Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

But there are not many of this opinion, and those that pretend themselves so to be, speak contrary to their own Science and conscience. They know well enough, that the latter Temple was in nothing to be compared unto the former. And this Abarbinel acknowledgeth in the entrance of his Exposition of this Prophecy, affirming that the people were troubled at the remembrance of the House built by Solomon, which was great and high, filled with multitudes of Vessels of pure Gold and precious Stones: whereas that which they were building, was small, according to the Command of the King of Persia; and without treasure, because of the poverty of the people: and though this House was built higher by Herod; yet it was not at all enlarged by him but erected precisely on the old foundation. But not to enter at present into consideration of the measures of the former Structure: Let the latter Temple be thought as wide and long as the former, and some Cubits higher, doth this presently give it a greater glory then the other? a Glory so much greater, as to be thus eminently promised and intimated to be brought in with the shaking of Heaven, and Earth, Sea, and dry land? Can any thing more fondly be imagined? It were endless to reckon up the particular instances wherein it came short of the Glory of the first House. Let but the heads of the Beauty and Magnificence thereof above recounted be run over, and this will quickly appear. In a word, notwithstanding the imaginary greatness pretended, it had not the hundredth part of the Glory of Solomons House, which also these Masters on all occasions acknowledge: for besides all the Golden Glorious Vessels and Ornaments of it, Besides all the treasures disposed in it, besides sundry of the most magnificent parts of the building it self, they generally acknowledge that there were five things wanting in the last, wherein the principal glory of the first House consisted. These are diversly reckoned up by them, but in general they all agree about them; and they are given us by the Author of Aruch in the root [Greek or Hebrew] in this order: [Greek or Hebrew], the Ark propitiatory and Cherubins, one; that is, the whole furniture of the Sanctuary. [Greek or Hebrew], the Divine Majesty or Presence, the second: It entered not into the House in that glorious and solemn manner, that it did into the Temple of Solomon.

But there are not many of this opinion, and those that pretend themselves so to be, speak contrary to their own Science and conscience. They know well enough, that the latter Temple was in nothing to be compared unto the former. And this Abarbinel acknowledgeth in the entrance of his Exposition of this Prophecy, affirming that the people were troubled at the remembrance of the House built by Solomon, which was great and high, filled with multitudes of Vessels of pure Gold and pretious Stones: whereas that which they were building, was small, according to the Command of the King of Persia; and without treasure, because of the poverty of the people: and though this House was built higher by Herod; yet it was not at all enlarged by him but erected precisely on the old foundation. But not to enter at present into consideration of the measures of the former Structure: Let the latter Temple be thought as wide and long as the former, and some Cubits higher, doth this presently give it a greater glory then the other? a Glory so much greater, as to be thus eminently promised and intimated to be brought in with the shaking of Heaven, and Earth, Sea, and dry land? Can any thing more fondly be imagined? It were endless to reckon up the particular instances wherein it came short of the Glory of the first House. Let but the heads of the Beauty and Magnificence thereof above recounted be run over, and this will quickly appear. In a word, notwithstanding the imaginary greatness pretended, it had not the hundredth part of the Glory of Solomons House, which also these Masters on all occasions acknowledge: for besides all the Golden Glorious Vessels and Ornaments of it, Besides all the treasures disposed in it, besides sundry of the most magnificent parts of the building it self, they generally acknowledge that there were five things wanting in the last, wherein the principal glory of the first House consisted. These are diversly reckoned up by them, but in general they all agree about them; and they are given us by the Author of Aruch in the root in this order: , the Ark propitiatory and Cherubins, one; that is, the whole furniture of the Sanctuary. , the Divine Majesty or Presence, the second: It entered not into the House in that glorious and solemn manner, that it did into the Temple of Solomon.