christen reader and with all theÌ„ that seaketh of the scrypturs the sauynge helthe in them coÌ„tayned without quarellynge Amen The seconde part of the Image of both churches after the most wonderfull and heaueÌ„lye Reuelacyon of Saynt Iohan the Euangelist ce ¶ Compyled by Iohan Bale The .xi. Chaptre UNto Iohan was delyuered after that he had thus deuowred the boke a rede not vnlyke to the metewande of .vi. cubites longe and a spaÌ„ne whych was geuen vnto Ezechiel nor verye farre different from the measurynge lyne in Zacharie And what ys this els but that the administracion of Gods heaueÌ„lye verite is secretlye of him committed vnto them whych hath afore receyued yt and in faithe digested it that they shuld ther with ryghtlye measure discerne aÌ„d iudge all thinges NoÌ„ other is yt to prophecye ageyne in this sixt age but thus to mete the temple the aulter and the worshippers therin and to proue them in length bredeth heyth and depeth ¶ The text 1 ANd than was geuen me a reede 2. lyke vnto a rodde 3. and yt was sayd vnto me Aryse 4. and meete the temple of God 5. and the aulter 6. and them that worshippe therin 7. And the quere which is within the temple cast out 8. meete it not 9. for it is geueÌ„ vnto the geÌ„tiles 10 And the holye cyte shal they treade vndre fote xlij monethes 1 And there was geuen me sayth saynt Iohan a rede Both receyued I the wysdome of God and also a mouthe to vtter yt So that my tonge became the penne of a redye writer For so moche as I abhorred iniquite the lord anoynted me in wardlye with the oyle of gladnesse and gaue me stomake to vtter hys worde 2 The rede which God delyuered me was lyke vnto a rodde For hys worde ys the rodde of right order And the scepture of hys kingedome With this rodde spredde he oute the heauens and layde forth the fyrst fouÌ„dacyon of the earthe This rodde of his power hath the lorde now graciouslye sent us out of Syon by menne hauinge his speciall grace as by Iohan â—o haue dominyoÌ„ here in the middest of his enemies 3 For vnto Iohan yt was sayd for this age Aryse froÌ„ vayne stodye from cares of the bodye from consideracion of earthlye causes 4 And mete the holye temple of God which is his congregacion or churche Proue all beleues whether they be right or no. Examyne their workes whether they springe of Gods commauÌ„demeÌ„ts or of mennes tradicions And in so doynge trye by the scripturs the â—orne from the chaffe Marke out the peple of God from the synagoge of sathan and delaye not to norryshe them with the swete frutes of the sprete 5 Measure the aulter also which is Iesus Christ vpoÌ„ whoÌ„ the full sacrefice of redemptyon was offred For manye false cristes are a brode in the worlde to seduce the peple The pope boasteth hym self for gods owne vicar Mahomete calleth him self the grete prophete of the lorde And both they to subdewe the gospell hath sett vp newe lawes The pope hys detestable decrees and Mahomete his abhominable alchorane Both thei haue wrought soche woÌ„ders and soche signes in superstycion as myght deduce into erroure yf God were not mercyfull the verie elect persons The moÌ„kes sayth that Christ ys in the desert the prestes sayth he is in the boxe but admonishe my peple that in no case they beleue yt The chanons sayth he is here the fryres sayth he is there but couÌ„sell my flocke that they go not forth For God dwelleth in nothinge that is made with haÌ„de In the faythfull hart is Christ onlye fouÌ„de There remaineth he That is his dwellynge place 6 Therfor now last of all measure them also that worshipp in the temple Considre them onlye to be his peple which seke hym in sprete and in veryte and that worship not in outwarde shaddowes nor in the elementes of this worlde nor yet with obseruacyoÌ„ of dayes tymes They are not his sonnes that for the â—euen of the Pharisees which ys the doctrine of hypocrites forsaketh the bread of children which is his lyuinge worde They are not his laÌ„bes but vyle gottes that rather atteÌ„deth to the voyce of strauÌ„gers thaÌ„ to the trewe sheparde Christ. 