tent； or a cupola。 Now the ark contained nothing else but those
two tables of stone that preserved the ten commandments； which
God spake to Moses in Mount Sinai； and which were engraved upon
them； but they set the candlestick； and the table； and the golden
altar in the temple； before the most secret place； in the very
same places wherein they stood till that time in the tabernacle。
So they offered up the daily sacrifices； but for the brazen
altar； Solomon set it before the temple； over against the door；
that when the door was opened； it might be exposed to sight； and
the sacred solemnities； and the richness of the sacrifices； might
be thence seen； and all the rest of the vessels they gathered
together； and put them within the temple。
2。 Now as soon as the priests had put all things in order about
the ark； and were gone out； there cane down a thick cloud； and
stood there； and spread itself； after a gentle manner； into the
temple； such a cloud it was as was diffused and temperate； not
such a rough one as we see full of rain in the winter season。
This cloud so darkened the place； that one priest could not
discern another； but it afforded to the minds of all a visible
image and glorious appearance of God's having descended into this
temple； and of his having gladly pitched his tabernacle therein。
So these men were intent upon this thought。 But Solomon rose up；
（for he was sitting before；） and used such words to God as he
thought agreeable to the Divine nature to receive； and fit for
him to give； for he said； 〃Thou hast an eternal house； O Lord；
and such a one as thou hast created for thyself out of thine own
works； we know it to be the heaven； and the air； and the earth；
and the sea； which thou pervadest； nor art thou contained within
their limits。 I have indeed built this temple to thee； and thy
name； that from thence； when we sacrifice； and perform sacred
operations； we may send our prayers up into the air； and may
constantly believe that thou art present； and art not remote from
what is thine own； for neither when thou seest all things； and
hearest all things； nor now； when it pleases thee to dwell here；
dost thou leave the care of all men； but rather thou art very
near to them all； but especially thou art present to those that
address themselves to thee； whether by night or by day。〃 When he
had thus solemnly addressed himself to God； he converted his
discourse to the multitude； and strongly represented the power
and providence of God to them； … how he had shown all things that
were come to pass to David his father； as many of those things
had already come to pass； and the rest would certainly come to
pass hereafter； and how he had given him his name； and told to
David what he should be called before he was born； and foretold；
that when he should be king after his father's death； he should
build him a temple； which since they saw accomplished； according
to his prediction； he required them to bless God； and by
believing him； from the sight of what they had seen accomplished；
never to despair of any thing that he had promised for the
future； in order to their happiness； or suspect that it would not
come to pass。
3。 When the king had thus discoursed to the multitude； he looked
again towards the temple； and lifting up his right hand to the
multitude； he said；〃 It is not possible by what men can do to
return sufficient thanks to God for his benefits bestowed upon
them； for the Deity stands in need of nothing； and is above any
such requital； but so far as we have been made superior； O Lord；
to other animals by thee； it becomes us to bless thy Majesty； and
it is necessary for us to return thee thanks for what thou hast
bestowed upon our house； and on the Hebrew people； for with what
other instrument can we better appease thee when thou art angry
at us； or more properly preserve thy favor； than with our voice？
which； as we have it from the air； so do we know that by that air
it ascends upwards ＇towards thee＇。 I therefore ought myself to
return thee thanks thereby； in the first place； concerning my
father； whom thou hast raised from obscurity unto so great joy；
and； in the next place； concerning myself； since thou hast
performed all that thou hast promised unto this very day。 And I
beseech thee for the time to come to afford us whatsoever thou； O
God； hast power to bestow on such as thou dost esteem； and to
augment our house for all ages； as thou hast promised to David my
father to do； both in his lifetime and at his death； that our
kingdom shall continue； and that his posterity should
successively receive it to ten thousand generations。 Do not thou
therefore fail to give us these blessings； and to bestow on my
children that virtue in which thou delightest。 And besides all
this； I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt let some portion of
thy Spirit come down and inhabit in this temple； that thou mayst
appear to be with us upon earth。 As to thyself； the entire
heavens； and the immensity of the things that are therein； are
but a small habitation for thee； much more is this poor temple
