117 Ten hornes 524 Ten tymes for often 68 Ten number for many 518 Tents of saints for the churche 611. afflicted 616 Testimony of christ 125. 572. c. Testimony is syncere preaching 322 Thanks geuing for victory 340 Thanks geuing praiers 237 Theft and his parts 281 Third number for strength 495 Thirst for ardaunt desyr 640 This is my bodi figuratiu spiech 45 Thoghtz knowen only to God 96 Thomas an Inglish preacher 604 Thousand yeres 593. 601 Thretningz of Christ 57 Threatningz against the impenitent 82 Throon signifieth c. 141 Throon of God 136 Thunders .vij. preachers 288 Thunderbolt of the Pope 399 Thyatira described 86 Title of thapocalyps 13 Torment maketh not martyrz 77 Torments of the wicked perpetuall 582 Totila brent Rome 528 Tradicions of men 97. nothyng niedful 118. 673. 99. 100. 390. bring darknes 207 Traian persecutor 194 Translators of the script 533. c Transubstantiacion is called god Mayzim 609 Treading vnder foot 309 Trew religion corrupted 205 Treuth figured by pillers 286 Treuth of Christ 112 Treuth neglected all misery foloweth 190 Treuth of the Gospel most heynous to impugn 584 Treuth is not to be kept in sylēs 368 Treuth alwaies preached 183 Treuth had euer sum patrons 600 Treuth in Polycarpz opinion 63 Tribulacion of diuers sorts 229 Tribut of a dead man 550 Trinitie 163. described 145. distincted into persons 14 Tries sign men 243 Trouble in churchs 51 Troubles and tumultes authors 206 Trumpets vse 241 Trustines of the Thyatirenians 88 Tryall or temptacion of Saints 68 Tumultes 206 Turks imagin bankets in heuen 136 Turks aid pernicious 275 Turkes receyue the religion of Mahomet 270 Turkish emperours beginning 273 Turning to God proffitable 3◠Two number 312. c Tym certain for vncertain 310. 326 Tym past for tym to cum 535 Tym tyms and half a tym 314 Tyranny of Antichrist 513 Tyranny of the Bish of Rome 425 V Valentinians heretiks 244 Vandals inuade Rome 527 Vengeauns of God figured by fyer 467 Vengeauns of God against Papists 464. 468 Vengeauns is desyred ij waies 200 Vengeauns reioysed at 553 Vertew we haue hoolly of God 153 Verteuz rewarde 108 Vertuous lyfe necessary hatred only of papistry other heresye is not inough 277 Vial a cup. 169 Vicar of Christ 253. niedeth not 35 Vicar Christ neuer appointed 389 Vicar of Christ no trew church hath 441 Victory of Christ and christians 358 Victory of the faithfull 136. 119 Victory of preachers is spiritual 317 Victories and felicitye of thys world 274 Victory of ouer the world 100 Violent vocacion 129 Virgins 443 Visions vtilitie 2 Visions of thapocalyps diuided 11 Visions godly terrible to weak naturs 40 Vision second 138. 140. third 347. fourth 470 Vnbeleuers 642 Vnderstanding of man is weak 228 Vncleannes hated of God 82 Vncleannes of hordum peruers doctryn 512 Vnction or anointing 316. c. Vngodlines or wickednes must be hated not permitted or winked at 90 Vnity of God with man 135. 136 Vnitie of faith shal neuer be vniuersall as sumthink 606 Vniuersall Bishop 251 Vntil put for euer 604 Vocatiō of ministers diuers 300 Vocation violent 129 Voluptuousnes 538 Voluptuousnes of Rome 551 Voluptuousnes of the papists 308 Vomiting out of mungrels 127 Voyce of Christ 37 Voyce lowd or low to prais god withall 176 W Wagis of euery one 343 Walles of the heuenly citie 650 Wantunnes figured by wemens lokz 262 Wantūnes vnclennes 81. look mor in fornication and adultry Wars occasioned by the Deuell 185 Wars are bicause men receiue not the gospell 186 Wars moued by Popes 484 Wars betwen Popes Emperors lasted 200. yeres 419 Wars of heretiks 243. 244. c. Wars of the holy land 611. 612. 613. c. did hurt 598 Warfar and victory of Christiās 119 Warm lewk 126 Warnings that God vseth 134 Was and is not 515. 518. Water of lyfe 638. c. 668 Water into blud grace into punishment 319 Water in abundans sign a sea of all illes 365 Water for doctryn 483 Waters kingdūs dispersed 524 Waters sign people 442 Watching exhorted 497 Weak in faith ordred a right 51. 52 Weapons of preachers Gods word 317 Wel of lyfe 638 Welth of Rome cōpared to Euphrates 492 Wemen prophets 91 Whyt aray 108 Whyt color 182 Whyt stoon is remission of sinnez 84 Wicked oght to be hated with a holy hatred and in no wis nourished or wenkt at 79 Weping of the ignoraunt 159 Will frye 129 Wil of man what it helpeth to saluacion 694 Wildernes figure of the Gentils 353 Wildernes for heithennes gentilesm 508 Wildernes Christ is in 213 Winning of brethern how 115 Winged locusts 263 Wishing perteined only to ministers 19 Witnes of Christ 125 Witnesses Apostles 573 Witnesses figure ministers 313 Witch craft .280 of Rome 557 Wo wo wo. 249 Wo third 336 Woman Pope 507 Womā figure of the church 348 Woman precher prohibited 91 Worde of God beginning of repentauns 105 Word of god Christ al one 579 Word of God is tryed gould 130 is sweet and better 302 Word of God and faith are not without the holy ghost 219 Word of God contemned cause of all misery 190 Word of God broght in doubt by the Pope as by the Deuell at the first in paradise 390 Word of Christ contemned 38 Word of Christ what 114. how it is kept 114 Word of paciens and of the crose 117 World figured by the sea 473 World is not euerlasting 500 World shal be renewed 631 Worlds end at hand 295 World frail as glas 147 Worldlinges 124 Wounds of Antechrist healed 395 Wrytings 636 Wryting of the scripturs to what end 567. 31. Wryting why it is vsed 45◠Wullen cloth of Laddicea 123 Wunders and monsters 435 Wurks taken for heel conuersacion of men in words dieds both 104 Wurks of the faithfull 462 Wurkes shall we be iudged by 625 Wurks good of God il of the Deuell 373 Wurks of mens hands 279 Wurks of Christ in opposition to the wurks of men 100 Wurks must be preached in the church 640 Wurks of euery man rewarded accordingly by God 96 Wurinwud 245 Wourshipping signified by falling down 168 Wourship God only 340. 450. 573. no creature 175 Wurship of God is not ingould siluer 510. c. is partly praies 168. externall and in spirit 153 lawfull and vnleful 645. of Idols 644. c. of aungels and Saintes 678. of the Deuel 279 Wurthynes of saints 108 Wurthines figured by wynges 263 Wurthines we haue all of God 153 Wyn new in old bottels 126 Wyn fat figure of hel 468 Wynd in the script 214 Y Yers thre and a half 310 Z Zeal godly 55 Zeal feruent against heresies necessary 86 Zeal and feruentnes remedy of warmnes or neutralitie 133 FINIS RITHMI E VETVSTO CODICE DESCRIPTI Romanum quendam cognomento Lefranco taxantes PRopter Sion non tacebo Sed ruinas Romae flebo Quoadusque iusticia Nobis rurfus oriatur Et vt lampas accendatur Iustus
Fraunce England Italy and of other Realmes or nations and generally to all the faithfull where soeuer they be abiding and lokyng for the coÌ„myng of Christe oure Lorde and Iudge THat this Apocalips was reueled of Iesus christ king of kinges and high Bishop our lord from the right hand of the Father and setforth by thapostolical spirite for the saluatioÌ„ of al faithfull chieflye of those that shall be in the latter dayes before the last iudgment both the matter it selfe whiche is treated right necessary to be knoweÌ„ holsom and excelleÌ„t proueth And also the simple maner meane wherby it is handled being euident and plaine declareth I will speake of ether briefly Collectyng those thinges only which seme to be more profitable and more necessary Iohn .xvi. The Lorde had sayd in the Gospell how he wold ascende into heauen and froÌ„ thence wold send to his Apostles the holy Gost the comforter which shulde leade them into all truth and shew them the thinges that ar to come And that which he sayd he wolde do in wordes the same verely hath he also perfourmed in dede aboundantly The holy Gost beyng sent to his Apostles which induced them into all truthe and opened to them the thinges that were to come especially to the Apostle and Euangelyst S. Iohn who receiued this ReuelatioÌ„ exibited to him of Christ from the ryght hand of the Father by the mistery of an AuÌ„gel in the holy Gost who also by Chryste his commaundement committed the same to wryting The summe and ende of the which wryting is this The summe ende of the Apocalipse That Christ Iesus our Lord wil neuer fayle hys churche in earth but will gouerne it with his spirite and worde through thecclesiasticall ministery But that the church it self whilest it remaineth in this worlde