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the Pleasure that may be had in reading that noble Ceremonial in the facred Hiftory, by tranfcribing it abftractedly from thence; fince we may have fome Taste of the fplendid Appearance and auguft Manner of the whole, from the Description 2 Chron. of this fingle Part of it.

V. II.

1 Chron. xxiii.

The whole number of Priests and Levites (who did not then wait by course, as they had been appointed for the ordinary ministration or Duty) coming forth of the Temple; and those among them which were the fingers, being array'd in white Linnen, having cymbals and pfalteries and harps, Stood at the east end of the altar; and with them, an hundred and twenty priests founding with trumpets. It came to pass when as the trumpeters and * fingers were as one, to make one found to be heard in praifing and thanking the LORD, and when they lift up their voice, with the trumpets and cymbals and inftruments of mufick, and prais'd the LORD, faying, For he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever; that then the boufe was fill'd with a cloud, even the

*Who were no less than two hundred fourfcare and Chron. 25. 7.

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I boufe of the LORD. So that the Priests 3 could not stand to minifter by reason of the cloud: For the glory of the LORD had = fill'd the house of God.

vi. 12.

After they had made their Proceffion out of the Temple, and rang'd themselves before the great Altar of Burnt-offering, in the principal Court, they began the Overture of the Solemnity, with the best Mufic vocal and inftrumental. After 2 Chron. which the King standing upon a brazen fcaffold, or Tribunal, made for the Purpose, five cubits in length and breadth, and three cubits in height, plac'd in the midst of the fame court, before the altar of the LORD, in the prefence of all the congregation of Israel, declar'd the Motives by which he had been induced to erect that noble Fabric; with other Matters, neceffary to prepare their Minds for the holy Office he was entring upon. And then, kneeling down upon his knees, before all the congregation of Ifrael, and Spreading forth his hands towards heaven, he pronounc'd the Prayer of Confecration; the most piously Kings pathetick and comprehensive that ever 2 Chron. was utter'd upon the like Occafion; vi. 14.

and

I

viii. 22.

and well deferving the Perufal of the Curious.

In relation to which we are further in

form'd, that after this, The LORD ap2 Chron. pear'd to Solomon by night, and faid unto vii. 12. him, I have heard thy prayer, and have cho

fen this place to my felf for an houfe of Sacrifice. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chofen and fanctified this houfe, that my name may be there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. But if ye (you and your People) turn away, and forfake my ftatutes and my commandments which I have fet before you, and shall go and ferve other gods and worship them: Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have fanctified for my name, will I caft out of my fight. However, notwithstanding this good Beginning, we find 1 Kings Solomon, when he was old (and poffibly doting) was perverted, by his strange Wives, to worship other Gods. Though it does not appear that the constant Service of the Temple was interrupted, all that while, SECT,

xi. 4.

SECT. VIII.

The Revolt and Captivity of the Ten
Tribes.

But, after the Death of Solomon, Jeroboam, to whom ten of the Tribes revolted, erected a feparate Kingdom of his own, called Ifrael; as was observed before; because the Majority of the People fided with him. And the Men of Judah and Ferufalem, with the Tribe of Benjamin, remaining faithful to Rehoboam the Son of Solomon; Jeroboam, foreseeing the Danger arifing from a Probability, that his People by going up to the Temple to worship, would be apt to return to their Allegiance to Rehoboam, erected two Calves, one in Bethel, and the other in Dan; and without much Difficulty, established Idolatry throughout his Kingdom. The Ifraelites probably retaining fome Inclination for the Worship used by their Neighbours the Egyptians; among whom their Fathers had formerly fojourn'd; and from whence we may account for their running fo readily into the Egyptian Idolatry, as they did in the Wilderness; with even Aaron

at

at the Head of them. And when they apoftatiz'd with the fame Expreffion, as Jeroboam made ufe of, upon this Occafion: These be thy Gods, O Ifrael, which 1 Kings have brought thee up out of the Land of xü. 28. Egypt.

Exod.

xxxii. 8.

This Idolatry therefore prevailing thro' the Reigns of twenty Kings fucceffively; God, having feveral Times tried to reclaim them by sending his Prophets to reprove and warn them of their approaching Destruction, but all to no purpose; in the Reign of Hofhea, the laft of them, he suffered Shalmanefer the King of Affyria, to carry them away captive into a strange Land, whence they were never to return.

SECT. IX.

The Idolatry of the Kings of Judah.

And but very few of the Kings of Judab behav'd themselves better, in this Respect. We are told that Rehoboam forseok 2 Chron. the law of the LORD, and all Ifrael with him. Therefore, in his Reign, Shishak King of Egypt, was permitted to come up 2 Chron. against Jerusalem, and take away the trea

xii. I.

xii. 8.

fures

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