And againe after the death of Domitian whē he returned from the I le of Pathmos to Ephesus to haue written his Gospell against the Heretikes Marcio Ebon and Cerunhus This booke vnder the name of Reuelation conteyneth prophesie concerning euent fortune matters and of the deriued church that is to say the church deriued from the Primitiue church and thence to be deriued vnto the end of the world It may very well be deuided 1 Into Seales 2 Into Trumpets 3 Into Vials The 7. seales signifies the persecution of the church which is vnder Tyrantes to wit Domitian Traianus c. which truly began in the primitiue church in the time of the Apost and continued thence the space of 300. yeares vnto the time of Constantine it is described in this book chap. 4 5 6 7. The Trumpets signifieth heresies as the Arians c. From the time of Constantine vnto Theodosius for other 300. yeares yea vnto Mahomet and the pope This is described chap. 8 vnto 18. The Vials signifie the plagues of Antichrist for these 900. yeares from the time of Bonif. y◠pope vnto this our time of the which thou mayest read from the 17. chap vnto the end of the booke It may otherwise bee deuided to wit into seauen visions that is to saye into figures most wonderfully shewing to the minde and cies of all men The first vision of the seuen churches of Asia the lesse The second vision concerning Christ his church being exalted The thirde vision concerning the dilligence of the disciples of Christ The fourth concerning the affliction of the church The fist concerning the last persecution vnder Antichrist The sixt concerning the day of Iudgement The seuenth concerning the victory of Christ and the church Briefly he describes 1 The Kingdome of Christ 2 The comfort of the godly afflicted 3 The Threats of Tyrants 4 The priesthood of Christ 5 The Prayers of the Saints 6 The Histories of the newe Testament is reueiled The chapters are thus to be discerned From the 1. chap. vnto the 4. chap. is the preface in which first of all it containeth the commendation of these reuelations from the efficient cause to weet from God Then it containeth the admonition to the seuen bishoppes of the Churches of Asia the lesse which hee calles Angels Candlesticks starres c. For the ministery of the word From the fourth chapter vnto the 8. is the first part of the booke with the 7. seales Where first he would haue to bee vnderstood by Elders the Prophets Secondly by beasts the Euangelistes 3 By birds Doctrine 4 By the Lamb Christ himselfe 5. By Angels the ministers of the word 6 By Seales Persecutions 7 by Horses Tyrants 8. by sealed the elect the Iewes 9 by the multitude the elect of the Gentiles 10 by the booke the ministery of Reuelations From the 8. chapter vnto the 15. cha is the second part of the booke of Trumpets by which he vnderstandeth Heresies 2. by stars Heretikes 3 By the angell the ministery of the word 4. by the the Gospell 5 By the measuring of the Temple Religion 6 By the holy Citty the Church 7 By the two witnesses the Prophets and Apostles 8 By the woman the Church 9. By the 12. starres the 12. Tribes 10 By the wars the preaching of the Gospel 11 by Mychaell Christ Iesus 12 By the Beastes the Romaine Monarchy 13 By the lamb Christ 14 By the voice of thundring the word of the Gospel 15 By the new Song the Gospel 16 By the women Idolatrie 17 By Virgins sincere Christians From the 16 vnto the end is the third part of this booke First by the beastes he would vnderstand the Romaine Monarchy 2 By the Harlot the Idolatry of Antichrist 3 By the golden people hipocrisie 4. By Characters a perfect sign of Antichrist 5 By vials the plagues of Antichrist 6 By the mariage of the lamb the humanity of Christ 7 By the name written the Diuinity of Christ 8 By new heauen and new earth the Image of euerlasting life To the which place hee shal bring vs whoe hath signed this his holy scriptures with his owne pretious bloud euen Iesus Christ our Lorde who with the Father and the holy Ghost bee praised for euer and euer Amen FINIS
chap vnto the ende are described the peregrmations nauigations places of any stay or abode sermons Myracles disputations imprisonments stripes of S. Paule from the day in which the holy Ghost sayd Separate for me Paule and Barrabas to the worke which I haue called them Vntil he came to dwel two yeares in a hired house with the souldier that was his keeper In the meane time he faithfully taught both by sea and land 1 The people of Pathmos chap. 13. 2 The people of Antioch chap. 13. 3 The people of Iconium chap. 13. 4 The people of Listra chap. 14. 5 The people of Ierusalem 15 16 6 The people of Philippi 15 16 7 The people of Thessalo 15 16 8 The people of Berea 17. 9 The people of Athens 19. 10 The people of Corinth 19. 11 The people of Ephesus 19. 