A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

XIII. It is here worthy to be observed, that at this time, in Solomon's reign, after the temple was finished, the Jewish church was risen to its highest external glory. The Jewish church, or the ordinances and constitution of it, is compared to the moon, in Rev. xii.1. "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." As this church was like the moon in many other respects, so it was in this, that it waxed and waned like the moon. From the first foundation of it, that was laid in the covenant made with Abraham, when this moon was now beginning to appear, it had to this time been gradually increasing in its glory. This time, wherein the temple was finished and dedicated, was about the middle between the calling of Abraham and the coming of Christ, and now it was full moon. After this the glory of the Jewish church gradually decreased, till Christ came; as I shall have occasion more particularly to observe afterwards.

Now the church of Israel was in its highest external glory: Now Israel was multiplied exceedingly, so that they seemed to have become like the sand on the sea shore, 1 Kings iv.20. Now the kingdom of Israel was firmly established in the right family, the family of which Christ was to come: Now God had chosen the city where he would place his name: Now God had fully given his people the possession of the promised land; and they now possessed the dominion of it all in quietness and peace, even from the river of Egypt▪ ⟨p. 91⟩to the great river Euphrates; all those nations that had formerly been their enemies, quietly submitted to them; none pretended to rebel against them:—Now the Jewish worship in all its ordinances was fully settled:—Now, instead of a moveable tent and tabernacle, they had a glorious temple; the most magnificent, beautiful, and costly structure, that there was then, ever had been, or ever has been since: Now, the people enjoyed peace and plenty, and every man sat under his vine and fig-tree, eating and drinking, and making merry as 1 Kings iv 20.:—Now they were in the highest pitch of earthly prosperity, silver being as plenty as stones, and the land full of gold and precious stones, and other precious foreign commodities, which were brought by Solomon's ships from Ophir, and which came from other parts of the world:—Now they had a king reigning over them that was the wisest of men, and probably the greatest earthly prince that ever was:—Now their fame went abroad into all the earth, so that they came from the utmost parts of the earth to see their glory and their happiness.