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.

LXX. Of the Figures that were upon the Walls of the inner Temple. (Book 70)

THe Wall of the inner Temple, which was a type of Heaven, was, as I have already told you, Cieled with Cedar from the bottom to the top. Now by the Vision of Ezekiel, it is said, this Wall was Carved with Cherubims and Palm-Trees, So that a Palm-Tree was between a Cherub and a Cherub; and every Cherub had two Faces: So that the Face of a man was toward the Palm-Tree on the one side, and the Face of a young Lyon toward the Palm-Tree on the other side. It was made thorow all the House round about; from the ground to above the door, were the Cherubims and the Palm-Trees made; Ezek. 41.17, 18, 19, 20.

1. As to these Cherubims and Palm-Trees, I have already told you what I think them to be Fi∣gures of. The Cherubims are Figures of the holy Angels, and the Palm-Trees of Vpright Ones: We therefore here are to Discourse only of the placing of them in the Heavens.

2. Now you see the Palm-Trees in the Holiest are placed between a Cherub and a Cherub, round about the House, w••••th methinks should be to signifie, that the Saints shall not there live by Faith and Hope, as here, but in the immediate Enjoy∣ment of God; for to be placed between the Che∣rubims, is to be placed where God dwells; for ho∣ly Writ says plainly, He dwells between the Cheru∣bims, even where, here 'tis said, these Palm-Trees, or Upright Ones are placed; 1 Sam. 4.4. 2 King 19.15. 1 Chron. 13.6. Psal. 80.1. Isa. 37.16.

The Church on Earth is called God's House, and HE will dwell in it for ever; and Heaven it self is called God's House, and WE shall dwell in it for ever: and that between the Cherubims. This is more then Grace, this is Grace and Glory; Glory indeed.

3. To dwell between the Cherubims, may also be to shew that there we shall be equal to the An∣gels. Mark, Here's a Palm-Tree and a Cherub, a Palm-Tree and a Cherub. Here we are a little lower, but there we shall not be a whit behind the very Chief of them. A Palm-Tree and a Cherub, an Vpright One, between the Cherubs, will then be round about the House: we shall be placed in the same rank, neither can they die any more, for they are equal to the Angels, Luke 20.36.

4. The Palm-Trees thus placed, may be also to shew us, that the Elect of God shall there take up the vacancies of the Fallen Angels; they for sin were cast down from the holy Heavens; and we by Grace shall be caught up thither, and be placed between a Cherub and a Cherub. When I say their places, I do not mean the fickleness of that state, that they for want of Electing Love did stand in while in Glory; for the Heavens, by the Blood of Christ, is

now to us become a purchased Possission; wherefore, as we shall have their place in the Heavenly King∣dom, so by vertue of Redeeming Blood, we shall there abide, and go no more out, for by that means that Kingdom will stand to us unshaken; Heb. 9.12. Chap. 12.22, 23, 24, 28. Revel. 3.12.

5. These Palm-Trees, I say, seem to take their places, who for Sin were cast from thence. The Elect therefore take that place in possession, but a better Crown for ever. Thus Israel possessed that of the Canaanites, and David, Sauls Kingdom; and Mathias, the place, the Apostle-ship of Judas, Acts 1.20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.

6. Nor were the Habitations which the Fallen Angels lost, excepting that which was excepted before, at all inferiour to theirs that stood; for their Captain and Prince is called Son of the Morn∣ing, for he was the Antitype there; Isa. 14.12.

7. Thus you see they were placed from the ground, up to above the door; that is, from the lowest to the highest Angel there. For as there are great Saints and small ones in the Church on Earth, so there are Angels of divers Degrees in Heaven, some greater than some; but the smallest Saint, when he gets to Heaven, shall have an Angels Dignity, an Angels Place: from the ground, you find a Palm-Tree, between a Cherub and a Cherub.

8. And every Cherub had two Faces, so here; but I read in Chap. 10. that they had four Face apiece: The first, was the Face of a Cherubim: The second, the Face of a Man: The third, the Face of a Lyon: And the fourth, the Face of an Eagle.

9. They had two Faces apiece, not to shew that they were of a double heart, for their appearance and themselves was the same, and they went every one straight forward; Ezek. 12.22.

These two Faces then was to shew here the quick∣ness of their apprehension, and their terribleness to execute the Mind of God. The Face of a Man, signifies them Masters of Reason: The Face of a Lyon, the terribleness of their presence, 1 Cor. 13.12. Judg. 13.6.

In another place I read of their Wheels; yea, that themselves, their whole bodies, their backs, their hands, their wings, and their wheels, were full of Eyes round about, Ezek. 1.18. Chap. 10.12.

And this is to shew us how knowing and quick∣sighted they are in all Providences and dark dispen∣sations, and how nimble in apprehending the mis∣chievous Designs of the Enemies of God's Church, and so how able they are to Vndermine them; and for as much also as they have the Face of a Lyon, we by that are shewed how full of power they are to kill and to destroy, when God says go forth and do so.

Now with these we must dwell, and co-habit, a Palm-Tree and a Cherub; a Palm-Tree and a Cherub, must be from the ground, to above the door, round about the house; the Heavens.

So that the Face of a Man was toward the Palm-Tree on the one side, and the Face of a young Lyon toward the Palm-Tree on the other side.

By these two Faces may be also shewed, that we in the Heavens shall have Glory sufficient to Fami∣liarize us to the Angels. Their Lyon-like looks, with which they used to fright the biggest Saint on Earth, as you have it, Gen. 32.30. Judg: 13.15, 22. shall then be accompanied with the Familiar Looks of a Man. Then Angels and Men shall be Fellows, and have to do with each as such.

Thus you see something of that little that I have found in the Temple of God.

FINIS.