shall suffer many thinges and that for Chryst and the truthe of his Gospell professed And it openeth al and singular euils in a maner that the church shal suffer shewing how it must be exercised with common Calamities as warre plage famyne and suche other lyke What it shall priuately suffer of the false bretherne through heresies schismes and greuous and continuall stryfes contentions corruptions in the matter of religion Finally how terribly it shulde be vexed by the most cruell persecutions of tholde Romane Empire And laste by the wicked crafts extreme Tyranny of Antichrist Al the which thinges apperteyne to this ende that all the chosen being sufficiently warned before and prouided in all ages whilest this worlde shall indure may with true faith alone cleaue vnto Christ our redemer king and high prieste only and eternall and may purely and syncerely professe hym call vpon him in the innocencie of lyfe serue him and patiently attend after him commyng to Iudgemente and to delyuer and saue the godly But contrarywise that they dispise all superstitions and the worlde it selfe with those his sondrye religions felicities and pleasures and bewar of al vngodlines And chiefly that they flee Antichrist which shall com in th ende of the worlde vsurping to himselfe most vniustly the kingdom and Priesthod of Chryst and greuouslye persecuting the churche of Christ euen to the laste Iudgemente In the whiche at the laste he with all his adherentes shall be throwen downe hedlonge into Hell And. S. Iohn beginneth this holsome matter of Chryste hymselfe The fyrste Chapter of the Apocalips Lorde king and high Bishop whose wonderful and most goodly description after the Apostolicke maner he placeth in the very begynnyng as the foundation of the whole worke The same descriptioÌ„ dooeth so â—â—ately setfoorthe the Lorde that all the churche may easely know What thinges are treated in this boke in what order dispersed throughout the whole worlde in Chryst oure Lorde all thinges to be accomplished what so euer he had sayd before shulde be fulfilled in him namely that he shulde be exalted one to the ryghthand of his father into all celestiall glory power and maiestie there to be kinge of kinges of all other most mightye and the true and only hygh Byshop Sauiour gouernour Lorde and generall defendour of the Catholycke churche For blessed S. Iohn not only saw him such him selfe but also exhibiteth him such to be sene of vs all in thys hys wryting so godly by a most bryght and goodly vision And moreouer to thintent it myght be knowne to vs all in what sorte our Lord Iesus Chryst king and priest sitting or working in Heauen on the right hande of his Father is neuerthelesse in the middes of the catholycke church wherof he hath a faithfull care how louingly and fully he preserueth it in best order gouerneth it S. Iohn sheweth in this his vision that Christ walketh amonge the seuen golden candlestickes holdeth in his right hande seuen starres And streyghtway declareth what thing he vnderstandeth by the candelstickes and starres calling the candelstickes churches and the starres Aungels of the churches That is to witte Seuen churches Messagers ministers and pastours For the Lord chose vnto him selfe seuen famouse churches in Asia with whom he treateth nowe generally and compendiously vsing S. Iohn for hys interpretour which he doth perpetually in all churches throughoute the world and will neuer cease to do tyll the worldes ende For the seuenth number whiche is most vsed in this boke Chap. 2 and .3 and is the numbre of fulnes comprehendeth in it all churches Wherfore S. Iohn doeth so propounde moderate and temper all thynges that he treateth with these seuen churches that they may be applied vnto all the Churches that shal be in the worlde vntyl the worldes ende for theyr learnynge and edifiyng And for the same cause these seueÌ„ churches may be exaÌ„ples of all other churches For loke what thing then did please or displease the Lord in those seuen churches what tyme these thyngs wer reuealed the selfe same in all other churches shall please or displease him so long as the worlde shall laste And as he wolde haue those instructed and taught so wyl he that all and singular be instructed at all seasons Therefore in these seuen churches we haue examples of churches moste excellent in dede and of God derely beloued And agayne of moste corrupte meane also and finally mixed And in these al is shewed what is or shall be the disposition maners and vertues of all the churches in the whole world and of al tymes and seasons likewise the vices of them and remedies of the same Therfore the Lorde in these instructeth reproueth chideth threatneth exhorteth comforteth promiseth Wherfore in these we shall see as it were in a table set before vs what the true and ryght doctrine of the churche is And againe which is the false and the corrupt doctrine We shall heare and learne that the churche beloued of God must stande styll in the preachyng of the Gospell once receyued of the Apostles of oure Lord Iesus Chryst and muste loke for no new
suffring of God 128 Lōg suffring of god contēned 93 Loue of God goes before our loue 116 Loue of God originall of all verteuz 116 Loue of Chryste incomparable 22 Loue of our neibour perteyneth also to christianitie 277 Lumbards planted in Italye 431 M Magik of Rome 557 Magistrats office toward heretiks 53 Magistrats how far they are to be obeied 370 Magog Iaphets sun 610 Mahomets beginnynge 269. lawes 270. religion patched 126 Mahometrye when it began 608 Mammon 124 Manhod of Christ 162. 163 Manicheus heresy 244. 248 Mankind deuided in to Iewes and Gentils 223 Manna hid are secret 83 Marchaundiez leful 124 Marchaundiez of the Pope 549 Marcus Anthonius verus 194 Mariage corporall and spirituall 443 Mariage in the script 563. of the lamb 564 Markes of the faithfull 442. of Antichrist 422 Martyrs most plentiful in heuē 196 Martyrs ought to be honored not called vpon 78 Martyrs what maketh 77 Martyr cause maketh not turment 197 Maruelling of Iohn Daniel the godly 514 Mary the virgin 352. inferior to popish priests 263 Masse 170. patched 126. 127 Masking and bankets 81 Matrimonie 563 Matrimonye defileth no man 443 Maximila prophetis 91 Maximian 194 Mayzim a God 609 Measur for measure 544 Measuring for entēding to build 305 Mediator only Christ 203 Members how they are attributed to God 141 Men of ij sorts 256 Mercy of God trusty only 224 Mercy of God toward sinners 134 Mercy of God exceding 97 Mercy God forgets not euen in the extremity of hys punishmēt 190 Mercy of God iustifieth vs no merits of man 639 Merits 565. of man 248 Merits of man haue no place in our iustificacion 639 Merits of our owne or others 460. 462 Merits and intercession of saints 84 Metropolitās first ordeined 387 Michael Seruetus 246 Michael captain against the Dragon 356 Michael typ of Christ 356 Millan warres 190 Millenaries error 221 Milston drowned 556 Milston cast into the sea 536 Mingle mangle christianitie 126 Ministers of the Churche are Aungels 589. are figured by wytnesses 313. are defended and preserued by Chryste 103. are forbodden Gouernement c. 386. they re dewtye and office 300. c. 590. to be obedient 305. to be feruent 302 Ministeries effect 302 Ministerie of the Thyatirenians 88 Miracles trew and fals 397 Mixture vnlawfull 126 Mockers of religion 643 Modestie preposterous 506 Monarchies figured 372 Mone token of alteracions 349 Mone as blud 207 Moneths .xlij. 310. fyue 257 Monotelitans heretiks 269 Monsters and wunders 435 Montanists 90. 91 Montanistes heresy 244 Morning star knoledge increasing 101 Mount for spirituall meaninge 648 Mountains seuen 517 Mountains betoken reames c. 210 Mountains figures of kingdums 244 Mouablenes figured by waters 524 Mourning 550 Multitude is no good defense of errour 107 Multitude no dew prouf of religion 524 Mungrels gospellers 127 Munks honest lay men 255 Murmuring in persecucion 195 Murmuring at God remoued 150. 152 Murther of diuers kinds 280 Murtherers 643 Musik 169 Mutinie in persecution 195 Myters of Bishops 261. 