12 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 13 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 14 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 15 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 At length being wickedly handled imprisoned and very often presented for the space of a whole yeare and more at Ierusalem and Cesarea with his accusers the Iewes vntil he was compelled to appeale vnto Cesar from chap. 20 vnto 28. Last of all Luke doeth descry the Nauigations of Saint Paule after he appealed to Cesar to goe from Iudea towardâ— Rome and the testimony of Paule at RoÌ„me concerning Christ as you may read in the two last chapters Al which testimony in this most excellent booke seemeth plainely to tend to this that we may obtaine remission of sinnes and eternall life by saith onely in Christ Iesus The epistle of Saint Paule and the rest THe Epistles of the apostles as we haue spoken of before are as it were seales and subscriptions euen so are theyr testimonies and illustrations which are written by the Euangelistes as for example I Paule doe thus subscribe to the Gospell of Matthew I Peter doe thus subscribe The Epistle to the Romans THIS Epistle is a method of holy scripture hee briefely comprehends those thinges which do appertain to christian religion To maye very well bee deuided into foure principall partes From the beginning vnto the fift chapter he puts two propositions and he defendes both the one and the other with strong euidence and arguments The one proposition is legal to weet al men are sinners this he proueth shewing that all gentiles are sinners in the first chapter and afterwards that the Iewes are sinners in the second chapter last of all he infers that all men are sinners in the thirde chapter The other proposition is Euangelicall to weet that men are iustified freely thorough the grace of God by the redemption which is in Christ Iesus He proues by many argumentes that this Iustification is by faith chapter 4 first from the example of Abraham secondly from the definition of iustification thirdly by the order of the cause and the effect the 4. by the cause of the promise From the fift chapter vnto the ninth he deuideth both propositions into their parts and disputeth seuerally of them In the first what sinne is what the lawe is what grace is and by the way he showeth that grace in and thorough Christ had more force effect then sinne in and thorough Adam and her condemneth them that thinke sin to increase through the proaching of grace shewing to the contrarie that no condemnation is to them that are grafted in christ who walk-not after the flesh where hee bringeth chapter 8. for the afflicted and such as liue vnder the crosse froÌ„ that place the afflicted of this life are not woorthye c. vnto the ende of the Chapter 8. excellent consolations 1 Concerning the Manifestation of glory to come 2 Concerning the Like suffering of al creature with vs. 3 Concerning the Sighing of all the ministers of the word 4 Concerning the Hope of eternall life 5 Concerning the Person of the holy ghost 6 Concerning the Doctrine of predestination 7 Concerning the Person of God the father 8 Concerning the Person of the sonne From the 9. chap. vnto the 12. he handleth the place of predestination repeating the question that was put in the beginning of the thirde chapter that is to wit what if certaine of them haue not beleeued shall their vnbeleefe make the faith of GOD of none effect God forbid whence as hauing occasion he first of all disputes of election that we may know to whom this grace doeth appertaine and that also in the 9. cha And after that in the 10. chap. he defines and expoundes the righteousnesse of fayth Last of all he teacheth that no maÌ„ ought to take offence at the name of Predestination that they are alwaies deceiued that letting passe iustification by faith seeke to begin their saluation from predestination From the 12. chap. vnto the end of the Epistle he sets downe certaine admonitions concerning good works First generally towards euery mans neighbour where he sets downe the endes of good workes as are the workes of confession vocation loue afterwards towards magistrates or superious chap. 13. Last of all towards inferiors that is to say the weake chap 14 15. The last chapter containes salutations or vowes and Euangelical sermons And salutation is not to be thought the least duty of humanity The first Epistle to the Corinthians HOw long Paule did remain at Corinth what he didde there c. looke Act. cha 18 Paule doth most sharply rebuke the Corinthians in this Epistle whom he knew to be attainted with many vices It therfore most chiefly appertames to the lawe for it is a reprehending or rebuking epistle commanding the Corinthians to decline from euil and do good Directly against 1 Sectaries chap. 1 2 3 4. 2 Incestious persons 3 Fomicators 6. 