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ministration； to the sacrifices of God； and removed them to the
temple。 （13） The king himself； and all the people and the
Levites； went before； rendering the ground moist with sacrifices；
and drink…offerings； and the blood of a great number of
oblations； and burning an immense quantity of incense； and this
till the very air itself every where round about was so full of
these odors； that it met； in a most agreeable manner； persons at
a great distance； and was an indication of God's presence； and；
as men's opinion was； of his habitation with them in this newly
built and consecrated place； for they did not grow weary； either
of singing hymns or of dancing； until they came to the temple；
and in this manner did they carry the ark。 But when they should
transfer it into the most secret place； the rest of the multitude
went away； and only those priests that carried it set it between
the two cherubims； which embracing it with their wings； （for so
were they framed by the artificer；） they covered it； as under a
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 o