, we utterly decline them as alien from our subject. He that medleth (saithmProv. 26. 17. Solomon) with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the eares. Chronology (all know) is a surly, churlish Cur, and hath bit many a mans fingers, who have causelesly medled therewith. Blame me not therefore, if willing to keep mine own hands whole. OnelyOnly I will adde, that such are much troubled, who apply to this Temple those words of the Iews to our Saviour,nIohn 2. 20. Forty and six years was this Temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? So that all their endevours can not conform those numbers to Zorobabels Temple, which had not so many years spent in the erection thereof. Wherefore for the main they plead, that malice hath a wide mouth, and loves to outlash in her relations. So that the Iews stood not exactly on the particulars of years, whilest the totall sum of their intent was to cast a greater odium on Christ, by widening the disproportion between so many years, and so few days. Yea, seeing at the same time they wilfully mistook the meaning of our Saviours words, no wonder if withall they corrupted the computation of the building of the Temple, adding moe years thereunto, then were in the true account thereof.
§ 6. But be the years moe or less,Sacrifice at the Dedication. at last after many stops, stays; demurs, delays; suspensions, relaxations; desertions, resumptions thereof, the building was compleated, and a solemn sacrifice at the dedication thereof, but far inferiour to Solomons, on the same occasion.
1 King. 8. 63.
And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace-offerings, which he offered unto the Lord, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep.
Ezra 6. 17.
And they offered at the dedication of this house of God, an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambes; and for a sin-offering for all Israel twelve hee-goats, according to the number of the Tribes of Israel.
See here a great fall, but the second sacrifice was suitable to their small substance: of a little they gave a little to that God, who, where there is o2 Cor. 8. 12.first a willing minde, accepteth it according to that a man hath, and not according to that a man hath not. However, we must congratulate the hopefull mention of the twelve Tribes of Israel. Welcome happy name, and number, well met in holy writ, seeing so long since last we parted from you, some hundred years agoe, when Elias offered his sacrifice on mount p1 King. 18. 31.Carmell. A strong presumption, that some of each Tribe were now present, at the finishing of this Temple, whereof largely before.
§ 7. This Temple was afterwards miserably defaced,Repaired by Maccabeus. and profaned by wicked Antiochus, untill some years after, Iudas Maccabeus cleansed the Sanctuary, repaired the breaches of the Temple, renewed the gates and chambers about it, and deckt theq1 Mac. 4. 57. forefront thereof with crowns of gold. He ordained also in the monethmonth Casleu anrIbid. ver. 59. annuall festivall by the space of eight days to be kept with mirth and gladness. Some will say, this was but a ceremonious supererogation of Maccabeus, in making such an ordinance; seeing, neither Hezekiah, when purging the Temple from the profanation of Ahaz; nor Iosiah, cleansing it from the idolatrous pollutions of Manasses and Ammon, instituted any such yearly solemnity in memoriall thereof. But, let such know, that under Antiochus there was not onelyonly a suspension, and interdiction of the Temple from pious uses, but a totall alienation thereof from piety, and diversion to profaneness: and by Maccabeus the old Altar was not (as by Hezekiah, and Iosiah) reconciled to Gods service, but asIbid. ver. 47. new one erected (hence perchance the feast was called Encaenia, or the Renewing) in the place thereof▪ And what, if in this particular point Maccabeus was more pious then either Hezekiah, or Iosiah, let not his memory fare the worse, for endevouring the better to preserve Gods favours in the memories of others.
§ 8. Just (no doubt) were the considerations moving Maccabeus to make this annuall festivall,Christ at this Feast of Dedication. seeing our Saviour in the GospelltIoh. 10. 22. graced this feast of the dedication with his presence. Although it appears not in Scripture, that Christ went up purposely to Ierusalem for the observation thereof (as he did to the Passeover, which was of divine appointment) but there might be a casuall coincidence of this feast, and his presence at Ierusaem. However, seeing Christ with his company adorned auIoh. 2. 2. marriagefeast at Cana in Galilee, being a meeting of meer civil concernment, founded on no divine command, but onelyonly the commendable custome of the Countrey, no wonder if he honoured the feast of Dedication with his person, wherein the Temple was at first in some sort remarried to the proper use thereof, from which by the profaneness of persecutours it had formerly been divorced.
§ 9. Here I must not omit the Rhemists note,The Rhemists their wilde note. wPag. 29…. on Iohn 10. 22.Christ (say they) vouchsafed to honour, and keep that feast instituted by Iudas Maccabeus, Lib. 1 cap. 4. and now Hereticks vouchsafe not to pray, and sacrifice for the dead, x2 Mac. 12.used and approved by him. But, Christ his presence at this feast of Maccabeus his institution, doth no more oblige us to an universall observation of all the actions of Maccabeus, without farther examination of them, how well they agree with Gods word; then his eating of bread in the house, and at the invitation of Simon the yLuk. 7. 36.Pharisee, engageth us to avouch all the opinions, or practise all the traditions, which the said Simon might erroniously maintain.
CHAP. IV. Of the Utensils in Solomons, wanting in this Temple.
§ 1. AS for bulk of fabrick,Most of the …ensils restored. and beauty of frame: so also for variety, and richness of furniture, this Temple fell short of Solomons. Indeed, great was divine providence in preserving the Utensils of the Temple, during the captivity in Babylon. Though Belshazzar aDan. 5. 3.drank in the holy vessels, yet his sacrilegious swallow was not so wide, as to devoure the metall thereof. These remained in the treasury, and were afterwards restored to the Iews at their return, even vessels of gold and silver, to the full number ofbEzra 1. 11. five thousand and four hundred. And yet notwithstanding the restitution of them, this widow-Temple, as I may …erm it, fell in beauty short of the Virgin-Temple, wanting many eminent ornaments which were found in Solomons.
§ 2. First, it is probable,But many wanting. that the statelyc2 Chr. 6, 13. scaffold of brass, with the Kingsd2 Chr. 28. 13. pillar (which some conceive set thereupon) in nature of a royall throne, was not in the second Temple; so glorious a Sphere being needless, when there was no Sun to shine therein. Certainly this wanted
1 The two fair pillars of Iachin and Boaz▪ e2 King. 25. 13.broken in pieces by Nebuchadnezzar, to make them the more portable to Babylon, otherwise such mountains of massie brass, were unmanageable, till par…elled into many fragments, past possibility of being rejointed together, whilest all the lesser vessels were preserved whole and entire. Thus, greatness oft-times exposeth eminent persons to their own destruction, whilest poverty carrieth its own protection, and inferiour people are preserved by their meanness.
2 The greatfIbidem. Molten Sea, which being guilty of the same crime (its own overgreatness) suffered the same execution with the brasen pillars.
3 The fire from heaven, which, as in thegLevi…. 9. …4. Tabernacle, so in Solomons Templeh2 Chr. 7. 1. came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offerings, and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. No spark of this fire appeared in the second Temple.
4 The Pot of iExod. 16. 33.Manna, spilt, broken, or lost by some accident unexpressed in Scripture.
5 ThekNum. 17. 10▪ Rod of Aaron which budded, but now was withered away (by some casualty unrecorded) during the cap…ivity of Babylon.
6 The Ar…e of the Covenant. Not, that we give any heed to Ieremy his Apocryphalll2 Ma…. 2. 5. hiding thereof in mount N…o; but, wheresover it was, it was not in the second Temple.
7 The t…o tables of the mExod. 34. 1.Law written by Gods own finger, and put formerly into the Arke of the Covenant.
Here for the main we may observe, that the Holy of …olies in this second Temple, was left altogether empty, and unfurnished. Such avoidance of the Utensils thereof being purposely made to make room for the coming of our Saviour the true High-priest, who with his gracious presencenEphes. 1. 23. filleth all in all.
