That which was built by Solomon, was justly called the Wonder of the world: a white and glorious Monument, set on the ⟨p. 6⟩hill of Zion, inviting passengers to see it, and amazing their eyes when they beheld it. It was of white Marble without, of Cedar and Gold within, all of the best, all beautiful, precious, durable. So magnificent was that holy Structure, that all nations have admired it, 1all times celebrated it Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion. While the favour of heaven was set upon Jerusalem, the joy of the whole earth was mount Zion. It is fit, he that made the world a house for Man, should have a house in this world made for himself: neither could it be too costly, seeing all the materials that went to it were his own. Every rotten Cottage is too good for Satan, no Fabric could be too sumptuous for God. While his people dwelt in Tents, Himself was content to dwell in a Tabernacle: in the flitting condition of Israel, he would have his own house a moveable, that they might never remove without him. But when their residence was settled in the promised Land, he would have his Tabernacle turned into a Temple; that they dwelling where he appointed them, He might also dwell among them. The former was for motion, the latter for rest: the one for progress, the other his standing house. All this while God had but one House at once: first the Tabernacle, then that gave place to ⟨p. 7⟩the Temple, and Solomons Temple being defaced, was supplied by Zerubbabels. Now he hath many houses, even so many as there be nations, as there be congregations, as there be persons professing Christ. We have houses of our own, why should not God have his? A Prince hath more houses then one, why should the King of Heaven be abridged? A King in his own person can dwell but in one house at once, let God have never so many, he can at once fill them all. He hath a house of flesh, so every Believer is his Temple: a house of stone, so this material one is his Temple: a house neither of flesh nor stone, but immaterial, immortal in the heavens. And as Christ says, 2that in his Fathers House there are many Mansions; so in his Fathers militant Church there are many houses.
That which was built by Salomon, was iustly called the Wonder of the world: a white and glorious Monument, set on the ⟨p. 6⟩hill of Sion, inuiting passengers to see it, and amazing their eyes when they beheld it. It was of white Marble without, of Cedar and Gold within, all of the best, all beautifull, precious, durable. So magnificent was that holy Structure, that al nations haue admired it, 1all times celebrated it Beautifull for situation, the ioy of the whole earth is Mount Sion. While the fauour of heauen was set vpon Ierusalem, the ioy of the whole earth was mount Sion. It is fit, hee that made the world a house for Man, should haue a house in this world made for himselfe: neither could it be too costly, seeing all the materialls that went to it were his owne. Euery rotten Cottage is too good for Satan, no Fabricke could be too sumptuous for God. While his people dwelt in Tents, Himselfe was content to dwell in a Tabernacle: in the flitting condition of Israel, hee would haue his owne house a moueable, that they might neuer remoue without him. But when their residence was setled in the promised Land, he would haue his Tabernacle turned into a Temple; that they dwelling where he appoynted them, Hee might also dwell among them. The former was for motion, the latter for rest: the one for progresse, the other his standing house. All this while God had but one House at once: first the Tabernacle, then that gaue place to ⟨p. 7⟩the Temple, and Salomons Temple being defaced, was supplied by Zorobabels. Now he hath many houses, euen so many as there bee nations, as there bee congregations, as there bee persons professing Christ. Wee haue houses of our owne, why should not God haue his? A Prince hath more houses then one, why should the King of Heauen be abridg'd? A King in his owne person can dwell but in one house at once, let God haue neuer so many, hee can at once fill them all. Hee hath a house of flesh, so euery Beleeuer is his Temple: a house of stone, so this materiall one is his Temple: a house neither of flesh nor stone, but immateriall, immortall in the heauens. And as Christ sayes, 2that in his Fathers House there are many Mansions; so in his Fathers militant Church there are many houses.
- 1Psalm. 48.2.
- 2John 14.Iohn 14.
