340 The Gofpèl of Solomon's Temple. 2. The Time. The Tabernacle was built about the Year of the World two thoufand five hundred and thirteen : The Temple about four hundred eighty feven Years after, r Kings 6. i. ult. which fell up- on the Year of theWorld three thoufand, according to that Account.. The Temple ftood from the Dedication of it by Solomon to the lath DeftruEtion of it by theRomans, about a thoufand Years. For to the Captivity in Babylon was about four hundred Years ; the Captivity lafted feventy Years : From thence to the Death of the Meffiah four hundred and ninety Years, which is Daniel's feventy Weeks, cap. 9. And it was deftroyed by refpofian, about forty Years after Chrift's Death. So that it was finned and dedicated about the Year of the World three thoufand, and finally deftroyed about theYear of the World four thoufand : So it ftood from firft to lath about a thoufand Years, viz.. the fourth Millenary from the Creation of the World, excepting the Intercifion of the Captivity in Babylon, when it lay wafte about fifty Years, a whole Jubilee, force think feventy, but the leaft is fifty ; fop- poling their Bondage under the Yoke of Babylon to begin about twenty Years before the burning of the Temple. in all this we fee the VicifIitudes and various Revolutions that do be- fal theChurch ofGod, whereof the Temple was a Type and that the Ingratitude andUnprofitablenefs of a People may bring Defolationupon all their pleafant Things.. The greateft Glory of external Ordinances may by Sin be laid in the Duft, as this Temple was twice. And more over the Ufe of it was ended, Chrift the Subftance being come. 3. The Place. Mount Moriab wasthe Place of the Temple : There was a double Defignation of the Place to this Ufe. r. By lfaac's being offered there, Gen. 22. Get thee to the Landof Moriah, tic. 2. By the Angel's flaying there, and commanding an Altar to be built there in David's Time, and anfwering David from Hea- ven by Fire on that Altar, a Chron. 21. with cap. 22. 1. We may here learn the Soveraignty and unfearchable Freedom of the Will andGrace of God in choofrng one Place to be the Seat of his Temple, of his Church and Ordinances rather than another. For it was faid, Pfal. 87. 2. He lòvetb the Gates of Sion, more than all the Dwellings of Jacob. Why, he chofe this I know no reafon can be given, but the good Pleafure of his own Will. So, that the Lord fhould chufe England to have Gofpel-Temples here, to plant his Churches and Ordinances here, rather than in Spann or Italy; he hath reprobated them to be the Seat of Antichrift,hbutt
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