§ 3. As for the Oracle, The Oracle speech…ess.if it were present in this Temple in substance, it was absent in effect, because dumbe, and speechless, asoAnti. Iud. li. 3. ca. 10. pag. 90. Iosephus both ingenuously …, and conscienciously rendereth a reason thereof; affirming that the stones therein ceased to send forth their wonted splendour (by which formerly answers were returned) two hundred years befo…e he wrote his book, God being angry …ith his people for their pre…ari…ation from his law. And thus this second Temple was, …s in her struc…ure, so in her ornaments much … to that first of Solomo… ….
§ 4. All these defects notwithstanding,Wherein it excelled Solomons. in one eminent respect this Temple equalled, yea excelled Solomons; according to thepHagg. 2. 9. Prophets prediction, The glory of this latter house shall be greater then of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, …aith the Lord of hosts; so that in a mysticall respect, the pavement of this, was higher then the roof of the other. For, hereon our Saviour, when a child, was presented to the Priests; when a youth, disputed with the Doctours; when a man, wrought many miracles, preached many Sermons; teaching within, and tempted without the Temple, on a pinnacle thereof. In a word, Solomons Temple, like Mans originall creation in purity, and perfection, was most glorious in it self: this latter, like our state of regeneration, which, though full of faults, failings, wants, weaknesses, in comparison of the former, yet outstrips it in Gods gra…ious acceptance thereof, crowning it with perseverance here, and happiness hereafter.
§ 5. So much for the Temple it self,The Courts of the Temple. which also was guarded with Courts attending the same. Witness Nehemiah reporting, how, at the feast of Tabernacles, the people, to testifie their joy, made themselves booths, or arbours, in the qN…hem. 8. 16.Courts of the house of God. But, whereas Ez…a mentioneth the rEzra 10. 9.street of the house of God, (whither all the people repaired, being about to reforme their strange marriages) I take this to be no part, or parcell of the structure of the Temple, but some fair street in Ierusalem, leading thereunto: as Temple-gate, and street in Bristol, so termed, because in passage to the fair Church called the Temple therein.
§ 6. Let not the Reader here expect from me, a draught of Zorobabels Temple.Why no draught of Zorobabels Temple. For, besides that already I have dipped my fingers deep enough in holy mortar, (when describing Solomons Temple) we have nothing out of Scripture, for the particular fashion thereof. To frame it therefore according to conjecturall fancies, would be as much offensive to any consciencious writer, as little satisfactory to the judicious Reader thereof. OnelyOnly in lieu of Zorobabels we present here the Herodian Temple, and all the Courts thereof (the same in all essentials with Zorobabels) as Herod rebuilt it, although the story thereof be incumbred with many improbabilities, which we come now to relate.
CHAP. V. Herod (saith Josephus) plucked down, and … built Zorobabels Temple.
§ 1. IT is strange,Wicked men sometimes do good. how the worst of Tyrants sometimes stumble on eminent actions, doing such works as might beseem be…ter men to be the authours thereof. Either, out of the love of variety, that being long wearied with a constant course of wickedness, they adventure on some commendable deeds, meerly for recreation. Or else, onelyonly se defendendo, for their own security, to fence themselves against the too just assault of peoples tongues, hoping in vain, by one good, to make amends for many evill deeds they have committed. Some such consideration put Herod the King upon the building of the Temple, who (asaAnti. Iud. lib. 15 cap. 14. … of which all our ens…ing history is taken. Some deny Herods rebuilding of the Temple. Iosephus reports) plucked down Zorobabels Temple to the ground, and erected a new one in the room thereof, of greater art, and larger dimensions.
§ 2. But somebEkius first, and after him Villalpandus in …zech tom. 2 part 2. lib 5. d…p. 4. cap. 68. & sequentibus. Authors of very good account, are very loth to give credence hereunto, utterly denying Herod to have built, and lanched a new vessell of a Temple, although allowing him, to have carined, new rigged, and repaired the old, and especially the south-porch thereof. They conceive this third Temple meerly modelled, and made by the fancy of Iosephus, as which never had other then paper-wals, inke-mortar, and quil-timber in his book-description thereof. Yea are bold to call it commentum, figmentum; fabulam, and in downright terms mendacium, the flat lie of Iosephus.
§ 3. For mine own part,Iosephus to be believed herein. after very much reluctancy, I am at last contented to credit Iosephus herein, though willingly I could have wished, that some other ancient Authour of his own age had avouched the same, that so in the mouth of two witnesses this cDeut. 17. 6.truth might have been established. For, this is that same Iosephus whom the greatdIn Proleg in librum de Emend. it. Temporum. Scaliger charactereth Diligentissimum foreign omnium Scriptorum, cujus fides & eruditio in omnibus elucet. And, although we come not just up to this so high a commendation of him, yet we will not suspect him of falshood in such passages, wherein he dissenteth not from Scripture.
§ 4. For,Could not be deceived, would not deceive. first herein he himself could not be deceived in a matter notoriously known, some being alive who could remember Herods building thereof. And Iosephus himself had often personally officiated in this Temple, in his Priestly function. Nor, would he deceive others by such a report; for, cui bono, what could he gain thereby? Nothing could be gotten by flattering the dust, or ghost of Herod; especially none of his linage (when Iosephus wrote) being in power, or place to reward him. How can we then in charity conceive, that he did transgress without a cause? Seeing there were so many of his own countreymen, living in all lands, ready to confute so lowd a lie, if avouched by him.
§ 5. Secondly,Answers b…st to the Disciples▪ admiration. the words of the Disciples to our Saviour,eM…k 13. 1. Master, see what stones, and what buildings are here, must in probability relate to some new, sp…cious, eye-pleasing fabrick. And, if any should say, that the Disciples, being poor fisher-men, and untravelled into forein parts, might be priviledged to wonder at a fabrick, not so admirable in it self; let such know, we collect the magnificence of this Temple, not so much from their admiration, as from Christ his concession; who (though reproving the Apostles carnall affections) alloweth the stateliness thereof in that sharp return, fIbid. ver. ….Seest thou foreign these great buildings? Now, this could not well agree with Zorobabels Temple, being little curious when new, & almost contemptible when old (if standing in Christs time, weather-beaten after four hundred years continuance) and therefore undoubtedly relates to the Herodian Temple, as then in the prime, and perfection thereof.
§ 6. Adde hereunto,Beleeved by many good authours. that Herod his wholly taking down, and rebuilding this Temple, is embraced, and beleeved, by most ancient, and learned writers,gLib. de. Hegesippus, hIn cap. 11. … fere initio.Saint Hierome, iIn cap. 2. Haggai.Rupertus, and many other Christian Authours.*Constantine l. Empe. in praesatione in Middoth. And that some Talmudists acknowledge Herods Temple, a learned Critick hath sufficiently cleared the same. Yea, which is much materiall (even by the confession of suchkVillalpandus ut prius. as lately have opposed it) mille quingentis annis nemo vocavit in dubium, nemo non credidit; for fifteen hundred years (since Iosephus wrote it) none ever doubted, or questioned the truth thereof.
CHAP. VI. Objections to the contrary answered.
§ 1. HAving thus brought our beliefe (not over forward in it self) to answer the spur, Much may be alledged against Herods building.in what Iosephus reports, we confess notwithstanding, many shrewd objections may be alleadged to the contrary, which we shall endevour to satisfie in order, as followeth.
§ 2. Ob. It is utterly improbable,1. Objection. that God who refused Davids tender to build him a Temple, meerly because he was a man a2 Chr. 28. 3.of bloud, would accept of such a Tyrant as Herod was, for the same purpose. Who had murthered Hircanus his patron, Ioseph his own uncle, Aristobulus his brother-in-law, Mariamme his wife, Aristobulus the younger, Alexander, and Antipater his sons. In a word, unlikely it is, his service should be employed in building the Temple of God, who endevoured to destroy thebMar. 2. 20. God of that Temple.
