measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side. The porch here mentioned, can not be that at the north gate, because there would not be room, in one porch, for the two posts of five cubits, and the four tables. This porch moreover, is called, by way of eminence as appears, the porch of the house; while the other is mentioned, in the first place, incidentally. Nothing is said of a gate on the west, or on the south. There seems no doubt therefore, that the porch of 21 the house, is at the east gate, as see 30. The posts

26, 28, are placed five cubits forward of the gate; leaving, as see 24, one cubit in front. A like 22 space is left north and south. [48]-and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side. The gate was six cubits broad, having 23 two doors, each three cubits broad. Or, second, here is an allusion to the Gothic style of architecture. The gate is neither arched nor rectangular, but pointed. I incline to the latter solution: because doors are specifically mentioned, in the description of the gate of the temple; and there seems no reason, if there were doors, why they should not be thus mentioned, in the present case. 24 [49] The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits.-The posts being placed as see 21, the space between, opposite the entrance of 25 the gate, is eight cubits. [49]—and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side and another on that side. 31; and 27, 29.

The plan of the city, it will be perceived, bears 26 a resemblance, not to be mistaken, and which could not have been accidental, to the geographical figure of the old world; the gate which looketh toward the east, 1, being Palestine. On combining this circumstance with the others, that the city is built for the reception of a people, who have been dispersed, for many hundred years, throughout every nation of the old world; and that no two gates, which are described, and no two courts or quadrangles, are, in all respects, similar, can it be doubted, that this emblematical structure figures various particulars, relative to these countries. The returning wanderers will bring with them the science, literature, arts, manners and customs, of the various nations, where they have dwelt. These they will contribute to the common stock, so far as they may advance the general good, no less than their wealth and industry. Can it be doubted then, considering the tenor of the sacred writings, that there will at least be references to the institutions, civil and religious, and to the history, of the more distinguished of the several nations. On an examination of particulars it will appear, that 27 such is the case. There are also allusions to the future; that is, the future in respect of the time of the accomplishment of the vision. We shall now once more go over the ground, beginning at verse 5, in reference to this view of our subject.

XXIX.

1 5-19-The mere circumstance that the frame of a city is a map, evinces that it is to be regarded as an architectural symbol, rather than an architectural plan. Still, in respect of mere architectural arrangement and proportion, something may doubtless be learned.-It is worthy of remark, that the form of the parallellogram, Mr. Owen's preference of which, has furnished a subject for so much humor to a writer in the Edinburgh Review, is uniformly preserved.

2

3

It has been remarked, that in an inspired prophecy, every discriminative particular is adapted to convey important instruction. Such are the measures of length, breadth, &c. A perfect idea of the form of the city, might have been conveyed, without giving any of the dimensions. They are however, given; and it is to be presumed that those proportions, which were adopted, were preferable to any others. The reason why they were thus preferable, seems a proper inquiry in every

case.

Allied to these considerations is the question, why was the measuring reed of the length of six cubits. That the sacred cubit should be employed, was to be expected, from the nature of the subject. Six cubits, or eleven feet, very nearly seems a more true proportion or rule, as has been intimated, for the breadth and height of a dwelling house of the smallest size, or one proper to represent the individual system, than any other even number of cu

bits. The dimensions of such a house obviously furnish the appropriate standard by which to measure the visionary city, adapted to the social form of society. The figurative meaning, it need not be said, is this, that in founding the new system, constant reference will be had to the old; the advantages and disadvantages of the individual organiz- 4 ation, will furnish a scale, by which may be graduated those of the social, about to be established.

The gate which looketh toward the east, 1, as has been said, is Palestine. That is, exclusive of the additions to the porch, 12, 17. The propriety of 5 the designation, in a geographico-historical view, though the gate is not an external one, will now be apparent. The lower gate, 2, is Babylon: denomi- 6 nated the lower gate, on account of the degraded circumstances of the Jews, during the captivity. The lower pavement, 49, is the road to Babylon. Not, in strictness, geographically speaking, for the north pavement, 41-43, describes more nearly, the course of the Babylonish armies. It is called the lower pavement, to indicate the humiliated condition of the Jews, when carried captive, and at the time of their return. It is of the breadth of the entry, or public part of the gate, and of that only, to signify that the captivity was national, but that numbers remained. It is said, by a singular expression, to be over against the LENGTH of the gates, to show that the captivity included those of all ranks, from the highest to the lowest, from the prince to the humblest laborer. See 38, 39. The 7

8

9

court, I, with a part of court II,* represents the Turkish empire. The thirty chambers, upon the pavement round about, verse 17, are evidently, as has been seen, in a basement story. They are for the subjects of the empire, not Mahometan; and who, though not strictly regarded as slaves, are subject, in a greater or less degree, to restraints and civil disabilities. Their situation is very similar to that of the Jews during the Babylonish captivity. The number of the chambers is thirty, three times ten, in reference to the threefold division, of Jews, Christians and Pagans.

In the inner court, II, the space between the little chambers, which constitute the addition to the gate, 12, 17, is five and twenty cubits: see verse 13. As there is no reason to doubt that the walls were perpendicular, why is the distance reckoned, in this instance, and in this alone, from roof to roof. From roof to roof, is equivalent to measuring from eves to eves. This mode of mensuration seems adopted, to confirm the supposition, hardly doubtful before, that these chambers represent, as far as they extend, the shores of the Mediterranean. The breadth was five and twenty cubits, DOOR AGAINST DOOR. It will be found, by comparison on a good map, that 12, 17 reach, the one to Derne, and the other to Cape Matapan; indicat

* It will readily be perceived, where the term court, means only the interior space; and where, in addition, the sides of the quadrangle.

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