389 N Nakednes 128 Nakednes of the papistes open 498 Name of the wryter of thapocalyps why it is added 677 Name new what 84 Names of men for nomber 334 Names for notable men 106 Name and estimacion 66 Name of the beast 424 Name of God 578. of the iudge 579 Name of God wryten in forheds 671. geuen to the faithfull 121 Name of Christ is faith of Christ 76 Nazarians heresy 52 Nero persecutor 194 New doctryn is not to be lookt for 118 New lerning 447 New lerning of Rome 453 New name 122 New name what it sign 84 New song signifi c. 171 Newter 127. 501. how they shal be orderd in the last iudgement 588 Nicodemits 541 Nicolas a filthy heretik 59 Nicolaitans errour 80 Nicolaitans of our tyme. 81 Notes and markes of the elect 443. 444. c Number certain for vncertain 334. 272 Number of the name of the beast 424. 426 Nuns and friers 196 O Obediens to whom it is dew how far 370 Odacer king of Rome 528 Odours ar praiers of saints 237 Oecolampadius for authoritye of thapocalys 4 Offens punished 556 Omnipotencie of God 487 Oppression sign by treading vnder foot 309 Order of thapocalyps 347 Organes 169 Originall sinne 247 Oth what 292. 294 Oth or swearing of God 290 Ox and Asse yoked together 126 Oyl figureth matter of preching 31◠P Paciens 62. 117. necessarye in trobles 385. of saints 456. of the Thyatirenians 89. lefull vnlefull 51. 54 Paintings of the last iudgement 584 Paintings proffit and commoditie 2 Paines of the vngodly after thys lyfe 619 Pains of hel euerlasting 455. c Pale hors 190 Palme token of victorie 225 Papists ar gentils 308. are figured by froggs 495. are exhorted to turne to Christ 425. are Cataphrygians 97. fals wytnesses 313. if they be saued or no. 226. theyr coūterfait Christianitie 66. 67. errour about power of saīts 154. their pride and bragges intollerable 338. their idolatry 644. their stubbernes 441 Papists described 347. c. beginneth 386. is new 447. passeth far all gentilitie 610. is way to perdicion 226. is figured by a womā why 510. shall fal 546 oght to be shūd vertuous lyfe also practyzed 277. first chief principle therof 390 Paradys 666 Paradys is euerlasting bles 61 Pardons 640 Parricidie of Antichrist 513 Part for inheritaunce 646 Part second of thapocalyps 32 Passion of Christ not feyned 268 Pastours dewtie 113. to watch 104. theyr office toward heretiks 53◠Patmos the Ile 28 Paulus Samosatenus 245 Peas and quietnes in the church regarded 29 Pelagians confuted 640 Pelagius doctryn 247 Penauns 55. 55 Peny sign a great prys 189 Perdicion is not to adnihilate 344 Perfytnes and imperfytnes in saints 104 Perfytnes in non 110 Pergamos churche 71. Seat of satan 74 Permission of God 185. 532. c. Persecutions premonished 303. from whens they cum 323. by the Dragon 364. by the Romains ten 379. by Antichrist 309. 321. maketh not a martyr 77. of the churche 193. causes therof 195. when they shal end 451. shall neuer ceas till the worlds end 584. theyr tyme is short 202 Persecutors set on by the Deuill 68 Perseuerās 119. in godlines 118 in faith 319 Persons thrie 180 Persons of the trinity discerned 20 Pestilens or plage 191. 43 Peter heretik 268 Peters seat is heuen 490 Petrarch of Rome 537 Phocas emperour made the Pope head of churches 519 Philadelphia a citie of Lydia 111 Philosophers patriarks of heretiks 243 Phrase of scripture 45 Pictures of the last iudgement 584 People compared to waters 524 Peoples office toward heretiks 53 Pillers figure of treuth 286 Pillers erectīg to what end 120 inscripcion 12 Pipin captain of the frēch kings garde 430. begins to rein 435 is author of the Popes kyngdum 409 Pit bottumles 252 Plages 320. 191. theyr cause 481 Pleasures what they brynge 538 Pleasurs of Rome 551. c. Pledges of Christ 564 Poderes a priestly garment 35 Poks
be noted the goodnes of Almightie God The scripture expounded whiche declareth to vs him selfe the hardest places of the Scripture Where be they therfore that accuse the Scripture of obscurenes and contende that it can not be vnderstaÌ„de let vs here marke also the coÌ„mon maner of speakyng of the whole scripture seuen starres The phrase of the scripture be seuen Messengers The seuen lightes are seuen Churches For signes receyue the names of the thinges although they be remaine in theyr owne substaunce and bee not chaunged into another This the very contentiouse persons do graunte also whiche in the woordes of the supper this is my body will acknowledge no figuratiue speache at all Starres be called Aungelles Aungelles be Gods Messengers pastours of churches so called in the ii iii. chapter of Malachie For God sendeth preachers as Ambassadors to the people and willeth them to be hearde in like case as himselfe Luke .x. Iohn .xiii. Let no man therfore tary till the Lord him selfe come downe from heauen againe and preach â—nto vs. Euen now he preacheth to vs by his Messengers whiche preache his that is to saye the woorde of Christ yf â—ou contemne them you contemne Christ Preachers be â—alled starres by reason of theyr bright and Heauenly docâ—rine and for their purenes of life 2. Peter 2 Iude. 1. Beware therefore you Preachers that you be not wandering Planettes leest ye â—aue no light at all neyther in doctrine nor conuersation of â—â—fe For than ye shall be likened to starres that fall downe â—ut of Heauen as shall happen here after in this boke to the â—alse teachers But those starres are not in the head or in the fete The starres be in the right haÌ„de of Christ or on â—he backe or sides but in the right hande of Christ Whiche â—â—ing hath in dede a great consolation for the Pastours be in the right hande of God in Gods protection neither shâ— any man take them out of his hande God him selfe also â—â—ueth pastours and furnisheth them with necessarie goodâ— of the Church Therfore is the whole gouernement and glâ—ry his Wherefore the Apostle sayeth also he that waterâ— and planteth is nothing but God that geueth increase Nowe as concernyng the Candelstickes there was oâ— verely in the Tabernacle of Moses with seuen sockettes Candelstickes 〈◊〉 set in seuen Candelles In Salomons temple were ten caâ—delstickes The one represented a figure of Christ And the â—â—uen therupon and the ten betokened the vniuersalitieâ— Churches whiche are lighted all of the only lighte Chrisâ— and haue of this one what light so euer they haue And thâ— candelstickes are of Golde The mistery whereof Aretas eâ—pounding They are all golde sayeth he for the puritie aâ— preciousnes of faith liyng hidde in them And in dede the â—delstickes of them selues geue no light but be receptacles 〈◊〉 light So of vs arriseth no light but darkenes But in 〈◊〉 that light euerlasting set a light in the candlesticke the ligâ— shineth if Christe illumine the Churche with faithe and â—â—retie than faith sheweth foorth her selfe in open confessioâ— and the purenes of life in conuersation And this the Lord â—quireth of his churche in the v. chapter of Matth. So let yoâ— light shine c. And the apostle in the ii to the Philipp In tâ— middes of a frowarde and croked natioÌ„ shine like lightes the worlde And hitherto we haue handled the consolation of Chriâ— and the exposition of that great and celestiall vision wheâ— we haue learned the misteries of the faith of Christ and of his Churche to the ende we should knowe that Christ is the Lorde reignyng in his Church and applying al thinges to the saluation of his faythfull That he sendeth Preachers teacheth by them and kepeth and defendeth them To him be Glory c. ¶ Of the Epistles reuealed out of the throne of God from Christ by an Aungell and receiued and sent of Iohn Where also a parte of the Epistle to the Ephesians is expounded The seuenth Sermon VNto the Messenger of the congregation of Ephesus write These things saieth he that holdeth the seuen Starres in his righthand and walketh in the middes of the Seuen golden Candelstickes I knowe thy workes and thy labour and thy patieÌ„ce and â—ow thou cannest not forbeare them whiche â—re euil And examinest them which saie thei are Apostles and are not And haste founde â—hem liars hast suffered and hast patience â—nd for my names sake haste laboured and â—aste not fainted Neuerthelesse I haue some what againste thee because thou haste lefte â—hy firste loue Your charitie hath sene a certen Image of the lord christ Christe is prelate of the Church â—itting on the right hande of the father in glorye yet so that 〈◊〉 no wise he eyther forsaketh or neglecteth his Churche Now followeth it more fully and plainely howe our Sauiâ—ur Christe in Heauen executeth the office of the highe Bishop and teacheth the whole churche by his