menstruis, and upon child-bearing, might not come in thither; yet such were in Jerusa∣lem continually. And the reason of this their restraint was because they made that unclean that either they sate or lay upon, yea even the place where they stood: which in this circumstance was a deeper defiling, than defiling by the dead, for a dead corps might [if there were occasion] be brought in hither, [as to save the dead body of an eminent person from violence, and as they give the example of Moses carrying the bones of Joseph with him, even within the camp of Levi,] but one of these unclean persons might not come in here.
5. The 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 chel, or alley was holyer than the mountain of the House; for strangers and those that were defiled by the dead might not come within it, which they might do in∣to the other. By strangers, here, we are not to understand Proselytes that were circum∣cised and baptized, for they were as Israelites to all purposes; but strangers, were such, as were of other Nations, that were not come to that conformity with the Jews in Religion; were they Proselytes of the gate, or were they strangers in the most proper sense: For we shall observe hereafter, that even Gentiles unproselyted, yea while they were yet Idolaters, might and did sometimes bring their offerings to the Temple, and so might come into the mountain of the House; and hence, that is ordinarily called among Christian writers, The Court of the Gentiles: But though they might come within the mountain of the House, yet might they not enter into the chel upon pain of death, which was signified to them by inscriptions upon pillars at the entrance into it, as is observed in its place.
And from hence rose that tumult against Paul, Act. 21. who being himself, and four others, attending upon their purification, in the court of the Women, shaving their heads, and burning their hair in the Nazarites room, and doing what was to be done by those whose vow was out; an bubbub ariseth upon supposal that one of the four had been a Gentile, namely Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they had seen walking with Paul in the City, and indignity was taken at this, as if Paul had brought in a stranger within the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 chel.
6. The Court of the Women was more holy than the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tibbul iom might not come in thither, that is, whosoever was defiled with such an uncleanness, as requi∣red his washing, and his Sun going down, before he was clean; though he had washed, yet if the Sun were not set, he or she might not come in there.
7. The Court of Israel was more holy than the Court of the Women, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they might not enter into it, that were, indeed, acquitted from their uncleanness, but had not as yet their atonement made for their purification: There were four sorts of these, the Leper, a man that had an Issue: a Woman that had had been in her Separation, and she that had born a Child: As for the Women they might not go into the Court at all, unless it were when they brought a sacrifice: but men who were capable of going in at other times, yet might they not enter the Court in this condition, till their atone∣ment made.
8. The Court of the Priests was more holy than the Court of Israel: for no Israelite might come in there but upon necessity: and that was in these three occasions , either for the laying of his hands upon the head of the sacrifice to be slain, or for slaying of it, or for waving of some part of it being killed.
9. Between the Porch and the Altar was more holy than the lower part of the Court; for even no Priest might come there that had a blemish, or bareheaded, that is, without his bonnet or without his vail: for they used the covering of their heads as one most solemn rite in their greatest devotions, as shall be shewed afterward.
10. The Temple was more holy than that: because none might go in thither, unless with washed hands and feet: which up and down the Court they might more tolerably do with both unwashed, if they did not meddle with some part of the service.
11. The Oracle or within the vail was most holy of all: because that none might go in thither, but only the High-priest, and that but one day in the year only.
Thus many risings and degrees of Holiness were in that Land, and in these places; now, and many hundreds of years ago raked up in as many, and many more degrees of misery, difilement and desolation. The blinded Nation despising the life and marrow of those holy things, whereby these places received all their holiness and honour; and so losing the things, places, and holiness it self.
The Jews do parallel Jerusalem and the Temple, to the Camp of Israel in the wilder∣ness and the Tabernacle, in these proportions. From the gates of Jerusalem to the mountain of the House, was the camp of Israel. From the gate of the mountain of the House, to the gate of Nicanor, the camp of Levi: and from the gate of Nicanor inward, the camp of the divine glory.