the Princes of the earth 8 Whose excéeding number saith saynct Iohn is as the drye sande that hath bene bast vp wyth the sea which can in no wyse be numbred In thys full well maye it be â—onsidred what a small thynge Christes flocke was in comparison of these souldiours of Gog and Magog after sathans going forth for the tyme of their battayle Innumerable were the sectes of the Pope with those that they brought to that false fayth and obedience And so were the Prophetes of Mahomete with the peruerted mulytude Theyr power was great for the tyme and their malice vengeable yet were they as sande drye and vnfruitefull 9 They rose vp in pryde ryches and ryalty and alwaies went ouer where as they sée the earth made playne and smoth and that in euery lande compasse Their generall iourney was all the worlde ouer towardes them that were poore in spirite or whose lâ—stes were mortified from the worldeâ— Consider them for an example whom they haue cruelly burned and slaine where as they perceiued their croked custoÌ„es throwen doune and the streight rule of Gods worde faythfullye receyued there persecuted they moste â—ierâ—â—sy there weâ—ed they furious and mayde sparing neyther swerde fyre gybbet nor other torment such heretykes as woulde not beleue as holy church commaunded Thys hath bene theyr order for the tyme of Sathans lybertie And this haue they taken for an hygh poynt of Christan religion For thys is that houre that Christ prophecyed of wherein men shold think to do vnto god gret good seruice whaÌ„ thei put one of his vnto deth 11 Thus haue they wyth all prodigious tyranny compassed the derely beloued Citie of God or the holy coÌ„gregaton for whom Christ dyed vtterly to ouerthrowe it By all maner of craftes and diuelyshe circumuentioÌ„s haue they gone about at that tyme as they woulde doe yet styll to destroye that samll remnaunte or church of the Lord builded without materiall stone morter yâ— swéete spouse of his with out spot or wrincle Not onely sought they in the enterprise to bring to naught the particular coÌ„gregatioÌ„s but for as much as lay in theÌ„ the vniuersal church of god thaÌ„ liuing Blessed be our lorde god though it hath ben since the loosing of sathaÌ„ but a pore wretched neglected thing of no reputatioÌ„ before the world yet hath it bene alwayes before hym a beloued Cytie and hath defended it so mightely that nothing hath peryshed of it No not one heire of theyr heades What the Turke wyth Mahomets host hath done for hys parte in Egipt Gréece Palestyne Hierusalem Bulgary in the borders of Italy Spayne at the Rhodes in the kingdom of HuÌ„garye Ludouirus the king there rufully slaine nowe last of all against the citie of UyeÌ„ I thinke it is knoweÌ„ vnto all meÌ„ We may se by that is here writteÌ„ of these two enimies Gog Magog the daily experiments confirming the same that they are farre aboue vs in number and power being as the saÌ„des in the sea Most vainely are we occupied if we assertaine our selues to haue the victorye ouer them by any other way than the Lorde hath appoynted Let vs pray therefore vnto the Lorde for grace and than amende our liues and the plage shall cease Onely hath he promysed to destroy them all wyth the breath of his mouth and wyth no bodely armoure nor strength of men as here after foloweth Let vs in the meane tyme giue our selues vnto feruent prayer to compassion of our brethern to dedes of charytie pitty to abstinence from synne and to the forsaking of our owne desires For sure we are that he shall shorten their dayes of mischiefe for his electes sake 12 In the processe folowing must we take for the tyme past the tyme to come for the clere declaration of the mistery considering euer more the vsage of the scriptures for tymes Whan these enimies Gog and Magog shal be at the hyghest in their vengeable enterprises agaynst the elect Citie or peaceable congregation of Christ a consumyng fyre sayth Saint Iohn which is the eternal worde of the Lorde shall come downe fréelye out of heauen from the mouth of the great omnipotent God 13 As a fearefull lyghtninge shall it fall vpoÌ„ theÌ„ and as terrible fyre shall it deuoure them lyke as the materyall fyre did eate vp Sodome and Gomorre rebellions in the desert the enimyes that sought Helias The fyre that is kindled in the wrath of God shall burne vnto the bottome of hel coÌ„sume vp those terrible termagauntes 14 That worde of the lordes indignation shall with great violeÌ„ce throwe the diuel that wiâ—y serpeÌ„t which deceiued gog Mogog with their innumerable souldyours into a foule stynking lake or boyling pit of wylde fyre brimstoÌ„ 15 Upon the wicked saith Dauid shall the lorde rayne snars Wyld fyre brimstone with tirrible storme teÌ„peste shall they haue to rewarde for theyr etarnall punishment Herein are to be marked considered both the intollerable greuousnesse of the paines also the euerlasting continuaunce of them 16 In the same place of intollerable torment were the beastly generatioÌ„s of Antechrist al their scholemaisters of hipocrites doctrine Or eternallye of god were they therevnto appointed as the vngodly communaltie wyth theyr capitaine and as the bodye and members with their wicked heade for all readie is it done by his worde but thaÌ„ shall it folow in effect wheras they shal be as the Lord hath appoynted most sharpely afflicted with vnspeakeable tormentes both day and night without pause or ceasing for euer and euer without ende 17 Neuer shall their fyre be quenched sayth Esaie noâ— yet theyr gnawinge worme be taken from them For all maner of griefes wherwith God vexed the wicked may this fyre here be taken after the scriptures For as witnesseth saint Augustine in his xx booke and xii chapter De ciuitate Dei not onely is this punishmeÌ„t to be referred to the latter iudgement but alo to the extermination of Antichristes hâ—st by the worde of God the worlde ouer Be the Gospell once purely taught amoÌ„g men it will condemne all that they haue done vpon their owne presumption without the grounde of Gods veritie be it ceremony or Sacramente priesthode or sacryfice reseruinge the deceiuers to his most fearefull iudgement THE TEXT 1 And I savve a great vvhite seate 2. him that satte on it 3. from vvhose face fled avvay both the earth heaueÌ„ 4. theyr places was no more founde 5. And I sawe the dead both great and small 6. stand before God 7. And the bookes were opened 8. And an other boke vvas opened 9 vvhych is the booke of lyfe 10. And the dead vvere iudged of those thinges 11. vvhyche vvere vvrytten in the bookes according to theyr deedes 12. And the sea gaue vp hir dead 13. vvhych vvere in hir 14. And death 15. and hell delyuered vp the dead 16. vvhiche vvere in them 17. and they vvere iudged euery man
according to hys deades 18. And death 19 and hell vvere cast 20. into the lake of fyre 21. This is the second death 22. And vvhosoeuer vvas not found vvritteÌ„ in the booke of lyfe 23. vvas caste into the lake of fyre The commentary 1 A none after this I behelde saith Saynt Iohan in secrete mysterye an imperiall throne or seat of estate faire splendaunte and bewtyfull None other is this than the iudgement seate of the Lorde 2 Great it is for the Maiestie and power of hym that shall syt therevpoÌ„ is of inestimable magnificence greatnesse Fayre and whyte both for the celestyall cléerenesse that shall at that houre apere with hym and also for the purenesse equitie and ryght of his vniuersal iudgementes 3 From the aspect of whose fearefull countenaunce shall both the earth beneath and the other elemeÌ„tes aboue flée awaye All the creatures of his creacion shall wyth reuerence tremble quake at his mighty aperaunce The SuÌ„ne shall thaÌ„ be darkened the Mone shall not giue hir lyght The Starres shall fall downe from aboue the powers of heauen shal be moued The elementes shall melte wyth heate and the whole earth shall teare in péeces lyke a ragge 4 A terryble fyre shall go before the iudge to burne vp hys enimyes on euery syde The places of them that lyued here supersticiously and voluptuously shall no more after that be founde Neuer shall they resort agayne hither to theyr olde wantoÌ„ pleasurs Of their bewtyfull Cyties shall not one stone be lefte vpon an other Their proude paynted Synagoges as duste in the wynde shal be scattred away from the earth Neither shall the skye nor yet the ground beneth be as it was but both they shal be renewed chaunged They shal be deliuered from corruption and so appere both a newe heauen and a newe earth according to the expectation of the creatures 5 Immediatly after that sayth saint Iohn the iudge thus sitting vpoÌ„ the scaâ—e of his eternall Maiestie I sawe styll in mysterye after the blast of the truÌ„pet that all they which were deade arose out of the earth And that both hygh and lowe great and small good and badde King and begger prelate and plough man tirant and perscecuted innocent Yea the sucking babe the died in the cradell so well as the aged maÌ„ 6 All they séemed vnto me to stande before their generall iudge Iesus Christ to whome the euerlasting father had giuen ouer his whole iudgementes which there appeared as hée was in dede a verie omnipotent god All we shall appere sayth Paule before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery one of vs maye receyue according to that he hath done be it good or ill 7 And the bookes of reckennings which are the seuerall consciences of men were open before the iudge That afore was hidde will thaÌ„ be manyfest and that was secret wyll than come to light be disclosed Euident it wil be vnto him who hath fulfilled the commaunded works of mercy who hath left them vndone their owne constences bearing witnesse to the same For what can be hid from him which seeth both the inwarde reynes and the secret thoughtes of the harte In this generall rekening yet shall prayse with the eternall rewarde redowne vnto them from the mercyfull Lorde whose walking here hath bene accordinge vnto fayth There shall they be reproued to haue bene pitiful to the poore hongry thursty nedy naked sicke in prison 8 After this was an other booke opeÌ„ed of a farre diuerse nature froÌ„ the other bokes for it was the swéet boke of lyfe wherin be regestred al that were predestinate to be saued froÌ„ the worlds beginning And this boke is the eternal predestinatioÌ„ of God 9 Before the worlds fouÌ„datioÌ„ saith s. Paule the lord predestinate vs into the addoptioÌ„ of his childreÌ„ through Iesus Christe Of this booke made Moyses mencion whan he said Eyther pardon thys people or els race me out of thy booke which thou haste written And Christ also to his seuentie disciples Be glad sayth he that your names are written in heauen Moreouer Iosue called this the booke of the ryghtuous and Iohn here the boke with seuen claspes This sheweh the holy ghost here vnto vs much after the custome dayly vsed among vs. For of the most notable men and women our maner is bothe longe to remember the names and also to speake of them as occasion giueth So equall is thys eternall iudge that no personage respecteth he in iudgment neither of Emperours nor Pope Kinge nor Byshope Lorde nor prieste But as he is ryghtuous of himselfe so iudgeth he rightuously 10 For they that were dead sayeth saynt Iohan or that had ledde their lyues here without fayth and the spirite of Christ were iudged of hym there according to the thinges which were regestred in the bokes of their coÌ„scieÌ„ces 11 That is to say according to the fylthy workes wherof their desperat coÌ„ciences accused them Onely are the wicked to be takeÌ„ here for the dead For the rightuous shall thaÌ„ haue nothinge wherof their coÌ„scieÌ„ce may accuse them Neyther shall the euill doers as witnesseth Dauid be of couÌ„sell with theÌ„ at the day They hauing the lyfe euerlasting shall not than be iudged though they than appere but shall sit with Christ in iudgement and reioyce in the condempnation of the vngodly blasphemers The rewarde of their vnfaythfulnesse shall thaÌ„ be powred vpon theÌ„ to their perpetuall care At that daye shall none bée absent but all shal be séene eyther to honour or els to reprofe 12 Neyther shall the depth of the sea nor the darkenesse of death nor yet hell that is bottomelesse bée able to hide any froÌ„ the face of this iudge For the sea sayth saynt Iohn that is myghty and greate shall at that daye delyuer vp cleane hir deade or those whome the Lorde suffered hyr to swallowe in for their outragious sinnes 13 Lyke as were the giauntes in the floude of Noe the great host of Pharao in the red sea and such other more 14 So shall gréedy death doe also which after many strange sortes hath consumed the enimies of God As for an example Cain by a chaunce vnsought Nadah and Abyn by fyre Achan by standing Holofernes Saull by the swerde Naball by excesse of wyne Iesabell by treading of horses Daniels accusers by the lyons Menelaus by breaking his necke Iudas by hanging himselfe Herod by wormes the children of Israell by swerd fyre serpentes and soden death and such other lyke 15 Hell whych is insaciable shall in lyke case render vp the innumerable swarme of the dead whom he wyth open mouth hath swallowed in quicke for their abhominations 16 Of whose number were Chore Dathan and Abiron with their affinitye the Cytyes of Sodome and Gomorre the vncircumcised gyauntes the ryche rourer and the ryche glotton in Luke Symon Magus wyth dyuerse other Hell hath gaped meruelouslye wyde sayeth Esaye and hath rauenouslye deuoured the hygh mynded