§ 3. Ans. Answer.Gods ways are in the deep, past mans finding, or fathoming out: who, to shew the fulness of his power, and freedome of his pleasure, useth variety in his own working. That shall be sometimes a bar to one, which otherwhiles shall be no hinderance to another. Who knowes not, but Cyrus was a cruell man, the manager of mighty wars, who came to a wofull and violent death? Witness, whencInstine lib. 1. Tomyris the Scythian Queen, having cut off his head, and put it into a vessell of bloud, Satia te (saith she) sanguine quem semper sitisti, Cloy thy self with bloud which thou hast always thirsted after. And yet God accepted of the service of Cyrus, not onelyonly to be a benefactour unto, but founder of his Temple, thedEzra 6. 4. expences thereof being given out of his own house. Why then might not the same God make use of Herod, for the rebuilding of his Temple, when in continuance of time, much run into dilapidations?
§ 4. Ob. …Objection.The Temple extant in our Saviours time, was forty six years in building, as theeIoh. 2. 20. Iews did avouch; now, this cannot be applied to Herods Temple, who reigned in all but thirty seven years; it must therefore belong to Zorobabels, the building whereof was so long suspended, through the frequent opposition of their enemies.
§ 5. Ans. Answer.It cannot well be applyed to Zorobabels, but exactly fits Herods Temple; for Zorobabels it falls out too large, which makes expositours take refuge at severall shifts, as we have formerlyfAbove cap. 3. § 5. observed. It is adequate unto Herods Temple, the Greek being foreign, the first Aorist passive, that is, it hath been in building. For, from the time that the first foundation was laid by Herod, untill the present instant of the Iews their speech, the sum of forty six years was exactly compleated, all which time (though the main of the fabrick was finished in the first eight years, and an half) workmen were constantly employed in trimming, polishing, and perfecting the out-buildings thereof.
§ 6. Ob. 3 Objection.The ProphetgHaggai 29. Haggai foretold, that the glory of the second Temple should be greater then the first, which was accordingly accomplished in the coming of our Saviour, gracing it with hishMat. 3. 1. presence, and preaching therein. Now, if the Temple extant in our Saviours time, were not the same numericall, individuall Temple, which Zorobabel built, but another new one of Herod his erection, the Prophesie of Haggai took no effect, and missed of the due performance thereof.
§ 7. Ans. Answer.Haggai his prophesie found the full accomplishment thereof, in our Saviours preaching in Herods Temple, which was no distinct, but in all essentialls the self same with Zorobabels. The holy riddle in the Revelation is very hard to be understood, how the beast iRevel. 17. 11.was the eight, and yet one of the seven. But here it is obvious to any apprehension, that this was the third, and yet the second Temple, set up in the same place of the former.
§ 8. Ob. Zorobabels, The same objection rein…orced.or the second Temple may as properly be termed the first, and avouched the same with Solomons, as this third of Herods building may be called the second Temple, and maintained the same with Zorobabels. For, it was erected on the same Area, or floor, and had, though less limbs (smaller dimensions) the self same vitals, all the essentiall Utensils of the first Temple, restored unto it.
§ 9. Ans. And answered.Not so, for, not a foot of stone, or inch of timber used in Solomons, was found in Zorobabels, which being all utterly destroyed, new materials were fetched from mountkEzra 3. 7. Lebanon. Whereas no doubt Herod made use of whatsoever was firm, sound, and undecayed in Zorobabels Temple. Besides, there was an interstitium, or distance of seventy years, between the destruction of Solomons, and erection of Zorobabels Temple; whereas here no vacancy at all, the service, and sacrifices to God being continued without any interruption. As therefore that man, who, out of a desperate consumption, by Gods blessing, physick, and good diet, recovers new flesh, remains still the same man: so Zorobabels Temple, acquiring by Herods bounty more beauty, and bigness, continued the same Temple, Gods unintermitted service (the life and soul thereof) preserving the individuity, or oneness of this Temple with the former.
§ 10. Iosephus himself elsewhere confesseth (as learnediVid. ejus annot. in Mat. 24. 1. & Iohn 2. 20. Grotius doth observe) that the Temple was never but twice demolished,4 Objection. first by Nebuchadnezzar, and finally by the Romans.
§ 11. Understand him (to reconcile him to himself) never but twice demolished in anger from enemies,Answered. whereas Herod destruebat animo restruendi, destroyed it with intent to rebuild it. As the Chirurgion, who, not out of cruelty, but pity, breaks an ill set bone, with full intent to set it better. Hence it was, that this third Temple, in some sense, is always accounted, reputed, and esteemed by the Jewish Rabbins, the same with the second.
CHAP. VII. Generall observables in Herods building.
§ 1. THus satisfied for the main,Full credit not required to Iosephus. that Herod rebuilt Zorobabels Temple, come we to some memorable observables therein, gathered out of Iosephus, whose single band if the Reader shall refuse to accept, we can tender him no better, yea, no other securirity. It is not therefore expected, that all which Iosephus relates, should be credited in the full latitude thereof, it is enough if the judicious Reader (witha1 Cor. 11. 18. Saint Paul in another case concerning the reports of the Corinthians) doth partly beleeve it.
§ 2. First, to satisfie, and content the Iews (half suspecting his power, or pleasure to rebuild the Temple) he plucked not down the old Temple, till all necessaries for the new one were perfectly provided, and brought in place, ready to be set up, lest otherwise between two Temples, none at all should be left. Such as take down one Church, before fully furnished for the setting up of a new, make a dangerous breach for profaneness, and Atheisme to enter in thereat. No such regnum for Satan, as in the interregnum between two religions.
§ 3. As for the dimensions of Herods Temple in relation to Solomons, the ensuing parallel thus presents them unto us,
1 King. 6. 2.
And the house which King Solomon built for the Lord, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits—[after the first b2 Chr. 3. 2.measure] the porch therein was ancIbid. ver. 4. hundred and twenty cubits high.
Iosephus Anti. Iud. lib. 15. cap. 14.
Her…d removed the old foundations, and laying new ones, built the Temple an hundred cubits long, so many and twenty more, in height; as for the breadth (omitted by Flavi… Ios…phus) Ben-Gori…n addeth, it was an hundred cubits.
Not that the whole body of Herods Temple was an hundred and twe…ty cubits high, but onelyonly the middle thereof, as Iosephus confesse…h, the sides round about being lower. Thus whilest Solomons Temple was builded long ways, with the porch, or to wer at the east end, Herods appears more round, with a tower in the middle thereof.
§ 4. Now,Common cubits meant by Iosephus, appearing by the bigness of the …tones. though the length, and breadth of Herods Temple exceeds Solomons, (as they make it) yet certainly, no… cubits of the first measure, but common ones are meant by Iosephus, as may appear by the vast proportion of firme stones employed in this building, being twenty five cubits long, eight high, and twelve broad. Oh! with what art, or engines were they brought hither? If the stones on Sarisbury plain, in a levell and flat Countrey, and not above twenty miles from the sea, are recounted amongst the wonders of England, for their conveyance thither (though the biggest of them called Corse stones are fardAs but 24 foot high, 7 broad, and 16 in compass, Camdens Brit. in …. less) I say, if they be beheld with such admiration, that judicious men resolve them not reall, but factitious stones, of grit cemented with some unctuous matter, how can we conceive that these solid stones (four of them being the ful length of the Temple) were managed hither, farther off from the sea, over a mountainous Countrey? However, that great, and goodly stones were here, the eMark. 13. 1.foreign and foreign in the Disciples observation,fLuk, 21. 5. doth sufficiently prove.
