The Entire Book: A Discourse of the House of the Forest of Lebanon – By John Bunyan
Acacia John Bunyan – Online Library
http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.John.Bunyan/
A
Discourse
O F,
The House of the Forest of Lebanon.
This House distinct from the Temple at Jerusalem, which
was a type of the Church in her worshipping state, as the House
at Lebanon is a type of the Church in the wilderness, or in
sackcloth; larger than the Temple; all its parts spiritualized.
By J O H N.B U N Y A N.
Published by Charles Doe, 1692.
Published four years after John Bunyan’s death.
Edited by George Offor.
ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR.
That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep them in check, Solomon built a tower house and palace, well furnished with munitions of war, called the house in the forest of Lebanon.
As the magnificent temple at Jerusalem was the seat of public worship appointed by God, it was considered typical of the gospel dispensation, which was intended to supersede it. All its parts and utensils, sacrifices and services, have been described, in their typical meaning, in Solomon’s Temple Spiritualized; but as the lovely system of the gospel had, with slow and irresistible steps, to conquer the prejudices, passions, and wickedness of mankind, those who bore the brunt of this battle were considered as the church militant in the wilderness: and Bunyan has, in this treatise, endeavoured to show that this palace and fortress was typical of the churches of Christ while in a state of holy warfare, defending their Divine dispensation, and extending the line of defence by progressive spiritual conquests. While the churches are surrounded by enemies, they have inexhaustible internal comfort, strength, and consolation. Like the house in the forest of Lebanon, they are also pleasantly, nay, beautifully situated. If Mount Zion was the joy of the whole earth, the mountains of Damascus were a picture of the earthly paradise. So beautiful is the scenery, and balmy the air, that one part is called Eden, or the garden of the Lord. It is described by Arabian poets as always bearing winter far above upon his head, spring on its shoulders, and autumn in his bosom, while perpetual summer lies sleeping at his feet. It was upon this beautiful spot, called by Isaiah "the glory of Lebanon," that Solomon built his house in the forest.
This is the plain matter of fact which Bunyan establishes from the sacred Scriptures, but he was, as to lettered lore, an unlearned man; at all events, no man could say of him that "much learning has made thee mad." Bunyan’s is the plain common-sense scriptural account of this building; but he differs greatly from almost all our learned commentators