plan in architecture; and yet without question they were the projectors and superintendants of such works in every age and nation.

WITHOUT Such regulations as Solomon had devised for the government of his servants, without such artificers, and a superior wisdom over-ruling the whole, we should be at a loss to account for the beginning, carrying on, and finishing that great work in the space of seven years and six months, when the two succeeding temples, though much inferior, employed so much more time; and when we have good authority to believe that the temple of Diana at Ephesus, a structure not comparable to the temple at Jerusalem, was two hundred and twenty years in building.

THE building being conducted by a set of Religious, makes it natural to conceive, that from devotion and pious fervor, as well as emulation, those employed had unceasing motives to prompt their diligence, and preserve harmony and order; as their labour was probationary, and led to an advancement and superior privileges, higher points of knowledge, and at the last to that honourable pre-eminence, a master of the holy work.

SOLOMON himself was an extraordinary personage, and his wisdom and magnificence had gained him the wonder and attention of the neighbouring nations ;but this splendid structure, the wonder of the earth, thus raised by the pious hands of men labouring in the worship and service of the God of Israel, would of consequence extend his fame, and attract the admira

tion of the more distant parts of the world:-his name and his artificers would become the wonder of mankind, and his works their example and emulation:from thence the masons of Solomon would be dispersed into different states, to superintend the works of other princes; and they would, in consequence, convert infidels, initiate brethren in their mysteries, and extend their order over the distant quarters of the known world.

WE find that the like distinctions were retained on rebuilding the temple in the reign of Cyrus, and that the work was performed by the religious of the Israelites, and not by ordinary mechanics: for they refused to admit the Samaritans to a share of the work, although they petitioned for it, under the denomination of servants of the same God:-yet they were rejected, as unworthy of works of piety, and unacceptable to the God of Israel: for though they professed themselves to be servants of the true God, they polluted their worship by idols.

JOSEPHUS, in his History of the Antiquities of the Jews, speaking of Solomon's going about to erect the temple at Jerusalem, gives copies of the epistles which passed between Solomon and Hiram of Tyre on that matter; and which he says remained in his days preserved in their books, and amongst the Tyrians also*: which epistles are as follow.

*EUSEBIUS preparat. Evangel. ix. 33. 34. has these letters, though greatly disguised by Eupolemeus, from whom Eusebius had his copies.

66

SOLOMON TO KING HIRAM.

"Know thou, that my father would have built

a temple to God, but was hindred by wars and continual expeditions; for he did not leave off to "overthrow his enemies, till he made them all subject "to tribute:-But I give thanks to God for the peace "I at present enjoy, and on that account I am at "leisure, and design to build an house to God; for "God foretold to my father, that such an house should "be built by me:-Wherefore I desire thee to send

some of thy subjects with mine to Mount Leba66 non, to cut down timber; for the Sidonians are 66 more skilful than our people in cutting of wood;"as for wages for the hewers of wood, I will pay what66 soever price thou shalt determine."

HIRAM TO KING SOLOMON,

THERE is reason to bless God that he hath com"mitted thy father's government to thee, who art a "wise man, and endowed with all virtues :---As for

myself, I rejoice at the condition thou art in, and "will be subservient to thee in all thou requirest ;-for "when by my servants I have cut down many and large "trees, of Ceder and Cypress wood; I will send them "to sea, and will order my subjects to make floats of "them, and to sail to what place soever of thy country "thou shalt desire, and leave them there; after which

thy servants may carry them to Jerusalem: but do "thou take care to procure corn for this timber, which "we stand in need of, because we inhabit an island."

JOSEPHUS, speaking of the progress of the building, says, "Solomon sent for an artificer out of Tyre, "whose name was Hiram, by birth of the tribe of "Naphthali, on the mother's side. This man was "skilful in all sorts of works, but his chief skill lay in "working in gold, in silver, and brass: the one of the "pillars which he set at the entrance of the porch at the "right hand, he called Fachin, and the other at the left "hand, he called Boaz."

SOLOMON was wise in all the learning of the ancients, he was possessed of all the mystical knowledge of the eastern nations; and to perfect the same, was enlightened by the immediate gift of heaven.-It was also the mode and manners of the times, in which the temple of Jerusalem was erected, to use emblematical and symbolic ornaments in public edifices; a fashion derived from the hieroglyphic monuments of the Egyptians, and the mysterious mode in which their sages concealed their wisdom and learning from the vulgar eye, and communicated science to those of their own order only.

THE pillars erected at the porch of the temple were not only ornamental, but also carried with them an emblematical import in their names. Boaz being in its literal translation, in thee is strength; and Jachin, 'it shall be established; which by a very natural transposition may be put thus: O Lord, thou art mighty, and thy power is established from everlasting to everlasting:or otherwise they might imply, as Boaz was the great grandfather of David, the house of David shall be esta blished for ever. I am justified in this latter application,

by the express words of Nathan, the prophet, unto Dan vid, inspired by the vision of the Lord,-2 Sam. vii. 12. "And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep "with thy fathers; I will set up thy seed after thee, "which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will e"stablish his kingdom."

VER. 13." He fhall build an house for my name, "and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for "ever."

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VER. 16. And thine house and thy kingdom "shall be established for ever before thee; thy throne "shall be established for ever."

IN commemoration of this great promife to the faithful, we ornament the entrance into our lodges with these emblematical pillars; from our knowledge of the completion of that sacred sentence accomplished in the coming of our Redeemer.

N