358 1evelation ofthe Apocalyp1e. C A P.H. fo compelled to defend and ftablith errors, againft their meaning, which they chiefly hated above all other things. Yet were they not thus covered over with this foul and il-favored hew forthwith, and at the ftft, but they began only to change their garment in that joy- full time, which they wrote opcnly,not longafter. Indeed,that Age, and thefe that followed after,were graced andbleffed with fotne men; that werenotably learned and holy, but both thefe were few ; and no man can be ignorant, howmuch even there feW Worthy ones were blemif ied with the contagionof thofe corrupt times. They did in- deed fearch and fet out the truth, with great tharpneffe ofwit, and depth of learning,when they had to incounrer with the heretikes;but in their otherLabours and Commentaries,when they were free from this fear, they erred greatly from the mark, miffing the drift of the Scriptures: And yet erren thenwas their gown, they wrote. without fpòr;in refpeát of that filth, wherewith the truthor God was after- wards ftained:theAll'emblies of the faithful likewifewere;befineared (as it were)with honouring andadoring ofReliques,and,f . *ereclothed in faclçcloth then alfowas Religionplaced in holyplaces, and times, andotherfrivolous and triflingmattersofthat ,Bade. For then are the Churches beautiful) and goodly to fee to, when they glitter wtith,>he fimplicity of Gods Ordinances But the ages-following did deffe them rather with afhes,and daft and dirt, fo thatbeing at lengthco- vered over wholly therewith, they couldbe known ofnone butGód llone,but were utterly grown-ont of the knowledge ofother men, as touching their naturali vifage; It is a matter,indeed,to be admiredWith aflonifhment, that the Cl?terchJhould be foglorious in her Sun-likerobes under theperfeeuting Emperors,andyet fhouldbe thus mournfullyclad in thiscalm& fun-JhineWeather that herNurfingfatherbroughtunto her. Vert 4. Thefe be the tWo Olive trees. Nowwecome to the double property of thefePro hets ; the one of bounty towards their friends, as I may call ir, the other ofterriblepower over their enemies, both to deftroy them, verf. 5. As alfo to bring other plagues upon them, verf. 6. As for their bounty ; they are tWo Olive trees, and two Candleflickr; which type is taken out of the fourth of Zach. 2, r2. and is very fit for the matters inhand. For even, as God did then preferve the Church, and did beautifie it with the gifts ofhis Spirit; and that not fo much by the Miniffery of man, as by his own race, whichhe gave it from above beyond all expectàion, and that in, a bountiful) - manner, which the Oil fignified, that was not gotten by the indnítry of mao, but did flow voluntarily out ofthe Olivc
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