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This house of God is more glorious than that first one which was
constructed of wood and stone, metals and other precious things.
Therefore the prophecy of Haggai was not fulfilled in the rebuilding
of that temple. For it can never be shown to have had so much glory
after it was rebuilt as it had in the time of Solomon; yea, rather,
the glory of that house is shown to have been diminished, first by the
ceasing of prophecy, and then by the nation itself suffering so great
calamities, even to the final destruction made by the Romans, as the
things above-mentioned prove. But this house which pertains to the
new testament is just as much more glorious as the living stones, even
believing, renewed men, of which it is constructed are better. But
it was typified by the rebuilding of that temple for this reason,
because the very renovation of that edifice typifies in the prophetic
oracle another testament which is called the new. When, therefore,
God said by the prophet just named, "And I will give peace in this
place," He is to be understood who is typified by that typical
place; for since by that rebuilt place is typified the Church which
was to be built by Christ, nothing else can be accepted as the meaning
of the saying, "I will give peace in this place," except I will
give peace in the place which that place signifies. For all typical
things seem in some way to personate those whom they typify, as it is
said by the apostle, "That Rock was Christ." Therefore the glory
of this new testament house is greater than the glory of the old
testament house; and it will show itself as greater when it shall be
dedicated. For then "shall come the desired of all nations," as we
read in the Hebrew. For before His advent He had not yet been
desired by all nations. For they knew not Him whom they ought to
desire, in whom they had not believed. Then, also, according to the
Septuagint interpretation (for it also is a prophetic meaning),
"shall come those who are elected of the Lord out of all nations."
For then indeed there shall come only those who are elected, whereof
the apostle saith, "According as He hath chosen us in Him before
the foundation of the world." For the Master Builder who said,
"Many are called, but few are chosen," did not say this of those
who, on being called, came in such a way as to be cast out from the
feast, but would point out the house built up of the elect, which
henceforth shall dread no ruin. Yet because the churches are also full
of those who shall be separated by the winnowing as in the
threshing-floor, the glory of this house is not so apparent now as it
shall be when every one who is there shall be there always.
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