§ 5. The Holy of Holies had the inside thereof made onelyonly by the Priests (others not presuming to come on the ground) whereof a thousand were found very cunning in building.Priests builders Now, although Saint Paul was a Pharisee, and agAct 18. 3. tent-maker (the principles of that sect annexing some trade to their profession) it is strange, so many Priests, though skilfull in the Mathematicall, should be so dexterous in the manual part thereof. The pinnacles of the Temple (saith Iosephus) were made so sharp, that a bird could not sit on them, to prevent the defiling thereof. Wherefore when the Devill set our Saviour onhMat. 4. 5. a pinnacle of the Temple, (where no doubt his feet stood fast without any miracle, which the Devill could not, and Christ would not causlesly work, as presumption against the will of his Father) we understand thereby, not such a sharp pinnacle, but some bartlement, wing, or brink, of building, higher then the rest of the fabrick.
§ 6. It was finished (of all the days of the year) on Herods birth-day,Finished on Herods birthday. and therefore (saith Iosephus) the joy was the greater, two such eminent causes thereof meeting together. In very good time no doubt. Indeed the memories of Philip and Iacob; or, of Simon & Iude, have been anciently celebrated on the same day, being paires of pious persons well agreeing amongst themselves. But,i2 Cor. 6. 14. What communion hath light with darkness? Heaven, with hell; God with Herod, that they should be coupled together, in the same solemnity? However, the finishing of the Temple on Herods birth-day, was a better deed then what his grand-child Herod … did many years after, on his*Mat. 14. 6. birth-day, beheading Iohn the B…ptist. The same authour reports they had it by tradition, that it never rained on the day-time, but onelyonly by night, during the building of the Temple, that so the labour of the workmen might not be interrupted.
§ 7. But a more improbable passage falls from the pen of Iosephus, An incredible report.when he reports, that the Temple when finished, sunk down twenty cubits in the foundation, which the skilfull in Architecture will hiss at as an untruth. For,
1 Strange that all parts thereof (as if by mutuall consent) should at once equally sink directly down, such an even, and eminent proportion; the same weight above meeting with just the same weakness beneath, and no more in one place, then another. And grant, the walls all agreed to sink together, it is much, the beams were not broken with the sudden subsidency of the building.
2 Such a sinking fabrick would have frighted the Priests from officiating therein, and death hanging over their heads disturbed their devotion.
3 The same authour reports, that the Holy of Holies in Herods Temple was just twenty cubits high. If so, then by the sinking of this fabrick, it was wholly swallowed in the earth, turned into a cellar, so that the High-Priest, in Scripture phrase, must not go up, but go down unto it.
4 The Disciples, when gazing on thelMark 13. 1. greatness of the stones, might better have bestowed their wonder, that so firm a fabrick should stand on so fleeting a foundation.
Wherefore with the sinking of his Temple, Iosephus his cred it sinkes twenty cubits in my estimation, enough almost to make one un-believe whatsoever he hath formerly reported therein.
§ 8. But admit it done,What …se may be made thereof, if true. not suddenly, but leasurely, and by insensible degrees, sinking some cubits more or less, was not the hand of God more immediately therein? Partly to punish Herods pride; shewing, he rather permitted, then approved, such a wretched Tyrant should build his Temple. Partly, to prognosticate the future ruine of this fabrick, not standing full fourscore years, before it was destroyed. However, in a spirituall sense, the true Zion, and Church of God hath the mPsal. 87.1.foundations thereof in the holy mountains—The highest himself shall establish her, God is in thenPsal. 46. 5. midst of her, she shall not be moved.
CHAP. VIII. Herods Temple many degrees short of Solomons.
§ 1. BUt here we must have an abominable falshood of Ioseph BenGorion, An impudent lie of Ben-G… rions.posted, and pillored, impudently affirming, that the Herodian aIn his book of the Herodians pag. 103.Temple was a more gorgeous structure, then that of Solomons; flatly against the Scripture it self, which presenteth Solomons as a Nonesuch, or peerless structure, (admitting no equall, much less a superiour) exceedingb1 Chr. 22. 5. magnificall, of fame, and of glory throughout all countreys. But let us put the builders, and their buildings into the ballance, whilest the Reader is requested to hold the beam with an unpartiall hand.
| 1 Solomon was a mighty Monarch, subordinate to God alone, having many tributary Kings homagers1 King. 4. 24. unto him. 2 He had wealth at will, God promising there should not1 King.3.13. be any amongst the Kings like unto him all his days; and had his ships from Tarshish, and Ophir, bringing him abundance of treasure. 3 He employed1 King. 5. 15, 16. an hundred forty three thousand three hundred for seven years in the building of the Temple. | 1 Herod was a King by the Courtesie of Rome, and accountable unto Augustus the Emperour. 2 Herod (whilest Solomon was a Merchant royall) was so poor a Pedler, that he turned the basest of theeves, and (as Iosephus reporteth) robbed the sepulchre of David f…r treasure hid therein. 3 Herod used eleven thousand men, and a thousand carts, eight years and an half, in the erection of his building. |
Whosoever seriously considers the premisses, and remembers the words offIudge. 8. 21. Zalmunna to Gideon, for as the man is, so is his strength, (actions bear proportion to the power of their actours) will conclude; Herod, though …urnamed the great, was too little to match, and far less to surpass Solomon in such undertakings.
§ 2. As for Ioseph Ben-Gorion extolling the Herodian, Ben-Gorion an incompetent Iudge.above Solomons Temple for sumptuousness, his judgement is lighter then vanity it self. In al controversies Gods law provided, that thegExod. 22. …. cause of both parties should come before the Iudges. But, Ioseph Ben-Gorion (no news for them who know least to censure most) never saw either Temple, and yet is bold to pass censure on both. Indeed the aged Fathers thathEzra 3.12. wept, saw two Temples, Solomons before the destruction, and Zorobabels at the foundation thereof. Flavius Iosephus the Iew saw one (Zorobabels rebuilt by Herod) in his time rased by the Romans; Ben-Gorion beheld no pinnacle of either being a late authour, living some hundreds of years since our Saviour. Yea (what the maid said to Saint Peter)iMark 14.67. his speech agreeth thereunto, discovering himself a more modern writer, by mentioning the name, and nation of the*Lib. 6. cap. 1. sol. 53. Editionis Cracovi…nsis. Franks, a word not appearing in the world till some hundreds of years after our Saviour. Besides, the book of Ben-Gorion like Geryon (the famous monster amongst the Poets) consisteth of three bodies confounded into one; pieces of Hegisippus, parcels of Russinus, and patches of his own fancying, so jumbled together, that little truth, and less certainty can be extracted from it.
§ 3. Here we must know,A dangerous Iewish design. that such as advance Herods above Solomons Temple, for the beauty thereof, drive on a dangerous Iewish design. Late… anguis in herba, there is a pad in the straw, and invisible mischief lurking therein. Hoping hereby literally to verifie the Prophesie of Haggai, of the glory of the second Temple, in that carnall, materiall bravery, which Heroa bestowed upon it, so to frustrate, and defeat the spirituall sense of those predictions, mystically accomplished in the coming of Christ. Wherefore, all Christians are highly concerned to be zealous, to detect and detest an opinion, so destructive to the truth of Scripture, and derogatory to the glory of God.