though he had ben killed 13 which had seuen hornes 14 and seuen eyes which are the seuen spirits of God sent vnto all the worlde 15. And hee came and tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the seat The Paraphrase AFter the forsayde vysion I saw saieth saint Iohn in the right hande or mighty power and wyll of hym that sate on the throne with maiestye a wonderfull Booke in the which both man and Angell were desirous to looke This booke is Gods heauenly ordinance contayning not onely all that hath bene created of God visible and inuisible but also the vniuersall contents of the holy scripture This boke hath the mercifull Lorde prouided that men should know him partly by his creatures partly by his Scriptures This booke he hath in his right hand For heauen he measureth with his spanne and the whole world he comprehendeth vnder his three â—ingers In his hande or power is the vniuersal earth bothe hills valleyes At his onely wil pleasure is the sincere vnderstanding of the scriptures and true interpretacion of the same 2 This booke is written within without The world coÌ„tayneth creatures visible and inuisible powers open hidden that men in theÌ„ should reade and vnderstand that there is a liuing God and that they should acknowledge him and worship him as the Lorde and creator of all The holy scripture hath hir figure history hir mistery and veritie hir parable plaine doctrine her night and day her letter and sence her voyce and word her flesh and spirit her shadow and cleare light her death and lyfe her law and gospell her Moyses and Christ to bring all men also vnto the knowledge of God 3 But that Booke is surely sealed with seauen stronge seales from the fleshlye vnderstanding of man not hauinge the spirite of Christ that he can neither vse the creatures of God a right nor yet perceiue the Scriptures according to their true meanning Muche hath the doctours fantasied of these seuen claspes or spearynges of thys booke wythout the aucthoritie of Gods word calling theÌ„ all maner of obscurities darkenesses Where as in verie déed they are nothing els but the strong and vnuariable decrée or set diffinition of God before the constitucion of the world that none should be able to read rightly therin nor know the iust meaning therof without the spirit of his sonne and vnles it be méekly asked in faith And this one decrée of god so oft locketh vp these heaueÌ„ly secrets froÌ„ maÌ„ as it findeth hym carnall couetous wilfull blinde malicious proude and false with such other lyke The number of seuen doeth onely respect the opening of the seales in all ages For in euery age hath God opened the trueth vnto some Godly men by his spirite with Abell and Enoch with Noe and Sem with Abraham and Iob with Moyses and Samuel with Dauid and Helias with Hieremie and Daniel with Iohn Baptist Peter 4 And I sawe sayeth S. Iohn a strong Angell which betokeneth euerie faithful minister of gods word coueting all men to be taught of god and sending them only vnto Christ for they are the Angels of the Lorde of hostes Which Angell cryed with a loude voyce with an earnest zeale of the glorie of God and with a feruent desire of his neighbours health 5 Who is worthie to opeÌ„ this booke and to vndoo the claspes thereof As though he should say None but he alone Séeke him therfore that he may open it vnto you els are yée lyke alwayes to be blynde foolishe and vnlearned lyers before the Lord séeme ye neuer so wyse eloquent and well learned in the sight of men 6 And in déede no man was founde able to doe it neyther in heauen nor in earth nor vnder the earth yet was there a diligent search made many did attempt it The Angels that by apostasie fell from God when they were in heauen wrought maistryes about it And in the earth héere the Philosophers among the Gentiles the religious fathers amoÌ„g the Iewes the Pharisies and Scribes the lawyers and priests and amoÌ„g the Christians the false Apostles Antichrists the Sophisters and Papists the sectes and scoole doctors with all the worldly wyse hath craftily compassed the thing Yea the messeÌ„gers of Sathan whose dampnation is certayne subtily to perswade and fraudelently to deceiue the innocent soules haue also done their parte But what hath folowed After their vayne enterpryse they haue bene so astonyed at the maiestie or sight of the booke that neyther were they able to open it nor yet to looke thervpon So high were the mysteries thereof so vnserchable the iudgements so inuestigable the wayes therevnto 7 And I fell in sore wéeping sayth Sainct Iohn muche dolour was it to my heart to see that none was found worthie no creature able neyther Angell nor man good spirit nor diuil to open and to read the booke which is cléerely to know the will of God therein nor yet once to looke therevpon that is sincerely to perceyue the least veritie coÌ„tayned therin No creature vnderstanding could attayn vnto it All were ignorant all darke all blynde 8 And as I was thus mournyng one of the elders euen Iacob by name comforted mée with his prophecie of Iuda Esay Micheas Esdras bearing witnesse to the same 9 These with other ascertained me that he was the Lyon of the Trybe of Iuda which should ouercome the world haue the victorie ouer death and hell for in déed they with Abraham sawe it a farre of and much reioysed He is the strong inuincible Lyon that subdued the prince of this world tooke from him the pray and hathe deuyded the spoyle 10 He is the verie roote of Dauid the ground and originall cause of all godly promises made vnto him of deliuerance victorie and raygne and alone in him are they fulfilled Only hath he obtayned by his death resurrection and ascension to make open the hydden mysteries of thys booke or whole ordinaunce of God and to loose the seuen seales thereof or to take away the vniuersall impediments wherby the said booke could in no case be séene as is carnalitie ignorance darkenesse blindenesse wilfulnesse couetousnesse malice hypocrisie lyes with such lyke So was it afore speared by the decrée of God that none could reade in it till he remoued the vntowardnesse from their heartes 11 All this I beheld saieth S. Iohn and as I looked further I sawe that in the midst of the seate which is the vniuersall congregation of God of the foure beasts which are the constaunt ministers of his worde also in the middest of the auncient elders whych hath bene the sincere witnesses of hys veritie since the beginning 12 There stood a fayre méeke most innocent Lambe as though he had bene newly slain I knew that Christ was this Lambe for he was wounded for
sainct Iohn the Euangelist were these mysteries of the whole Trinitie reueled as I shewed afore such tyme as he was of the Emperour Domicianus exyled for his preaching into the yle of Pathmos at the cruell complayntes of the Idolatrous priestes and bishops of him so written sent out of the same exile into the congregations In one day were all these marueils seene and in the same written as witnesseth Haymo with dyuers other expositours and as seemeth agreeable to the text which is a great wonder in tokeÌ„ that the Lord as Dauid reporteth hym is a very swift writer which at the same time earnestly occupied the hand of the sayd Iohn Of suche a nature is the message of this boke with the other contentes therof that from no place is it sent more freely opened more cleerely nor tolde foorth more boldely than out of exyle And this should seeme to be the cause thereof In exyle was it first written as a little before is mencyoned In exyle are the powers thereof most earnestly proued of theÌ„ that hath faith As appeareth yet by Iustinus the martyr Militon the Asiane Hireneus Hipolytus Victorinus and other which were there of the first expositours in the primatiue church and in the ende suffered for it the death of their bodyes And though it were than the laste booke of the Byble and hath bene euer since fardest from knowledge least regarded of them all yet was it the first that receiued any mans expositioÌ„ as a booke thought most necessary to be knowne of the Christians Into the deserte sendeth the Lorde hys church when the filthy spirite by his spightful spiritualtie speweth out his execrable waters throwyng the thyrd parte of the starres into the earth with his tayle He giueth hyr two Egles wings to flye thither with which are the light precepts examples of Christ to declyne their mischieues For he both â—â—ed his selfe when occasions were giuen him and commaunded hys disciples to flee from citie to citie in time of their persecutions He prouideth hir there a resting place for iij. yeares and an halfe which are the dayes of Helyas Danyell and Iohn And all this is not that shee should there be ydle Flattery dwellyng at home and sucking there styll his mothers brestes may neuer tell out the truth he seeth so many dauÌ„gers on euery side as displeasur of frindes decaye of name losse of goodes offence of great men punishment of body ieopardy of lyfe wyth such other lyke The forsaken wretched sort hath the Lorde prouided alwayes to rebuke the worlde of sinne for want of true fayth of hipocrisie for want of perfect ryghtuousnesse of blyndnesse for lacke of Godly iudgement For nought is it not therfore that he hath exiled a certen number of beleuing brethren the realme of Englande of the which afflicted family my fayth is that I am one Where vpon I haue considered it no lesse then my bounde dutie vnder payne of damnation to admonyshe Christes flocke by thys present reuelation of theyr perills past and the dauÌ„gers to come for contempt of the Gospell whych now reygneth there aboue all in the clergy I am not the fyrst which hath attempted thys offyce or taken vpon mee thys odyous enterpryse full of rebukes and slaunders and that maketh mee the boulder Iustinus becomming of a prophane philosopher a perfect chrystian wrote an exposicion vpon this Apocalips and was slayne for the veritie in the yeare from Christs incarnatyon a. C. and liiii Melyton the Byshoppe of Sardis in Asia which was one of the vii congregatioÌ„s vnto whome Iohn wrote made also a booke of the same lyued about the same tyme in the yeare of our lord a .c.lx. Hyreneus a discyple of Polycarpe byshope of Smyrna which was also one of the sayde congregations left behinde hym a commentary vpon the same booke and suffred stronge martyrdome for the truth in the yeare of our lorde a c.lxxv Hypolytus a byshope in Aphrica a man of much godly wysdome and learning wrote vpon the same about the yeare of our lorde .cc. .xx. In lyke maner Uictorinus the byshop of Pictauis about the yeare of our lorde cc .lxx. Ticonius the Aphricane anno dom ccc xc Saynct Hierome to Anatholius Anno. Dom. cccc .x. And saynt Austin also Anno dom cccc .xx. with dyuerse other more Primasius byshoppe of Vâ—icina wrote .v. lytle bookes vpoÌ„ this Apocalyps vnto Castorius whereof this is the beginning Tuis vir illustris et religiose castori which volume I haue redde and he lyued in the yeare of our Lord cccc .xl. Aprigius byshop of PaceÌ„ in Spayne made a notable work vpon the same about the yeare of our lorde ccccc .xxx. So did Cassiodorus Apulus as Petrus Equilinus calleth him anno dom ccccc lxx called his booke complexiones in Apocalipsim So did Isidorus iunior the bishop of Hispalis in Spaine Anno Do. DC.xxx with all those that here foloweth Of whom I haue sene almost so many as haue there beginnings here registred Ex benedictinis monachis â—edas presbiter Anglus li. iii apocalipsis saneti Iohannis inqua Alcuinus monachus Anglus li. i. Haymo HirsueldeÌ„sis Germanus li. vii Legimus in ecclesiastica historia Strabus fuldensis Germanus lib. i. Sicut in secularibus literis Rabanus maurus Germanus li. i. Ambrosius Ansbertus Gallus li x. de illustratione afflatus Robertus Tuiciensis Germanus lib. xii Vt tu quoque venerabilis colo Ioachim Abbas Calaber li. viii Quia profunda libri huius Monachus quidam Cantuariensis li. i. Legitur Genesis .xxviii. Vidit Easterton monachus Anglus lib. i. Posuit castra sua in medio Ex Canonicis regularibus Richardus de sancto Victore Scotus libro primo Gaufredus Antisiodorensis Gallus lib. i. Ex Carthusianis monachis Henricus de Hassia Germanus lib. i Dionisius Rikel Germanus lib. i. Ecce puer meus electus Ex sacerdotibus prophaenis Ambrosius de septem tubis li. i. Tempus autem arbitror Berengarius Thuronensis Gallus lib. i. Gilbertus porreta Gallus li. i. Omnes qui piâ— volunt viuere Author a centum annis Anglus libro i. Ioannes Hus Bohemus li. i. Cum finierinâ— testimonium Paulus Burgensis Iudeus lib. i. Licet opinio expositorum Mathias Dorinck Germanus lib. i. Costasie doctor Anglus lib. i. Ecce de scripsieam tibi triplic Iacobus Stralen Germanus lib. i. Vidit Iacob in somno schalam Ex Carmelitanis Ioannes Baconthorpe Anglus lib. i. Apocalipsis Iesu Christi c. Ioannes Tytleshale Anglus li. i. Est autem Apocalipsis Grecus sermo Thomas de ylleya Anglus li. i. Apocalipsis reuelacio dicitur Ioannes Barath Hannonius lib. i. Ego Ioannes vidi ostium Ioannes de Vernone Gallus lib. i. Nicolaus de Alsacia Germanus lib. i. Ioannes