7 And therfor the quere which ys wythin the teÌ„ple cast out The prelates prestes and religiouse which are not of the common sort seclude from Christ from his churche and from the companye of true worshippers Throwe forth the bonde woman aÌ„d her sonne the Rome churche with her children and Mahomete with hys rable For the bonde shall not inherete with the fre 8 Measure not out that chaunsell of charmers that college of GalaaÌ„s bretherne those marked Madianytes and cursed Ismaelytes Allowe them not by the scripturs coÌ„mende not theyr couÌ„terfet ryghtousnesse Admyt theÌ„ not for the meÌ„bres of Christ but iudge them to be the sinagoge of SathaÌ„ And speare theÌ„ out of the kingedome of God with the keye of Dauid For they are those swine that tread perles vnder their fete those cruell dogges that turne agayne to deuowre meÌ„ne Medle not with that quere haue not to do with that wycked generacion 9 For it is geueÌ„ vnto the geÌ„tiles Whollie are those Antichristes addict to the supersticiouse rytes of the heytheÌ„ in their sacrifices their ceremonies their obseruatioÌ„s their holy dayes theyr vygils fastinges â— praynges knelinges all other vsages coÌ„trary to the admonyshement of Christ. That they shuld in no wyse entre into the wayes of the geÌ„tiles Wherfor God hath detested theÌ„ with his owne mouthe cleane geueÌ„ theÌ„ ouer vnto theyr owne fylthye lustes Now reygne they al in their owne wisdome thinkynge euermore their owne fleshlye fantasies best wholly they are become GeÌ„tiles 10 â–ª And the holye cyte of whom gloryouse thynges are spoken they shall treade vndre fote the space of .xlij. monethes Not the earthlye Hierusalem ys thys cyte buylded of menne and made holye by the out warde obseruacions and ceremonies of the iewes as manye expositours hath faÌ„tasyed For of that like as Christ prophecied ys not left one stone standinge vpon an other But thys cyte ys the sure buyldinge of God grounded vpon the stronge fouÌ„dacion of the Apostles aÌ„d Prophetes euen vpon the harde rocke stone Iesus Christ. This is the plesaunt possessioÌ„ the wholsom howsholde the sure holde and the dylectable vyneyarde of the lorde of hostes This ys the liuynge generacyon of them which feareth loueth and seketh their lorde God in faith sprete and veryte and not in outwarde shaddowes These are the childreÌ„ of promes the true of springe of Abraham the chosen howse of Israel and the kyngedome of the holie ghost Pure cleane aÌ„d holye hath Christ made this cyte by noÌ„ other thinge but the onlye shedinge of his preciouse blood 11 Thys cyte treade they vnder fote that kepeth downe the treuthe of the gospel that persecuteth sleeth goddes people for it that defeateth his worde for their owne
so the a vniuersall quyet 5 Yet shall there happen in those dayes voyces thonderynges and lyghtenynges Voyces of swete blessynges aÌ„d dylectable promyses to the faythfull congregacyon Thonderynges of terrour to the vnfaythfull multytude commaundynge thynges contrarye to the fleshe And fearefull lyghtenynges of condempnacyon to the reprobate hypocrytes and desperate obstinates 9 And all from one worde of the lorde or one Gospell preachynge in dyuerse respectes no small earthquake folowynge vpon the same What commocyons heuye complayntes fearefull tremblynges sorowes cryes grefes syghynges waylynges grudgynges gruntynges gronynges wepynges and haÌ„des wryngynge wyll be amonge the earthlye mynded Antichristes and hypocrites byshoppes prestes prelates holye water mongers and parryshe clarkes lawers whores caruers paynters and waxe sellers whan their whoâ—ishe churche shall be turned ouer by the iudgement of the sayd worde yt is easye to coniecture 7 Soche a one wyll this earthquake be sayth the text so myghtye and so stronge as neuer was yet sens menne war vpon the earthe or sens that earthlye generacyon first beganne Than shall be cleane taken awaye the carnall churche of Antychryst or the smered Sinagoge of shaâ—elynges Neyther shall the Pope wyth hys dysgysed rable anye more be seane here nor yet Mahâ—mete with his monstruouse muster 8 In soche wyse shall their lawes secdes and ceremonyes be destroyed in those dayes that no manne shall be fownde so bolde as ones to allowe one of theÌ„ openlye Than shall the glorye of christes name shyne the worlde ouer he makynge of his enemyes hys fâ—te stole 9 More ouer in this terrible earthquake the great spyrytuall cyte called Sodome aÌ„d Egypt or the holye whoryshe mother the churche shall be disseuered into in partes of the which .ij. shall styll be wycked the thirde conuerted vnto godlynesse Two partes shall be dispersed sayth Zacharye the thirde shall remayne to the lorde Of them which haue and shall go out of mynsters and monasteryes collegys and couentes churches and cloysters patryshes and nonneryes one sort shall inwardlye be geuen to Antichristes superstycyousnesse and Hipocresye An other sort vpon dyuerse fleshelye consideracyons shall faynedlye fall to the Gospell The thirde sort onlye of loue towardes God and zele of helthe in their neybers shall vnfaynedlye cleaue to the Scripturs Thus shall the vngodlye sort be coupled styll with the Godlye in euerye lande and prouynce and be the moche greatter noÌ„bre Yet shall they for that tyme attempt nothinge agaynst them the trewthe so strongelye regnynge Neuer thelesse yet ys yt not to be thought that they shall than haue nothinge to suffre consyderynge that it is a kyngedome of sufferaunce Christ to head of that congregacyon suffred oned incommodyte or other alwayes so longe as he was here lyuynge It shall therfor behoue theÌ„ which are his misticall meÌ„bers alwayes to suffre For the seruaunt is no better than his lorde nor the souldiour thaÌ„ his head captayne And to make his good the lorde sayth in Zacharye The same third part wyll I leade through fyre and pourge yt as syluer or golde in the fornace Than shal euerye godlye creature folowe Christ in bearynge hys crosse They shall mortyfye their fleshlye members sâ—â—ynge all fornicacyon fylthynesse Idolatre couetousnesse pryde anger and malyce They shall helpe suffer and forbeare one an other hauynge pytefull compassion vpon the weake sycke and nedye No dewtye besemynge a chrystyane shall they leaue vndone 10 Therfor this great or generall cyte thus deuyded all other particuler or nacyonall cytees must also fall The blasphemouse Pantheon of Rome ones peryshinge all other churches of the vnfaythfull must nedes folowe sone after in their course For the fouÌ„d acyon taken a waye the buyldynge can not endure So that from thens forth shall be no popyshe sectes no supersticiouse ceremonyes no heythnyshe obseruacions nor open Idolatrye in all the worlde But whan the remnaunt of the wycked shall attempt a freshe to rayse vp agayne soche abhomynacions the lorde shall soâ—enlye wythout warnynge fall vpon them with his most fearefull and terryble last iudgement 11 Great Babylon the aforesayd mother of all whoredom and fylthynesse shall than come in remembraunce before God He shall than consyder her abhomynable blasphemye her pryde cruelte murther and synnes wythout nombre wayenge them in right balaunce accordynge vnto iustyce 12 He shall also rewarde her to drynke the fearce cuppe of his wrathe or wyne of his great indignacyon which is the perpetuall deathe of sowle The verye dregges of his Ire shall she tast yea vnspekeable sorowes and peynes without ende For non other is it to come in remembraunce before hym at that daye but to be condempned and receyue ponnyshment accordynge to her dedes 13 ThaÌ„ shal leuerye Ile which is a place of refuge within the see flee awaye and not tarye The mountaynes that are wonte to geue socour vnto theÌ„ that be on the lande shall not at that daye be fownde No confort shall she than haue nor sure helpe anye where 14 No remedye wyll be at that daye to flee from the fearefull face of the iudge Than will neyther merytes nor yeâ— sowle Masses helpe neyther blessynges nor knelynges sacrifices nor seÌ„synges wawlynges nor ryngynges bussinges nor synginges but will she nyll she nedes must she abyde hys heuye and terrible sentence 15 And there fell great hayle sayth the text as yt had bene wayghtye talentes Alwayes must yt be remembred that coÌ„moÌ„lye the tyme past ys vsed in this prophecye for the tyme to come for the teâ—tente of the thynges here spoken This hayle ys non