ministers rebuâ—eth comforteth and reteyneth it in her dutie Finally tourâ—eth alwayes awaye thinges hurtefull and auaunceth it to greater thinges For here follow seuen Epistles to the seueÌ„ Congregations that is to witte Seuen Epistles vnto all the churches in the â—hole worlde For this moste ample and holsome doctrine â—aye not be restreyned to a fewe sins Christ is Bisshoppe â—niuersall Thautoritie of these epâ—stels But great is the autoritie of these epistles For they are reuealed from the throne of God by the sonne of Goâ— speaking by an Aungell whiche prescribeth what is to bâ— written in those Epistles S. Iohn receiueth and writeth thâ— same through Christ his coÌ„maundement and sendeth theâ— to the seuen congregations And verely they aperteyne nâ— lesse vnto vs than if now the bearer entring into the churcâ— should deliuer these letters vnto vs. Moreouer in these seuen Churches is figured vnto vâ— the nature The epistles be vniuersall maners vices medicines rebukes prayses of 〈◊〉 Churches in all times and what soeuer is wonte to chaunâ— aboute them Then by examples of moste excellent meanâ— mixed of Hypocriticall also and wicked And these our Loâ— dothe euideÌ„tly instructe reproue rebuke and blame praisâ— correct moue exhorte comforte the same he threatneth anâ— promiseth them also ioyfull thinges c. This is no light 〈◊〉 coÌ„mon example but of the sonne of God the high and moâ— blessed Bishop teaching vs howe we should deale with 〈◊〉 congregations after the capacitie disposition of euery onâ— And not without cause he chouseth vnto him seuen thâ— most noble cities of Asia Certaine it is that Asia was of 〈◊〉 first inhabited and from thence they were dispersed into â—ther partes of the worlde Certaine it is also that the Deuâ— set vp his Throne in Asia and there reigned in men througâ— Idolatrie murther ambition auarice vncleanes and filthâ— pleasures For the prouerbe is knoweÌ„ the laughter Iouicaâ— It is knowen what the apostle wrote to the EphesiaÌ„s in thâ— iiii
and v. chapter Therfore wold our Sauiour Christ oueâ—throwe that Throne of the deuill and set vp that his Thronâ— of rightuousnesse and holines Therefore goeth he firsâ— and chiefly to them of Asia that by their example the wholâ— worlde might be corrected and amended Ephesus And amonges other cities of Asia and Iouia Ephesuâ— was most famouse called in the olde time the lighte of Asiâ— And amonges the xii cities of Iouia accompted the princâ—pall The teÌ„ple of Diana Neyther was there any other richer or more beautifuâ— Church sene any where in Asia than the temple of Diana 〈◊〉 Ephesus It stode in the middes of the citie a great wondâ— of the Greke magnificence as writeth Plinie This tempâ— is sayed to haue ben two hundreth and twentie yeres in mâ—king of al Asia And set in a fenny ground that it should fele of no earth quakes nor opening of the earthe The length of â—t was ccccxxv foote the breadth .ccxx. It had pillers an hoÌ„dreth twentie and seuen dedicated of so many kinges Seke the reste oute of the epitome of the famouse D. Ioachim Vadiane The apostle S. Paul firste illumined this citie with the â—eame of the Gospel Whose epistle to the same citie remayneth and a plentifull story in the actes of the Apostles After Paull was executed Iohn went to Ephesus Actes 19. and from theÌ„ce preached to al Asia from theÌ„ce also was he brought to Rome â—o the emperour Domitian To Ephesus he retourned after his exile and there at length as the ecclesiasticall stories do testifie he slepte in the Lord. And before euery epistle muche more to that of the Ephesians is set a commaundement write This scripture is autheÌ„tike This coÌ„maundement geueth authoritie to the writynge so that we maye not axe whether this writing ought to be credited and whie it shuld â—e beleued For here is the expres coÌ„maundement of God â—nd the diuine authoritie whereof curiousely to inquire is â—hought not without cause vnlawfull Moses wrote by the â—ommaundement of God And by the same coÌ„maundement of God wrote also the prophetes and Apostles Whic than are not theyr wrytinges beleued to be Anthenticall Certes Iohn sayed truely and wittely he that knoweth God heaâ—eth vs he that is not of God heareth vs not .1 Iohn .5 Curiouse questioÌ„s cease where the minde of the godly or of any poore shepe knoweth the voice of his Lorde and Sheperde And let no man thinke that this epistle beyng written to one Aungel that is to a Bishop or pastour apperteineth nothing to the Churche For to the ende of the epistle is added an acclamation He that hath an eare let him heare what the spirite sayeth to the congregations Therefore the pastour is named but the Shepe are not excluded All degrees states in the church know what is sayd vnto them IgnorauÌ„ce saieth That which is writteÌ„ to the Romanes coÌ„cerneth me nothing Yet neuertheles it is intitled to the Aungel The argumeÌ„t of the epistle to the Ephes to the inteÌ„t they pastours may be admonished what the state of the Church is The argâ—ment of the firste epistle is thus Christ declareth that he ruleth ouer his church that he taketh charge and gouernement of the same Some thinge therin he prayseth and somewhat he blameth In the meane time he exhorteth to repentauÌ„ce threatening greuouse thinges and promising most ioyefull And also he applieth this epistle to al churches and coÌ„municateth it to all coÌ„gregations in the whole worâ—â— But the epistle is exhortatiue for it instructeth the churches exhorteth and directeth And first in dede he sheweth who he is from whome thâ— epistle procedeth that he may geue authoritie therunto anâ— maye declare also that he is the head of his churche the Bâ—shop Duke and gouernour That part is takeÌ„ of the imagâ— set forth in the firste chapter And followeth the propheticâ—â— maner of speaking This sayeth he whiche holdeth the seuâ—â— Starres in his righthaÌ„de For the Prophetes saye likewisâ— Thus sayeth the lorde God of Israell thus sayeth the lorâ— of hostes Thus sayeth the Lorde whiche brought thee out 〈◊〉 Aegipte c. And two especiall thinges he repeteth of the fâ—â—mer description Seuen starres in the righte hande of Christ wherby he wil be knowen and do vs to vâ—derstande howe he beyng Lord and Bishop ruleth and mâ—keth in his churche First he affirmeth that he holdeth in hâ—â— hand the seuen starres The hande is a token of working 〈◊〉 protection or deliuerauÌ„ce The starres we haue hearde to 〈◊〉 the ministers the ministerie of the woorde or the church Therfore Christ holdeth the ministerie in the church and 〈◊〉 ministers worketh the saluation of the faithfull After he â—â—firmeth that he walketh not slepyng or doyng nothing 〈◊〉 the middes of seuen golden candelstickes In the middes 〈◊〉 sayed to the ende we should vnderstand that he geueth hâ—â—selfe indifferently to al men and ruleth ouer al with like 〈◊〉 and gouernement To walke amongs the Candelstickes Fulwel wrote herof D. Fraunces lambeâ—â— What saieth he is to walke or to be in the middes of congâ—â—gations but to assiste them kepe instructe helpe them 〈◊〉 by al meanes to watche ouer them For the whiche cause 〈◊〉 saieth also in the last of S. Matth. Beholde I am with you â—â—waies vnto the worldes ende Hereof you haue a moste 〈◊〉 figure in the lawe wherin amonges other thinges whicâ— apperteined to the ministerie of the highe prieste he had 〈◊〉 charge of oyle and of seuen candels for those must he pourâ—â— and snafte and poure in oyle when it wanted So Chrisâ— the highe and true Bishop hath the charge of the seuen candelles that is to saie of al congregations and is careful that they wante not that oyle whiche is mentioned in the 44. Psalm He watcheth that they wante not the fire and light of the veritie Finally he snafteth and pourgeth by faithe what thinge so euer hath nede to be pourged in them Thus farre he Whiche thinges when they heare whiche make the Bisshop of Rome head of the churche It is maruell if by and by they vnderstande not theyr folly and madnes Here the lord addeth also that he knoweth the workes to witte all bothe good and euil aswell of the Bishop as of his Churche For the Lord knoweth al thinges and is head Bishop of the Catholicke or vniuersall Churche whiche also remembreth the thoughtes of al men in the world at one instaunte who seeth what is donne and what is not donne and what thinges are nedefull nothing escapeth him And suche in dede ought he to be that is head vniuersall of his Church And this senteÌ„ce is repeted I knowe thy workes in the beginninge of euery epistle And verely it is full of comforte when we heare that Christ knoweth all our doynges For we beleue also that he hath a faithfull care of all our matters Now this great Bishop coÌ„mendeth some thinges in this congregation of Ephesus For good workes in dede