the lawes of theyr fathers by the eatyng of meats dedicate to vncleane Idols but also fall into the high displeasure of god for committing with them most vile fornication Suche vnholsome teachers are among thy people take héede if thou list 8 Thou arte also verye familiar with such vngodly Apostates false Apostles as mayntayne the vncomely examples teachings of the Nycolaytanes which corruptyng godly maryage not only permit their own wyues to be common but also they abashe not to defyle the wyues of other men Whose damnable doyngs I detest and abhorre 9 I counsell thée therefore to repent in tyme and to bee conuerted frō the errors of those couetous gluttōs rauenous lechours which cōdemyning holy matrimony permit all kyndes of vncleannesse and nothing more gréedily deuour thā that is offred vp to Idolles in their dedycations and feastes Call backe these abuses with swéete teachings exhortations desires and patient rebukes els will I within a while visite thée to thy displeasure 10 Yea and I will valiauntly fight agaynst those Balaamitanes which giue false coūsel for filthie rewards and agaynst those Nicolaytanes that chaunge holy wedlocke for whoredome And with the swerde of my mouth which is the inuincible veritie shall I iudge them condemne them and vtterly distroy them with all those shauen Madyanites that with their whorishe inuentions paynted traditions and ceremonyall supersticions hath takē from me my most deare Israelytes bought with my precious bloud With the breath of my mouth shal I consume thée and bring thée to naught 11 Let him that hath but one eare of iust vnderstandyng take gentle warnyng by such charitable premonishments as the holy spirite of God giueth vnto the christen cōgregations 12 To him that through constante fayth in the name doctrine of God neither feareth the world sin death hel nor the diuil will I giue to tast eate and sauer an hidden manna a secret sweetnesse a wisdome in the spirite that he shall féele the goodnesse thereof and reioyce to knowe how swéete the Lord is and what an heauenly treasure it is to trust in him Which manna is hid from the wyse of this world 13 I will also giue him for a token of perpetuall peace and loue that pure and precious stone Iesus Christ so white as the lillie floure innocent and cleane frō all contagious vices to be his only whole wisdom rightuousnesse light health and redemption 14 And in the said white stone Iesus Christ which is also the booke of lyfe will I gyue him a newe name written I shall register him for the chyld of God and the heyre of lyfe euerlasting For in him alone must ye be accepted saued and glorified 15 Of this no man is certayne but he that is taught of the spirit of God No man can say Iesus is the Lorde but in the holy ghost By the spiryte of adoption ye cry Abba father The onely spirit of the Lord ascertaineth your spirit that ye are the sonnes of God THE TEXT 1. And vnto the Angell of the congregation of Thiatyra vvryte 2. This saith the sonne of God vvhich hath his eyes lyke vnto a flame of fyre 3. vvhose feete are lyke brasse 4. I knovve thy vvorkes and thy loue and thy seruice and thy faith and thy pacience and thy deeds 5. vvhich are mo at the last then at the first 6. Notvvithstanding I haue a fevv things agaynst thee 7. that thou suffrest that vvoman Iesabell vvhich calleth hyr selfe a Prophetisse 8. To teache and to deceyue my seruauntes to make them commytte fornication and to eate meates offered vp vnto Idols 9. And I gaue hir space to repent of hir fornication and shee repented not 10. Beholde I will caste hir into a bed 11. And them that commit fornication with hir 12. Into great aduersitie excepte they turne from their deedes 13. And I wil kil hir children with death 14. And all the congregations shall know that I am he which sercheth the reynes and hartes 15. And I will giue vnto euerie one of you according to your workes THE PARAPHRASE 1 Delay not cōsequently my louing friende Iohn sayeth the Lorde expresly to manifest with penne vnto the pastour of the elect congregation of Thiatyra which is frō these low partes here a sweete smellyng sacrifice vnto God of labour and contrytion in the olde aged man and bodie of death For shee detesteth the vanities of this world shée forsaketh the fruites of the fleshe shée renounceth the cōcupiscēce of the eyes shée mortifieth hir mortall mēbers she slayeth hir sensuall affects and rendreth vp hir selfe vnto hir Lord God as a lylyuing holy and acceptable offering 2 Geue vnto that contrite and feruent congregacion this comfort Tel hir that this saythe the dearely beloued and natural sonne of god which hath his eyes of godly wysdome and knowledge so lyuely effectuall as a flame of fyre that he séeth all thinges and nothing can passe from his righteousnesse in iudgement 3 Whose féete or charitable affections towardes man are lyke vnto Brasse brent in a fornace For his most innocent manhoode by his own agréement suffred here for his sake manyfolde affllictions and paines 4 For so much as all thinges are open to myne eyes and nothing can be hid from me saith that lord I perceue thy fruitefull workes I sée thy neighbourly christen loue I cōsider thy liberall heart and hande to the poore thy faythfull exhortacions thy feruent spirit in the Lorde thy pacient sufferaunce in aduersitie for the truethes sake and thy other godly déedes beside 5 I marke it also that thou shrinkest not in them but rather goest forward with increase For now at the last are they more effectual plēteous then they were at the fyrst which greatly delighteth mée 6 Neuerthelesse yet I haue somewhat to say against thée For though I iudge thée much to be cōmended yet finde I thée not without faulte 7 Thou peaceably permittest without resistance that cruel woman and abhominable strūpet Iesabel which is the malignaunt church and Sinagoge of Sathan which is not ashamed to boast hir selfe a prophetisse a publisher of the truth and maynteiner of Gods seruyce yea the mother of holy church hir selfe 8 Under that pretence to set foorth diuilish doctrine to aduaunce pernicious errours and colour false lyes in hypocrisie To the intent shee might therewith not only deceyue my faithful seruaūts but also bring them into such trade of wyckednes that they should not force to commit whoredome in the spirite by fallyng vnto straunge worshippings and to eate of Idoll offerings in consenting to wicked lawes and blasphéemous tradytions of olde dotyng Hypocrytes 9 I haue giuen to that wicked congregatiō many holsome premonishments and warnings with conuenient respyte to remember hir follie and repent hir detestable wayes of liuing least she should perish but she will in no wyse bee sorie repent
the seate vvhich lyueth for euer and euer 9. The xxiiij elders fell dovvne before him that sate on the trone vvorshipped him that lyueth for euer 10. and cast their crovvnes before the trone saying 11. Thou art vvorthie Lord to receyue glorie and honour and povver 12. For thou hast created all things and for thy vvilles sake they are and vvere created THE PARAPHRASE 1 These iiij beastes hath iiij diuers exteriour similitudes which are not els but the outward tokens testimonyes and signes of faith or the fruitfull workes thereof only procéeding For fayth is neuer without hir holesome fruites The first beast was in similitude lyke vnto a Lyon strong and mightie in power And that are they which hath layde asyde the olde man of sinne with his féeble faynte workes and conuerted them selues into the ghostly image of Christ which is the mightie stronge Lyon of the Trybe of Iuda for that they myght haue the victorie ouer sinne 2 The seconde beast was fashyoned lyke vnto a Calfe much vsed in the olde lawe to bée offered vp in sacryfice And suche are they which forsaking them selues and mortifying the corrupte lustes of theyr fleshe doeth walke in a newe Christian lyfe and offer vp them selues vnto God as a lyuing sacrifice readie to suffer all kyndes of persecution and death for his names sake 3 The third beast had a face in fauour lyke a man hauing reason wit and discrecion And those are they which through pollicie of fayth and prudencie in the spirit so wysely and discretely order them selues in that they goe aboute that nothyng is against the glorie of God but al things worketh for the best in them 4 The fourth beast was lyke vnto a flying Egle which buyldeth hir neast very highe in the harde rocke stone Which are those godly persōs that liuing héere in this mortall bodie by the counsell of the holy Ghost haue their conuersation in heauen They séeke for those thinges which are aboue where as Christ is sitting on the right hand of God In whom only as in the sure rocke they buylde all their whole hope and trust By these foure similitudes is the true congregation of God knowne from the painted sinagoge and coūterfaict church of Sathan glorifiyng hir selfe in vaine glorie pompe crueltie rape simonie lyes hatred sectes murther Idolatrie sedition and tirannie with other fruites of the flesh whose God is their bellie and theyr ende dampnation And though these iiij simylitudes be diuers yet doe they respect one congregation after Ezech. which euer more applyeth all .iiij. vnto one beast And euerie one of the sayd iiij beastes had .vj. winges about him 5 The winges whereby Gods people are raysed vp vnto him is fayth hope charitie iustice mercie veritie with such other vertues as euer more accompanyeth them By these are they lifted vp vnto heauenlye thinges By these auoyde they the common mischieues of the world By these obtayne they a plentuous quyetnesse in God abyding their sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christ. And wher as in Ezechiell the sayd winges appearing but iiij are here founde sixe we may gather this That the gospel now published the giftes of the holy ghost are more high plentifull and open vnder christ then afore time vnder Moyses 6 Round aboute them without and within the sayde beastes were ful of eyes The seruants of the Lord hath Godly wisdome and knowledge euery where inwardly to consider heauenly things durable sure and perfite and neuer to perish Outwardly agayne to iudge earthly things corruptible wretched and vaine and shortly to be ended 7 Neither day nor night could the sayde beastes cease from the praise of their Lord God saying Holy holy holy Or blessed art thou almightye father blessed art thou almightie sonne blessed art thou almighty holy ghost distinct thrée persons in trinity and in substaunce one Lorde God almighty which was withoute beginning and is of him selfe onely and shall be for euer euer euerlasting And what is this els but that the righteous feruently eprayinge geueth continnuall thankes vnto GOD reioysinge amonge them selues in psalmes in hymnes and in spiritusonges praysinge hym euermore in their harts 8 And when those .iiij. beastes or faithfull feruent sincere and pure beleuers héere beléeuing in the flesh gaue glory honour and thanks from the iiij quartes of the earth in professing