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A By J O H N.B U N Y A N. Published by Charles Doe, 1692. Published four years after John Bunyan's death. |
CHAPTER X.
OF THE PORCH OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON.
olomon also made a porch to this house of the forest of Lebanon.
He made several porches, as one for the temple, one for the house which he dwelt
in, one for the throne of the kingdom, and this that was for the house of the forest
of Lebanon, of all which this last is that mentioned.
"And he made a porch of pillars, the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the
breadth thereof thirty cubits; and the porch was before them, and the other pillars,
and the thick beam were before them" (1 Kings 7:6). This porch was famous both
for length, and breadth, and strength, it was able to contain a thousand men. It
was like that of the tower of David, otherwise called the stronghold, the castle
of Zion, which is the city of David (2 Sam 5:7; 1 Chron 11:5; Micah 4:8).
This tower of David was built for an armoury, whereon there hanged a thousand bucklers,
all shields of mighty men. It was fifty cubits long and thirty broad, a spacious
place, a large receptable for any that liked to take shelter there. It was made of
pillars, even as the house within was, or it stood upon pillars. The pillars, you
know I told you before, were to show us what mighty men, or what men of mighty grace,
God would have in his church in the wilderness furnished with. And it is worth your
observing here also we have pillars, pillars. And he made the porch of pillars, that
is, of pillars of cedar, as the rest of the pillars of the house were.
"And the porch was before them." That is, as I take it, an entering porch,
less than the space within, so that the pillars, neither as to number nor bigness,
could be seen without, until at least they that had a mind to see entered the mouth
of the porch. And by this was fitly prefigured how unseen the strength of the church
under persecution is of all that are without her. Alas! they think that she will
be run down with a push, or, as they said, "What do these feeble Jews? Will
they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will
they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are bunt?" Alas!
"if a fox go up he shall even break down their stone wall" (Neh 4:2,3).
But do you think these men saw the strength of the Jews now? No, no, their pillars
were within, and so were shadowed from their eyes. David himself could not tell what
judgment to make of the way of the world against the people of God, until he went
into the sanctuary of God (Psa 73:16,17).
How then can the world judge of the condition of the saints? Alas, had they known
the church's strength, surely they would not, as they have, so furiously assaulted
the same. But what have they got by all they have done, either against the head or
body of the same? She yet has being in the world, and will have, shall have, though
all the nations on earth should gather themselves together against it. Nor is it
the cutting off of many that will make her cease to flourish. Alas, were she not
sometimes pruned and trimmed her boughs would stand too thick. Those therefore that
are taken away with God's pruning-hooks are removed, that the under branches may
grow the better.[19] But, I say, to extinguish her it is in vain for any to hope for that. She
stands upon pillars, on rocks, on the munition of rocks; stand therefore she must,
whether the world believes it or no.
"And the other pillars - were before them," or, as the margin has it, "according
to them." The other pillars, that is, they more inward, those that were in the
body of the house. Christ doth not, as the poor world doth, that is, set the best
leg before; the pillars that were more inward in the house were as good as those
in the front. It is true some are appointed to death to show to the world the strength
of grace, not that he can help nobody to that strength but they. The most feeble
of his flock, when Christ shall stand by and strengthen them, are able to do and
bear what the strong have underwent. For so he saith.
And "the other pillars and the thick beams were" according to them; nay,
"before them." Indeed, they that are left seem weak and feeble if compared
to them that have already been tried with fire and sword and all the tortures of
men. But that grace by which they were helped that have done such mighty acts already,
can help those who seem more weak yet to go beyond them. God strengtheneth "the
spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress"
(Amos 5:9). Or, as another scripture has it, "The lame take the prey" (Isa
33:23). So that you see here is all substance. All here are pillars and thick beams,
both in the house and in the porch.
The conclusion therefore is:—The true members of the church in the wilderness are
strong, mighty, being made able by the grace of God for their standing, and being
also coupled and compacted together with the biggest bands or thickest beams that
the Holy Ghost puts forth to bind and hold this church together. And there is reason
for it. The church is God's tower or battery by which he beateth down Antichrist,
or if you will have it in the words of the prophet, "Thou art my battle-axe
and weapons of war; for with thee [saith God] will I break in pieces," &c.
