there, that he would hearken unto the prayer, which his servants pray in that place. This prayer of Solomon the Lord answered first by signes of acceptation: for 2 Chron. 7.1,2.when he had made an end of praying, fire came downe from Heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices: and the glory of the Lord filled the house, so that the Priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lords house. And then 2 Chron. 7.12,13,16.the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place for my selfe to be an house of Sacrifice. And I have now chosen and sanctified this house, that my Name may be there for ever: and mine eyes, and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And Vers. 17,18.if thou wilt walke before me, as David thy Father walked, to doe according unto all that I have commanded thee; and shalt observe my Statutes and my Judgements, Then will I establish the throne of thy Kingdome according as I made the Covenant with David thy Father, saying, Thou shalt not want a man to be ruler in Israel.
Hitherto things succeeded prosperously, the King going before, the people followed with joy and cheerfulnesse, and the blessing of God accompanied them. But when they turned aside, and forsooke the statutes and commandements, which the Lord had set before them, and went and served other Gods, and worshipped them, then the Lord afflicted the house of David, and the house which he had sanctified for his name, he cast out of his sight, and made it a Proverbe and a common talke among all people, and an astonishment to every one that passed by.
In this Covenant therefore the internall efficacy and outward administration is to be distinguished: or some things are absolutely promised, or if upon condition so as God will make good the condition; others are conditionally promised, so as they take not effect, because the condition was not made good. In the first sence, God promised a Sonne to David, who should sit upon his throne, and build an house unto the Lord God of Israel: He promised also to establish his throne for ever: but that tooke not effect in Solomon, but in Christ, who came of the loynes of David, and in whose hand the spirituall Kingdome was established for ever-more. I Psal. 89.5.
Vers. 30.will establish thy seed for ever; and I will build thy throne from generation to generation. If you seeke for corporall succession in the stock of David, it failed together with the Kingdome: but this eternity is to be found in Christ, who builded aKingdome