the verity in teaching it vnto other and in liuinge accordinge to the same And that vnto hym which sate on the seat which is god almighty reigning ouer that congregation which lyueth for euer and euer and hath of his kyngdome none end 9 Anone stepped forth the .xxiiij. elders or the whole perfit and vniuersall number of them which hath rested in the Lorde and they with all méekenes fel down before him which sate on the throne They submitted themselues vnto him ackowleginge him for theyr onely Lorde They worshipped him also with dew reuerance gaue high thankes vnto him as vnto their eternal liuīg god 10 Yea finally they threwe downe their crowns before the throne of his eternal maiestie They cōfessed their owne good workes merites and deseruinges to be nothyng at all But their whole health wisdome knowledge vertue holines rightuousnes and redemption to be onely of his lyberall gift and vndeserued goodnesse 11 And as men most highly reioysing they cryed vnto him saying thus It is thou O Lord God most mightie creator that is alone worthie to receyue all glory all honour and all thankes for that hath bene wrought in heauen in earth and none other els but thou 12 For thou hast alone by thy vnsercheable wisedome created all things and brought them foorth out of nothing And for the onely pleasure of thy will they are now at this present tyme in substance and fashyon and were created of thée at the beginning not onely to be at thy commaūdemēt but also to be euermore thākefull vnto thée and to laude thée and prayse thée for euer The fift Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I sawe in the right hande of him that sate on the throne a booke 2 written with in and on the back syde 3. sealed with seuen seales 4. and I sawe a strong Angell preaching with a loude voyce 5. Who is worthie to open the booke and loose the seales thereof 6. And no man in heauen nor in earth neyther vnder the earth vvas able to open the booke neyther to looke thereon 7. And I wept much bycause no man was found worthie to open to read the booke neither to looke thereon 8. And one of the elders sayd vnto me Weepe not 9. Beholde the Lyon which is of the trybe of Iuda 10 the roote of Dauid hath obtayned to open the booke and to loose the seuen seales thereof 11. And I beheld and lo in the middest of the seat and of the iiij beastes and in the middest of the elders 12. stoode a Lambe as
for newe promotions Euermore they compassed to augment their dignyties Continuall was their study to get prehemineÌ„ce to win honour and to obtayne superiorytie not withoute the destruction of kingdomes the vtter decay of communalties and vnspeakeable murther of peoples Iohn the Archebyshoppe of Constantinople contended to be the vniueâ—sal Patriarke Boniface the thirde of that name Byshoppe of Rome tooke vpon hym to be the head Byshoppe of all the worlde and Gods onely Uicar in earth Mahomet boasted hym selfe to be the great Prophete and messenger of GOD. Thus was Christes coate withoute seame among them deuided and his church most rufully dispersed Thus out of the corrupted depraued scriptures tooke the Iewes their Talmud the Saracens their Alchorane and the Byshops their popish lawes and decrées Then folowed innumerable sectes of perdicion vnder the romishe pope in Europa vnder Mahomet the false Prophet in Afryca and vnder prester Iohn in Asia whiche with their execrable tradicions and rules banished Christ and his pure doctrin for euer Than set they vp songe in the church with Latine seruice bell ringing and Organ playinge Than builded they monasteries auaunced Images inuented purgatorye not without many strange reuelacions Than came in that ceremony that as sensing of Images Procession and holy water with candles ashes and palmes Than were shauen crownes commaunded holy ornaments deuised mariage and meates inhibited and hallowing of churches practised At the last crepte in the worshipping of reliques and shrines with holy oyle and creame with the paschall and paxe with feastes and dedications with latines masses dirges for the dead and many great miracles followed ThaÌ„ were kings deposed and made Moonkes Emperours put downe and parrish priests set vp No gospell might then be taught but to maintaine this ware for aduantage Uniuersities were then builded and generall studies founded the worlde ouer with all kindes of crafty learning to vpholde this new Christen relygyon or prestish supersticion The Antichristes thus spred and theyr kyngdome well set forwarde the light was cléerely extincted and darknesse ouer wente the whole worlde 1 Much meruayled alwayes the poore chosen flock of christ and were greatlye troubled in their mindes to beholde this great confusion tyll the Lorde opened vnto them the fourth seale of his booke in the which all was written from the begining In that Seale openinge the Lorde shewed what the head rulers of his Church were euen very hypocrites rightly compared vnto a pale Horse For after their dissembling manner they shewed sad countinaunces outwardlye to appeare fastinge and babled very much to séeme deuonte men 2 And as the Lambe had opened the fowrth Seale sayeth Saincte Iohn I hard the voyce of the fowrth beast which séemed vnto me an Egle representing those godly beléeuers that are most highly desirous of the glorye of GOD. 3 Come hyther sayde that voice Note what thou shalt sée here enprent it well in thy minde 4 And sa I looked foorth I behelde a pale Horse whome I tooke for the vniuersall Synagoge of hypocrites or dissembling church of Antichriste pale as men without health bleyk as men without that freshe lyfe which is in Christ Iesu. 5 The name of hym which sate vpon this pale Horse was death for their doctrine is death and dampnation What bringeth hypocrisye with hym but destruction of health What carrieth dissimulation but the vtter decay of lyfe Are their last fruites any other then confusion and dyspayre 6 For why hell commeth after them to swallowe in those that are taught by them Eternall dampnation doth folow them to eate them vp for euer whome they shall deceiue Such is the finall rewarde of those cursed hypocrits that treadeth down Gods truth and destroyeth his word vnder a fayned pretence of the contrarye God graunt them therefore once to open their eyes and to consider it that they are the Horses of death least Hell héere after deuoure them 7 Unto these gaudish hypocrites and beastly Antichristes whith are the horse of death and carieth all to darknesse and dampnation power is geuen whiche is the sufferaunce of God vpon the fourth parte of the earth A great part of the world shall they destroy much people by theÌ„ shal perish and be lost 8 After diuers sortes shall they depriue them of the lyfe euerlastyng Some shal they slay with the sword of their false doctrine hauing a glorious shine of wisdome in supersticion and deuilishnesse Some shall they famishe for wante of GODS true worde whiche is the bread of Chyldren and the lyuinge foode of the soule 9 Some will they also poyson with the contagious leauen of their pestilent lawes and tradicions which are dayly ministred taught by the vile vermine of the earth their suffraganes Archedecons officials doctors ministers false preachers curates persons parrish priests and religions verye beastly both of lyfe and studye Lorde ones delyuer from these deceiptfull and rauenous wolues whiche are neuer satisfied thy poore seruants that confesse thy holy name Amen THE TEXT 1 And when he opened the fift seale 2 I saw vnder the aulter 3. The soules of them that were killed for the word of God and for the testimony which they had 4. And they cried with a loude voyce saying 5. How long taryest thou 6 Lord holy and true to iudge 7. And to auenge our bloude on them that dwell on the earth 8. And loÌ„g white garments were geuen vnto euery one of theÌ„ 9. And it vvas saide vnto theÌ„ 10. That they shoulde rest for a litle season 11. vntill the number of their felowes and brethren 12. And of them that shoulde be killed as they were were fulfilled The Paraphrase 1 Euident it is by that hath ben séene and sayde afore in these fowre horses what the estate of the christen church was is now in these latter dayes Such horrible confusion hath the Antichristes made with their wicked lawes and decrées and with their deceiptfull doctrine of errours and lies to vpholde their filthy kingdome of pryde slouth hypocrisie and beastlynes that scarcely is any thing cleane pure and godly Now do they nothing but slea None other studye haue they in these dayes but to persecut emprison and famish to burn head and hang. Now haue they obtayned to enter the iudgement hall and to syt vpon lyfe death without defiling of theÌ„selues Now may they both a accuse and iudge both indite and condempne yet not soyle their consecrate handes If any controle their customes or say against their witchcraftes they are ready to run ouer hym with death whom they carye to slea both soule and bodye 1 This hath the Lord shewed in mistery vnto Iohn in the fift seale openinge by whom are ment the true Christen beléeuers at this time so well as at al other times sence Christes assension 2 And when the Lambe opened the fift seale or declared in
are knowne to be the children of adoption or of the inherytaunce promised by grace 10 And the sayde Angell cryed with a lowde voyce he bouldlye and with an earnest spirit vttered the verytie fearing no worldy displeasure This voyce against the vnbeléeuing Antichristes was neuer more earnest than now in our time as wel in wrightings as in preachinges And further hath it gone by bookes wrytten then by wordes spoken and much more people conuerted 11 An earnest message from God was thys voyce to the sayde fowre Angels of hys wrath which were by his sufferaunce permitted cruelly to handle and to hurte hys people to their saluation and their owne damnation which people dwelled as well vpon the sea as vpon the land as well in the close Ilandes as in the open countrye 12 And the voice was this Sequestre your fiercenes for a time in no case presume after any cruell sorte to harme neither the earth nor the sea nor the growing trées Suffer the Gospell to haue his frée course stop not the passage of Gods worde let the winde of his verytie blowe without impediment Though some hartes be worldlye some conscinces wauering and some mindes barren and vnfruitfull yet may they repent and come to goodnes When the séede is sowen some falleth vpon the good earth bringeth foorth fruite in abundaunce Zacheus of a great extorcioner became a rightuous man Mathew of a Publycan a true Apostle and Paule of a fierce persecuter a gentle preacher 13 Cease therfore from with holding the swéet blast of the Scriptures till we haue sealed vp the chosen seruants of our eternall God in theyr foreheades or emprinted fayth in their hartes by his spirite which is the marke of saluation and tyll we haue tokened vp the whole number of them Thus to be marked vp for the seruants of God is not onely to beléeue after the minde of Ezechiel but also to lament the abhominatiō and bewayle the wickednesse that is done héere None are of that sorte vnlesse they sorrowfully mourne to se god blasphemed the name of Christ disdayned the trueth troden vnder foote and the perfect Christen church despoyled By the aforesayde Angell is not ment one Christen preacher alone but many for so much as it is héere sayde Till we haue sealed the seruants c. For after that one hath begun many doth continue it In that hath bene spoken afore is it manifest that wexe the tirants neuer so mad and persecute they neuer so sore to stoppe Gods worde of hys course yet canne they not so preuayle againste it but it commeth to them whome God hath appoynted to be marked vp for his They with all the deuils in hell cannot withholde it from them whom God hath prefixed to make vp his number And though that the Antichristes and murtherers thinketh them to be very few by reson of their wicked lawes cruel constitucions threatnings and terrible tormentes yet is their number infinite lyke as here doth folow THE TEXT 1 And I hearde the number of them which were sealed 2. And there were sealed an hundreth and xliiii M. of al the tribes of the Children of Israell 3. Of the tribe of Iuda were sealed xii M. 4. Of the tribe of Ruben were sealed .xii. M. 5. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed .xii. M. 6. Of the tribe of Asser were sealed .xii. M. 7. Of the tribe of Neptalim were sealed .xii. M. 8. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed tvvelue M. 9. Of the tribe of Symeon were sealed xii M. 10 Of the tribe of Leuy were sealed .xii. M. 11. Of the tribe of Isachar were sealed .xii. M. 12 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelue thousand 13. Of the tribe of Ioseph vvere sealed tvvelue thousande 14. Of the tride of Beniamin vvere sealead .xii. M. The Paraphrase 1 And I hearde sayeth Saincte Iohn the number of them rehearsed whiche were sealed with the sure token of faith and marked vp for the heauenly inheritours with Christ not for one countrye but for the whole world Fyrst were the Israelites named for so much as they were the peculiar nation whom God fyrst chose for his owne people Israell is mine eldest sonne sayeth the Lorde After them followed in course the Gentiles as the yonger Sonne that we shoulde thereby knowe that all people whiche feareth god and worketh rightuousnes is accepted vnto him 2 And there were sealed vnto the Lorde an hundred and xliij thousandes of all the tribes of the children of Israell to haue the lyfe euerlastinge of euery tribe twelue thousande persons 3 Of the chosen tribe of Iuda the fourth sonne of Iacob of whō christe descended were sealed vnto God .xii. thousand 4 Of the mighty stock of Ruben the first sonne of Iacob by Lia were marked vnto the Lord .xij. thousand 5 Of the happy kindred of Gad the vij sonne of Iacob by Zepha were tokened vnto life .xii. thousand 6 Of the blessed tribe of Asser the eight sonne of Iacob by Zepha were sealed vnto the heauenlye felowship xii thousand 7 Of the plentuous ofspring of Neptalim the vi sonne of Iacob by Bala were signed to be pertakers of ioy with christ .xii. thousande 8 Of the notable parage of Manasses the eldest sonne of Ioseph in the stede of Dan because of the ydolatrie were noted for the friendes of God twelue thousand 9 Of the humble tribe of Symeon the second sonne of Iacob by Lia were sealed to the heauens felicitie xii thousand 10 Of the sanctified successe of Leuy the thirde son of Iacob by Lia were marked vnto saluation twelue thousand 11 Of the pleasant posterytie of Isachar the .ix. sonne of Iacob by Lya were tokened to the ioyes euerlasting xii thousand 12 Of the famous tribe of Zabulon the .x. sonne of Iacob by Lya were sealed to the kingdom heauenly .xii. thousande 13 Of the rightuous stock of Iospeh the .xi. sonne of Iacob by Rachell were sanctified to Christes inheritaunce .xii. M. 14 Of the godly kindred of Beniamin the twelf sonne of Iacob by Rachel were elected vnto the eternall herytage twelue thousande This set number of twelue thousande for euery tribe of the Israelits betokeneth a notable multitude in euer kindred of them certenly appointed of God vnto saluation And it is not to be vnderstanded vpon them that are past but rather vpon them whom it shall please God to call in this latter age vnder the vi seale opening Whom Paule calleth the remnant which shal be saued according to the election of grace For lyke as by the fall of the Iewes Synagoge for vnthankfullye receauinge the veritie saluation then hapened vnto the Heathen so shal it now againe from their carnall church to the Iewes for the same god hath not thrust out his people but their conuersion shall be as is life from the dead Thys shall the carnall synagoge of Antychristes
worke which coÌ„tayneth the first .x. Chapters are all these godlye maâ—ters of Sainct Iohns Reuelation in course comprehended Fyrst of all is the high legacie and message of the sayde Sainct Iohn vnto the .vij. congregacions of Aâ—ta in the first Chapter mencyoned Wherin they are also vnto vij golden Candelstickes compared and their preachers vnto vij shyning starres in the right hand of Christ. In the seconde and third Chapters are the sayd vij congregacions seuerally ech one by it selfe discribed and warned to the vniuersall premonishment of the whole Christian Church in the vij partes or clymates of the worlde Marke those three Chapters diligently and ye shall perceyue that the true Christian church is alone goâ—uerned by the preaching of gods word an only office of Christ commaunded and not by dead ceremonies coÌ„maunâ— by the Pope of whom there is no specialtie Consider howe those preachers throughout all this booke are compared vnto starres and Angels their coÌ„gregacions called the right spouse of Christ. The other be assembled vnto most filthie locustes bréeding of the smoke of the pit bottomles vnto hatefull byrdes foule spirites and diuils their church called the proude Sinagoge of Sathan and the most execrable whore of Babilon In the iiij Chapter is heauen made open and the secrets therof manifested vnto the christian beléeuer whom Iohn also representeth thys whole booke ouer For not only are the mysteries therof in the vniuersall church performed but also in the particular churches of nacions and in the pryuate consciences of men In the v.vj and vij Chapters the Lambe Christ openeth the vij seales of the booke of the most hidden mysteries of God for the vij ages of the christian church In the meane season are the true seruantes of God sealed vnto saluacioÌ„ solaced in their troubles and reléeued in their sorowes notwithstanding the great violence of the truthes aduersaries In the viij and ix Chapters the vij Angels blowe their trumpettes Signifying the preachers to shewe foorth their messages appoynted of God for the vij ages of the churche many wonderfull plages folowing in the people for their vnbeléeues sake they obstinately resisting it or els vnthankefully receiuing it In the tenth Chapter commeth the mightie Angell from heauen with a booke in his hand all open and Iohn deuoureth the same Which betokeneth the earnest preachers of this latter age of the church wherein the true seruauntes of God shall gréedily receiue and also digest the scriptures Take thys for a bréefe sum of all that is spoken in the other volum the residue shall follow hereafter in course In the mergent of that first parte or volume put I many allegacions both of the scriptures and doctors And there vnto was I first prouoked by this saying of Sainct Hierome in a certayne Epistle of his ad Paulinum monachum The Apocalips of Sainct Iohn sayeth he hath so many mysteries as it hath wordes or for euerie word a mysterie whither ye will I mynded also thereby my labours to ease the readers for search of the places and to signify vnto them that I dyd nothing therin without aucthoritie And vndoubtedly the gatheryng of those places was so laborious vnto me as the making of the commentarie which neuerthelesse I thought well bestowed for the comfort of my bretheren But two cruell enimyes haue my iust labours had in that behalfe of whome the one hath them falsifyed the other blasphéemed Which hath caused me to leaue theÌ„ out in all that héere foloweth The Printers are the fyrst whose headie hast negligence and couetousnesse commonly corrupteth all bookes These haue both dysplased them and also chaunged theyr numbers to the truthes derogacion what though they had at their hands ij learned correctours which tooke all paynes possible to preserue them The other is Momus or Zoylus yea rather one whiche playeth both partes vnder the cloake of a Christian This cruell carper and malicious quarreller leaueth no mans worke vnrebuked minister it neuer so much godlinesse But lyke as rust mothes maggottes cankers catterpyllers with other vyle vermyne corrupteth all that is to the vse of man so doeth this enimy to distroy both name and worke only for the auauncement of his owne precious person His working tooles are suche vnsauerie sophismes problemes eleÌ„ches corolaries quydities subtylties seconde intentions intrincycall moods wyth other prodygious sorceryes whom he sometime sucked out of hys mothers brestes the vniuersitie These hath he not yet all as vnsauerie morselles euometed for Christ diffyning rather with Aristotle than with Paul in his dayly disputations Of this ryall Rabi is Peter iudged a foole and Iohn an vnlearned Idiote Yet shall his reader finde small learning at his hande vnlesse he take an heape of barbarous tearmes and vnsowed togither sentences for matters of excelent learning But surely Iohn will one day come from Ephesus to visite this proude Diotrephes shew him of his arrogant brags to his dyspleasure vnlesse he leaue of in tyme. All Aristotles prouision shal not help hym Sathan vpon the pynnacle of the Temple neuer bestowed his alleged scripture more peruersely than thys Momus interpreted certayne of my allegacioÌ„s nor yet farther from their right vnderstanding But I forgiue it him with this forewarning for this time thoughe it bée not the fyrst lewde poynt that he hath playd in case that â—e so leaue his quareling My second allegation vpon the Preface .1 Cor. 6 is not set there to authorise the Apocalips as he most falsly and all contrary to my meaning hath interpreted it but affirmeth that the Christian beléeuers are Christs members which ought of necessitie by the holy ghostes appointment to heare and to read the wordes of the sayde Booke For I know that the epistle vnto the Corinthians was written of Paule ten yeares at the least before Saint Iohns Apocalips No lesse is he than a false Prophet that resisteth Ieremy rebuking Babilon for hir wickednes To much it were to answere his other quarellings and to tedious vnto the christian readers and therfore I passe them ouer least I shoulde be to plenteous in aunsweringe a foole according to hys foolishnesse Thus by these cruell handelynges of these two vngratious enemies haue I iust occasion to leaue out the allegations in the margent obseruing this wholsome counsell of Christ concerning such as they be Geue not that is holy vnto Dogs nor yet that is precious vnto swine For the one of his churlish nature teareth and deuoureth the other like a swine treadeth it vnder his filthy féete The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ be with thée euermore good christian Reader and with all theÌ„ that séeketh of the scriptures the sauing health in them conteined withoute quarelling Amen The second part of the Image of both Churches after the most wonderfull and heauenly reuelation of Saint Iohn the Euangelist c. Compiled by Iohn Bale The .xi. Chapter VNto Iohn was deliuered after that he had thus deuoured the booke a réede not vnlyke to the mete
winchester the winker of wiles largely declaring theÌ„selues to be déeply of the same profession and marke 4 But I fynde yet an other thyng in it For it is called here the number of man whose number lyeth all in vj. God created all things for maÌ„s commoditie in vj. dayes in the seueÌ„th rested After this creation continued man the space of .vj. ages til the commyng of Christ which brought with him the sabboth of the spirit And this is signified by the greater number which is the vj. huÌ„dred For not vnlike is it to the tyme tymes halfe tyme of Danyel Iohn to the yeares moneths dayes of Helyas Iohn also as we had afore Since Christes ascention hath the church continued by vj. other ages of much lesse tyme coÌ„prehended in the .vj. seales in the latter end of whom we are now And this shall conclude with suche a sabboth of peace in the fréedome of Gods worde as hath not bene since the beginning Sathan shall be tyed vp and the true beléeuers shall occupye in much quietnesse the beast coÌ„dempned with all hys false Prophetes And this is the nâ—mber of the sixt But this peace shall not thus in quietnesse long continue For longe can not Christes church be without persecution Sathan shal be loosed againe and the beleauings of the beast shall set vp their bristles and persecute the Sainctes a fresh Agayn shal they plant builde rauish kepe whores ryot and ruffle as though they should long continue But sodainly shall the latter iudgement day of the Lord light vpoÌ„ them vnbewares the perpetuall Sabboth of ioye shyning to the electe flocke of Christ. And this is the least number of all compared here vnto six And may well be signified by the xlij moneths afore which is ryghtly vj. seuenthes in the which they shall treade downe the holy citie or coÌ„gregation of the Lord once againe This latter accounte was founde out by a certayne vnnamed disciple of Iohn Wycleue and I suppose it most agréeing to the truth The second sabboth here or libertie of Gods truth hath had his shew in England alreadie if ye marke it well And whither it wil yet appeare more open or nay it is in the Lords handes let vs pray and hope for it hath great lykelihoode of a much farther appearaunce 5 Since the worlds