Villapandus hath made a fine Romantick Piece after the Corinthian Order, which in that age was not used by any Nation: for the First Ages used grosser Pillars then Dorick. In after Times they began to refine from the Dorick, as in the Temple of Ephesus (the United Work of all Asia) and afterwards improved into a Slenderer Pillar, and Leavy Capital of various inventions which they called Corinthian. So that if we run back to the Age of Solomon, we may with reason believe they used the Tyrian manner, as gross at least as the Dorick, and that the Corinthian manner of Villapandus is meer fancy: Nay when long after Herod built the _Atrium Gentium_, he that carefully considers the description in Josephus will find it to be a Tripple Portico, and thick Pillars of the grosser Proportions which being whole stones of an incredible Bulk--our Saviour's Disciples admired them: _Master_, said they, _see what stones are here_! Titus would have sav'd this noble structure, but a soldier throwing a torch upon the Roof which was Cedar planks covered with Bitumen, it easily took Fire and consumed the whole Building. All the City was thus covered flat with Bitumen (easily gathered from the Lake of Sodom) and upon the flat roofs the Jews celebrated under Palm-boughs the Feast of Tabernacles. The Body of the First Temple was gilt upon Bitumen, which is good Size for gilding and will preserve the timber. The Roof and Cedar Wainscot within being carved with Knotts was gilded all over with a thick Leaf, so I understand the word _Overlay'd_; for if it was cover'd with plate apply'd over the knots and Imbossments the gold nails to fix it on would have increased the Weight of the plate, whereas the quantity of the Nails is reckoned but small in Proportion. The Doors might be plated over and nail'd, and the Hinges and Bars, called Chains, might be solid; for these were afterwards stripp'd when the Egyptians pillaged the Temple in the Reign of Rehoboam. That Herod did more than the Upper Portico doth not appear, for the substruction under the Portico was certainly Solomon's Work. The whole Hill Moriah was wall'd upright by him from the bottom of the Valley which render'd a broad Area above for all the Buildings of the Courts. This is the work in which were us'd stone of 10 and 12 Cubits, call'd as well they might _Costly Stones_. Now it may well be inquired how in an uneven craggy Country, as it is about Jerusalem, such mighty Loads of Stone could be brought. I shall give my thoughts.