other than the heuye tempest or plage of the seyd fearefull and terryble iudgementes of the lorde which shall on that woofull daye fall sodenlye â—s a thycke hayle vpoÌ„ the miserable multytude of them that boasted themselues to be the holye churche and vpon their wycked folowers compared here vnto Babylon 16 This plage ys here also for non other cause lykened vnto talentes buâ—â—â—r that yt ys in wayght and measure to be mynystred vnto them by the preordynacyon of God So moche peyne and sorowe ys due vnto that whoryshe generacyon as she hath glorifyed herself in fylthye delyghtes and so manye ponnyshmentes to be rewarded her Yea double must she haue accordinge to her workes 17 Out of heauen shall this vehement hayle fall from the fearefull sentence of the lorde Iesus Christ which shall than sit as a iudge in the middes of his faythfull congregacyon they sittynge with hym as the bodye with the head in condempnacyon of the wycked 18 And vpon the menne shall yt lyght For the great whore or the cyte called here Babylon is in this place to be takeÌ„ for that yt comprehendeth euen for menne in whom also are included womeÌ„ by the common vsage of the Scripturs 19 These menne shall spyghtfullye blaspheme God because of the hayle plage or terrour of their tormentes They shall crye out of hym wysshinge that he had no soche powre so to torment them 20 For
sonne and gloryous as an armye of menne with their banners and stremers Thys woman ys bewtyfullye decked with the shynynge sonne of ryghtousnesse NoÌ„ ys of her that hath not done on Iesus Christ beynge renewed in their hartes by faythe Her chyldren are not they that persecuteth Gods worde no more than was Annas and Caiphas Ioannes and Alexander Thys women 〈◊〉 to haue the moâ—ne vnder her fâ—te To the churche or congregacion of God are all other creature 〈◊〉 â—ll 〈◊〉 thinges haue the lorde suâ—dewed vnto her She ys the ryght â—heyre and inheritoure of them through Christ they with her to be delyuered from the bondage of corrupcyon to serue in liberte 4 Vpon her head was also a crowne of twelue starres which betokeneth not onlye the twelue Apostles declarynge the glorye of Christes kyngedome immediatlye after hys deathe but all other godlye mynistres of the worde also which haue done the same euer sens Onlye regneth the true Christen churche by the worde of God by the syncere scrypturs by the doctryne of the Apostles and neyther by superstycyons nor ceremonies neyther by cownsels nor customes by doctors nor fathers by myters nor rochettes by typpettes nor whodes by shauen crownes nor syne gownes by crosses nor copes by belles nor torches by shrynes nor gylâ—e Images nor yet by .xii. cupples in a â—yuerye with golden cheanes and garden 〈◊〉 Her bewtye consisteth onlye in faythe and in the obseruacyon of Gods holye commandemeÌ„tes Her true mynysters or preachers as verye chosen Starres sheweth forth hys glorye to the edyficacyoÌ„ of other not their owne pompe aod magnificence 5 And she was as ys the woman with chylde She cryed trauelynge in byrthe and was payned as one redye to be delyuered With Christ ys the churche bygge whan her members are in full faythe In the hart ys he euermore conceyued and delyuered forth soche tyme as he ys declared vnto other For thys cause Christ called them hys mother which had faythe and thervpon ded the wyll of hys father Of faythe in the first promes that Christ shuld destroye the Serpent was be first conceyued in Adam and Eua and so grewe forth in ryghtouse Abell in Seth Enos Enoch Noe Sem Thare Melchisedech Abraham and Loth. And as the promyses waxed stronger as in Abraham Moyses Dauid and the Prophetes and the peple of God more in nombre so wexed the woman byggar and byggar tyll the fulnesse of her tyme was come that she shuld be delyuered Which was soche tyme as Christ apered to the worlde taught and was coÌ„uersauÌ„t here amonge meÌ„ne And this course haue she kepte euer seÌ„s shall do to the latter daye in theÌ„ that beleue Thus haue she had Christ in her wombe sens the beginninge 6 And beynge full of hys heauenlye sprete she hath cryed in the Patriarkes and Prhphetes in the