Brightman - BS2823 B85 1644

C A P.11. ./j eyelationofthe Apocalypfe. 359 Olive Berries, into the Cups of the Candlefticks : So fhouldhe now maintain his Church, that was in danger ofan utter overthrow, and fhould referve untohimfelfTome flaming Candlefticks, which how- foeverthey wanted the Oile, that was beaten and trodden out ofthe preffè,yet he hitnfelf would fet Olive trees by their fide, which drop- ping and diftilling down of their -own accord and continually, out of the Berries into the lamps , fhould furnifh them with per- petual! matter to nourifh their flame withall. Seeing then that in this Type , the inward gifts of the Spirit, are fhadowed forth by the flame ofthe Candlefticks, the outward by the Olive trees, among which the Holy word of God is the principali ; thefe Olive trees may not unfitly betoken the Scriptures, as out of whofe Berries (as it were)Oil is poured to nourifh the flame ofthe Lamps; itbeing their office tominder Doehine to the Prophets fufficiently, fo as they may be able to nourifh the flame of piety in themfelves, and in their hearers. Neither is the reafon hereofmuch unlike to than, for which both the inftruments which Cod ufeth to convey, and to cóntinueSpiritual! things, ( that is, both the Scriptures , and the Minifters ofthe word) were compared before to the Sun,the one for the light it hath ofit own,the other for kindlinga flame with con- venient nourifhment inothers. Now they are two, to anfwer to the two Teftaments, Old and New , Gad fpakzg of old by the Prophets, noW by his Son , Heb. 1. I. They are two alto inZachary, Before ever the Gofpel was written ; and yet nothing.doth hinder, but that this reafon may be applied to them alfo, feeing the Gofpel was alwaies in force before it was writ- ten. For thefe are the two main heads of the whole molt holy Scriptures,theLaw, and the Gofpel, whichare thefe wholfome Olive trees, and fo have been alwaies in all times. The Candlefiicks do carry the Candles that be fet within them, whereby Chrift hath taught us before exprefly that the Churches are noted out, Chap. I. zo. And that becaufe they do refemble Candlefticks, as in the tops ofwhich Prophets be fet,(and not in the high Topgallant of worldly dignity andpromotion) togive faxing light unto the Saints; The Prophets themfelves are Candles, and not Candlelticks, as Chrift diftinguifhetb them,faying, neither de menlight a candle, and pat it under a Bullrel , bat on a Candlef$ick, and it Thineth esst to all that be in the koufe, Matth.5. 15. And he Paid afore that the Mini- fters are Stars, when he compared theChurches to the Candlef}icks, Chap.I. zo. But why arc theybut twonow ? molt fitly no doubt, to exprcfs

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