C A P.1 r. dRervelationof the A.pocalypre. 347 , Now as touching the words : The Reed that was given , is a power that was granted to know the truth, whereby the Saints might meafure the length and breadth of the true and lawfull worship, left that in fo great a confusion, they should firay from a juít proportion ; in that it was like unto a Rod, it teacheth us, that the truth was to be greatly helped, and underpropped with the authority of Princes. For a Rod is oftentimes put for anEnfign of honour; namely, that Scepter which Kings carry in their hands, by which name alfo that bundle of rods is called, which was wont to be carried before the Magifirates. It fignifieth alto an Inftrument wherewith power is executed, as in the Poet, Circe the Witch worketh all her inchantments with a Rod, Mercury with a little whiteWand, proper to Ambaradors. This lheweth then that the Temple was to be meafured by thehelp ofTome Prince or great Man, as we heard in the 17. Chapter, where Conflantine the Great was the Inftrumentwhom hod ufed in fealing his fervants. For while he took care for the peace of the Church, and defended the Truth with all his endeavour, he provided a fafe refuge for the Saints to preferve them in from the contagionof the times. And the Angel flood by. Thefe words are wanting in oAretas, whereupon it is that he makes the Reedto command him toarise and mete. But thehelpof Angels joyned elfwhere with the Minfiers, where the like bufineffe is in hand, doth feem alto to require, that nothing Ihould be done but in the prefence.of the Angel; fee Ezech.4o.3. And afterwards, Apoc.zi. 16. Wherefore Theo. Reza hath done well to make this place perfect out of the Complurenfe Edition. Mete the Temple. The true ChriJlian Church is shadowed out by the type:ofthe oldTemple : each part whereof was moti accurately decyphered and meafured out of oldby the commandment of God himfelf ; And that to this end; that men might know that this Houle isframed by God, and is not made by mans might or cunning, and that therefore theyshould not take upon them anypower to change matters at their pleafure, as if the heavenly wifdome had not provi- ded fufficently to ordain every thing in the fitteti manner that could be. The things tobe meafured are, theTemple, the Altar, and the Worfhip that theMinifler uleth. The Temple was difiinguifhed into the Holy of Holies, and the Hely place, which had the Altar for the whole burnt offering, placed before the doors thereof. He com- mands to mete thefe things alone of the whole building, which are Z z but !J
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