A Pisgah-sight of Palestine and the confines thereof with the history of the Old and New Testament acted thereon / by Thomas Fuller ...

CHAP. IX. Of the Princely Palaces in this City.

§ 1. PRoceed we now to the Princely palaces in Ierusalem;* 1.1 and first we light on thea 1.2 house of the forest of Lebanon, built by Solomon: So called, because an abridgement of that great forest, wherein (I mean in the groves and gardens about it) wild beasts of all kinds (if humane Authors may be beleeved) had their habitation. Here the bellowing Harts are said to harbour, the throating Bucks to lodge, the belling Roes to bed, the beating Hares to forme, the tapping Conies to sit, and the barking Foxes to kennell. Strange musick to be heard in the midst of a populous place; and very pleasant, that such a woody retiredness should be afforded in the heart of a City. Yet Solomons minde, when mounted on these seeming felicities, was as far from reaching true contentment, as the tired traveller, when on the top of the next hill, will be from touching the skies, which whilest he was in the valley seemed contiguous thereunto.

§ 2. The length of this house was an hundred,* 1.3 breadth fifty, height thirty cubits, whereby it appears both longer and broader then the Temple it self. And no wonder, for who will deny that White-Hall stands on more ground then Westminster-Abby-Church? Besides, in measuring the Temple, onely the covered part thereof is reckoned on, without the Courts (wherein the greatest capacity thereof did consist:) whereas no doubt, Courts and all are taken in to make up the aforesaid dimensions in Solomons house. But grant the Kings Palace outspread the Temple in greatness, the Temple out-topped it in height; whose towred porches as∣cended b 1.4 an hundred and twenty cubites. In this house Solomons golden shields and targets werc 1.5 kept, tilld 1.6 carried away by Shishak King of Egypt.

§ 3. Besides this Solomon* 1.7 had another house in Ierusalem which was e 1.8 thirteen years in building; and af 1.9 third which he made for his wife the daughter of Pharaoh. Say not, they needed two houses, which had two Religions, for we finde not that she ever seduced Solomon to idolatry: nor are the Egyptian Idols reckoned up among those severallg 1.10 superstiti∣ons, which his second brood of wives brought into Ierusalem. Enough to perswade some that this match was made by dispensation, if not di∣rection of God himself, (typifying the calling of the Gentiles) and that Pharaohs daughter afterwards became a convert, following the Psalmists counsell, Forgeth 1.11 also thine own people, and thy fathers house. Hereabouts al∣so was the Golden throne of Solomon, to which those golden Lions gave

a stately ascent. It was the prayer of loyalli 1.12 Benaiah, make the throne of So∣lomon greater then the throne of my Lord King David, which accordingly came to pass, whether taken for this his materiall throne, or for the largeness and fulness of his royall authority.

§ 4. Pass we by the Castle of Antiochus,k 1.13 built by him as a bridle to the City;* 1.14 as also the Palace of the Maccabees, wherein for many yea••s they made their residence, first built byl 1.15 Simon west of the Temple. In Christs time Herod the great had in Ierusalem a most magnificent house, wherein his grandchild Herod Antipas Tetrarch of Galilee kept his passeover, when Pilate sent Christ unto him to be examined by him. Right glad was He∣rod of this occasion, because though formerly much conversing with Iohn the Baptist, yet Iohn did nom 1.16 miracle, which he now in vain hoped to behold from our Saviour. For he that would not work a miracle at his mothersn 1.17 motion, would not doe it for his persecutors pleasure. Let Herod take this for a sign that Christ was the Son of God, because he would shew no sign for the will of man. However the silent shew of our Saviour wrought a reconciliation betwixt him and Pilate, which before were ato 1.18 enmity betwixt themselves. But alass the innocent Lambe is not long liv'd, when thus both Wolfe and Fox are agreed against him.

§ 5. Appendant to this Palace was the prison wherein Peter was put,* 1.19 and being to dye the next day, was found in a deadp 1.20 sleep the night be∣fore. I question whether Herod who condemned him, slept half so soundly. He must be smote before he could be waked, and his shackles fell off easier then his sleep. The Rhemish note tells us, that the chains wherewith he was bound are still preserved at Rome in the Church of Petri ad vincula. But if those there be the true chains, I dare boldly say, that others of richer metall, and finer making, more worth, and less weight, are daily worn by Peters pretended successour.

§ 6. Pilates Palace must not be forgotten,* 1.21 wherein our Saviour was accused by the Iews: near whereunto was the Judgement-hall, called q 1.22 Gabbatha, or the Pavement. But how even, or smooth soever the stones were laid in the floor thereof; most rough, harsh, and unequall justice was administred in this place, when our Saviour therein was condem∣ned. This was the place, into which the high-Priests prepared for the Passeover would notr 1.23 enter for fear of pollution. O my soul enter not into their secrets, whose fe•••• are swift to shed bloud, but legs lame to lift themselves over the threshold of a judgement-hall, for fear of defilement. Now all these Princely Palaces were not extant in this City at the same time, but successively: and therefore as Poets, when they present Persons, who lived in severall ages, on the same stage, lay their scene in the Elysian fields; so to put these Palaces together, the reader must suppose their dust and ruines did all meet on the floor of this City, though made in our map in a flourishing estate, the better to adorn our description of Ierusalem.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The house of the forest of Lebanon.
• a 1.2

  1 King. 7. 2▪
• * 1.3

  The dimensi∣ons of this house.
• b 1.4

  2 Chron. 3. 4.
• c 1.5

  1 Kin. 10. 17.
• d 1.6

  1 King. 14. 26.
• * 1.7

  Solomons wives house.
• e 1.8

  1 King. 7. 1.
• f 1.9

  1 King. 7. 8.
• g 1.10

  1 Kin. 11. 5. 7.
• h 1.11

  Psal. 45. 10.
• i 1.12

  1 King. 1. 37.
• k 1.13

  1 Mac. 1.
• * 1.14

  The stately palace of Herod
• l 1.15

  1 Mac. 13. 52.
• m 1.16

  Joh. 10. 41.
• n 1.17

  Joh. 2. 4.
• o 1.18

  Luke 23. 12.
• * 1.19

  Peters prison.
• p 1.20

  Act. 12. 7.
• * 1.21

  The palace of Pilate.
• q 1.22

  Joh. 19. 13.
• r 1.23

  Joh. 18. 28.