.xcvii. yeare wouldâ— God all Pastours would set before their eies this good Policarpus to be followed of whome there remayneth a notâ—ble Epistle to the Philippians After againe is the authour of the Epistle Thauthor of the epistle declared whicâ— is set forth with two titles taken out of the fourmer visiâ—â— of Iohn and descriptioÌ„ of Christ Thus saith the first and 〈◊〉 last c. Wherby is signified the eternall diuinitie of Christâ— which wanteth beginning and ending And of him selfe is â—uerlasting There is added that he was dead liueth againâ— that is to witte hath rysen from the dead And this begiâ—ning accordeth right well to the matter For they perceiuâ— that whosoeuer are afflicted for Christ his Gospell of mâ— mightie kinges and princes haue a Lorde and patrone mâ— mightie and more faithfull whiche in no wyse can be ouâ— comen Who can also in death kepe his lyke as he reysed 〈◊〉 Christ from the dead to the intent we myght haue an opâ—â— testimony that we shal liue with Christ euen in death it seâ— Christ knoweth the workes of his And now cometh he to the matter it selfe and the whicâ— thing he repeteth in al Epistles he sayth here also I knoâ— thy workes to witte both good and euill Thinke not that 〈◊〉 neither know nor care for thy matters Thou art verely roâ—ten out in my handes I know see and care for thee and 〈◊〉 thine And these thinges boeth prouoke vs maruelously vertue when we knowe that we haue God a loker on 〈◊〉 hath a care of vs And also comforte vs greatly which vndâ—â—stande how he that loueth vs and in no matter neglecteâ— hath vs alwayes as it were before his eyes And here particularly he declareth what he knewe Aâ— first in dede the afflictions Afflictions which verely they suffered in tâ—â— present persecution of the Emperour Domitian And affâ—â—â—tion is as it were a generall worde to the foure kindes foâ—wyng For he rehearseth touching their substaunce the sâ—â—ling of their goodes and their pouertie In their name 〈◊〉 estimation coÌ„tumelies reproches or blasphemies In boâ—â— imprisonment and bondes yea and death also For 〈◊〉 these afflictions Godly men are exercised for the truth saâ— of the wicked And in these may be coÌ„prysed al other kindes of tribulation The whiche the Epistle of Iesus Christ reciteth in a Godly order There is nothinge therfore of these matters whiche the Lord Christ knoweth not Pouertie hath the first place The pouertie of the faithfull Neither ought we to take it here spiritually for the modestie and humblenes of mynde although it be certaine that the churche of Smyrna wanted not the same vertue But there was pouertie and lacke of all things by reason of the spoiling of their goodes For in time of persecution by vertue of kings proclamatioÌ„s the goodes of the faithful professours of Christ ar coÌ„fiscated to the kings vse or permitted to the soldiours nobles or promoters to take at their pleasure The faithful thrust out of their houses ar either driuen into exile or go a begging would God we wanted examples therof at this day Let vs herof learne to beare suffer paciently the like chaunces also being perswaded that God knoweth our necessitie And because it is an hard thing â—or an honest man to honger and want with his familie for a â—omfort and consolation he addeth but thou art riche This to the world semeth a paradoxe or incredible Spiritual ryches What wyll they say is he ryche that hath nothyng and is brought â—o the state of beggars There be doubtles goodes and ryâ—hes of the mynde muche better than corporall substaunce For this may be had without the true felicitie of ryche men â—f this worlde that liue a moste miserable lyfe Agayne you â—hall see a poore man concerning worldly goodes but furâ—ished with the rychesse of the mynde for this cause only to â—e happy and moste blessed He coueteth nothyng he is conâ—ent with his vocation Neither would he chaunge his state with moste welthie and ryche kynges Contrariwyse you â—hall see ryche men but of an euyll conscience and therfore â—houghtfull and burthened with cares and neuer mery You â—hall see poore men but with mery hartes to leade a ioyfull â—â—fe Why than shoulde it seme maruell yf he that is spoyâ—ed of his worldly goodes for Christe and inriched with the â—iftes of the minde is glad and reioyseth in God and taketh a good parte al chaunces and for the same cause is iudged â—o be verely ryche Doubtles the wyse men of this worlde â—we also that the only wyse man is trewly ryche Which is gallauntly discoursed of Cicero Aretas sayth in spiritual matters hauing a treasure hidde in the fielde of thy harte which is Christ by reason of whoÌ„ thou art ryche also Sinnâ— thou hast him thy protectour who also when he was ryche for vs became poore c. Blasphemie agaiÌ„st the faithful In the second place is recited blasphemie by the whichâ— we vnderstande all maner of raylinges and sclauÌ„ders wheâ—by the name and estimation of the faithfull is hurte Of thâ— whiche sorte are these They be heretickes and Schismaticâ— so many as be fauourers of this religion They be wickeâ— people dispisers of God and his saintes the ennemies of 〈◊〉 Gods seruice and therfore the plages of the commoÌ„ wealtâ— which if they be suffered the common wealth must nedes 〈◊〉 distroyed And these thinges in dede many times vexe goâ— men more greuously than the losse of their goodes For wâ— wyll not set more by a good name than by great rycheâ— Therfore the Lorde in Gospell of S. Math. the .10 Chaptâ— With many wordes healeth this disease And exhorteth 〈◊〉 that for the auoyding of that infamie they should coÌ„mitâ— thing vnworthy the name of christians What their persecuters be In the meane tyme he declareth also what moued the â—thours of this mischief whome he blameth also exceadynâ— to thintent that the godly shuld vnderstaÌ„d how greatly thâ— ennemies of all Godlines are of God misliked And theâ— might also care the lesse for their hatred and persecutioÌ„ Tâ— saye in dede that they be Iewes where they be nothing 〈◊〉 Thus also S. Paul handled the Iewes in the .ii. to the â—mains The Iewes are called confessours honorers and faithful seruauÌ„ts of God But these blaspheme Gods naâ— they impugne the true faith and oppresse them that profâ— and worshyppe God Therfore be they not Iewes Wâ— than The Synagoge congregation or assemblee of Saâ—â— Thus the very sonne of God plucketh of the viserne frâ—â— these varlettes to the comforte of all those that suffer peâ—cution of them that set forth them selues with stoute titles the ende it shuld neuer greue them that they are condemâ— of suche harlottes the children of the Deuill Christ attâ—â—teth to them the true title and calleth them not the oâ—â— holy and catholicke Churche of God but the conspirâ—â— and schole of Sathan as in whome not the spirite of
