.3O The Gofpef of Solomon's Temple. Church. And then anfvoerable to the Oracle, is that which we call the Chancel. And finally, as the Temple had Side-chambers and Lodgings for the Levites : So there is belonging to our Churches the Veflry and the Dwelling-houle for the Minifter, dre. Only there is a difference in the pofition or fituation of thefe Parts. For whereas the Holy of Holies in the Temple was at the Weft end of it : On thecontrary with us, the Chancel is ever towards the Eafl; which was done either in oppfition to the yews, rior in imitation of the Pagans. As to our Churches or publick Meeting-places, the thing it feif is neceffary : For if theremuft be publick Worfhip, there mutt be publick Places to afrmble in. A Meeting-place is a neceffary appurtenance to the Worfhip : And as for this. Form or Fafhion of Building, vvhatfo- ever is for Ufe or Convenience, or moderate Comelinefs and Orna- ment is lawful and allowable ; and therefore' there is no evil in a Churchyard, or a Steeple, or a Veftry, or an Houfe for the Minifter But tohave a Chancel, or one part of the Meeting-place, as more Holy than the reft, in imitation of the Jewifh Oracle, this is evil and fuper- Itìtious. Publick Meeting- places are neceffary -, but the Opinion of Holinefs in them, this is fuperftitious. For our Meeting-places do not fucceed in the Room and Nature of the Nwifh Temple, as a Temple but of the yeivifh Synagogues, where they had their moral E Worfhip in all their Towns and Cities throughout their Habitations. It will be ufeful here to fpeak a little firft concerning the Dimenfions of thefe feveral parts of the Temple, and then concerning their Pofition or Situation to each other. And firft for the Porch, it was a hundred and twenty Cubits high, twenty Cubits long, and ten Cubits broad. This appears by compa- ring and putting two places of Scripture together, i Kings 6. 3. with 2 Chron, 3.4.. In the Kings it is faid, And the Porch before the Temple of the Houfe, twenty Cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the Houfe, and ten Cubits was the breadth thereof before the Houfe. In 2 Chron. 3. 4. the height is mentioned ; the height was one hundred and twenty Cubits. It is not to be fuppofed, that it was all void to the Top ; but that it had Chambers and winding Stairs up to the Top, ac- cording to that in r Chron. zS, r i. which fpeaks of the pattern ofthe Porch and of the Houfes thereof, and of the Treafures thereof, and of the upper Chambers thereof, and of the inner Parlours thereof. And a gallant Profpea it was from the top of this Tower-iteepleç they might fee far and near. Some have Written, that the River jor- dan, the dead Sea, and all Arabia, might be difcerned : And fo I fuppofe might the Mediterranean Sea Weltward, The
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