of eighty-six millions one hundred seven thousand five hundred pounds, or to nearly thirty-four millions four hundred forty-three thousand pounds sterling.

The Temple was begun in the four hundred and eightieth year of the deliverance from Egypt, and finished in seven years. It was begun in the month Zif, the second month of the sacred year, about the end of our April, and finished and dedicated in the month Ethanum, which was the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year, and in the first month of the civil year, which answers to our September and October. At which time and season of the year the Lord Jesus was born into our world, as is most generally conceived by the learned.

Thirty thousand Israelites and an hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred Gentiles were employed in the work.

Mount Moriah was so situated in the midst of Jerusalem, that the city lay in the form of a theatre round about it.

On the South lay Jerusalem itself, built upon mount Acra. And this was higher than mount Moriah, but much levelled and filled up with earth, that the temple might be more plain and easy, so that the temple over-topt the buildings on Acra.

• Parkhurst's Hebrew and Eng. Lexicon.

On the North side lay Mount Sion, furnished with those magnificent buildings of the Palace, Court, and City of David.

These two mountains, Acra and Sion, and the cities built upon them did so decline and descend on their South-East and North-East points, that on the East and West of the Temple they met and saluted each other in a valley; having also a deep valley between them and the Temple on every side, except on the South, where it was not so because of the levelling.

Mount Moriah was not so high of itself as the two hills on either side of it; but was steep and deep on every side. This mount so fell in the division of the land, that part of it was in the lot of one tribe, and part of it in another,

Most parts of the courts were in the portion of Judah: but the Altar, Porch, Temple, and most Holy Place were in the portion of Benjamin.

Some consider the Temple and its Courts as built on these three mountains, viz. Moriah, Zion, and Acra, and conceive it referred unto these words, His foundation is in the holy mountains.

Some think the temple stood upon the very spot where Isaac, an illustrious type of Christ, was offered.

P Psalm lxxxvii, 1.

The glory of Solomon's Temple, says Dr. Prideaux, was not in the temple it self, much less in the bigness of it. For that alone was but a small pile of building, containing no more than an hundred and fifty feet in length, and an hundred and five in breadth, taking in the whole of it together from out to out. Many of our Parish-Churches exceed it in size. But the greatness of its grandeur and glory consisted, 1st. In its ornaments, its workmanship being exceedingly rich and curious, and its over-layings vast and prodigious. The overlayings of the Holy of Holies only, which was a room of but thirty feet square and thirty feet high, amounted to six hundred talents of gold, equal to four mil lions three hundred and twenty thousand pounds of our money.

2dly. In its materials. For Solomon's temple was all built of new large stones, hewn out in the most curious

manner.

3dly. In its out buildings. For the court in which the Temple stood and that without it were surrounded with stately buildings and cloisters, the gates whereof were very beautiful and sumptuous. And the outer court, which was a large square, encompassing all the rest, of seven hundred and fifty feet on every

side, was surrounded by three rows of pillars on three sides of it, and by four on the fourth.

The foundations of it were of costly stones, the worth of which is not mentioned. This should remind us of Christ, who is precious, durable, and of inestimable worth, as the foundation of his church, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. The value of Christ's person, blood, and righteousness can never be estimated.

The walls, roof, and floor of the Temple were stone wainscotted with cedar, i. e. On the wainscot of the walls were sculptured Cherubs, Palm Trees, and Open Flowers, and then the whole of the walls, roof, and floor, was overlaid with solid gold. And the walls were also garnished with precious stones, glittering like so many diamonds.

The doors of the Temple, both of the Oracle and Holy Place, were carved with cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid with gold.

The hinges of the doors, both of the Oracle and Holy Place, i. e. of the Temple, were solid gold.

There was a partition made to divide the Holy and Most Holy Place, which was ornamented with chains of gold. And the curious vail above it hung down,

so as to join it and keep out of sight what was contained in the Holiest of All.

The out-side walls of the Temple were all covered over with solid silver, and I suppose the roof also.

The entrance into the Temple was at the East end, and the Holy of Holies was at the West.

In the Holiest of All Solomon caused two Cherubim of considerable size to be made, which were of solid gold.

As it respects the furniture of the Temple, take the following account of

it.

In the Holy of Holies, between the Cherubim made by Solomon, was placed the Ark of the Covenant with the mercyseat and Cherubim of Glory. In it were the two tables of the law, and just by it were placed the golden pot of manna and Aaron's rod which budded.

In a book entitled Cozri the author saith, The Ark, with the mercy-seat and cherubim, was the foundation, root, and marrow of the whole Temple, and all the Levitical service therein performed."

In the body of the Temple, immediately before the partition and vail which separated between the Holy and Most Holy Place, was the golden altar on which the daily incense was offered.