§ 4. However,The golden Vine in the H… rodian Temple. we deny not, but that this Herodian Temple in it self considered, without relation to Solomons, was a magnificent structure, (askHistoriaru…. lib. 5. Tacitus, an heathen, and no friend to the Jewish nation, doth confess;) and I beleeve that the Courts on all sides thereof took up a greater compass and circuit of gronnd, then those of Solomons, the Mount of the house (narrow in his days) being afterwards much enlarged. Therein we take principall notice of two eminent braveries. First, the Golden Vine ornamentall thereunto, which had clusters thereon as big as the stature of a man, as if corrivals in greatness to those bunches oflNumb. 18. 23. grapes, the spies anciently brought as a sample of the fruitfulness of the land of Canaan: This Vine Ben-Gorion makes of massie gold, whilest a learnedmVillalpandus. authour, out of Flavius Iosephus, proves it to have been onelyonly woven of gold threed, which much abateth the price thereof. But, whilest Iews gaze with admiration on the cost, and curiosity of this Golden Vine, Christian eyes may better behold another, of more grace, and glory, often to be seen in the same Temple, even Him that said,nIohn 15.1. I am the true Vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
§ 5. The other was that GoldenoIosep…us Anti. Iud. lib. 17. cap. 8. Eagle, The golden bloudy Eagle.set over the entrance of the Temple, which afterwards proved a Bird of prey to the poor Iews, occasioning a grievous slaughter amongst them. Who conceiving their Temple profaned by this Image, brake forth into a mutiny thereupon, wherein they were slain in great numbers. Threefold was the offence, the Iews took at the making thereof, because
1 Scandalous, to set up any image in the Temple, as introductory to Idolatry.
2 Unbeseeming the state of Gods house, like an Inne to have a sign hung out of it.
3 The Eagle being the Roman Armes minded them of their subjection.
An ungratefull spectacle to the Jewish nation (so constant a pretender to freedome) to be daily upbraided with their loss of liberty.
§ 6. To conclude, and give Herod his due, this third-second Temple (as I may term it) though far short of Solomons, may be believed more magnificent then Zorobabels. So that, what Hezekiah ingenuously confessed of the Kings of Assyria, may as justly be affirmed of Herod, Of a truth he hath done great matters. Though, who had not rather have one line of Iosiahs Epitaph, written truly on his tombe,p2 Chr. …5. 26. The rest of his acts, and his goodness, then all the popular applause Herod received, for erecting this magnificent structure.
CHAP. IX. The Actions of Christ in the Temple.
§ 1. WE have tendered to the view of the reader,The Map taken out of Capellus. in our lastmap, the draught of Zorobabels Temple as repaired & enlarged by Herod, so as the learned, and pious Ludovicus*In his Compendiu… Historia Iudaic…, lent m… by that learned and industrious Gentleman M. Edward L…igb Esq. Capellus hath presented it, who exactly took his instructions therein, from the pen of Iosephus, an eye-witness hereof. Wherefore I justly disingage my self from all objections against this Map, which are properly chargeable upon Capellus his account. I confess, herein I proceed not with that foreign, and foreign, with that boldness and assurance, which I could desire; because the divisions and dimensions of the Courts, and chambers, as exhibited in this Temple, rely not (as Solomons) on Gods word, but onelyonly on humane fallible testimony. Oh it is excellent, when, with Theophilus, we may know theaLuk. 1. 4. certainty of those things wherein we are instructed out of Scripture it self.
§ 2. Come we now to the actions of our Saviour in the Temple;The difference betwixt foreign and foreign. having first premised this usefull, yea necessary distinction. What our English tongue, for want of another proper word, promiscuously calleth the Temple, the originall carefully expresseth by two names, adequate to two severall parts thereof,
| foreign.This properly was the covered part of the Temple (from foreign to inhabite, God peculiarly dwelling there) consisting of the P…rch, Holy, and Holy of Holies, with the chambers about them. Into this Christ never came, (though Zachariah in his course did, to …ffer Luke 1. 9. incense) nor by the law (under which he was made, as not coming to destroy, butMat. 5. 17. fulfill it) might he enter thereinto; proper onelyonly for the Priests to officiate therein. Yet though not his person whilest living, his power when dying, penetrated this Temple, namely, when he rent theMat. 27. 51. vaile, thereby mystically opening an entrance into heaven by the merit of his passion. | foreign.Containing all the verge and compass of the Courts about the Temple, and within the outward Sept thereof. Christ constantly came hither, I ever taught (saith he) inIoh. 18. 2c. the Temple: understand him, that he never wilfully affected Conventicles, as ashamed of his doctrine, or willingly declined the Temple, when afforded convenient entrance thereinto. Otherwise, he taught also on theMat. 5. 1. Mount, in theMat. 13. 2. Ship, in Synag…gues, in private houses; but never so properly in his center, as when in the Temple. |
This distinction of foreign and foreign holds current, clean through the new Testament; save that once foreign is taken for the whole circumference of the Temple, when Iudas cast down the pieces of silver hMat. 27. 25.therein: though he stayed not long there, as out of his own element, but desperately made haste, that he mightiAct. 1. 25. goe unto his own place.
§ 3. This distinction premised,Beautifull gate full of begge…. we will waite on the Reader into the Temple. First requesting him to carry competent money, and a charitable minde along with him. For as we shall enter in at the eastern gate, (commonly called Beautifull) we shall be sure there to meet with many creeples, and beggers of all sorts, as proper objects of his liberality. Here daily lay thatkAct. 3. 2. lame man, on whom Saint Peter, though moneyless, bestowed the bestalmes he could give, or the other receive, even the use of his limbs.
§ 4. But now we come to the memorable passages concerning our Saviour in the Temple. These were either done on him,Christ presented in the Temple. when an infant; or by him, when arrived to mans estate. Of the former was his presentation by his parents to the Priest, and when anlLuk. 2. 24. oblation for his mother was made, a paire of Turtle-doves, and two young Pigeons.
§ 5. Hereat in-springs old Si…eon into the Temple.Sim…o…s testimony of Christ God always performes his promises with advantage. He had a revelation that he should not die before he saw Christ, who here both saw and felt him. Oh how he hugges him (though faster by his Faith, then) with his weake armes, which seem the stronger for the Burden, as his dim eyes the clearer for this sight! Yea, he petitions heaven for a Gaole-delivery,mLuk. 2. 29. Lord let thy servant depart in peace. Longer life would be but longer loss, and therefore fain would he flye from Christ in his armes, to the armes of Christ, before his refined joy were allayed with any worldly woe. Then he addresseth himself, with bitter-sweets, to Christs parents, neither frighting nor flattering, but plainly foretelling them, their child should be for the fall and rise of many in Israel. Particularly, he tells Mary, that anLuk. 2. 35. sword should pierce through her, and Christ (though borne) should not die without the pain of his mother. As if the throws, suffered by other women at the birth, were reserved for her to endure at the death of her Son.
§ 6. Simeon is seconded by Anna, And is seconded by Anna.a prophetess of an hundred years old, (temperance is the best prolonger of the candle of life) and herein she exceeded Simeon. He came butoLuk. 2. 27. into the Temple, shepLuk. 2. 37. departed not from the Temple, but served God therein with fasting and prayer. She also spake of Christ to all that looked for redemption. And thus Christ was proclaimed in the Temple by two Heralds of different sexes, whilest his Parents carefully kept the copies of their severall Proclamations, as trusting them in no other Cabinet then their own hearts.
§ 7. Now seeing it is said of Anna (pardon a short digression) that she departed not from the Temple, How Anna departed not out of the Temple.it will be enquired whether any women were constantly Leigers to live therein. Were any of the weaker sex (being prohibited to speak in the Church) permitted to live in the Temple? For, as for the nurse of King Ioash, hid with him in theq2 King. 11. 3. house of God, the case was extraordinary, and her clandestine condition nothing pertinent to the present question. In answer whereunto: By never departing thence, we understand her daily repairing thither. It was Davids wish, that he mightrPsal. 27. 4. dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, i. e. that he might have free access thither upon any occasion. Thus the sacrifice, though onelyonly morning, and ing, is called a …continuall Burnt-offe…ing. And thus Anna daily frequenting the Temple, was continually there, as formerly those persons, who every day might be found in saint. Pauls Church at walking-houres▪ might in some sort be said never to depart thence.
§ 8. To return to our Sa…iour,Christs first act in the Temple. who hitherto appeared onelyonly passive in the Temple, but afterwards acted miraculously therein First, when found sitting in the middest of the Doctours, bothtLuk. 2. 46. bearing them, and asking them questions. He, who himself was theuIohn 1. 1. Word, would notwithstanding hear, before he did speak… and attentively listned to the positions of those Doctours, before he began his opposition against them.