(Jer 51:19,20). Wherefore, since the church is set for defence of religion, and to
be as a battery to beat down Antichrist, it is requisite that she should be made
up of pillars of strong and staunch materials.[20]
The largeness of the porch was commodious; it was the next shelter, or the place
whereunto they of the house of the forest of Lebanon, when pursued, might resort
or retreat with the less difficulty. Thus the church in the wilderness has her porch,
her place, her bosom, whereunto her discouraged may continually resort, and take
up and be refreshed. As Abiathar thrust in to David and his men in the wilderness,
in the day when Saul had slain his father, and of his brethren, even "four-score
and five persons that did wear a linen ephod" (1 Sam 22:17-23).
When the apostles were persecuted "they went to their own company," because
the Lord was there (Acts 4:23). There we find the pillars, and have both solace and
example. There, as Pomponius said of his person, stands Christ Jesus in the front
as Captain of the Lord's host, and round about him the old fathers, prophets, apostles,
and martyrs. This porch, therefore, I take to be a figure of those cordial and large
affections which the church in the wilderness has to all, and for all them that love
the truth, and that suffer and are afflicted for the sincere profession thereof.
This porch was bigger than that which belonged to the temple by much, to show that
those that are made the objects of the enemies' rage most are usually most prepared
with affection for them that are in the same condition. Fellow-feeling is a great
matter. It is said of the poor afflicted people that were in Macedonia "in a
great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded
unto the riches of their liberality;[21] for to their power, - yea, and beyond their
power," they showed their charity to the destroyed church of Jerusalem (2 Cor
8:1-4).
And a porch in a forest, or a bosom in a wilderness, is seasonable to them that in
the wilderness are faint and weary. Nabal shut up his doors against David, and therefore
he died like a beast. Poor David! thou wast bewildered, but this churl had no compassion
for thee (1 Sam 25:5-13, 25- 39). Blest Obadiah, thou hadst a bosom, and bread, and
hiding-places for the church, when rent and torn by the fury of Jezebel, and thou
hast for it thy reward in heaven (1 Kings 18:3,4; Matt 10:42). Ebedmelech, because
he had compassion on Jeremiah when he was in the dungeon, God did not only give him
his life for a prey, but promised him the effects of putting his trust in the Lord
(Jer 38:7-11, 39:15-18).
And he made a porch of pillars. The porch is but the entrance of the house, whither
many go that yet step not into the house, but make their retreat from thence; but
it is because they are non-residents, they only come to see; or else, if they pretended
more, it was not from the heart. "They went out from us," said John, "but
they were not of us; for if they had been of us they would, no doubt, have continued
with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all
of us" (1 John 2:19).
And forasmuch as this porch was fifty cubits long, men may take many a step straight
forward therein and be but in the porch yet.[22] Even as we have
seen men go, as one would think, till they are out of view in the porch of this church
in the wilderness, but presently you have them without the door again.
True, this porch was made of pillars, and so to every one, at first entrance, it
showed the power of the place; the church in the wilderness also is so builded that
men may see it is ordained for defence. Men also, at their first offer to step over
the threshold there, with mouth profess that they will dwell as soldiers there. But
words are but wind; when they see the storm a-coming they will take care to shift
for themselves. This house, or church in the wilderness, must see to itself for all
them.
As the house therefore is a figure of the church in the wilderness, so, so great
a porch belonging to it may be also to show that numbers may there be entertained
that, if need be, will quickly whip out again. Although therefore the porch was made
of pillars, yet every one that walked there were not such. The pillars was to show
them, not what they were, but what they should be that entered into this house.
The church also in the wilderness, even in her porch or first entrance into it, is
full of pillars, apostles, prophets, and martyrs of Jesus. There also hang up the
shields that the old warriors have used, and are plastered upon the walls the brave
achievements which they have done. There are also such encouragements there for those
that stand, that one would think none that came thither with pretence to serve there
would, for very shame, attempt to go back again; and yet, not to their credit be
it spoken, they will forsake the place without blushing, yea, and plead for this
their so doing. But I have done with the explicatory part, and conclude that from
these ten particulars thus handled in this book, the house of the forest of Lebanon
was a type, or figure, of the church in the wilderness.