4 Adulterers 7 5 coÌ„tentious persons 8 9 10 11 6 conteÌ„ners of the weak 8 12 13 7 The proud 14. 8 Arrogant persons 15. 9 Them that deny the resurrection from the dead 16. 10 Couetous persons It is deuided very conueniently into fiue principall parts From the beginning vnto the 5. chap he laboureth in the first table of the commandements condemning the wisdome of the world as thinges pernâ—ious and hurtful to the saluation of mankind for it breeds sectes and schismes in Christian religion and the contempt of the Ministers of the Gospell for their pride whoe are pussed vp with mans wisedome From the 5. chap. vnto the 8 hee passeth to the second table and pursues certaine vices First of al hee commandes the incestuous man to be excomunicated and to be auoided After that he reprehends wronges contentions and heresies shewing that iniuries are to be suffered or to be arbitrated rather then to bee adiudged by vnrighteous Iudges By and by he numbreth heapes of vices and particularlye inueighes against the filthy affections of lust highly commending mariage chirst life and virginity From the 8. vnto the 12. he reprehends the
abuse of Christian liberty and warneth that the weake are to bee forborne rather then be an offence one to another chiefly in outward things As in meates drinkes and apparell and the communion of the sacrament At sometunes bringing himselfe for example at other times bringing moste horrible and fearefull examples out of the olde Testament From the 12. vnto the 15. he first repeateth the excelent guiftes of God in which the Ministrie of the worde is presented vnto the glory of God after that he seteth before their eyes the duties of Charitie Last of all he so comendes the Ministerie of the worde and preaching that he feareth not to preferre the same before all the Sermons and readinges of the Scripture From the 15. vnto the end he shewes most euidentlye and plainely the resurrection of the dead by the example of Christ and after that he shewes the clearnes of their bodies in eternall life to be diuers by many similitudes adioyning the maner of rising the victorie of the Godly Death being swallowed vp Last of all besides that he speaketh very familiarly in the last chapter concerning the helpinges and collections for the Saintes hee adioyning a finall conclusion with a horible threatening that hee which loueth not Iesus Christ our Lord God let him be accursed and condemned to eternall death The latter Epistle to the Corinthians THis Epistle doth differ from the first as oyle from wine or the Gospell frō the Law for in the 2. Epistle Paul comforteth the Corinthians sheweth him selfe very kinde towardes them doth bid that the excommunicated man may be receiued into fauour This Epistle doth consist of fiue thinges 1 Consolations 1 2 3 4. 2 Commendations 5. 3 Exhortations 6 7. 4 Inuectiues 8 9. 5 Comminations 10 11. From the beginning vnto the 6. chap are commendatiōs First whē he shews his loue towards the Corinthians and whatsoeuer he preached whatsoeuer he did and suffered was to their profit The he commends the ministery of the Gospell and as a doctrine most necessary worthier then the ministery of the Law That it is increased also in the beleuers and bred hope in them of eternal glory thorow affliction From the 6. vnto the 10. are exhortations First he exhorts them that they do adorne the worde of GOD with the workes of patience And afterwardes that they do giue their alines to the poore saintes at Ierusalem From the 10. vnto the end there are Inuections and comminations First he inueyeth against false Apostles he very confidently laboureth against them and doth glory in the Lord after this maner 1 of outward things and of other mens affaires 2 of his own sufferings in the body 3 of his owne passions in the soul for the Church 4 of Flying and escaping 5 of Visions reuealations tentations 6 of his fidelity in the ministerie of the worde amongst the Corinthians 7 of his desire to secure the Corinthians 8 of his redinesse 9 of his will to die for the Corinthians 10 of the iustification of a good conscience for that hee did not hurt the Corinthians Afterwardes hee shewes by manye reasons that Paule himselfe alone labored more in the ministery of the worde and suffered more then all amongst the false apostles of the Corinthians to wit in labours in imprisonments in stripes c. chap. 11. Lastly he threatneth the Corinthians in the last chapter who woulde not repent as Augustine saith He writes that hee will come as a iudge to the intent that he do not find whom to condemn Furthermore he saith that hee prayde for the Corinthians that they doe no euill whence Augustine saith it doeth appeare that God doth correct the will of man and doth guide it that he may do good workes Psal 63. The waies of man are directed by the Lord. The Epistle of Paule to the Galathians THis Epistle