§ 9. Arrived at mans estate,He pu…geth it. we first fix our eyes on hiswIohn 2. 14. purging of the Temple, from Dove-mongers, Mony-changers, and such as …old sheep and oxen therein▪ Had such Merchants, kept themselves in the foreign or▪ xIohn 5. 2.sheep-market, Christ had never distu…bed them, who now, with a scourge of small cords, drave them out of the Temple. Say not it was as lawfull to sell as sacrifice cattell therein: the one being the main use thereof, according to Gods command, the oth…r a notorious abu… of the Temple, turning it by fraudulent bargains into a den of the …
§ 10. Saint Hierome reports,Sa…nt Hieromes conceit. that certain fiery*Igneum enim quidd…m & s…dc…eum …adiabat rayes, or beams, darting from Christ… eyes, drove out these Merchants from this place. A c…ncei…, which we dare not presently avouch for fear those … of Christs scourge flie also in our faces thereupon. For if he whipped out those Merchants, for setting up their ware-houses in the Temple, surely he will lend a lash to such as adde traditions to the Text. This sure we are (because recorded in Scripture) that Christ so earnestly pursued this reformation, that the yIoh. 2. 17.zeal of his Fathers house did eate him up. Understand it, that our Saviour being truly Carneus though not Carnalis, of a fleshy, though no fleshly constitution, had his body wearied out with faintness, not able in its performances, to keep pace with the desires of his mind.
§ 11. After this time,Christs Sermon in Solomons porch. many were those hea…enly Sermons; Christ made in the Temple: which here we forbear to relate OnelyOnly we take notice of that he preached in Solomons Porch zIoh. 10. 23.(which afterwards deserved rather the name of Christs-porch, seeing a greater then Solomon … here) when the people (mysteries are blasphemies to …) took up aIoh. 10. 31.stones to stone him. Some will a…ke, whence had they those stones? It being unlikely that any were let to lie loose in so holy a place. But we may be confident, if there were any to be had above ground▪ their malice would finde them out▪ And probably they pl…cked them off from the pavement: their furious zeal counting it a meritorious act, rathe… to …end the… out of the ground, then suffer a supposed blasphemer to escape▪ Surely such stones would rather havebLuk. 19. 40. spoken in his praise, then done any thing to his prejudice, especially before his …oure was come.
§ 12. And as he spake woll,Lame & b'ind cured in the Temple. so he did as well therein.cMat. 21. 14. The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. See here, those with … might come to him in the Temple, not those with Insections: the lame, but not the leprous might enter therein. Thus whilest sufferings and afflictions do not hinder us, sinfull pollutions do debar our access to Gods gracious presence.
§ 13. We must not forget,Christs second purging of the Temple. that a little before his passion, Christ the second time purged the Temple ThreedIoh. 2. 15. years since he cast all Merchants and their appurtenances out of Gods house, which now notwithstanding that ejection, had again gotten unlawful possession therein. Devils he cast out of men so finally, that they entred no more into them; but wicked men, once thrown out of the Temple, recovered their stations therein again. Abuses in the Church depart not till they are driven, and then go away unwillingly, animo revertendi, with full intent to embrace the next opportunity to return. What need hath Reformation it self to be frequently reformed, seeing corruptions will so quickly creep thereinto? Christ, the second time, cast those vermine out of the Temple.
§ 14. Now,His farewell to the Temple. just before he took his farewell of his Fathers house, he beheld the Pharisees casting their money into the treasury. So that the gMark 12. 42. & Luk. 21. 2.Widowes mites, was the last object (no small credit unto her) which in the Temple entertained our Saviours eyes on earth, and no doubt long since hath been rewarded by him in heaven. For presently he departed to mount Olivet, and there foretold, yea thence denounced the destruction of the Temple, which followed not many years after.
CHAP. X. The acts of the Apostles in the Temple.
§ 1. CHrist, Saint Peters remarkable Sermon.after his ascension, resigned the Temple to his Apostles, to supply his absence by their preaching to the people. Here on the day of Pentecost Saint Peter made that memorable Sermon, wherein he vindicated both himself and company from the aspersion of drunkenness, avouched the truth of Christs resurrection, & charged the Iews so home, for shedding his innocent bloud, that by the sharpness of his reproof (aEccles. 12. 11. the words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastned by the masters of the assemblies) such as heard him were pricked in theirbAct. 2. 37. heart; crying out to Peter, and to the rest of the Apostles; Men and brethren, what shall we doe?
§ 2. Here,The Apostles joint-commissioners. by the peoples equall applications, and addresses to the rest of the Apostles, it appeareth, that they were all fellow helpers, and joint Commissioners with Saint Peter, (all in the Iury besides the Foreman are not cyphers) though he for order sake, and regularity, to avoid confusion, was made the mouth for the rest. Yea, such their sobriety and discretion, though at that instant inabled with the gift of tongues, that they onelyonly made use of seasonable silence (such as best know how to speake, know best when to hold their peace) with their tacite suffrages concurring to the truth of what Saint Peter delivered: who further gave his Auditory counsellcAct. 2. 38. TO REPENT.
§ 3. But was this well done of him to adde grief to grief?Evangelicall r…pentance prescribed to the people. What, more repentance still? Why further pain, to such as were pricked to their hearts? Was this any valour, to beat them with more blows, who already cryed out for fair quarter, WHAT SHALL WE DOE? But know, Peter herein advised them to join to their former legall sorrow, an evangelicall repentance; such as is attended with desire, hope, & some assurance of Pardon. He prescribes them the same receipt, he lately took himself; having found the good fruit thereof, when, on his heartydMat. 26. 75. sorrow, he obtained pardon for denying his Master. No Sermons so soveraign, as those which proceed from the Ministerse2 Cor. 1. 4. comfortable experience. Nor did he barely advise them to repent, but also tofAct. 2. 38. be baptized every one of thē, in the name of Iesus Christ &c.
§ 4. See the success of his counsell,gAct. 2. 41. about three thousand were added to the Church that same day. O high holy-day in heaven! This Many-Saintsday was a festivall of great solemnity therein, where there ishLuk. 15. 7. joy over one sinner that repenteth, singing on their golden viols, Peter and the Apostles have saved their three thousand. His Sermon (as set down) contained not so many words, as it converted souls. Though surely, what we read in Saint Luke was onelyonly the breviate, sum, and abridgement of his Sermon, seeing, with many*Act. 2. 40. other words did he tes…ifie and exhort.
§ 5. Many advantages concurred to render his Sermon the more effectuall. First,Four advantages of Peters Sermon. the suffering of our Saviour was so near in place, and late in time, that his wounds were (as I may say) still fresh bleeding in the guilty memories of the people assembled. Secondly, the present miracle of tongues bestowed on Peter and his …mpanions, did wonderfully make way for the Word he delivered. Thirdly, such to whom he spake, wereiAct. 2. 5. devout men, blindly pious (like Saint Paul before his conversion) but desirous of information; zeal not being to be wrought, but regulated, not to be new gotten, but right guided in them. Lastly, and chiefly, the Spirit of God invisibly wrought on their souls. Thus when thek1 Cor. 16. 9. & Colos. 4. 3. door of utterance, or thel2 Cor. 6. 11. opened mouth of the Minister meets with the mAct. 14. 27.door of Faith or entrance, in thenAct. 16. 14. opened hearts of the people, the Word makes miraculous improvement.
§ 6. And now our Saviour had plentifully performed his promise: He that beleeveth on me,Christs promise plentifully performed. the works that I doe, shall he doe also, and greateroIoh. 14. 12. works then these shall be doe, for I goe to my Father; as then put into a capacity more effectually to assist them, (as formerly but with his prayers) then authoritatively with his power. The Disciple, (by his Masters permission, yea procurement) proved above his Master in success. Christ, all his life long, was angling for a few fishes, but apAct. 1. 15. hundred and twenty, whilest Peter comes with his Drag-net, and catcheth about three thousand in one day. Amongst the reasons whereof, consider
1 Christ was properly, not to be the builder, but the Foundation it self: and therefore others were more happy in edification.
