Solomon's temple spiritualiz'd, or, Gospel-light fetcht out of the temple at Jerusalem, to let us more easily into the glory of New-Testament-truths by John Bunyan.

XXII. Of the Ascent, by which they went up into the Porch of the Temple.

1. THis Porch also had certain steps, by which they went up into the House of the Lord. I know not directly the number of them. Though Ezekiel speaks something about it, Ezek. 40.38, 39. Hence when Men went to worship in the Temple, they were said, To go VP into the house of the Lord, Isa. 38.22.

These steps which were the ascent to the Temple, were SO curiously set, and also so finely wrought, that they were a∣mazing to behold. Wherefore when the Queen of Sheba, who came to prove Solo∣mon's wisdom, saw the house which he had built, and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord, she had no more spirit in her. She was by that sight quite drowned, and overcome; 1 King. 10 4, 5.

2. These steps, whether Cedar, Gold, or Stone, yet that which added to their adornment was, the wonderment of a Queen. And whatever they were made of, to be sure they were a shadow of those steps, which we should take to, and in the house

of God. Steps of God, Psal. 85.13. Steps ordered by him, Psal. 37.23. Steps ordered in his Word, Psal. 119.133. Steps of faith, Rom. 4.12. Steps of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 12.18. Steps of truth, 3 Joh. 4. Steps washt with butter, Job 29.6. Steps taken before, or in the presence of God. Steps butted and bounded by a Divine Rule. These are steps indeed.

3. There are therefore no such steps as these to be found any where in the World. A step to honour, a step to riches, a step to worldly glory, these are every where; but what are these to the steps by which Men do ascend, or go up to the House of the Lord?

He then that entreth into the House of the Lord, is an ascending man; as it is faid of Moses, he went VP into the Mount to God. It is ascending, to go into the House of God. The World believe not this, they think 'tis going downward to go up to the house of God, but they are in a horrible mistake.

The steps then by which Men went up into the Temple, are, and ought to be opposed to those which Men take to their lusts and empty glories. Hence such steps are said, not only to decline from God, but to take hold of the path to death, and

hell, Psal. 44.18. Prov. 2.18. chap. 55. chap. 7.25, 26, 27.

The steps then by which Men went up to the House of the Lord, were significa∣tive of those steps which Men take, when they go to God, to Heaven, and Glory, for these steps were the way to God, to God in his holy Temple.

But how few are there, that as the Queen of the South, are taken with these goodly steps? Do not most rather seek to push away our feet from taking hold of the Path of Life, or else lay snares for us in the way? But all these notwithstand∣ing, the Lord guide us in the way of his steps, they are goodly steps, they are the best.