comes neer to that Epistle which Paule wrote to the Romanes as concerning christian Doctrine Paule defends the article of Iustification against false Apostles and confirmes the righteousnes of faith that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Law but only by faith in Iesus Christ And although there are two principal partes of this epistle the one of the righteousnesse of faith vnto the 5. chap The other of the fruites of faith or of good workes vnto the ende Notwithstanding sithence there are six chapters they may be considered twoe and two togither Paule in the first and second chapter doth extol and commend his vocation that he teacheth the churches by Diuine authority and not by humane and that he proues to be true by many argumēts that is to wit 1 That he Went into Arabia straight vp on his conuersion 2 That he Came into Ierusalem only to see Peter 3 That he Went into the parts of Cilicia and Syria 4 That he Circumcised Titus at Ierusalem 5 That he Receiued nothing from the great Apostles 6 That he Reproued Peter Afterwardes hauing put this principall proposition in the end of the second chapter to wit that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Lawe but by faith in Christ He goes forward to proue the same in the third and fourth chapter First by scriptures Secondly by examples Thirdly by similitudes of Scripture out of Genesis Leuiticus Deuteronomy and Abacuc There are three similitudes besides allegories Therefore we are not iustified by the workes of the Law but by faith in Christ The summe or effect of the argumentes with Christ 1 That He is not the minister of sin 2 That He deliuered himself to deth 3 That He died not in vaine 4 That The holy ghost is giuen thorough faith 5 That Abram is iustified by faith 6 That They that iustifie themselues are vnder the cursse 7 That The iust shall liue by his faith 8 That Christ was made a cursse for vs. 9 That Righteousnesse was before the law 10 That Inheritance comes by promise Last of all hee teacheth in the fifte and sixt chapter a conclusion beeing made concerning the place of iustification the fruites of Faith inforcing the commandementes concerning good workes and manners that the beleuers should walke according to charitye and should maintaine their liberty in Christ and yet after that sort as not abusing the same That Paule was amongest the Galath See Act. 18. The Epistle to the Ephesians THe Epistle to the Ephesians is the amplification of the place of Iustification and reconciliation and the admyrable and profounde commendation of the Gospell and also a long rehearsal of Gods benefites in the cause of our saluation It is deuided into two principall partes to wit the tree and the fruit of the tree that is to say into doctrine of the righteousnesse of faith and of good workes The some of the first part that dooth respect Faith consisteth in these benefits of God giuen vnto vs through Christe As are 1 Spirituall blessing 2 Election 3 Predestination 4 Adoption 5 Good will 6 Glorious grace 7
Men. 5 The Priestes 6 The Youngmen There are fiue chapters which art thus to be discerned The first chapter is deuided into twoe partes In the first which is begun from the induction or entrance he puts down the true reason of saluation where all these things are to bee considered in dus order 1 The great mercy of God 2 Regeneration by a liuely faith 3 The resurrection of Christ 4 Heauenly inheritance 5 The power of God 6 Faith 7 Triall of Faith 8 Ioy and gladnesse 9 The writinges of the prophets 10 The Gospel 11 Grace 12 Glory In the other part he puts the consequence of this antecedent or that which followeth it and doth exhort the beleeuers to newnesse of life as for example 1 Sobriety 2 Hope of offered Grace as newnesse of life followes faith 3 Obedience 4 Holinesse 5 Inuocation 6 Feare 7 Loue. He ioyneth sets vnto this discourse the most excellent cause of this regeneration to wit that we are redeemed by the pretious bloud of Iesus Christ renewed by the word of God The second chapter is deuided into two partes for in the one hee goes forwarde to exhort the beleeuers to offer spirituall sacrifices and to haue good conuersation to the edification of the faith full And he addes a reason because saieth he all beleeuers are priests and called vnto holinesse of life In the other he appointes the reformation of diuers states in the which he laboureth to the end of this chap. First the subiects to obedience towardes the Magistrates the seruantes to obedience towardes their maysters as hee putteth Christ himselfe for example whoe suffered a greater wrong In the thirde chapter hee first of all speakes concerning the obedience of wiues concerning the modest apparell of wiues and the forbearance of the husband towards his wife Then he warns all menne in generall to exercise themselues in the