2 He was to be humbled (as with hunger, thirst, weariness, shame, and pain, so) with the heavy afflictions of long unprofitable preaching, because of peoplesqMat. 23. 58. unbeliefe.
3 During his life, the kingdome of heaven was butrMat. 4. 17. at hand, which after his death, and Ascension was in hand. The broad gates of grace being then opened for multitudes to enter, where few by especiall favour got in before by the Wicket.
We have insisted the longer on Saint Peters Sermon, because it is the beginning of Ecclesiasticall History after Christs ascension, which, in Gods due time, we are in some hope to finish by his assistance. And that the foresaid Sermon was made in the Temple, appears by the passage of theirsAct. 2. 46. continuing daily with one accord in the Temple. Intimating that they were formerly assembled in the same place.
§ 7. Pass we by the other acts of the Apostles in the Temple,What properly was Solomons porch. onelyonly we must not omittAct. 3. 11. & 5. 12. Solomons porch where they made their aboad. And it is worth our inquiry where the same was placed.
§ 8. First,Not Solomons porch properly so called. negatively, it was not that porch of Solomons (nor any other afterwards built of the same dimensions on the same floor) mentioned in thea1 King. 6. 3. & 2 Chr. 3. 4. Old Testament; because
1 That was a part (being the entrance) of the foreign, or Covered Temple: Into which, the disciples (being no Priests) might not enter.
2 That porch had butbIbidem. twenty cubits in length, and ten in breadth, being so small, that it could not contain the disciples, and their company, being above three thousand persons.
3 That by the Septuagint, is called UIam (retaining always the Hebrew word) not foreign, as this Porch is called in the Greek tongue.
Rather therefore, by this Porch, we understand, one side, square, or cloister of the great Court about the Temple.
§ 9. Now seeing the same was surrounded with Courts on all sides, the question is,Seated on the east side. on which side thereof Solomons Porch was placed. Here we had been utterly at a loss, but for the seasonable help ofcLib. Anti. 20. cap. 8. Iosephus; The people (saith he) perswaded the King [Agrippa the younger] to repair the east Porch or Cloister: Now this Cloister was of the outward Temple, standing over an exceeding deep valley, raised upon a wall of four hundred cubits, which was made of square white stones of twenty cubits long, and six cubits high a piece, the work of King Solomon, who first built the Temple. Whereby it appears, that this Porch respected the east, and was on each side of the entrance into the Temple.
§ 10. But the greatest difficulty remains.Quest. Why called Solomons porch? How came it to be called Solomons Porch? did not he equally build all the first Temple? Why therefore did this Porch (as his darling) beare his name above all the rest? And (which increaseth the difficulty) seeing all that Temple was razed by the Babylonians (following no doubt the cruell counsell of the Edomites, dPsal. 137. 7.Down with it, down with it, even to the ground) how came this cloister, of the second Temple in Christs time, to retain the name of Solomons?
§ 11. Some conceive this part stood undemolished by the Babylonians: seeing that curse,Answer thereunto. there shall not be lefte… here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down, was denounced against the second Temple, not against Solomons, some parcell whereof might be left standing. But under favour, I conceive, it was particularly called Solomons-Porch,. because the very bottome, or floor thereof (being forced ground) was by much expence made by Solomon, and gained with great art and industry, from thefCompare …osephus as aforecited, with himself, de Bel. Iud. li. 5. c. 14. valley beneath; so that (even when the superstructure thereon was by the Babylonians levelled to the earth) the admirable foundation, that master-piece of art, still remained, preserved the memory, and imparted the name of Solomon, the founder thereof, to that Cloister, which in the second Temple, was erected upon the same.
§ 12. If any demand why the disciples made choice of this Porch,Why Solomons porch chosen by the disciples. above any other, to make their residence therein; severall considerations might move them thereunto:
1 Because formerly handselled with our Saviours heavenly Sermon therein.
2 Because of great capacity, conveniently to receive them, without prejudice to other peoples passage into the Temple.
3 Because it was the first place that offered it self unto them, at their entrance into the Temple.
Herein they observed some Analogy of Christs counsell, IngMar. 6. 10. what place soever yee enter into a house, there abide untill yee depart from that place. Thus Solomons-porch, being (as I may say) the first house in the house of God, into which the disciples entered; there they fixed themselves, as no starters and fugitives, but such as would stand to the doctrine they delivered.
§ 13. So much of Solomons-porch; Wherein we decline Capellus his judgement.onelyonly let me adde; that Capellus (herein contrary to otherhConstantine learned men) placeth Solomons-porch on the south side of the Temple;l. Empereur in Middoth. p. 53. & Ludovic. de Dicu in Act. Apost p. 39. … mistaking it, as we believe, with foreign or the Cloister Royall: which out of Iosephus i…indeed appears, to have been largely built and beautified on the south-side of the Temple. However we would not innovate or alter any thing in our map from the minde of Capellus, though here, in our description, we presume to …nter our dissenting from his opinion.
§ 14. Pass we by many other intermediate acts of the Apostles and Disciples in the Temple. The last passage of Saint Paul in the Temple.Amongst all which none might lawfully avouch his entrance so far therein, as …arnabas, being a Levite by his extraction, andkAct. 4. 36. therefore legally priviledged in his approaches to the Altar it self. Come we now to the last passage of Saint Paul in the Temple. Last indeed it was likely to prove unto him, and he lose his life therein, on this occasion.
§ 15. At the instance of some godly people,Who almost lost his life therein. he was perswaded to purifie himself: thereby, partly to gain on the affections of the beleeving Iews, as yet zealous for the Law; partly to confute their falshood, who traduced him for an Antinomian, against all ceremonious observances. Hereupon he came intolAct, 21. 26. the Temple to signifie the accomplishment of the days of purification, untill that an offering should be offered for him and his companions. If any grudge that after the coming of the Gospel, so much cost should be bestowed on the Law, and sullenly say, with Iudas Iscariot, To what purpose is this mMat. 26. 8.wast? Might not the Law truly answer with our Saviour, in the same case, nMat. 26. 12.He did it for my buriall, and for the more solemn interment thereof.
§ 16. But Saint Pauls devotion in performing these Obsequies was interrupted by the people,A popular mutiny. who accused him for defiling the Temple, having oAct. 21. 29.seen Trophimus, and Ephesian, with him in the City, whom they supposed he had brought into the Temple. Malicious jealousie never makes good Logician, so strange are the inferences thereof. In vain might Saint Paul deny the consequence of their syllogisme, whilest they were ready to prove it by an inartificiall argument, from the Authority, or prevalency rather of a popular uproare,pAct. 21. 34. Some cryed one thing, some another, and those, no doubt, that knew least railed loudest, and no certainty could be known for the tumult, the many-headed multitude speaking a Language, whereof none can be an interpreter, to understand them, which understand not themselves.
§ 17. Suppositive was the offence of Saint Paul, Saint Paul rescued.(onelyonly on their bare surmise) but positive must be his punishment, drawing him out of the Temple, whom certainly they had killed, had not the seasonable interposing of the Captain, rescued him from them. Who hence conveyed him safe into theqAct. 21. 37. Castle, no doubt, of Antonia hard by, and not the Castle on Mount Sion, built out of the ruines of the Palace of David, though formerly (following the authority of others) we made that place the Theater of Saint Pauls future actions on this occasion.
CHAP. XI. Of the vast wealth of the second Temple.