reprehension of the NicolaitaÌ„s he procedeth like as in the fourmer epistles to exhorte them to amendement or repentauÌ„ce For where he saieth repent he vnderstandeth or coÌ„prehendeth all penaunce or repentauÌ„ce That we sayed to be a conuersion vnto God wherby we amende euil thinges for good relinquisshing that is euill in stead therof placing that is good that of faith in the sincere loue scare of God Thou shalt amende therfore in case thou doest absteine froÌ„ meates offered vp to Idolles from fornication receiuest the true religioÌ„ of Christ instituted doest possesse thy body in honour not in the lust of coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce as S. Paul sayeth 1. Thessalon 4. The church of Pergamos repeÌ„ted in case they disseÌ„bled not nor winked at the filthines of the NicolaitaÌ„s but stoutely with stode the same The NicolaitaÌ„s repented if laiyng their filthines a side they receiued againe the puretie of faith life And to al singular is saied repent Threateninges againste the impeniteÌ„t The Lord driueth them now also to repentauÌ„ce with greuouse threatnings except thou amende sayeth he I wil come to thee shortely of the whiche maner of speakinge hath ben treated before He addeth and I will fight with theÌ„ with the sworde of my mouthe With whom with the impeniteÌ„t and especially with the Nicolaitans He threatened not vtter distruction or desolatioÌ„ to the church wherof there was great hope that they should pourge the olde leuen but he threateneth the people impenitent And like as a iudge or magistrate or soldiour vseth the sworde so doeth Christ his worde And the worde in dede woundeth or sleyeth no man but in the meane time it sheweth Gods worde so doeth the executioÌ„ of Gods power insewe Therfore Christ euen as he sheweth with his word he sheweth that he wil iudâ—e idolaters beâ—â—â— gods hogs dogs whoremoÌ„gers not only iudge but punish theÌ„ And as he threatneth he doeth Christ fighteth with his sword Thus fighteth he with the sworde of his mouth We haue an example in the Israelites of whom were distroyed for that they had followed the doctrine of BalaaÌ„ 25000. men After were distroyed also the Moabites and Madianites neither were the corrupte women spared Whiche Moses in the 31. of Numeri discourseth at length We see also at this day the sword of God to go through out the world and to ouerthrow now these now them for none other causes than for the which the Lord slewe and distroied Balaam with his adherentes Therfore let vs feare the lord and walke in his coÌ„maundements For he will strike a farre of more greuousely with his sworde when he shal pronouÌ„ce in iudgement go ye cursed into fire euerlasting c. Math. 25. And he sayeth not expressely I wil cutte you with the sword of my mouth For we are many times and ofte seuered and cut with the word of God to our great profit and discipline for our amendement At this present he sayeth he wil fight beholde he will fight namely agaynst his enemies Therfore he threateneth destruction And we doubte nothing but that the impenitents of those of al times shall be distroyed For as I saied euen nowe at this daye we want not examples Agayne leest that notable holsome doctrine should seme to apperteyne to a fewe men of Pergamos This doctrine is comon or generall and not to all in the whole worlde he applieth this profitable doctrine to all churches Of the whiche application we haue spoken ones or twise in the former epistles Finally after his maner to th entent we should al be more strongly moued to repentaunce obedience he propouÌ„deth a promesse most ample and that to them that striue ouercome the flesh the world the deuil not to sluggardes nor to such as lie in the mire of mischiefe We are incouraged therefore with that promisse whiche is of three sortes First he promiseth to them that fight manfully ouercome and do their duety Manna that secret or hidde Manna hidde That externall Manna to all men knowen is not the trewe Manna For the vnthankful Israelites do lothe it as a meat most light had rather haue the flesh pottes of Aegipte full of meate onions leekes and garlicke that they mought eate theyr fille They see not the Manna celestial figured by this outwarde Manna geuyng al sweetnes and spirituall pleasure The faithful see that this hidde Manna is Christ as he him selfe expoundeth it in the 6. of Iohn Christ therfore geueth him self to them that ouercome geueth him to them in meate which filleth in dede He that shal ones with trewe faith haue tasted Christ wil wishe to haue none other meate geuen him For in Christ he hath al thinges in Christ he is complete with all good thinges fully satistised O that our subtil disputers vnderstoode these things they would reason nothing at all of the merites intercession of Sainctes suche other thinges wherof whilest they reason after theyr wooÌ„ted maner thei declare theÌ„selues not to haue tasted as yet howe good and swete is the Lord. A white stone After he promiseth to geue vnto the victours a white stone to wit absolution remission of al sinnes that ful vndoubtedly For Christ doeth verely absolue vs from our sinnes from the paines dewe for the same and from coÌ„demnation And he alluded to thee custome of the auÌ„cient men in iudgementes in the whiche they condemned with blacke stones quitte menne with white For these verses of Ouide are well knowen in the 15. boke of Metamorphos The maner was in old time loÌ„g agone to cast with blacke quitte with a white stone and here we geue warning that the remissioÌ„ of sinnes is not graunted to men liuing for theyr worke or merite but that faithe is the victory that ouercometh the worlde The which S. Iohn him self testifieth And that faith in dede fighteth stoutely in our hartes but in the meane time it acknowledgeth in all things the grace of God neither maketh it voide the merite of christ For as it is not slouthful so is it againe fearful A newe name Laste of all he promiseth that he will write in the stone a new name that such as no maÌ„ knoweth sauing he that inioyeth the same Christ wil not geue vs only remissioÌ„ of our sinnes but the glory morouer coÌ„munion of his heaueÌ„ly ioye vnspeakable Of this newe name bothe Esaye other Prophets haue made meÌ„tion CoÌ„querours had famouse names If we ouercome we inioye the glory celestial That is so vnmesurable that it may only be perceiued by feling not by speaking For what so euer thou shalt say be it neuer so great famous or excellent that is greater that shall be geuen to the ouercoÌ„mers For the Apostle S. Paull citeth out of Esaye That whiche the eye hath not sene nor the eare hearde God hath prepared for those that loue him And in this present
world intollerable thei haue oppressed the godly bragged of their victories and haue boasted of theyr owne felicitie with full chekes and as we shall heare in the .18 chapt of this boke that beaste hath sayed I sitte as Quene am no widowe and shal neuer see any sorrow For voices are hearde from Rome al Empires are oures It is knowen what maner of thinges Augustinus Steuchus an Italian and chiefe champion of the Popes holines hath set forth in this cause against Laurâ—â—ce Valla about the donation of CoÌ„stantine And dayly are hearde the brags reioycings of the papistes of the euerlasting coÌ„tinuauÌ„ce of the See of Rome of her victories oppression of the preachyng of the Gospell that the same hath her power stretched through out the world c. But in that day what time verely our lord Iesus Christ shal abolish al power rule authoritie shal haue made al his enemies his fote stoole accordyng to the scripture in the .110 Psalme And in the .1 to the Corinth the .15 Ther shal be hearde againe the voyces of the gladde and ioyeful singing trewe and eternal triumphing songes in heauen For Angelles and sainctes shal sing together wherfore the voices shal be greater more durable thaÌ„ the voices of Christes enemies which last but a smal season The songe of the Elders Nowe also he rehearseth the songe or triumphaunt dittie and reioycyng the kingdomes of this worlde are made our lordes his Christes and he shal raigne for euer more AmeÌ„ He sheweth two thinges that all kingedomes are made the fathers and the sonnes and that he shal raigne for euermore Al kingdomes were before also our lord Iesus Christes but the same appered not so plainely to al men what time the bisshop of Rome also vsurped the same to him selfe oppressed theÌ„ which did only celebrate the name of Christ But in that it shal truely appere and that to all fleshe that al kingdomes were euer and yet remayne of one the eternal God Christ therfore ouercometh the veritie ouercometh the gospel ouercometh the churche ouercometh they that are vanquished shal be led to hel Mahomet with his the Bishop of Rome with his There is added that Christ shal raigne for euer more Antichrist in dede hath raigned and the wicked haue reioyced in this worlde but a very shorte time but nowe shall the godly reigne with christ for euer more Nother doeth he now diuide the kingdome of the father the sonne but sheweth it to be comon where he sayeth that the kingdomes are made that is to saye it is openly declared that al kingedomes are of God the father and the sonne and that he shal reigne with his electe for euermore So you may see that the place of S. Paule maye not be expounded after the lettre which is writteÌ„ in the .1 to the Corinth the .15 chapt of