vertues of true charity and in patience and also in true confession togither with the righteousnes of a good conscience bringing againe the example of charity and patience in Christ Last of all hee sets downe a most excellent place concerning Noes Arke that it was a signe of Baptisme But what he meaneth by the preaching of Christ to certain spirits not beleeuing in the daies of Noah wee are not ignorant and we iudge the true interpretation of this place it to be reserued to the maister himselfe to wit to the Holye Ghost In the fourth chap. he goes forward at one time to exhort al godly men to sobriety to watchfulnesse to modesty to praier to mutuall charity At another time to other fruites of Faith according to the variety of guiftes with patience and ioy in afflictions by dooing good to all men for Christs sake In the 5. chap he insonneth instructeth Ecclesiasticall persons vnder the natures of Priestes sometimes to feede their flocks and at another time to liue wel After that he exhorts youth to obedience and in general he would haue all men to be humbled to trust in God to be sober to watch againste the â—â—â—ersarie the diuel and to resist him in saith Lastly he concludes the Epistle with exceeding consolat oÌ„ that they might know themselues to be confirmed strengthned of God vnto faith The last Epistle of Peter THere are only 3. chapters The first against hypocrisie The 2 against Antichr The 3. against Epicures Peter in the first Chapter woulde haue faith and the vocation of faith to be shewed as moste certaine by good workes least that faith be as a vain dreame without vertue without knowledge continency c. seeing that it is not by the hearing of fables but of the Gospel In the 2. chap he sets forth the same as Christ himself did when he said Mat. 7. take heed of of false prophets Paul act to take heed to your selues c. Also phil 3. Beware of dogs take heed of wicked doers Peter doth warne the godly concerning false teachers and of the comming of Antichrist of whome hee prophesied S. Paule 1 Tim. 4. shewes their damnation by bringing 3. excellent examples 1 of Angels 2 of them that were lost in the floud 3 Of the Sodomites and then he paintes them out in theyr couloures for because they walke after the flesh in concupiscence and vncleannesse Lastly he puts forth a most horrible sentence or iudgement of such in twoe prouerbes of a dogge and a Sowe by the which he expresseth the which hee expresseth that the latter ends of such is worse then the beginning In the third chapter hee warneth the godly that they should beware of Epicures that is to saye of prophane men walking according to their owne concupiscence who onely do regarde this life and not the life to come They haue alwaies in their mouthes Let vs eate and drinke to morrow we shall die After death there is no pleasure Againe that which is aboue vs doth nothing concern vs. Against whom Peter affirmeth with out doubt the last day shall come vnto which both heauen and earth are shal quickly perish in their appointed time reserued for fire Wherfore he affirms that euery one of the godly shoulde studie die to liue in that state as beeing called out of the world he might die boldly confidently The first Epistle of Iohn SAint Iohn the Apostle an Euangelist who wrote this Epistle and leaned at supper time vpon the breast of Iesus Christ and didde draw sweet water out of the well of our Sauiour euen so here he breathed meer loue both of God towards vs and our loue towards our neighbor Gods loue that the same beeing apprchended by faith wee might be iustified freely by grace without workes and obtain euerlasting life Then our loue next that our faith be not idle but that it should work by charity otherwise it is not true faith but onely fained who haue these three signes First not to striue against sinne Secondly not to beware of false doctrin Thirdly to hate our neighbour There are fiue chapters which doeth so agree in one and selfe-same matter as hardly they can be decided one from an other All thinges therein dooth agree with his Gospel chiefly with these two commandements of Christ ye beleeue in God beleeue also in mee Againe I giue you a new commandement that ye loue another which two commanundementes Iohn doth ioyne after this manner in the thirde chapter and this is his commandement that wee beleeue the name of his sonne Iesus Christ and loue one another as he gaue vs commaundement The summe of the Epistle is concerning faith and charity the chapters after a sort are thus to be diuided In the first chapter hauing gotten the good will of the Auditory he puts this exposition of the whole Epistle that we being made clean by the bloud of christ and remaining in the society of Saintes ought not to walke in darknesses that is to say without good workes but in the light that is to say in the exercise