beginning hath the misterie of iniquitie wrought in Caine and in his posteritie and so coÌ„tinued in the beastly members of Antichrist and so shall doe still to the latter day Therefore is it no lesse than the number of men six hundred sixtie and sixe Thus is he tokened with all wickednesse that admitteth the false fayth of this beast and folowith the same in his liuing by the subtile perswasions of the bishops and their lying Prophets is sealed vp to eternall dampnacion vnles the Lord cal him in time Not only in England is healed the beastes wounded heade but also in ohter certain regions But for so much as it is most liuely don there and this booke written in that language I haue onely brought forth héere examples thereof in that purpose The xiiij Chapter IN this present chapter declareth the Lord vnto Iohn and vnto his faithfull seruants by him the degrée estate coÌ„dicioÌ„ of his true beléeuing church now after he hath afore lyuely described the beastiall churche of Antichrist of his horned spiritualitye by the afore named ii moÌ„strous beastes And this is that his louers should know what they be which are of his houshold what an helper they haue of him in the midst of their aduersities to the comfort of their soules And though they bee heere amonge those raging tirantes in tirrible agonies paines persecutions troubles he is neuer absent from theÌ„ nor will not be till he hath rewarded them with vnspeakeable Ioyes THE TEXT 1 And I looked and lo a Lambe stoode in the mount Sion 2. and with him an C. and xliiij thousand 3. hauing his fathers name written in their foreheads 4. And I hearde a voice from heauen 5. as the sound of many waters 6. and as the voice of a great thuÌ„der 7. And the voice that I hearde was 8. as the harpers that playe vpon their harpes 9. And they sang as it were a nevve song 10. before the seat 11. and before the foure beasts 12. and the Elders 13. And no man could learn that songe 14. but the hundereth and xliiij thousand 15. vvhich vvere redeemed from the earth 16. These are they vvhich vvere not defiled vvith vvomen 17. for they are Virgynes 18. These follovve the Lambe vvhither so euer he goeth 19. These were redeemed from men 20. being the first fruites vnto God and to the Lambe 21. and in their mouthes was found no guile 22. for they are without spotte before the trone of God The Paraphrase 1 I looked saith Sainct Iohn on the other side in a thought as it were I behelde that a Lambe stoode vpon mount Sion Euen the Lambe of God Iesus Christ that alone tooke away the sinnes of the world Alone doeth he gouerne his faythfull church as the onely and immediate head therof hauing none other to assist him in that office For who is the King ouer SioÌ„ but he Who shall reduce Israell again to his folde but he Only is hée with his congregation to ayde them with his word to bolden them with his spirite to strengthen them with his grace 2 And with him were presente an hundreth and .xliiij. thousand hauing his fathers name written in theyr foreheads So many as haue in hart receiued his word and in faith digested his verity are the very children of Abraham and are marked vp for the sonnes of god by the seale of the holy Ghost 3 For power haue they geuen theÌ„ to be Gods children that beleue in his name And this is it to haue his name written in thir foreheads For their faith declareth theÌ„ Gods sonnes Let this set number be none impedimeÌ„t to the reader to be taken here for the vniuersall multitude of the faithful as well of the gentiles as of the Iewes that beleueth though it otherwise appeareth in the viii Chapter of this booke For so well is the gentle that hath faith a perfecte Israeltie as is the Christen Iew. Yea much rather was Zachius for his faith iudged Abrahams childe thaÌ„ was Simon for fulfilling the workes of the lawe For God is not parciall Whatsoeuer he be yâ— feareth him worketh rightuousenesse is accepted with him And so is it ment heare And therefor is not the difference written here as in the other place but al is ioyned in one to comprehende all vnder one And as touching the equall certaintie in nuÌ„ber both here and there Like as it is there certainly knowne vnto God euen so is it here thoughe it be vnto vs both innumerable vncertaine Not as concerninge the number it selfe but the common vnderstanding thereof in the scriptures For if
vision of the serpent I behelde saith S. Iohn seates prepared without number I saw the harts of faithfull beléeuers which are the seats of wisdoÌ„e after Stlomon bewtifully garnished with vertues by the preaching of thou Apostles other godly techers Uery peaceable quietus were these seats For thogh they had in the worlde on euery syde tribulation yet had they their contciences quieted in Christ. They considered themselues partakers of the heauenly calling and reioyced in hope of the glory of gods children 2 Upon these seates sate they which are afore called that people whome Sathan should no more deceine They setled them selues in the wisdome the god loueth They grouÌ„ded theyr dwelling with discreation in his vnderstanding and knowledge Fast dyd they cleaue to his louinge worde And for none aduersitie woulde they moue theyr foote from the hard rock whiche is Christ. Thus sate his people in the beautifull seates of peace after Esay in the tabernacles of trust and in a most plentuous rest the deceuers and mockers put aparte 3 And as they were thus quieted the iudgemente or true vnderstandyng of the Lordes verytie was giuen vnto them Their sences were opened and great knowledge had they in the scriptures The figures and prophesies that were hyd to other were manifeste and open vnto them The Dark vale was remoued from Moyses face and the light of the laws appeared They coulde then decerne good from euill light from darknesse and swéete from sower The yoke was then taken from them no longer were they subiecte to straungers Dead men perceiued the secrets of the Booke The eyes of the blinde might sée without mist of darknesse They whiche afore tyme were of an erronious spirite had than the ryght vnderstanding and were learned in the lawe In their inward partes was the knowledge thereof planted of the Lord and the truth written in theyr hartes he becomming their God they his people Bycause we should not seperate the dead from the quicke or the departed from the liuing and so iudge them dyuers coÌ„sidering they both are of one God and liue by one spirite being of one hope and calling The holy ghost doeth here couple them togither as shéepe of one pasture féeding all of one spirituall meate and drinkyng of one spirituall rock accompanying theÌ„ and as members of one misticall body of Christ in thys present reuelation 4 I also sayeth saint Iohn behelde in this secrets mysterie of the spirite the innocent soules of godly men and women that were beheaded of cruell tyrauntes for the faithfull testimony of Iesu and the constante assercyon of the true word of the Lord God I perceyued by the scriptures that his true harted witnesses remained not in deth with the wicked but passed throughâ— with the rightuous from the death vnto lyfe had the lyfe euerlasting They are not forgotten wyth the vngodly but they nowe followe the lambe and dwell where as he dwellethe Else would Paule neuer so ernestlye haue desired to be dissolued froÌ„ this fleshe and so to be wyth Christ. 5 Not onely is this here spoken of them that wer beheadded and of none other else thoughte it séemeth so in the letter but of all them that hath dyed for the veritie For than should Esaye Ieremye Ezechiell Amos Micheas Zacharye Steuen and Iames the lesse with all those that hath bene burned strangled quartred drowned stoned crucyfied spytted racked â—layed boyled stycked shot throughe wyth arrowes and that hath suffrid all other terrible tormentes be rekened to be none of that number Beheaddyng is here taken for depriuacion of lyfe lyke as the heade is in scripture taken sometyme for the soule sometyme for the whole man 6 For standing by Christes veritie confessinge hym God and man dyd they loose their liues which was in the end no losse vnto them but a profitable winning For vnto such remaineth the crowne of lyfe the delyghtes of Paradise and a seate wyth god 7 These worshipped not the beastlye Antichrist the verye body of Sathan They bowed not downe nor yet gaue them selues to such wycked tradicions as that carnall generacion made for their beasty bellyes sake 8 Neyther reuerenced they thys prodigious Image or such vngodly princes and magistrates as their trewe offyce set a parte dyd counterfet hym in crueltie and diuelishnesse But they rightlye considered with the faithfull Machabées and apostles that in such case it was much better to obey God than men 9 Neither had they in their lyfe time taken the printe of his filthie seale vpon their foreheades professinge in their inwarde consciences those diabolicall rules 10 Nor yet on their handes agréeyng to vse them in the outward conuersacion of their bodyes No yoke woulde they drawe with the infidels thinking that Christ coulde haue no agréement with Beliall For through faith they perceyued as he that is of the spirite discerneth all things that though they séemed glorious in the face of the world yet were they before God abhominable sacriledge DiligeÌ„tly they searched the scriptures and beleued not all spirites but first proued them whither they were of God or naye By that knewe they that the homage of soule ought to be giuen to none other than to one liuing God alone and that none other preceptes of liuing were to bée followed of them than Christ their sauiour had taught All other traditions of meÌ„ tooke they for strauÌ„ge doctrine for crafti colors of diuilish deceitfulnes 11 Therfore whaÌ„ they were thought of the wicked to be dead they liued in all swéetnes of the spirit in desire of his latter commyng which shall bée to theyr double glory 12 And they reygned with Christ the pastour high bishop of their soules not onely here were as they suffred wyth hym for a thousand yeres space but also aboue where as he sitteth on the right hand of gods maiestie seat thousand wythout end Than raigneth the godly numbre most of all whan they seme to the wicked least of all to reigne as whan they suffer persecution and death for Christ. For after none other sort reigneth hys churche here thaÌ„ he reigned afore them whose tryumphe was greatest vpon the crosse 13 The thousand yeares of the reigne of the godly stretcheth here no farder than the thousande years of the fall of the vngodly Christes yeares also deducted which is the head of his congregation For as the one kyngdome decreased the other alwayes increased very fewe Christian martyrs are constaunt witnesses perceiued froÌ„ thence forth For as it appeareth by the historye many were abiured and recaÌ„ted which was not séene in the former age and all in a maner a small number of the poore except vtterly renouÌ„ced the veritye for the cruell behauior of the Antichristes In these ii sortes afore rehersed of them that sate vpon the seates and of them that were beheadded for the testymony of Iesu is it to be marked that all were not martyrs whome God alowed for his in the prymatiue churche but that
