A plain explanation of the whole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…A plaine explanation of the vvhole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…

Whereas the Apostle is bidden only to meddle with the Temple, and not with the outward Court, but to cast it out: This agreeth first with that doctrine of Paul, 1 Cor. 5. 12. Where he saith, What have we to do with those that are without? We are to have respect to those that are within. So that here we are to observe this point, that the Ministers are first and principally to attend upon those diligently & carefully which are committed to their charge, and to endeavour and exercise themselves only in those things which God hath enjoined them. Secondly, concerning ⟨p. 65⟩those things whereof they have received no charge from God, they are not in any case to meddle in them, nor to deal at all with them. Which condemneth the sin which now adays is usual, when they will take upon them those offices which God hath not appointed them, and which they are not able to perform.

Whereas the Apostle is bidden onely to meddle with the Temple, and not with the outward Court, but to cast it out: This agreeth first with that doctrine of Paul, 1 Cor. 5. 12. Where he saith, What haue we to doe with those that are without? We are to haue respect to those that are within. So that here wee are to obserue this point, that the Ministers are first and principally to attend vpon those diligently & carefully which are committed to their charge, and to endeauour and exercise themselues onely in those things which God hath enioyned them. Secondly, concerning ⟨p. 65⟩those things whereof they haue receiued no charge from God, they are not in any case to meddle in them, nor to deale at all with them. Which condemneth the sinne which now adayes is vsual, when they will take vpon them those offices which God hath not appointed them, and which they are not able to performe.

The outward Court is to be cast out, to be trodden under foot of the Gentiles, for the space of forty two months, whereof we have heard the meaning, both as it is used by John, and expounded by Daniel, viz. to be one thousand two hundred and sixty years, for a day is referred to a year; a week of days is seven years: so that hereby it appeareth, that the time of this great havoc of the Church was to continue one thousand two hundred and sixty years: Which as by account that falleth out, appeareth to begin after the ascension of our Saviour Christ, when the Apostles began to preach, & counting from that time, it shall appear by the miserable times that befell afterward unto the Church of God, in that space, namely, when the beasts that rose up out of the earth, set upon the people and Church of God, and persecuted and oppressed them grievously.