58. IX. Which way the face or front of the Temple stood
1. The temple was built with its face or front towards the east, and that, perhaps, because the glory of the God of Israel was to come from the way of the east into it. Ex. xiii. 1-4; xiv. 1. Wherefore, in that its front stood toward the east, it may be to show that the true gospel church would have its eye to, and expectation from, the Lord. We look, said Paul, but whither? We have 'our conversation,' said he, 'in heaven,' from whence our expectation is. 2 Co. iv. 16. Pbl. iii. 20. Ps. xvi. 5.
2. It was set also with its face towards the east, to keep the people of God from committing of idolatry; to wit, from worshipping the host of heaven, and the sun whose rising is from the east. For since the face of the temple stood toward the east, and since the worshippers were to worship at, or with their faces towards the temple, it follows that both in their going to, and worshipping God towards that place, their faces must be from, and their backs towards the sun. The thus building of the temple, therefore, was a snare to idolaters, and a proof of the zeal of those that were the true worshippers; as also to this day the true gospel-instituted worship of Jesus Christ is. Hence he is said, to idolaters, to be a snare and trap, but to the godly a glory. Is. viii. 14; ix. 12.
3. Do but see how God catches the idolatrous Jews, by this means, in their naughtiness: 'And he brought me,' saith the prophet, 'into the inner court of the Lord's house, and behold at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces towards the east.' Ex. viii. 16. It was therefore, as I said, set with its face towards the east, to prevent false worship, and detect idolaters.
1 To oppose the customs of brethren, who made their chief gates towards the west, that these stupid worshippers, drawing oath to their blind, deaf, and dumb deities, might have their idols, as it were, arising upon them out of the east.—(Lee's Solomon's Temple, p. 242)—(En.)
4. From the east also came the most blasting winds, winds that are destructive to man and beasts, to fruit and trees, and ships at sea. Ex. 15. Job 2014, 21. Ex. 2014 10; 2014 12. Ps 2014 7. Ex. 2014 26. I say, the east wind, or that which comes from thence, is the most hurtful; yet you see, the temple hath set her face against it, to show that the true church cannot be blasted or made turn back by any affliction. It is not east winds, nor none of their blastings, that can make the temple turn about. Hence be saith that Jacob's face shall not wax pale. And again, 'I have made thy face strong against their faces,' and that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' Is 2014 22. Ex. 2014 9. Not 2014 15.
5. It might be also built with its face towards the east, to show that the true church looketh, as afore I hinted, for her Lord and King from heaven; knowing, that at his coming he will bring healing in his wings; for from the east he will appear when he comes the second time without sin unto salvation, of which the sun gives us a memento in his rising there every morning. 'For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.' Not 2014 27. Not 2014 28. C. L. 2014 29. Ex. 11-14.
6. Christ, as the north pole, draws those touched with the load-stone of his word, with the face of their souls towards him, to look for, and hasten to his coming. And this also is signified by the temple standing with its face towards the east.