Chap. 23.

JErusalem by the often change of her fortunes, hath somewhat altered her situation, having hitched her self more north-west-ward. For the mountain of Calvarie, which formerly she shut out of her gates, as the infamous place of execution, she Page  35 now embraceth within her walls as her most venerable monu∣ment.

On the south of Jerusalem (once part of her, now excluded) lyeth mount Sion, famous anciently for the palace of David: On the east, mount Olivet, parted with the vale of Jehoshaphat; which (some will have) shall be the hall for the great Assizes of the world at the day of judgement, whilest others more mo∣destly conceive that the place as well as the time is concealed. On the west, the hill of Gihon: And on the north it is indiffe∣rent plain.

The monuments which are still extant to be seen without or within the city, are reduceable to one of these three ranks, 1. Certainly true; as the mountains compassing it, which are standards too great and too heavie for either time or warre to remove: and such also are some eminent particulars of some places, which constant tradition without rupture hath entailed on posterity. 2. Of a mixt nature; where the text is true, but superstition and fansie have commented on it. 3. Stark lies, without a ragge of probabilitie to hide their shame; where the believer is as foolish as the inventer impudent. We will bundle them together, and let the Reader sort them at his discretion: for it is hard to fit the throats, as to please the palates of men; and that will choke one mans belief which another will swal∣low as easily credible. Neither let any censure this discourse as a parenthesis to this history, seeing that to see these reliques was one principall motive with many to undertake this pil∣grimage.

To begin without the city: on the south there remain the ruines of Davids palace, too near to which was Uriahs house; and the* fountain is still shewed where Bathsheba's washing of her body occasioned the fouling of her soul. Next, Davids tomb is to be seen wherein he was buried: his monument was inriched with a masse of treasure, saith Josephus: out of which Hircanus 850 years after took three thousand talents. But sure∣ly David who despised riches in his life, was not covetous after his death: And I am sure they are his own words, that* Man shall carry nothing away with him, neither shall his great pomp follow him. Thirdly, Aceldama that burying-place for strangers: and the grave that every where hath a good stomach, hath here a boulimia or greedy worm; for it will devoure the flesh of a corpse in 48 hours. Fourthly, Absaloms pillar, which he built to continue his memory, though he might have saved that cost, having eternized his infamy by his unnaturall rebellion. Fifth∣ly, the houses of Annas and Caiaphas, to passe by others of in∣feriour note.

On the east; First, mount Olivet, from whence our Saviour Page  36 took his rise into heaven. The chappel of Ascension, of an eight∣square round mounted on three degrees, still challengeth great reverence; and there the footsteps of our Saviour are still to be seen, which cannot be covered over. Secondly, the fig-tree which Christ cursed: for he who spake many, here wrought a parable; this whole tree being but the bark, and Christ under it cursing the fruitlesse profession of the Jews. Thirdly, the place where S. Stephen was stoned; and the stones thereabouts are over-grown with a red rust, which is (forsooth) the very bloud of that holy martyr. Fourthly, the place where Judas surprised our Saviour, and he fell down on a stone, in which the print of his elbows and feet are still to be seen. Fifthly, the sepulchre of the blessed Virgin: whose body after it had been three dayes bu∣ried, was carried up by the Angels into heaven; and she let fall her* girdle to S. Thomas, that his weak faith might be swad∣dled therewith: otherwise he who in the point of Christs resur∣rection would have no creed, except he made his own articles, and put his finger into his side, would no doubt hardly have be∣lieved the Virgins assumption. With this legend we may cou∣ple another, which though distant in place will be believed both together: They shew at* Bethlehem a little hole over the place where our Saviour was born, through which the starre which conducted the wise men fell down to the ground. But who will not conclude but there was a vertigo in his head, who first made a starre subject to the falling-sicknesse? Sixthly, the vale of Hinnom or Tophet, in which wise Solomon befooled by his wives, built a temple to Moloch. Seventhly, Cedron, a brook so often mentioned in Scripture.

