Section 448
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 417 (nave) which, by the abundant effusion of its waters, affords the means of cleansing, to those that proceed to the inner parts of the sanctuary. And this is the first place that receives those that enter, and which at the same time presents to those that need the first introduction, both a splendid and a convenient sta tion. After passing also this sight, he has made open entrances to the temple, with many other inner vestibules, by placing again three gates on one side towards the rising sun. Of these he con structed the midde one, far exceeding those on each side in height and breadth, embellishing it at the same time with ex ceedingly splendid brazen plates bound with iron, and decorated with various sculpture, superadding them as guards and attend ants to a queen. In the same W7ay, after disposing the number of the vestibules, also with the porticoes on each side of the whole temple, he constructed above these, different openings to the building for the purpose of admitting more light, and these lights or windows he also decorated with various kinds of orna mental sculpture. But the royal temple itself, he has furnished with more splendid and rich materials, applying a generous libe rality in his expenses. And here, it appears to me to be super fluous, to describe the dimensions, the length and the breadth of the edifice, the splendid elegance, the grandeur that surpasses description, and the dazzling aspect of works, glittering in the face of the speaker, the heights rising to the heavens, and the costly cedars of Lebanon resting on these, which have not been overlooked by the divine oracles themselves, when they say: * The forests of the Lord shall rejoice, and the cedars of Lebanon which he planted.' Why should I now detail minutely the skil ful architectural arrangement, and the exceeding beauty of each of the parts, when the testimony of the eye precludes the instruc tion through the ear. " For when he had thus completed the temple, he also adorned it with lofty thrones, in honour of those who preside, and also with seats decently arranged in order throughout the whole, and at last placed the holy altar in the middle. And that this again might be inaccessible to the multitude, he enclosed it with frame lattice work, accurately wrought with ingenious sculpture, pre3G