so； but I entreat thee to keep it as thine own house； from being
destroyed by our enemies for ever； and to take care of it as
thine own possession： but if this people be found to have sinned；
and be thereupon afflicted by thee with any plague； because of
their sin； as with dearth or pestilence； or any other affliction
which thou usest to inflict on those that transgress any of thy
holy laws； and if they fly all of them to this temple； beseeching
thee； and begging of time to deliver them； then do thou hear
their prayers； as being within thine house； and have mercy upon
them； and deliver them from their afflictions。 Nay； moreover；
this help is what I implore of thee； not for the Hebrews only；
when they are in distress； but when any shall come hither from
any ends of the world whatsoever； and shall return from their
sins and implore thy pardon； do thou then pardon them； and hear
their prayer。 For hereby all shall learn that thou thyself wast
pleased with the building of this house for thee； and that we are
not ourselves of an unsociable nature； nor behave ourselves like
enemies to such as are not of our own people； but are willing
that thy assistance should be communicated by thee to all men in
common； and that they may have the enjoyment of thy benefits
bestowed upon them。〃
4。 When Solomon had said this； and had cast himself upon the
ground； and worshipped a long time； he rose up； and brought
sacrifices to the altar； and when he had filled it with
unblemished victims； he most evidently discovered that God had
with pleasure accepted of all that he had sacrificed to him； for
there came a fire running out of the air； and rushed with
violence upon the altar； in the sight of all； and caught hold of
and consumed the sacrifices。 Now when this Divine appearance was
seen； the people supposed it to be a demonstration of God's abode
in the temple； and were pleased with it； and fell down upon the
ground and worshipped。 Upon which the king began to bless God；
and exhorted the multitude to do the same； as now having
sufficient indications of God's favorable disposition to them；
and to pray that they might always have the like indications from
him； and that he would preserve in them a mind pure from all
wickedness； in righteousness and religious worship； and that they
might continue in the observation of those precepts which God had
given them by Moses； because by that means the Hebrew nation
would be happy； and indeed the most blessed of all nations among
all mankind。 He exhorted them also to be mindful； that by what
methods they had attained their present good things； by the same
they must preserve them sure to themselves； and make them greater
and more than they were at present； for that it was not
sufficient for them to suppose they had received them on account
of their piety and righteousness； but that they had no other way
of preserving them for the time to come； for that it is not so
great a thing for men to acquire somewhat which they want； as to
preserve what they have acquired； and to be guilty of no sin
whereby it may be hurt。
5。 So when the king had spoken thus to the multitude； he
dissolved the congregation； but not till he had completed his
oblations； both for himself and for the Hebrews； insomuch that he
sacrificed twenty and two thousand oxen； and a hundred and twenty
thousand sheep； for then it was that the temple did first of all
taste of the victims； and all the Hebrews； with their wives and
children； feasted therein： nay； besides this； the king then
observed splendidly and magnificently the feast which is called
the Feast of Tabernacles； before the temple； for twice seven
days； and he then feasted together with all the people。
6。 When all these solemnities were abundantly satisfied； and
nothing was omitted that concerned the Divine worship； the king
dismissed them； and they every one went to their own homes；
giving thanks to the king for the care he had taken of them； and
the works he had done for them； and praying to God to preserve
Solomon to be their king for a long time。 They also took their
journey home with rejoicing； and making merry； and singing hymns
to God。 And indeed the pleasure they enjoyed took away the sense
of the pains they all underwent in their journey home。 So when
they had brought the ark into the temple； and had seen its
greatness； and how fine it was； and had been partakers of the
many sacrifices that had been offered； and of the festivals that
had been solemnized； they every one returned to their own cities。
But a dream that appeared to the king in his sleep informed him
that God had heard his prayers； and that he would not only
preserve the temple； but would always abide in it； that is； in
case his posterity and the whole multitude would be righteous。
And for himself； it said； that if he continued according to the
admonitions of his father； he would advance him to an immense
degree of dignity and happiness； and that then his posterity
should be kings of that country； of the tribe of Judah； for ever；
but that still； if he should be found a betrayer of the
ordinances of the law； an