vi.
3. The Romans afterwards, when they had subdued Judea, had a watchful eye
upon the temple, and placed a strong garrison in the castle Antonia (which
was beside the temple), the commander whereof was called "the captain of
the temple" (Acts iv. 1); and all this for fear of sedition and rebellion
among the Jews when they came to the temple. Now the invisible strength of
the spiritual temple is clearly held forth unto us by him who cannot
deceive us: "Upon this rock," saith he (meaning himself), "I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," Matt. xvi.
18. The princes and powers of the world are more jealous than they need of
the church's strength; and yet (which is a secret judgment of God) they
have not been afraid to suffer Babylon to be built in her full strength:
"There were they in great fear where no fear was" (Psal. liii. 5); for
when all shall come to all, it shall be found that the gospel and true
religion is the strongest bulwark, and chief strength for the safety and
stability of kings and states.

Lastly, The glory of this temple was very great, insomuch that some have
undertaken to demonstrate(1396) that it was a more glorious piece than any
of the seven miracles of the world, which were so much spoken of among the
ancients. But the greatest glory of this temple was, that "the glory of
the God of Israel" came into it, and "the earth shined with his glory,"
ver. 2; Christ, the brightness of his Father's glory (Heb. i. 3), walking
in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (Rev. i. 13), is and shall
be more and more the church's glory; therefore it is said to her, "Arise,
shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon
thee," Isa. lx. 1. Surely as it was said of the new material temple, in
reference to Christ, so it may be said of the new spiritual temple, which
yet we look for, "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of
the former, saith the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace,
saith the Lord of hosts," Hag. ii. 9. Christ will keep the best wine till
the end of the feast (John ii. 10); and he will bless our latter end more
than our beginning, Ezek. xxxvi. 11.

That which I have said, from grounds of Scripture, concerning a more
glorious, yea, more peaceable condition of the church to be yet looked
for, is acknowledged by some of our sound and learned writers(1397) who
have had occasion to express their judgment about it: a