Post by Admin on Oct 9, 2016 11:14:03 GMT
CHAP. LVIII.
Of Temples.
NOW as concerning Temples, there was nothing wherein the Superstition of the Gentiles was more eminent, who to every Deity were very curious in Building particular Temples; after whose Exam∣ple, the Christians afterwards Dedicated their Tem∣ples to particular Saints. Yet there were many Na∣tions that never made use of any Temples; and Xerxes is reported to have burnt all the Temples throughout Asia, at the perswasion of his Magicians, believing it to be an Impious thing to enclose the Gods in Walls. But of these Temples Zeno Citicus Disputed formerly in these Words; To build Churches and Temples, saith he, it is no way necessary: for nothing ought to be ac∣compted Sacred by Right, nothing to be esteemed Holy which men themselves Build. Among the Persians of old there were no Temples; Neither was there among the Hebrews from their first beginning, but only one Temple Dedicated to Divine use, which was Built by Solomon, of which however it is thus written in Isaias; Thus saith the Lord, The Heaven is my seat, the Earth
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the footstool for my feet, what is this house which thou buildest for me? And Stephen the Protomartyr adds, Salomon built a House, but the most High Inhabits not in places made with Hands. And Paul the Apo∣stle saith to the Athenians, God dwells not in Temples made with hands: for being the Lord of Heaven and Earth, he is not serv'd by mens hands, who wants not their help. However he teaches, that Humane Nature, even Men themselves Holy, Pious, Religious, Devout to God, are the most acceptable Temples to God: as he Asserts, writing to the Corinthians, Ye are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you; the Temple of God is holy, so ought you to be. Moreover, Origen writing against Celsus, confesses, That at the first beginning of Christian Religion, and long after Christs Suffering, there were no Churches Built; Confirming by many Arguments, that among Christians they avail neither to the right Worship of God, nor to the Honour of true Religion. Therefore faith Lactantius, Temples are not to be made to God of Stones piled up to an im∣mense height, but there is a place to be reserv'd in the Heart of every Man, where his Thoughts ought to retire when they are taken up in Religious Exercise.
Not Temples made with hands th' Almighty hold;
Just men are the true Temples made of Gold.
And Christ sends his Adorers not into the Temple, not into the Synagogues, but into their private Clo∣sets to Pray. And we read, that he himself did many times appear with the Multitude in the Cities, in the Temple, in the Synagogue, when he made his Sermons; but he went into the Mountain to Pray, where he spent the Night in Prayer. However, the Church, that does nothing but by the Inspiration of the Spirit of God, when the Christian Religion began to
Page 170
increase, and that Sinners entred into the Temple with the Godly, the weak with the strong in Faith, and as they entred the Ark of Noe, the Clean with the Unclean, did then Ordain certain Temples, Chappels, Churches, and separated Places free from Prophane business, wherein the Word of God might be Publick∣ly Preached to the Multitude, and the Sacraments might be more decently and orderly Administred; which have since been held by the Christians in most Venerable Esteem; and being guarded with the Immu∣nities of several Princes, have encreased to such a vast Number, augmented with the Addition of Monasteries, Abbies, and the like, that it is very necessary that many of them should be cut off as superfluous and unneces∣sary Members. And here we cannot be unmindful of another Enormity, which is the superbity of Building, wherein vast sums of Alms and sacred Money is ex∣pended; which, as we have observ'd before, would be more fitly and honestly employ'd in the maintenance of the true poor of Christ, the true Temples and re∣semblances of God, many times ready to perish for hunger, thirst, cold, labour, sickness, and want.
Of Temples.
NOW as concerning Temples, there was nothing wherein the Superstition of the Gentiles was more eminent, who to every Deity were very curious in Building particular Temples; after whose Exam∣ple, the Christians afterwards Dedicated their Tem∣ples to particular Saints. Yet there were many Na∣tions that never made use of any Temples; and Xerxes is reported to have burnt all the Temples throughout Asia, at the perswasion of his Magicians, believing it to be an Impious thing to enclose the Gods in Walls. But of these Temples Zeno Citicus Disputed formerly in these Words; To build Churches and Temples, saith he, it is no way necessary: for nothing ought to be ac∣compted Sacred by Right, nothing to be esteemed Holy which men themselves Build. Among the Persians of old there were no Temples; Neither was there among the Hebrews from their first beginning, but only one Temple Dedicated to Divine use, which was Built by Solomon, of which however it is thus written in Isaias; Thus saith the Lord, The Heaven is my seat, the Earth
Page 169
the footstool for my feet, what is this house which thou buildest for me? And Stephen the Protomartyr adds, Salomon built a House, but the most High Inhabits not in places made with Hands. And Paul the Apo∣stle saith to the Athenians, God dwells not in Temples made with hands: for being the Lord of Heaven and Earth, he is not serv'd by mens hands, who wants not their help. However he teaches, that Humane Nature, even Men themselves Holy, Pious, Religious, Devout to God, are the most acceptable Temples to God: as he Asserts, writing to the Corinthians, Ye are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you; the Temple of God is holy, so ought you to be. Moreover, Origen writing against Celsus, confesses, That at the first beginning of Christian Religion, and long after Christs Suffering, there were no Churches Built; Confirming by many Arguments, that among Christians they avail neither to the right Worship of God, nor to the Honour of true Religion. Therefore faith Lactantius, Temples are not to be made to God of Stones piled up to an im∣mense height, but there is a place to be reserv'd in the Heart of every Man, where his Thoughts ought to retire when they are taken up in Religious Exercise.
Not Temples made with hands th' Almighty hold;
Just men are the true Temples made of Gold.
And Christ sends his Adorers not into the Temple, not into the Synagogues, but into their private Clo∣sets to Pray. And we read, that he himself did many times appear with the Multitude in the Cities, in the Temple, in the Synagogue, when he made his Sermons; but he went into the Mountain to Pray, where he spent the Night in Prayer. However, the Church, that does nothing but by the Inspiration of the Spirit of God, when the Christian Religion began to
Page 170
increase, and that Sinners entred into the Temple with the Godly, the weak with the strong in Faith, and as they entred the Ark of Noe, the Clean with the Unclean, did then Ordain certain Temples, Chappels, Churches, and separated Places free from Prophane business, wherein the Word of God might be Publick∣ly Preached to the Multitude, and the Sacraments might be more decently and orderly Administred; which have since been held by the Christians in most Venerable Esteem; and being guarded with the Immu∣nities of several Princes, have encreased to such a vast Number, augmented with the Addition of Monasteries, Abbies, and the like, that it is very necessary that many of them should be cut off as superfluous and unneces∣sary Members. And here we cannot be unmindful of another Enormity, which is the superbity of Building, wherein vast sums of Alms and sacred Money is ex∣pended; which, as we have observ'd before, would be more fitly and honestly employ'd in the maintenance of the true poor of Christ, the true Temples and re∣semblances of God, many times ready to perish for hunger, thirst, cold, labour, sickness, and want.