§ 1. WE have cause to conceive, that the Corban or Treasury of the second Temple was about our Saviours time,The wealth of the Corbar ar… sing from pure Pagans. welnigh as well lined with wealth, as in the reign of Solomon, flowing from three principall springs,
1 Meer Gentiles.
2 Proselytes.
3 Native Iews.
The first of these were very bountifull to the Temple, and constantly page missing
§ 4. Native Iews were the last,Native Iews their liberality. and best benefactours to the Temple, especially if all contributed thereunto in proportion to the poor widow who cast in twozMark 12. 44. mites being all her substance. Now, had one been present when the Scribes and Pharisees cast in their offerings into the treasury, it had been pleasant to behold the conflict, betwixt their covetousness, and vainglory, and how the latter prevailed in them. For, though they were aLuk. 16. 14.covetous, yet when people beheld them, they were content to part with their money, or rather to let it out for the interest of popular applause▪ But, besides free-will-offerings at any time, that Gods service might not be lest arbitrary, the Iews were injoyned thrice a yearbExod. 14. 23. at the solemn festivalls with their men children (when able, saith the Rabbih, led in their Fathers hands, to climbe up the mountain whereon the Temple was built) to appear before God; where none, who hoped to return with their hearts ful of joy, came with their hands empty of money For seeing the Iews held their estates of no mean Lord, but all by tenure in capi…e from the God of Heaven, these were the three solemn payments of their head rent to their high Land lord. Besides these in the days of our Saviour, vast were the sums which were advanced to the treasury, by that gainfull Divinity current amongst the people, though stamped onelyonly with Pharisaicall traditions, of which, this one that followeth, was the most remarkable.
§ 5. It plainly appears,The gainfull doctrine of Corban. that all children, if of ability, should maintain their parents, if by age or accident grown weak and impotent to subsist c1 Tim. 5. 16.of themselves, according to Gods command, HonourdExod. 20. 12. thy father and mother Qamp;c. Notwithstanding which obligation, the Scribes and Pharisees did preach, & teach, that in case any children were pleased to compound with eMar. 15. 5. & Muk 7. 11.Corban, &c to pay a round sum proportionable to their estates, unto pious uses, thereby they were disingaged in conscie…de, from making any farther provision for their poor parents▪ Going on this ground, that one debt was to be but once satisfied, and if they paid it in to the service of God the grand-father to all mankinde, thereby they were discharged from duty to their immediate, and subordinate parents.
§ 6. This commutation-money (as I may term it) amounted to a Nem… scit of revenue,The ill in…luence of this doctrine. but withall made a dearth of dutifull children in the land, who counted it the more frugall way, once for all to fine to the Temple, then to pay the constant rent of daily relief to their parents. But can an Acquittance of humane, …adition, be valid, against a debt of Specialty▪ by Gods command? Oh! had the hole in the cover of Corban been a mouth to speak, as well as to take in, how zealously would it have protested against such proceedings? And we may conceive this one cause of hastening the wofull ruine of the Temples wealth, such ill gotten money poisoning the Corban, making it suddenly swell, and then break in pieces, when swept away by the Romans, which we come now to relate.
CHAP. XII. The finall abolition of the Utensils of the second Temple.
§ 1. GReat houses commonly crack before they fall,Pompey his moderation in sparing the treasure of the Temple. to give the dwellers therein notice to depart. Thus before the Temple was finally ruined, and her vessels taken away, two grand warnings were given the Iews, seasonably to amend, and prevent farther mischief. The first in that famous year wherein Tully and Mark Antony were Consuls, some sixty years before our Saviours birth, whensIosephus Ant. Iud. …. 14. 6. 8. Pompey the great, having taken the City and Temple, entred the Holy of Holies with some of his souldiers, the floor whereof had formerly felt no other feet, but those of the high Priests, and those but once a year. Here he saw mysterious ornaments, understanding (not the meaning but) the matter thereof to be pure gold; a shroud bait to tempt his hungry souldiers to sacriledge, besides two thousand talents of silver in the treasury of the Temple. On all which he onelyonly feasted his, and his officers eies, whilest their hands did fast, not diminishing the least mite thereof, in veneration of that deity to whom they did belong; OnelyOnly he took on him to restore Hircanus to be high Priest, a presage that the Jewish Priesthood would shortly fall down, which already did so shake, that the high Priest needed to take a Presentation, ad corroborandum, from the hands of Pompey a Pagan Patron.
§ 2. Secondly,Crassus his sacriledge. when Crassus that rich churl, and Roman Generall marching with his Army into Syria, and through Ierusalem, flayed, what Pompey did not fleece, spoiling the Temple to the value of eight thousand talents. Indeed,gIos…phus Ant. Iud. li. 4. c. 12. Eleazar keeper of the holy treasures, gave, or rather payed to Crassus a wedge of gold weighing three hundred pounds, to ransome the rest from his rapine. But the golden wedge did but widen the covet ousness of Crassus, and like a break-fast did inable him to encounter a dinner with a greater appetite; so that, notwithstanding his oath to the contrary, he added sacriledge to his perjury. But seeing theeves give whatever they take not away, we have rather cause to comend his bounty, that the golden table, candlesticks, and other ornaments escaped his fingers; except, they were either hid from him by the carefull providence of others, or left by him out of his own politick covetousnes, like nest-egs to encourage others again to lay up more wealth in the same place. And no doubt he hoped, though now he had mowed down the Temples treasure to the bare roots, shortly, when grown up again, to return to the after-share thereof; but all in vain, for, marching with his Army into Parthia, there his money perished with him, losing the principle of his stoln wealth, and paying his own life for interest. Thus, those who on a sudden grow rather foggy, then fat, by feeding on sacrilegious morsels, do pin… away by degrees, and die at last of incurable consumptions.
§ 3. Here we cannot but take notice,The fond Criticisme of the Scribes. how profoundly shallow the Scribes and Pharisees were, in that their superstitious Criticisme, and leaden distinction, how he that swore by the Temple, was left at liberty, whilest he that swore by thehMat. 23. 16. gold of the Temple, was bound up and concluded in conscience to the performance of his oath. Whereas our Saviour demonstrateth, that the Temple was greater then the gold, as the sanctifier thereof. Besides, in common sense, he should seem faster tyed, whose faith by oath was staked down to the Temple, as to a fixt, firme, stable structure, then he whose truth was tyed onelyonly to the gold thereof, a more fading, flitting, moveable matter, as appears by Crassus and others carying so much of it away with him into forein countreys. But indeed (as our Saviour teacheth) the main obliging power of those oaths, consisted in the presence of God, before whom they were made, who alone is immoveable and immutable, whereas in process of time, the Temple it self, as well as the gold thereof, came to destruction.
§ 4. For,The finall abolit…on of the utensils of the Temple. Vespasian and Titus his son, Roman Emperours, Anno Dom. 72. razed the Temple, and utterly confounded all the Utensils thereof. Indeed they were first carried in triumph to Rome, but what afterward became of them is altogether unknown. It is no sin to conceive that their property was altered; and they either converted to coin, or turned to plate for the use of the Emperour, or his favorites. Sure none are known to remain in specie at this day: and one may wonder, that no impudent Relickmonger hath produced a golden feather of a Cherubims wing, or a knop, flower, bowle, or almond of the seven-branched candle-stick, having pretended since Christs time, to improbabilities of as high a nature. Strange that no Pope hath gotten a piece of Aarons Mitre, or breast-plate, to grace his wardrobe, or a parcell of the manuscript-commandements written by Gods finger, to adorn his Vatican. But divine providence hath utterly razed all foundation for superstition to build upon, in the totall abolition of these holy ornaments. And if those reasonable Witnesses of Gods truth, were by his permission overcome, and killed by the Beast, when they had finished theiriRevel. 11. 7. testimony, no wonder if these sensless and inanimate types, having served their generation, the truth being come, were finally extinguished▪ Nor have I ought else to observe of those holy Utensils, save that all were made of pure gold, and yet the Apostle is bold to tearm them, and all other legall ceremonieskGal. 4. 9. beggerly elements, so debasing them in comparison of Christ, the authour of grace, and giver of eternall life.
Finis Libri Tertii.