The Temple of Solomon Portrayed, History · Chapter 9 · Section 1 · Part 2
The Myſteries of the body of the Covered Building, called The Temple, in a ſtrict ſenſe.
HAving finiſhed the inquiry about the Foundation in ſome meaſure, in the foregoing diſcourſe: It is high time now to work upon the Body of the Temple it ſelf, or the covered building which was extant above ground; endeavouring with all ſobriety and ſubmiſſion, to ſearch out the myſteries contained within thoſe famous walls. Concerning which, I ſhall crave leave to ſpeak a few words in general, and afterward deſcend to treat of the three particular parts, included in it.
The immenſity of the Divine Eſſence, and the moſt radiant excellency of Gods glorious Majeſty, which no creature can behold in its full purity and live; cannot be contained and immured within(a)Act. 17.24. Temples made with hands. Wherefore it is obſervable that holy John relates that he ſaw(b)Rev. 21.22. no Temple in the new and heavenly Jeruſalem, that is above: For the LORD GOD Almighty and the Lamb, are the Temple of it. Yet it was his own good and holy pleaſure, that(c)Act. 7.47. Solomon ſhould build him an Houſe, wherein as to his manifeſtative preſence, he was reſolved to dwell more eſpecially among the Children of Iſrael, his choſen people.
In theſe Goſpel-dayes (under which we live through divine goodneſſe) when the worſhip of God is farre more ſpiritual, though his Majeſty hath not appointed a peculiar City, wherein to place his name: yet is it not unlawful even in theſe times (but very commendable and uſeful) to erect material Temples, wherein the ſolemnities of Goſpel-Ordinances may be celebrated, and the congregations of his faithful people may more commodiouſly meet together. Without which perſons (you read the words of(d)Comment. in Act. 17. part 2. p. 31. Streſo) being there aſſembled, they have no more holineſſe in them, than a Court or Palace: neither is the(e)Joh. 4.21. &c. Prayer, or the Congregation leſſe holy, though convented together in a field, than in ſuch a building, if neceſſity ſhould ſo require. Of old indeed,(f)Mat. 23.17. the gold was ſanctified by the Temple, and the(g)Ver. 19. gift by the Altar. But now 'its the(h)1 Pet. 1.7. gold of Faith, and(i)Heb. 13.15. the Sacrifice of Praiſe; which muſt ſanctifie the Temple: If ſo be there is any metaphorical or(k)Mede's holineſſe of Churches. p. 46. relative holineſſe, which may ſafely, and without danger be aſcribed to it. Eſpecially at ſuch a time, when the cloud of Gods gracious and evangelical preſence ſhall fill the Tabernacle, where his Saints and people are aſſembled in his name and fear.
But as to the antient Temple, there is no ſcruple or doubt to be made of a degree of ſanctity formerly attending it, different from that of ours, wherein we meet for the management of divine ſervices. Though for certain we ought to conceive ſo candidly and charitably of all men that bear the honourable name of Chriſtians; that there can ſcarce be a perſon found ſo ſtupid and ſenſeleſſe, as to think that there was any real inherent holineſſe in thoſe beautiful 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 onelyonly 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.