The west and north-sides of Jerusalem were not so happily planted with sacred monuments; and we find none thereon which grew to any eminency.

We will now lead the Reader into Jerusalem: Where first on mount Moriah (the place where Isaac was offered, though not sacrificed) stood Solomons temple, destroyed by the Chalde∣ans, rebuilt by Zorobabel: Afterward Herod reedified it so state∣ly (saith Josephus) that it exceeded Solomons temple; if his words exceed not the truth. But no wonder if he that never saw the sunne, dare say that the moon is the most glorious light in the heavens. Secondly, Solomons palace, which was* thir∣teen years in building, whereas the temple was finished in * seven: Not that he bestowed more cost and pains (because more time) on his own then on Gods house:* but rather he plied Gods work more throughly, and entertained then more build∣ers; so that contrary to the proverb, Church-work went on the most speedily. Thirdly, the house of the forrest of Lebanon, which was (as appeareth by comparing the text) fourty cubits Page  37 longer, and thirty cubits broader then the temple it self. But no doubt the holy Spirit speaking of holy buildings, meaneth the great cubit of the sanctuary; but in other houses, the ordi∣nary or Common cubit. It was called the house Lebanon, be∣cause hard by it Solomon planted a† grove, the abridgement of the great forrest; so that the pleasures of spacious Lebanon were here written in a lesse character. Fourthly, Pilates palace, and the common hall, where the Judge of the world was condemn∣ed to death. Fifthly, the pool of Bethesda, the waters whereof troubled by the Angel, were a Panpharmacon to him that first got into them. Here was a spittle built with five porches, the mercy of God being seconded by the charity of man; God gave the cure, men built the harbour for impotent persons. Sixthly, the house of Dives the rich glutton: and therefore (saith† Adrico∣mius) it was no parable: But may we not retort his words? It was a parable, and therefore this is none of Dives his house. Sure I am, Th•ophylact is against the literall sense thereof, and saith, They think† foolishly that think otherwise.

But my discourse hasteth to mount Calvary, which at this day, hath almost ingrossed all reverence to it self. It is called Calvarie, Golgotha, or the place of a skull, either because the hill is rolled and† rounded up in the fashion of a mans head, (as † Pen in the Brittish tongue signifieth both an head, and a copped hill) or because here the bodies of such as were executed were cast. As for that conceit, that Adams skull should here be found, it is confuted by S. Hierom, who will have him buried at He∣bron. Neither is it likely, if the Jews had a tradition that the father of mankind had here been interred, that they would have made his sepulchre their Tiburn where malefactours were put to death, and the charnel-house where their bones were scat∣tered. Over our Saviours grave stood a stately Church, built say some by Helen, say others by Constantine: but we will not set mother and sonne at variance; it might be she built it at his cost. In this Church are many monuments: As the pillar where∣unto Christ was bound when scourged, wherein red spots of dusky-veined marble† usurped the honour to be counted Christs bloud. Secondly, a great clift in the rock, which was rent in sunder at the Passion, whereby the bad thief was divided from Christ, (the sign of his spirituall separation) and they say it reacheth to the centre of the earth: a thing hard to confute. Thirdly, certain pillars which being in a dark place under ground, are said miraculously to weep for our Saviours suffer∣ing. But I referre those who desire the criticismes of those pla∣ces without going thither, to read our English travellers: for in this case, as good wares and far cheaper peny-worths are bought at the second hand.

Page  38To conclude our description of Palestine, let none conceive that God forgot the Levites in division of the land, because they had no entire countrey allotted unto them. Their portion was as large as any, though paid in severall summes: They had 48 ci∣ties with their suburbs, tithes, first-fruits, free-offerings; being better provided for then many English ministers, who may preach of hospitality to their people, but cannot go to the cost to practice their own doctrine.