that the sonâ—â— must be subiected shall deliuer the kingdome to his father For he shall deliuer the kingdome to witte the church that is to saye shal bring and present it to the father and in his membres shal be subiecte to the father with whom not withstanding he him selfe shal reigne for euer Thaffirmatiue vocable is annexed Amen Leeste any man should doubt one whitte of these celestial misteries Howbeit he doeth more playnely expounde afterwarde what those voices are that were spokeÌ„ in Heauen whilest he annexeth the narration of the .xxiiii. Elders and of such thinges wherwith they praysed God And here the most goodly beautifull order of this boke semeth to me worthie to be obserued In the beginning of this visioÌ„ he brought in the same elders teaching vs by their exaÌ„ple himnes what we should do the same therefore he bringeth againe also in the ende of this vision that we might be instructed againe by their wordes doynges not only concernyng the last iudgement of what sorte it shal be most rightouse doubtles as al his iudgementes are which the whole visioÌ„ approueth but that also we shuld vnderstaÌ„d what becometh vs what we shuld do verely that we should worship god submit our selues whole vnto him beleue stedfastly that both the iudgement shal assuredly come that also it shal be most iuste A geuynge of thankes The himne or prayer which they offer vp vnto God is a kynde of prayse For it is a thankesgeuyng or reioysing for victory For in such sort they geue God thanks that neuerthelesse they celebrate god highly and reioyce to themselues and to al godly for their saluatioÌ„ For they geue god thanks for their saluation And coÌ„mend his iustice and veritie which he sheweth in this his iudgement rewarding the good with good things and the euil with euil Therfore like as they rise out of their chayres and fal downe before almighty God euen so aught we also both nowe and euer to do Whereof is spoken more in the .4 chap. Here we should learne humilitie and that God alone is to be worshipped that to him alone al praiers or inuocatioÌ„s or geuing of thaÌ„ks must be offered the which thing is cleane repugnauÌ„t to the popish doctryne We se now the very thankesgeuing than the which no better can be found They geue thankes vnto God Let vs therfore thanke him also And also coÌ„mend exalte him whylest they call him the Lord and God almightie and also they celebrate his maiestie where they say which arte and which waste and which arte to come They allude to the wordes of God spoken in oulde tyme to Moses in the .3 of Exodus By the diuersitie of tymes the eternitie of God is fygured But of this kynd of speach I haue spoken more in the first chapt Christe in iudgement receyueth power and kingdome And nowe they declare wherefore they geue thankes for thou haste receiued thy great power and hast reigned God verely neuer laide asyde his power that he nedeth to receiue it agayne but what time he sheweth not the same and permittith very much to the vngodly that they by their power can infringe preuayl against gods word he semeth to haue layde it away Therfore now that he oppresseth the wicked and as a iudge auauÌ„ceth the godly maintayneth the veritie and destroyeth lying he is truly sayed to haue receyued his great power Lykewise now is he said to reigne not because he reigned not before but forasmoch as the lord hath reigned in the mids of his ennemies so that some time it was doubtfull and vncertayne whether Christe reigned or Antichriste yea that he hath had the vpper hand and Christ hath ben oppressed now that Christ hath broken al the power of his aduersaries he is said most truly to reigne And very wel Erasmus admonissheth in his annotations vpoÌ„ the newe Testament that the translatour had tourned more aptely Ebacilensas yf he had sayed thou hast obteyned a kingdome For the latin men saye Regnauit He hath reigned whiche hath lefte reignyng
let him busily praie vnto God that if he fele them the lord would confirme them if he fele them not that the Lord would printe them depely in their mindes ¶ The Aungel preacheth the eternall gospel of Christe The .lxiij. Sermon ANd I sawe an AuÌ„gell fliyng in the middes of heaueÌ„ hauing an euerlastyng Gospell to preache vnto them that sit dwel on the earth and to all nations kinredes and tunges people saiyng with a lowde voice feare God and geue honour to him for the houre of his Iudgement is come and worshippe him that made heauen and earth and the See and the fountaines of water Antichrist desireth nothing so much to be oppressed as the preaching of the Gospell For euen therfore hath he instituted the inquisitours of hereticall prauitie for hâ— dare calle the Gospel heresie Therfore he burneth the Gospel bokes and preachers of the gospel and euery where restreyneth the readyng of the gospel and Euangelical bokes Wherefore the simple suppose that it can not be but that gospel with all his adherentes should perish vtterly Now therfore in the lordes consolation is brought in a vision of an Angel for he is stil in the vision fliyng in the middes of heauen hauing the euerlasting gospel and preachyng to the world Whereby is signified that the gospell shal be preached vnto men in despite of al the enemies therof And he gathereth a briefe some of such thinges as by the gospell are preached to the worlde Those same appertaine also to the coÌ„forte of the church whiche vnder the olde beaste suffered persecutions for the Gospel We will briefly consider euery thing The angel is a figure of the preachers Firste it is euident euen by the fourmer thinges that by thangel is signified the ministers of the worde and the very ministerie of the gospel Certes the scripture calleth preachers Angelles For so is S. Iohn Baptiste named of the prophet Malachie Wherof is spokeÌ„ before And the ministers by this honourable title are admonished of puretie of most sincere faith For Angels be gods ministers whoÌ„ thei only regarde loue and honour whose coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes thei execute most faithfully sincerely and dilligeÌ„tly Such it besemeth preachers to be in their kinde and office And like as Angels cannot be hurte through the treasons and iniuries of men so God defendeth his ministers vntill the houre appointed So is Peter deliuered out of prison in the .12 of thactes So is Paul in Shippewreake c. And he sayeth an other Angell for that he hath brought in already sondry visioÌ„s of diuerse Angels Notwithstanding that other semeth to be put for the firste For he annexeth to this yet two angels moe The first wherof he calleth an other the later the thirde He flieth through the middes of Heauen And this Angell flieth in the middes of heauen By this thinge is signified the lucky course and procedyng of the preachyng of the gospell It is also written in the prophetes his worde runneth swiftely Psalm .19 Dauid compareth the runnyng of the preachyng of the gospell to the course of the sunne ioyefull as a giaunt he runneth his waye iâ— the vttermost parte of heauens he arriseth and runneth againe to the same neyther can any man stoppe him nor hide him self froÌ„ the heate thereof The sunne shineth in all places Therefore shal the preaching be free For as we caÌ„ nother plucke backe nor hinder the thinges that are aboue vs in thayre skie so shall we nother plucke downe nor hinder him that flieth in the middes of heauen The wordes and writinges flie they flie farre wide where Nother can the veritie be oppressed God hath geuen to the world Printyng wherby the gospel is preached and runneth farre wide and most swiftely And this Angell hath the euerlastyng gospell The gospell euerlasting Wherin is the greatest coÌ„forte For it signifieth that the veritie shal be in the world inuincible And for many causes is the Gospell called euerlastyng Firste because the veritie is immortall which can not be bounden how so euer the ministers are fettered slayne .2 Timoth. 