s, her height of faith, hope, joy,
and comfort, and to measure each part according to this pattern here set
before us.

Wherein, for my part, I must profess (as Socrates in another case), _Scio
quod nescio_. I know that there is a great mystery here which I cannot
reach. Only I shall set forth unto you that little light which the Father
of lights hath given me.

I conceive that the Holy Ghost in this vision hath pointed at four several
times and conditions of the church,--that we may take with us the full
meaning, without addition or diminution.

Observing this rule, That what agreeth not to the type must be meant of
the thing typified, and what is not fulfilled at one time must be
fulfilled of the church at another time.

First of all, It cannot be denied that he points in some sort at the
restitution of the temple, worship of God, and city of Jerusalem, after
the captivity, as a type of the church of Christ, for though many things
in the vision do not agree to that time, as hath been proved, yet some
things do agree this, as it is least intended in the vision, so it is not
fit for me at this time to insist upon it. But he that would understand
the form of the temple of Jerusalem, the several parts, and excellent
structure thereof, will find enough written of that subject.(1372)

Secondly, This and other prophecies of building again the temple, may well
be applied to the building of the Christian church by the master-builders,
the apostles, and by other ministers of the gospel since their days. Let
us hear but two witnesses of the apostles themselves applying those
prophecies to the calling of the Gentiles: the one is Paul, 2 Cor. vi. 16,
"For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people;" the other is James, who applieth to the converted Gentiles that
prophecy of Amos, "After this I will return, and will build again the
tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the
ruins thereof, and I will set it up," Acts xv. 16.

Thirdly, But there is a third thing aimed at in this prophecy, and that
more principally than any of the other two, which is the repairing of the
breaches and ruins of the Christian church, and the building up of Zion in
her glory, about the time of the destruction of Antichrist and the
conversion of the Jews; and this happiness hath the Lord reserved to the
last times, to bu