Exod. xiii. 21. Ibid. Judith xx. 40.PILLAR: A Pillar of Clouds, a Pillar of Fire, a Pillar of Smoke, signify a Cloud, a Fire, a Smoke, which are raised up towards Heaven in the Form of an irregular Pillar. The Pillars of Heaven, Job xxvi. 11. and the Pillars of the Earth, Job ix. 6. Psal. lxxiv. 4. are metaphorical Expressions, that suppose the Heavens and the Earth to be as an Edifice, raised by the Hand of God, and founded upon its Basis or Foundation. This appears from those Job, ch. xxxviii. 4, 5, 6.Words of Job; Where wast thou when I laid the Foundations of the Earth? Declare, if thou hast Understanding. Who hath laid the Measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the Line upon it? Whereupon are the Foundations thereof fastened, or who laid the Corner-stone thereof? The Antients imagined the Earth to lie upon a Flat, and that the Heavens rested upon its Extremities.
The Pillars of the Church, James, Gal. ii. 9.Cephas, and John. And when James, Cephas and John, who seemed to be Pillars, perceived the Grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right Hands of Fellowship. And in the Revelations; Rev. iii. 12.Him that overcometh, will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God. He shall be the Support, the Strength, and the Ornament of the House of God. The Church of Jesus Christ, is call’d, by St. Paul, the Pillar 1 Tim. 3. 15.and Ground of the Truth. When the Lord sent Jeremiah to preach to the Nations, Jer. i. 18.he says to him, Behold, I have made thee this day a defenced City, and an Iron Pillar, and Brazen Walls against the whole Land; able to withstand all the Efforts of thy Enemies, and incapable to yield to their Violence.