they comprehended whych hauynge the wisdom of the spirite inflameth other wyth it prouokinge them thereby to the loue of god their neyghbour Thus did Moyses and Esay Barnabas and Paule in whome the glorye of the Lorde apeared plentiously 13 The eight was of a Berall which is of a pale grene coloure betokening those faithfull persones whych of christiaÌ„ compassion hath dolorously lamented the fall of theyr brethren Of this godly natur was Steuen which prayed for them that stoned him to death So was afore hys tyme Samuell whych mourned for Saul whan hée sée hym cast out of the Lordes fauour 14 The nynth was of a Topaze whych hath in hym the colours of all other stones And thys signifyeth theÌ„ whych are with all vertues adourned Lyke as was Daniell the man of desires and Iohn the Euangelist which wrote thys present prophecy whom Christ much loued The clere workes of these and such other wolde hée to shyne vnto men that by them the father might be glorifyed 15 The tenth was of a Chrisoprasos whose condicion is to shyne lyke gold and yet he is gréene in sight Suche are they whych hauing godly wysdoÌ„e vttereth it accordinge to the tallent geuen them of the Lorde thereby renewing the dull spirites of other vnto heauenly things Among this sort may Ezechiell be numbred which saw many wonderful visions so may SimeoÌ„ and Anna in the Gospell 16 The eleueÌ„th was of a Iacinct which is in coloure lyke vnto water spred ouer with bright sonne beames And this betokeneth those that are baren from the â—cience and learninge of this worlde and yet haue knowledge from aboue Uery Idiots appeare they in the sight of men and yet are they taughte of God to disclose most wonderfull secrets Of this sort were Oseas Iohel and Amos wihch was but a poore shepard with the other inferiour prophets And so were Andrew Philip Thomas with the other Apostles and Disciples 17 The twelft was an Amatist purple violet rose coloured And this betokneth them that are feruent méeke and constaunt in the Lords truth and that hath bene alwaies ready to shed their bloud for it Such were the vnbrethren in the Machabées with their most faithfull mother So was also Iames the more and Antipas the faithfull witnesse with other disciples martirs None can shewe a more token of loue than he which giueth vp his lyfe for his friends This sort dyd Christe proclaime altogether blessed sayde that the kingdom of heauen was their own Thus signifieth these xii foundatioÌ„s that the godly ministers of Christes congregation haue builded vpon him according to the diuers graces which god hath geuen theÌ„ some gold some siluer some precious stones But they that haue brought vnto this building tiÌ„ber hay or stubble which are customes tradicions dum ceremonies or els worldly honors riches voluptuous plesures are not in this heauenly number admitted Figured are these foundatioÌ„s in the precious stones which were in the brest flap of Aron that hye priest in the preious decking of the king of Tirus necessary shal it be for him that will more largely know the natural properties of theÌ„ to resort vnto Plinius in the xxxvii Booke of his naturall historye or vnto Bartilmew de proprietatibus reruÌ„ for the vnderstanding of misteries vnto S. Hierom vpon the liiii chap. of Esay or vnto Beda Haymo Costasy BacoÌ„â—horpe Elyne Tilney such other as hath written great works vpon the apocalips Ynough is it for vs to shew you after the minde of S. Augustin these stones to signifie the diuers graces of the holy ghost For all these thinges doth one spirit of the Lord work deuiding seueral gifts vnto euery maÌ„ at his pleasure which ar not wtout their preciousnes beuty excelleÌ„t glory as will appere in the glorius day of the childreÌ„ of god The Text. 1 And the tvvelue gates vvere xii pearles 2. And euery gate vvas of one pearle 3. And the streat of the citie vvas pure golde 4. As a thorough shining glasse 5. And I savv no temple therein 6 For the Lorde God almightie and the Lamb is the temple of it 7. And the citie hath no neede of the sunne neither of the moone to lighten it 8. For the brightnesse of God doth lighten it 9 And the Lamb is the light of it 10. And the people vvhich are laued shall vvalk in the light of it 11. And the kings of the earth shall bring their glory vnto it 12. And the gates of it shall not be shut by day 13 For there shall be no night there 14. And ther shal enter into it none vnclean thing 15. Neither vvhatsoeuer vvorketh abhominatioÌ„ or maketh lies 16 but thei which are vvritten in the Lambes Booke of life The Commentary 1 Consequently saith the Angel vnto Iohn the xii gates or openinges into this citie were twelue fayre pearls For dilectable and precious is the doctrine of the gospell whereby men doe enter into the kingdome of God on euery side or in euery quarter age of the world 2 And euery gate by him selfe was of one pearle like as were the foundations of one precious stone euermore in their kindes In token that the verytie of Christ is whole perfect vnbroken in it selfe lyke as is his cote without seame A speciall commodyty is it in cities to haue their gates stroÌ„g and bewtifull And so is it in the kingdome of God that they which open vnto rightuousnesse be more feruent in the truth and of a more sincere life thaÌ„ the residue For they shoulde be both the salte of the earth and lighte of the world Though these gates be many yet haue they but one entraunce for eche one of them is but of one pearle But one mediatour is there betwene God and man which is Iesus Christ None maye come vnto the father but by hym onely Alone is he the dore the waye the verytie lyghte life 3 And as concerning the cytie within the great strete thereof was as of pure golde so fyne fayre and cleare all the bryght shining glasse that maye be séene through without any maner of impediment or dymnesse Thys strete is the large commynalty or the sayntes whom the father of heauen by his power made of froward stones the perfect children of AbrahaÌ„ whan he couched them here togyther in the verity of one christian fayth shall here after ioyne in such perfectioÌ„ of loue as possible can not be dissolued 4 Precious are they here through fayth in Christes bloud and there shal they be pure both in loue and lyfe incorruptible Oure reioyse sayth saint Paule is not in carnall wisdome but in the greate grace of God in singlenesse of hart in a sincere fayth Your glorye are we euen as you are ours also in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ. 5 In this glorious citye sawe I no temple builded saith Iohn for the Lord God almighty which is the eternall father and
by my onely reuelation or shewing whiche am the eternall spouse of the church hath he receiued them to their singular health and comforte 3 And as cōcerning me without faile I am the originall roote or grounde of saluation in Dauid after the word and after the flesh I am of his stocke or generation For in mée are fulfilled all promises of health that euer god made for that faythfull housholde By mee had Dauid his beginning for I made him and by me shall he and all other true Israelites in him haue for euer a glorious continuaunce for I saued them in that fleshe 4 To all them which walke after Dauids fayth am I the bright mornyng starre of grace remouyng the filthye cloudes of errour The shyning clearenesse of godly vnderstanding finishing the darke night of ignoraunce I bring with me the day of mercy health and rightuousnesse and the Sabboth of full reconciliation to God I giue light vnto them that sate in darkenesse directing their féete in the path way of peace 5 For my worde is spirite and veritie resurrection and lyfe And where as it shyneth in the hartes of mortall men it maketh them the children of light To séeke vnto this necessarye light the eternall spirite of God the holy Ghost dayly moueth and prouoketh by many inwarde callings vpon saying alwayes 6 Come with a sincere fayth Drawe nygh vnto him and be lightened and your frayle consciences shall neuer be confounded Resorte vnto him all you that are loaden and he shall refreshe you The bryde or congregation of the Lorde thus taught sturred and prycked forewarde of his spirite sayth also in hyr heart euermore with a feruent desyre Oh come my moste delectable spouse lord Iesus Christ my health ioye and swéetnesse Apply that the immortall glory of the chosen children of God may be séene of all creatures iniquitie cōdempned for euer Accomplish the mariage appointed from the worlds beginning Permit the prepared spouse with hir appoynted number to enter into thy eternall tabernacle of rest 7 Moreouer sayth the Lord whatsoeuer they be that shall heare and beleue this prophecie let them desire the consummation therof and so conforme them selues vnto Christ his church saying also 8 Come moste mercifull sauiour and redéemer and fulfill the godly promyses of this booke to the eternall comforte of man Make hast to the iudgement seat for a full deliuerance of the whole chosen number that thy seruaunts may be where as thou art in perfecte glory and ioy 9 Fynally let him sayth the Lorde that in faith is a thirst or that hath in him a desire to be saued hast him selfe forewarde and come also Let hym onely beleue For the plentuous fountaynes of the lyuyng waters mencioned afore are withholden from no seruaunt of God Nothing is denyed vnto him that asketh in fayth In prayer are all spiritual commodities graūted 10 Whosoeuer therfore hath a wil◠conformable vnto Gods will let hym take fréely without price or payment without satisfaction or merite the pleasaunt water of the lyfe for euer refreshing hys soule in the plentuousnesse thereof 11 Of grace and fauour is saluation in Christ layde forth Onlye is héere required but a will to séeke for it Not that it shall so be deserued For neyther is it of hym that willeth nor yet of him that runneth But the gracious Lorde whiche calleth men to these waters putteth into thē a stomake thirst desire to couet them Yea he mynistreth strēgth to the séeking of thē least some of the glory therof shuld remayn vnto their deseruings and not all to his mercy alone Thus standeth the doctrine of our worke braggers voyde which neither féedeth nor satisfieth considering that not for our rightuous doings but alone for his owne mercyes sake hath he saued vs. The text 1 But I testifie vnto euery man that heareth the vvordes of prophecie of this booke 2. if any man shall adde vnto these things 3. God shall adde vnto him the plagues 4. that are vvrittē in this booke 5. And if any man shall mynish of the vvordes of the booke of thys prophecie 6. God shall take avvay hys parte out of the booke of life 7. and out of the holy citie 8. from the things vvhich are vvritten in this booke 9. He vvhich testifieth these things sayeth 10. Yea 11. I come quickely 12. Amen 13. Euē so 14. come lord Iesus 15. The grace of our Lorde Iesus 16. be vvith you all 17. Amen The Commentary 1 As my dutie is sayeth saint Iohn to premonish afore hande I faithfully proteste by this my present testimony vnto all those men that shall hereafter receyue the wordes of this wonderful prophecy here written in thys booke eyther by reading or hearing 2 That if any of them shall presumptuously take vpon him to adde any thing thervnto in purpose to peruert the truth or cōtrary to the holy ghostes meaning as Carpocras Hebion Cerinthus and other antichristes hath done with the other scriptures 3 Be certayn and sure of it that the eternall god from whom nothing can be hid shal adde vnto him for so doing the most terrible and woful plages regestred afore in thys worke 4 That is to say he shall suffer him to runne in to moste déepe errours giue him ouer for euer into the sinne against the holy ghost whervpon all other plages of dampnation dependeth Ye shall put nothing sayth the Lorde vnto the worde that I haue giuen you neither shall ye take any thing from it Put thou nothinge vnto his sayinges sayth Salomō of thine owne imaginytion least he reproue thée for a dāpnable liar Nothing is this against thē which by the other scriptures and histories doth expounde thys reuelacyon to make it to theyr vnderstandynge more playne For than should Saynt Augustyne saint Hierome Isydorus Beda Rabanus dyuers other great pillars of the church be vnder these plages for doeing that charitable office So should also the doctrine of this booke be against it self in the .xiii. chapter where as libertie is giuen to hym that hath writ to count the number of the beast in other places els But this is here spoken from them that corrupteth the text to mayntaine their blasphemous lyes for aduauntage or that séeketh to blemish the right sence therof least men should behold thē in their right colours as the wicked papists hath don euer since their begīning so drownning the authoritie maiestie thereof 5 Moreouer sayth saynt Iohn if any mortall man shal presume to deminish the wordes contayned in the volume of this heauenly Prophecye vnreuerently so controuling the wysdome of God 6 The sayd omnypotent god and reuenger of al vngodlinesse shall clerely wype away his porcion out of the booke of lyfe so that he shal be none of theyr number whych are predestinated to the glory of his children 7 Neyther shall such be alowed for cityzens with the saintes in the holy cōgregation of hys newe Hierusalem nor yet be accepted