Nor do I know, if this be denied, how so fitly to apply some of these texts which
speak to the church, to support her under her troubles, of the comforts that afterwards
she shall enjoy, since they are presented to her under such metaphors as clearly
denote she was once in a wilderness, for instance,
1. "Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it [that is, redeemed his servant
Jacob from his sins and from the hand of the enemy]: shout, ye lower parts of the
earth [or church once trampled under feet]: break forth into singing, ye mountains,
O forest, and every tree therein [here is comfort for the church under the name of
a forest, that in which the house we have been speaking of was built]: for the Lord
hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel" (Isa 44:23). To what,
I say, can this text more fitly be applied, than to the church in the wilderness,
put here under the name of a forest as well as under the title of heaven? Yea, methinks
it is cried here to her, "O forest," on purpose to intimate to us that
the house in the forest of Lebanon was the figure of the church in this condition.
2. Again, "Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into
a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? And in that
day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see
out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in
the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the holy One of Israel. For the
terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch
for iniquity are cut off" (Isa 29:17-20). Lebanon was a forest, but now she
must be a fruitful field. What means he here by Lebanon but the church under persecution,
and the fruitful field? Mistress Babylon shall become as a forest, that is, as the
church under distress. But when shall this be? Why, when the terrible one is brought
low and the scorner is consumed, &c.
What can be more plain than this to prove that Lebanon, even the house in the forest
of Lebanon, for that is here intended, was a figure of the church in the wilderness,
or in a tempted and persecuted state. For to be turned into a fruitful field signifies
the recovering of the afflicted church into a state most quiet and fruitful; fruitful
fields are quiet because they are fenced, and so shall the church be in that day.
3. "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert
shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose" (Isa 35:1).
What are we to understand by these words if they be not a prophecy of the flourishing
state of Christ's kingdom, who, in the days of her persecution, is compared to a
wilderness, to a desert, and to solitary places. And she "shall be glad for
them"; for what? for that she is rid of the dragons, wild beasts, satyrs, screech
owls, great owl, and vulture, types of the beasts and unclean birds of Antichrist
(Isa 34:13-15).
She shall be glad for them that they are taken away from her and placed far away,
for then no lion shall be there nor any ravenous beast; yea, it is the habitation
of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass, with reeds and rushes, as it is, Isaiah
35. And now "the lame man shall leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing;
for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." Read
the whole chapter.
For that the desert and wilderness is thus mentioned, and that to express the state
of the church in trouble by, it is clear that Lebanon is not excluded, nor the thing
that is signified thereby, which, I say, is the church in her low estate, in her
forest, or wilderness condition.
4. "I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah-tree, and the myrtle,
and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the fir-tree, and the pine, and the box-tree
together" (Isa 41:19).
Can any think that trees are the things taken care of here? They are the men that
Antichrist has murdered in his heat and rage against Christ, the which God will restore
again to his church, when Antichrist is dead and buried in the sides of the pit's
mouth. And that you may the better understand he meaneth so, he expresseth again
the state of the church as like to a wilderness condition, and promiseth that in
that very church, now so like a wilderness, to plant it again with Christians, flourishing
with variety of gifts and graces, signified by the various nature and name of the
trees spoken of here.
5. "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know
it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast
of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in
the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen"
(Isa 43:19,20). Here God alludes to the condition of the children of Israel in the
wilderness of old, and implies they shall be in a wilderness again; and as then he
gave them water, and delivered them from serpents, cockatrices, vipers, dragons,
so he will do now, now to his people, his chosen.
6. "The Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he
will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy
and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody"
(Isa 51:3).
See here are Zion's waste places, Zion's wilderness, forest, or Lebanon. Next here
is a promise that he will comfort her; and what doth this suppose but that she was
in her wilderness state, uncomfortable at least as to her outward peace, her liberty,
and gospel privileges and beauties? Then here is the comparison, by which he illustrates
his promise as to what degree and pitch he will comfort her. "He will make her
wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord." The effects
of all which will be she will have joy and gladness; she will be thankful, and be
melodious in her voice, in her soul to the Lord. This, I say, will follow upon her
deliverance from her desert, her wilderness, her desolate, and comfortless state:
all which is more fully expressed by her repeated hallelujahs (Rev 19:1- 6). Which
hallelujahs there are the effect of her deliverance from the rage of the beast and
great whore, of whose greatness and ruin you read in the two foregoing chapters.
Now, I say, since the church was to be in a wilderness condition under the gospel;
and since we have this house of the forest of Lebanon so particularly set forth in
the Scriptures; and also since this house, its furniture, its troubles, and state,
do so paint out this church in this wilderness state, I take it to be for that very
thing designed, that is to say, to prefigure this church in this her so solitary
and wilderness state.
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