Apostles faythfull mynysters as one trauelynge in byrthe Her crye was the myghtye and stronge declaracyon of Christes doctryne the feruent zele and desyre of the glorye of God and of all-mennes helthe in Christ. She trauayleth euermore a newe lyke as ded Paule tyll Christ be fashioned in her Christen members Wyth all her strengthe she laboureth that the promysed Sede maye increase in the faythe of all menne 7 Fynallye she ys payned with labours dolours blasphemyes trobles and terryble persecucyons and neuer ys delyuered without them Neuer ys Christ ernestlye receyued tyll some of her membres doth suffre The constaunt sprete and inuyncyble standynge by the truthe in them hath conuerted manye And lyke as the payned woman in all her agonyes ys moche conforted by the hope of a chylde so are Gods faythfull wytnesses trustynge that by their pacyent and glad sufferaunce Christ shuld be receyued and ryghtlye fashyoned in manye Yea thys causeth them to reyoce in all aduersite and lyttle to esteme their paynes The Text. 1 And there apered an other wonder in heauen 2. for beholde a great reed Dragon 3. hauynge seuen heades 4. and ten hornes 5. and seuen crownes vpon hys heades 6. and hys tayle drue the thirde parte of the starres 7. and caste them to the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 After thys sayth Saynt Iohan apered in heauen an other token or maruele all dyuerse from the first The true churche which is Gods kingedome was neuer yet without coÌ„tradyccyoÌ„ nor with out the craftye assaultes of enemyes Adam was not so sone created but he was immedyatlye assaulted of Sathan Christ entered not so sone the worlde but he was bye and bye persecuted The deuyll goeth aboute lyke a roaryngely on sekynge whome he maye deuowre 2 For beholde there was seane a great reed dragon betokenynge the seyd deuyll with his whole retynewe full of deceyt craft malyce poyson pryde and fercenesse to enforce the psore weakelynges to coÌ„sent vnto hys falshede All reed hys bâ—â—ye semed in token that they which are of hym are all full of cruelte spyght and bloud shedynge afflyctynge the constaunt beleuers for withstandinge hys assaultes SeldoÌ„ ys ke out of the earthe as wytnesseth Iob but commonlye in the companye of menne impugninge the faythfull And no powre ys able to matche hym vnlesse yt commeth from aboue 3 The seyd dragon had seuen heades sygnyfienge all the craftye wyles and subtle suggestyons that he hath practysed and vsed agaynst Christ hys worde vnder all the .vij. seales openynge the vij trompettes blowynge â–ª Verye easye yt is to coÌ„iecture what maner of heades they were markynge other places of the scripture A Serpentes head shuld seme to be the first consyderinge that in the SerpeÌ„t he deceyued our first pareÌ„tes with his benemed craftes This heade so malycyouslye poysened maÌ„ne that God repeÌ„ted hym of hys creacyoÌ„ and destroyed hys whole kynde in the flood .viii. persones onlye reserued After the flood had he the head of a Calfe for the seconde in sygnificacyon of the shamefull Idolatrye and wycked worshyppynge that then begonne in Nemroth and so contyned in the heythen The thirde was the head of a lyon full of pryde and oppression expressed first in the cruell reigne of the Assyryanes and Caldeanes aÌ„d after in the proude byshoppes and prestes The forth was a Beares head full of rauyne and cruelnesse betokenynge the fâ—rce kyngedome of the medes and perseanes Consequentlye hys fift head was lyke a leopardes head of manye colours full of fycklenesse and change ablenesse And that was the vnconstaunt reygne of the Grekes Hys sixt was the head of a Beast farre vnlyke all other beastes which sygnyfyeth the kyngedome of the Romanes with their monstruouse lawes more than nedeth The seueÌ„th ys not vnlyke to a mannes head includynge all carnall wysdome with all deuyllyshe polycyes and craftes and thys ys the verye papacye here in â–ª Europa whych ys the generall Antichrist of all the whole worlde almost whych hath alreadye subdued and destroyed the Empyre of Rome For he ys called the Apostata and manne of synne By thys onlye head ys the Dragon named the