Skip to content

A30206:346

Solomon's temple spiritualized, or, Gospel-light fetched out of the temple at Jerusalem, to let…Solomon's temple spiritualiz'd, or, Gospel-light fetcht out of the temple at Jerusalem, to let…

Solomon's temple spiritualized, or, Gospel-light fetched out of the temple at Jerusalem, to let us more easily into the glory of New-Testament-truths by John Bunyan.Solomon's temple spiritualiz'd, or, Gospel-light fetcht out of the temple at Jerusalem, to let us more easily into the glory of New-Testament-truths by John Bunyan.

John Bunyan 1628–1688London : Printed for and sold by George Larkin ..., 1688

[24], 216 p. · 47k words · Wing B5595 · ESTC R2850

Title page: Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books microfilm (opens the Internet Archive in a new tab)

Chapter 35: XXXV. Of the Stairs, by which they went up into the Chambers of the Temple.

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:343–358 of 840

:343p. 87

It groans, though in a state of grace, 'cause that's not the state of glory. I count then that from the first to the middle Chambers, may be a type of turning from nature to grace. but from the middle to the highest, these Stairs may signify a turning still from the imperfections and temptations that attend a state of grace, to that of immortality and glory; 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

It groans, though in a state of grace, 'cause that's not the state of glory. I count then that from the first to the middle Chambers, may be a type of turning from nature to grace. but from the middle to the highest, these Stairs may signifie a turning still from the imperfections and temptations that attend a state of grace, to that of immortality and glory; 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

:344p. 87

For as there are turning Stairs, from the lowest to the middle Chambers, so the Stairs from thence still turn, and so will do, till you come to the highest Chambers. I do not say that they that have received grace, do repent they received grace; but I say, they that have received grace, are yet sorry that grace is not consummate in glory. And hence they are for going up thither still these turning Stairs; yea, they cannot rest below, as they would, till they ascend to the highest Chambers. O wretched man that I am; and in this we groan earnestly, is the language of gracious Souls; Rom. 7.20. 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3.

:345p. 88

True, every one doth not do thus, that comes into the Temple of God, many rest below Stairs, they like not to go turning upward. Nor do I believe that all that bid fair for ascending to the middle Chambers, get up to the highest stories, to his Stories in the Heavens: Many in Churches, who seem to be turned from nature to grace, have not the grace to go up turning still, but rest in that show of things, and so die below a share in the highest Chambers.

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

Position

Cited: :346
On this page: :343–358
Section: :338–346
Whole work: 840 passages

Cite

John Bunyan, Solomon's temple spiritualiz'd, or, Gospel-light fetcht out of the temple at Jerusalem, to let… (London, 1688), ch. 35, pp. 88–89. EEBO-TCP A30206.

Or select words in any passage to make an image of them.

The book

Title as printed: Solomon's temple spiritualized, or, Gospel-light fetched out of the temple at Jerusalem, to let us more easily into the glory of New-Testament-truths by John Bunyan.Solomon's temple spiritualiz'd, or, Gospel-light fetcht out of the temple at Jerusalem, to let us more easily into the glory of New-Testament-truths by John Bunyan.
Author: John Bunyan 1628–1688
Place: London
Year: 1688
Imprint: London : Printed for and sold by George Larkin ..., 1688.
Size: [24], 216 p.
Words: 47,309
Catalogue: Wing B5595 · ESTC R2850
Text: EEBO-TCP A30206

Passages: 840
Sections: 74

The author

John Bunyan 1628–1688

PuritansEngland

Baptist preacher at Bedford; author of The Pilgrim's Progress.

:346p. 88–89

All these things are true in the Anti-type, and, as I think, prefigured by these turning stairs, to the Chambers of the Temple. But this turning, and turning still, displeases some much, they say it makes them giddy: but I say there is no way like this, to make a Man stand steady: steadfast in the faith, and with boldness in the day of Judgment. For he has this seated in his heart, I went up by the turning Stairs, till I came to the highest Chambers. A strait pair of Stairs, are like that Ladder by which Men ascend to the Gallows, they are the turning ones, that lead us to the heavenly Mansion-houses. Look therefore, you that come into the Temple of God to worship, that you stay not at the foot of these turning ⟨p. 89⟩Stairs, but go up thence; yea, up them, and up them, and up them, till you come to the view of the Heavens; yea, till you are possest of the highest Chambers. How many times has God by the Scripture called upon you to TURN, and told you you must Turn or Die: and now here he has added to his Call, a Figure, by placing a Pair of turning Stairs in his Temple, to convict your very senses, that you must TURN, if you mean to go up into his holy Chambers, and so into his Eternal Mansion-houses: and look that you turn to purpose. For every turning will not serve. Some turn, but not to the most High, and so turn to no purpose.

All these things are true in the Anti-type, and, as I think, prefigured by these turning stairs, to the Chambers of the Temple. But this turning, and turning still, displeases some much, they say it makes them giddy: but I say there is no way like this, to make a Man stand steddy: stedfast in the faith, and with boldness in the day of Judgment. For he has this seated in his heart, I went up by the turning Stairs, till I came to the highest Chambers. A strait pair of Stairs, are like that Ladder by which Men ascend to the Gallows, they are the turning ones, that lead us to the heavenly Mansion-houses. Look therefore, you that come into the Temple of God to worship, that you stay not at the foot of these turning ⟨p. 89⟩Stairs, but go up thence; yea, up them, and up them, and up them, till you come to the view of the Heavens; yea, till you are possest of the highest Chambers. How many times has God by the Scripture called upon you to TVRN, and told you you must Turn or Die: and now here he has added to his Call, a Figure, by placing a Pair of turning Stairs in his Temple, to convict your very sences, that you must TVRN, if you mean to go up into his holy Chambers, and so into his Eternal Mansion-houses: and look that you turn to purpose. For every turning will not serve. Some turn, but not to the most High, and so turn to no purpose.