are fallen from heauen Onely teache they the shining charytie of God the feruent zeale and burninge desyre towardes mans saluation Neyther aduance they ceremonies nor rytes holy dayes nor offeringes dirges nor masses purgatory nor reliques And as concerning their lyues more GOD desyreth not of the Christian minister then to expende hys whole study labour and time to the lyghtening of other He neyther commaundeth them to be shauen nor disguised to be popishe Prieste nor Monke to saye mattens nor Euensong to fast fryday nor vigill to abhorre maryage nor meates Onely he wylleth them to edyfye his flock with none other learninge then hys Godly trueth This is theyr onely office 6 The féete of this Angell were in similitude as pillers of fyer Stronge sustentacles and sure staies hath god made the vpholders of his true church Feruent affections hath he geuen them constant stomaks and so inuincible a power as no violeÌ„ce can resist Douty stronge is the administration where the verytie remayneth for it bringeth with it the magestie of God O how bewtifull saith Esay are the feete of the Embassadours of the Lord which bringeth the message of peace and the tidinges of health vnto Syon 7 He had in his hand a little booke open In their administration are the scriptures euydent and cléere opened by the Lambe and much godlye knowledge is receiued of other by them Blessed be the Lorde whiche hath opened the booke Now may the creple stand vp the blind sée their way the poore féede be satified Desire therfore with faithfull Dauid from the very hart to haue vnderstaÌ„ding to know the testimonies of god Are méekely and haue séeke wisely and finde knocke gently and the dore wyll be opened Uery lyke is it that the Lorde God doth minde plentuouslye to spreade the doctrine of his spirite in this sixt age of his churche this booke beynge thus opened And that all the worlde shall receiue it rebell the hypocrits neuer so sore When the Gospell appeared in Christes tyme the Iewes were the first that receiued it after the Greks and last of all the Latines Now in this later time it openeth to the Latines by the administration of this mighty Angel and his affinitie and from them is going to the Gréekes for many of them now of late hath graciouslye receiued it as we haue harde And laste of all it shall returne agayne to the Iewes as now very apt also to receiue it That Christes prophecye may be founde true The last to be the fyrst and the fyrst the last For he that hath dispersed Israell shall bringe him againe to his folde as Heiremy recordeth Thus shal the glory of God be within few yeares séene the world ouer to the comfort of many 8 This Angell set his righte foote vpon the sea and his left foote vpoÌ„ the earth As well shall the weake people receiue this verytie as the strong the poore as the rich the lowe as the high the sicke as the whole the sinner as the rightuous the begger as the king the vnlearned as the learned the laboring man as the priest and much rather For the right foote is towardes them The I le that is speared vp with the maine sea yea and they also which be vpon the sea shall so well haue it as the open wide country or as they which dwell vpon the most pleasaunt lande From none shall the Booke be speared Euery where shall the trueth be open as well by writings as wordes and as well by bookes as preachinges Upon both shall thys Angell treade Both sortes of people shall be subiectes to that verytie whiche those Godly messengers shall bringe submitting themselues as fooâ—sâ—ooles vnto it Some vngodly rulers there be both by sea and lande both in the Iles and the open countrye that wyll none of this Angell with this open Booke In no wise will they suffer hym to set footeinge within their regions but commaundeth vnder payne of death that no man teach his doctrine nor heare it that no man prynte his bookes bye them sell them reade them holde them fauour them nor beare them vpoÌ„ hym But al is in vayne Let theÌ„ wax mad swell and fret themselues to death yet wyll he treade vppon theyr ground Let them persecute fetter stock famish slea hange head burne drowne yea and buâ—y quicke with all other mischife and tyranny yet will the trueth abroad 9 For the Angell crieth with so loude a voyce as the Lyon when he roareth So mighty and strong is the worde that they preach and the verytie that they shewe as was the sharpe lyuinge worde that Christe spake which was the inuincible Lyon of Iuda And so mighty is that as made both heauen and earth so stronge as destroyeth the power of hell so sharp as deuideth the soule from the spirit and the ioyntes from the marye and so waighty as when it falleth grindeth to powder all pryde power magnificence wisedome ryches and vaine pollycye of this worlde none shall be able to abyde it 10 And when the Angell had cryed and vttered this terryble noyse seauen thounders spake their voyces The fearefull iudgementes of the wrath of GOD whiche are infinite and can neyther be numbered nor yet measured of the creatures opened their terrible misteries which shall at their times appoynted of hym light vppon the children of vnbeléeue The tyrauntes which hath resisted the heauenly verytie of the Lorde wyll once be punished as was the â—ost of Senacherih kinge of Assur Once wyll he fearefully visit theyr multitude in the thunder of hys yre Once shall the terrible sound of hyâ— crack stryk the earth smothe reuenging the contempt of his worde In Italye Spaine Fraunce Germany and other christian regions the Angell hath shewed the booke open and roared out the voyce of the Gospell with stomacke as doth the Lyon yet will it not be taken but some they haue beaten for it and some moste spightfully murthered Let them not thinke but after the lightning the thunderclap will folow The verytie opened and thus dispised most gréeuous plagues of derth warre or pestilence wyll shortlye fal by the great vengeaunce of God Principles hath bene séene in some quarters of the worlde let them not thinke but much more is comminge and wyll not cease tyll Chryste hath made of his enimies hys footeâ— stoole 11 And when the seuen thonders had spoken their voyces or shewed theyr certentie that they shoulde so surely as God lyueth come to passe at their time appoynted 12 I was about sayth Saint Iohn to take penne and inke in hande and to wryte them I thought to register them in a booke to the admonishmeÌ„t and warning of them that shoulde folow And anone I heard a very earnest voyce from heauen saying vnto mée in this maner 13 Seale vp those things which the seauen thunder spake and in no wise
wryte them Register the thunders but not the voyces Note the figures but vtter not the misteries till God appoynt it It is not for all men to know the times which God hath in his power Many secret thinges hearde Paule which was lawfull for no man to vtter The outwarde sounde of Gods secrets may be heard of all men but the inward workinge is reserued to the spirit The Lorde alwaies with the holy ghost so informeth them inwardly that they perceiue the effect of many thinges the other heareth but a noyse For so much as the voice of gods thundrings is vnsearchable and his secret iudgementes the most mighty depth they are not open but to such as he electeth 14 Therfore was Iohn commanded in no case to writ them or to open the secret meaning of them That point the Lord reserueth peculyerly to him selfe to open to whom what or how much him lusteth Much wide ar thâ—â— which thinketh that they can of their owne wit and industry declare such causes vnles God openeth them by his worde or some euident signe as he hath done in this age most plentuously to many Lesse can we not gather of these thunders wheÌ„ the message of God is dispised abused forsaken neclected troden vnder foote 〈◊〉 damnable lyes preferred vnto it thaâ— that his wrath must folow Somewhat hath bene séene already much more wil appeere wheÌ„ they geue ful 〈◊〉 THE TEXT 1 And the Angel which I saw stand vpoÌ„ the sea vpoÌ„ the earth 2. Lyft vp his hande to heauen 3. And swore by hym that liueth for euermore 4. Which created heauen and the things that therin are 5. And the earth and the thinges that are in it 〈◊〉 And the sea and the thinges which are therin 7. That there shal be no more time but in the dayes of the voyce of the seauenth Angell 8. When he shall begin to blow 9. Euen the misterie of God shall be finished 10. As he preached by his seruantes the Prophets The Paraphrase 1 And the Angell saieth Saincte Iohn whom I saw in this wonderfull reuelation thus standynge with one foote vppon the sea an other vppon the lande after the sorte afore named 2 Lyft vp his hand towardes heauen so stroÌ„gly to affirme hys message to be true as the Lorde lyueth and to promise it so in fallibly iust as god siteth in heauen 3 What do the true preachers els in this age but maintaine their doctrine by the mighty word of God after the example of Christ and his Apostles which alleged the lawe prophecies and Psalmes to confirme their sayings with They neither alledge decrée nor decretall constitution nor Synodall Legende nor fable monks rule nor saintes lyfe doctors nor fathers Gregory nor Anselme Thomas nor Dons Plato nor Arystotle nor such lyke filthy dregs But they come to the verye true touchestoane with Iohn they proue the spirits whether they be of God or no coÌ„sidering that all men are lyers and haue erred one except 4 He sware by him that lyueth in himselfe with incomprehencible magesty power and glory for euermore which in the beginning created the heaueÌ„ aboue with the inuisible things that are therin contained 5 Which formed the poÌ„derous earth beneth and the visible creatures that are therin remaining 6 Which fashioned the flowing seas and the corruptible thinges that are there in continuinge 7 With an earnest constant spirite he protested and by the strong worde of God he affirmed so taking hym to witnesse that there shall be no more time no more leasure no more sinful occuping héere froÌ„ henceforth but in the dayes of the voyce of the seauenth Angell This othe is none other than a sure assercion that all shall be finished in this seauenth age of the church This wold not be hidden from the congregations Necessary it is that both good and badde knew it The faithfull to be assartened that their finall redemption is at hande to their consolation The vnfaithfull to haue knowledge that their iudgemente is not farre of that they may repent and be saued Not vnlyke is this othe to the othe in Daniell of time times and halfe a time whereof the time was from him to Christe The times were the ages from Christ to the seauenth seale opening or the seauenth trumpet blowing The halfe time from thence forth wherin the dayes shall be shortned for the chosen sake So much mischief shal not the enimies dâ— thaÌ„ Their tiranny shall be as waged 8 For when the vii Angel shall begin to blow or the ministers of that age sincerely declare the word 9 Euen the mistery of God shall be finished and the full meaning therof fulfilled 10 Like as he afore time both taught and promised by his peculyer chosen seruants the prophets No time shal be after this but that which will be of all times the ende But when that time shall begin we know not tyll God shall open it by his seuenth angel Of the thing we are certaine and sure but the time of it is euermore in gods hande That is sealed vp in the booke til he shal please to open it the rightuous shall not sée til it coÌ„meth but rest stil in their lot w e Daniell And the vngodly shal haue no vnderstanding then They shall builde and plant bye sel ryot banket as in the daies of Noe Loth yea they shall geue themselues to al filthy lustes couetuousnes And vnbewares shall death come vpon them the terrible iudge shal cal them to accoumpt and to the euerlasting fire condemne them thus shal their daies also be shortned when they think nothing lesse for the time shal be but halfe after Daniell THE TEXT 1 And the voyce which I harde from heauen spake vnto me againe and sayd 2. go take the litle booke which is opeÌ„ in the haÌ„d of the angel 3. vvhich staÌ„deth vpoÌ„ the sea vpoÌ„ the earth 4. And I vvent vnto the Angell and said vnto him 5. Geue me the litle booke And he said vnto me 6. Take it and eate it vp 7. And it shall make thy belly bitter But it shall be in thy mouth as svveet as hony 11. And I tooke the litle booke out of his hand and did eate it vp 10. And it vvas in my mouth as svveete as hony 11. And as soone as I had eaten it my belley vvas bitter 12. And he said vnto me 13 Thou must prophecie again vnto the people 14. And to the Heathen and Tunges and to manye Kinges The Paraphrase 1 And the voyce saieth sainct Iohn which I harde afore from heauen spake vnto me againe Gods holy spirit touched me moued me compelled me It graciously admonished me taught me and sayde thus vnto me 2 Goe thy waies foorth Iohn and take the lytle booke which is now open in the hand of the Angell Euery man hauinge grace with Iohn is héere commaunded to