An account of the churches, or places of assembly, of the primitive Christians from the churches of Tyre, Jerusalem, and Constantinople described by Eusebius : and ocular observations of several very ancient edifices of churches yet extant in those parts : with a seasonable application / by Sir George Wheler ...

CHAP. II. The Description of the Church of Tyre, Described by Eu∣sebius, Lib. 10. Cap. 4. (Book 2)

WHen our Present and most Worthy Zerobabel un∣derstood by his accurate Wisdom and Divine Judgment, that it should come to pass, that those Places, which for Gods sake were made Desert, should in a short time Enjoy those Blessings according as it was foretold: He did not in the least neglect this Dead Carkass, after this sharp and grievous Captivity, and Abomination of Desolation. But when first of all with Sup∣plications and Prayers, by your mutual Assistance and Suffrages, he had made Attonement to God the Father, and had gained

[illustration]

The Plane of the Church of Tyre.

the help of him who only raiseth the Dead unto Life, He again reared this fallen Taber∣nacle. And so soon as he had cleansed and healed it from all Evil, he invested it again▪ not with the Old Robe, but so as he had been taught by the Di∣vine Oracles, speaking expresly to this purpose.

And the Glory of this Latter* 1.1 House shall far exceed the Former.

Therefore taking a far larger compass of Ground,* 1.2 he Walled it; [ B] both to be the Outward Court encompassing the whole Work, and to be its sure Defence.

Then towards the Sun-Rising he raised a most magnificent Porch or Gate;* 1.3 vastly great and [ C] high; giving a Prospect of those things within, to those who stand far off, without the Sa∣cred Place, in the Outward Court: And not only to them, but also to those who were Strangers to the Faith. And at the

first Entrance cast their Eyes upon it: Insomuch, that if any one do but pass by in the Street, he may be astonished both at the Remembrance of the past Ruin, and the Glory of the present Marvellous Work; and so he hoped to draw them to Enter in, to see what is within by that Glorious Prospect from with∣out.

But when you are Entred within these Gates, our wise Architect suffered not every one presently with unsanctified and unwashed Feet, to Rush in unto the Holy things within: But leaving a large Space, as be∣tween the first Entrance and the Temple, he Enclosed and Beau∣tified it with a Portico or Cloy∣ster on the Four Sides,* 1.4 supported [ D] with Pillars in a Quadrangular form. And the Spaces between each Pillar he fenced with Lattice of Wood, Net-work Fashion, of a Moderate and Convenient height.

He left the middle Space of this Quadrangle open to the view of Heaven, to let in the cool Air, and to be adorned with the resplendent Rays of the Sun.

In this he placed the Sacred Symbols of holy Cleansing; is e. Two Fountains opposite to [ EE] each other, before the Front of the Temple; whose copious Sources yielded Water plentifully for cleansing of those, who are to go further to the Sacred things within.

This is the first place, that presents it self to those that enter, every way most Splendid and Beautiful to behold. And is a proper Mansion either to those that have need of Institution or are admitted to Prayers.

Being past this Spectacle, by several other more inward Por∣tico's he made the Entrances into the Temple; which again towards the Sun-Rising is by

Three Doors on the same one side. [ FFF]

Of which that in the middle is by far the greatest both for height and widness, and Adorned with Brass Plates, engraven with various Figures, and bound on with Iron; to which the other two seem joyned as Royal At∣tendants.

In like manner ordering the same number of Porches to the Cloysters, on each side of the [ DDDD] whole Temple, he contriv'd ano∣ther on high above these; with Windows letting in much Light into the Temple, Adorning them with Lattice of curious Work in various Figures.

But he built the Royal House it self with far Richer and more precious Matter,* 1.5 sparing no Cost nor Magnificence.

It seems superfluous to de∣scribe the Length and Breadth of the Building, and this resplendent Beauty and Grandure, a Sight

beyond expression; who can describe the dazling Variety of each Work, whose Roofs mount up to Heaven; and upon all these the most precious Cedars of Libanus? Of which even the Divine Oracles have not been silent: In which it is said, The Trees of the Lord shall Rejoyce, even the Cedars of Libanus, which he hath planted.

To what purpose is it now to speak of the admirable Art and most wise Composure of the whole, and further to discourse of the surprizing Convenience and Beauty of each part: Espe∣cially when Ocular Testimony excludes any thing that can be perceived by the Ears?

Furthermore, when he had thus finish'd the Temple, and adorn'd it with Thrones, which [ GGGG] * 1.6 he erected in the highest or chiefest Place in honour of the Presidents, and also with lower

Seats, placed in Decent Order all over the Temple.

He at last placed the Holy of Holies, to wit, the Altar, in the [ H] Middle, which he made every [ I] way inaccessible to the Multi∣tude, by a Separation of Net∣work of Wood wrought and Carved with such acurate Skill and Art, as makes as wonderful a Spectacle as Eyes can be∣hold.

Nor did he neglect the Floor, but Adorn'd and Paved it in a sumptuous manner with Marble; and then to conclude, returning to those things without the Temple,* 1.7 he built Large Apart∣ments [ K] and Houses on each side of the Temple, most excellently Contrived; joyned together at one End to the Sides of the Royal House, and to the En∣trances of the Middle Building or Court on the other.

Which Buildings our Truly Peaceful Solomon, the Founder of this Temple, built for the sake of those who had need of Expiation and Purgation by Water and the Holy Spirit. Insomuch that, that Heavenly Prediction we formerly men∣tioned, subsists no longer in bare words, but now is verified and accomplished indeed. For now it is truly come to pass, That the Glory of the latter House excels the former.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hagg. 2. 9.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  The Thrones.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.