348 elatton ofthe Apocalypfe. C A P, z 1. but little parts of the whole, and the innermoft and mofi fecret rooms ofit only. For the Tabernacle which was ofold thirty Cubits long, and twelve broad, was tixteen times and more, Idler then the Court. After that the temple which was inlarged by Solomon, and by the Angel in Ezekiel, had far more ample and fpacious Courts. The temple then that is only meafured,doth declare that the Church was to be brought into great 'traits, to be limittedwith fmall bounds, and to be altogether removed from the eyes of men. For theHo- ly place did not lie open to the people ; but the Priefts alone did minifter there, fuch as all true Chriftians are reckoned to be in this place, as above, chap. r. 6. WhenConfantine therefore carne to the Kingdome, the Church began to hide it felfin fecret, by departing afide from the view of the world, into a cercain fecret Sanauary. Towhichpurpofe, thatfeal- ing, Chap. 7. ferved. By which,fome fewwere fevered and fet apart from a great many, by fotne privie mark ; And it muff not be mar- velled at, that this fetttng and going apart was to be Peen in the midít offilch a glorious peace, and in the time ofa great delire to advance the C'hriflian Profefflon as then was : For when as force kindled contentions, others gaped after honours,andmanywere with childe, and delivered ofmonftrous herefies, and all men gave themfelves to heap up fuperítitions ; was it an eafie matter to preferve any thing intire, fincere and found, while matters were at this paffe ? But the obfcureneffe of the true Sains grew every day more and more, the more thofe four plagues grew. And this loth Rome it felf at unawares confeffe : For doeft thou inquire, where our Church was before Luthers time ? Thou therefore art ignorant of it. But to an- fwer thy queftion,Know,that where thou O `ktnij7 Churchwas not ! there was ours; namely,in the hidden Sanauary ofour God,whither it fled together with all the Saints from thy contagion. But feeing thou boaftefr, that thou art the Citiefet upon an Hill, Which Was ne- ver hid, but alwayes flourifbed with a perpetual! and glorious h ic- cetTìon, apparant in the world, acknowledge withal! that thou art not the true Church, feeing thou foundeft no place in that fecret covert. And them that Worfbipped therein. The word to Mete,is common, and belonging to the continued quantity, but here it Gsnifiexh by a Synechdoche to number ; as if he fhould fay, Reckon thofe few in the number ofmy fervants, who do worfhip me truly in fecret. So in therealing of the Elect, the number was certain,Chap.7, which is the
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