2. secondely the gospel is eternal for bicause it was shewed to our firste fathers prophecied in the lawe prophetes fulfilled of Christ declared by thapostles by the grace of God brought vnto vs. Yea before al times was predestinated Reade the .1 to the Ephes For eueÌ„ for this cause is it called euerlasting for asmuch as it apperteineth to vs to our posteritie vnto the worldes ende and not only to our elders And because it is euerlastyng they lie whiche at this daye calle it a newe doctrine or learnyng Papistrie is newe whiche hath his originall what time euery thing was ordeyned c. Moreouer the Apostle sayeth yf I or an Angel from heaueÌ„ shal preach any other gospell or besides the same that ye haue receyued let him be accursed And we heare expressely that the Aungel had not only the Gospell but that he had preached the gospell The angel preacheth Many in dede haue the gospel but dumme and written in bokes The gospel must be shewed forth and pronounced He declareth also vnto whom the gospel must be vttered and preached to the inhabiters of the earth for it must be cried out to such as are drowned in earthly matters and they muste be reysed out of their slepe And after his maner and imitation of blessed Daniel in the .7 chapt He rekeneth vp nations kinredes tunges and people and thus signifieth that the gospell shal be preached â—â—â—ough out the whole worlde Whiche thing the lord sayde also should come to passe in the .24 of Matth. and than that the ende should come And we see at this daye that the gospel hath in a maner thondered through out the whole world And here I geue warning leeste any disceaue him self Thapostle in the .1 Timoth. 3. and .1 Coloss that the gospell was preached through out the whole world in his time Howbeit al men had not than receyued it but a fewe Do not therfore Imagine with thy selfe that the Gospel is not preached vnlesse al receyue it There shal no more be made one sheperde one shepefolde They are abused that promise to theÌ„selues before the iudgement a concorde of all nations for that it is writteÌ„ that there should be ons one sheperde and one shepefolde For the same was accoÌ„plisshed whilest of the Iewisshe Synagoge and dispersion of the gentiles the lord prepared to him selfe one church wherof Christ is head and pastour and Antichrist shal at the length by his laste comyng be abolished Therfore shall he alwayes resiste Christe He preacheth with a lowde voice Furthermore where he seeth heareth this Angell preach the gospel with a lowde voice he meaneth that the preachers shall with great constancie and frankenes also with shrylle voices and most ernestenes preach the gospell agaynst Antichrist And we see at this daye that the more cruelly the faithful are
fulfilled For on those laste and most corrupte ages the Lorde wil powre out his plague and that the plagues of his iuste wrath and shall powre them out most fully to the ende and shall execute his ful wrath against the vngodly for euermore Yet now he suspendeth a while that narration begonne of the Angelles masters of the plagues The ioyes triūphes of the godly and placeth or sendeth before the greate ioyes of the blessed Martirs triumphes songe of praise reioycynge and thankes geuynge And this Ioye is interlased here in the treatise of punnishementes for the consolation of the faithful that they should knowe themselues deliuered from punnishmentes And if it fortune whilest the wicked are punnisshed that any displeasure touch thē also as it can not be chosen but the wicked beyng plaged some discōmoditie must also arrise vnto the faithful that thei maye vnderstande yet that the daungers of the discōmodities must with the excellent aboūdaunce of ioyes be recompensed For hereby is signified how the godly reioyce whilest the lord executeth his iustice To be also the chaungeable course of thinges that those that haue ones wepte in the world should now be glad and ioyefull accordyng to the saiyng of our sauiour in the .16 of Iohn Morouer it behoued by the testimony of all Sainctes to be declared to the Sainctes that dwell in Earth that the iudgementes of God be rightouse and true whiche thing vnderstande questions and sondry mutininges agaynst God do cease First he seeth them which ouercame Antichrist and haue had nothing to doe with him as we saye in dutch for this I suppose be signified by that plentiful rehersal of certen membres the declaration wherof is setforth before in heauen not in some dortour or no where as some men gather He sawe I saye in heauen the blessed soules stande vpon a glassy See A glassy See mixed with fire mixed with fire And in an other place I haue tolde you that the See figureth the worlde by reason of the rage and vnstablenes therof Certenly Daniel so taketh in the .7 chapt And it is called glassy because of the frailetie and bricklenes For worldely thinges shine but they are soone broken Whereupon it is sayed that wordely things are as brickel as glasse whiche whilest they shine breake And not with out cause is fire mixed with worldely thinges For the Sainctes whilest they be conuersaunt in Earth fele alwayes in a maner the fire of affliction Whereof spake S. Peter 1. Pet. 4. And they stande vpon a glassy See mingled with fire For cōquerours treade vpon the worlde and vpon al the tourmentes mockeries of the world as triūphyng ouer all worldely thinges The Prophet in the .66 Psalm bringeth in the Sainctes singyng a ioyeful songe vnto God and emonges other things saiyng thou hast brought vs into snares thou hast layde tribulations vpon our backe thou haste set men in our neckes We haue passed through fire and water thou hast brought vs out into a place of reliefe Therefore do there followe alterations in an other world Wherfore Aretas expoūdyng this place the glassy See sayeth he semeth to intimace nothyng els than by the Sea verely the multitude and by the glasse the brightnes by fire the puretie of them which are worthie that blessed life And certenly the same wordes in diuerse respectes maye signifie diuerse thinges and make the sense agreable Hitherto we haue hearde that the sainctes are in heauen where they triumphe ouer the world vanquisshed but nowe we shal heare more clerely what they do in heauen and how they singe vnto the lord a songe of thankes prayses which fully agreeth with the Psalm 66. The harps of God And he attributeth to the blessed martirs harpes as he did to the Elders These he calleth of God as you would saye diuine and celestiall mete to set forth the prayses of God For a celestial Iubeley is signified whereof is spoken in the .5 chapt He addeth moreouer to expresse the musicke and they singe And declareth also the maner of their singyng The songe of Moses the lābe the songe of Moses the seruaunt of God and the songe of the Lambe Therfore this songe of the Sainctes is reioycyng ditty triumphaunt and of thankes geuyng For like as in times paste Marie with the cōpany of virgins Israeliticall at the appoinctement of Moses sange a songe when the Israelites were deliuered out of the bondage of Aegypte and Pharao was drowned in the red Sea with his whole armie whereof you maye reade more in the 14. and .15 chapt of Exod. So the blessed soules in Heauen prayse God whiche hath deliuered them from Sathan Antichrist and the worlde And the songe of the Lābe is the christiane thankes geuing by the which the vertue of Christ and his redemption is praysed of the Sainctes For like as the olde fathers after the eatyng of the Paschalle lambe made a iubiley gaue God thankes So the blessed Sainctes nowe infraunchised with the full libertie of the children of God geue thankes vnto Christ theyr deliuerer Finally reciteth the order and fourme of their songe Kinge of Sainctes God is highly commended herein which is called the Lord God almightie Kynge of Sainctes as for whome the Sainctes warre by whome also they be gouerned and whiche defendeth mayneteyneth and kepeth the Sainctes And he is called holy in whome is no spotte no iniquitie And before all thinges they prayse his workes whiche they call greate and maruelouse These are manifest in Heauen and in Earth They declare the power wisedome iustice of God Therefore they inferre by and by that the wayes that is the considerations of God which he followeth in gouerning and doyng of thinges be trewe and iuste For he disceaueth not he doeth no man wronge Therfore God is iuste in punnishing the Antichristiās and deliueryng his For although he seme to neglecte his yet kepeth he fayth to the godly as a kynge that neuer neglecteth his Now they alledge what it becometh all men in the Earth to do also it is reoson that al men feare thee and glorifie thee in all thinges nother to accuse and murmure at thy iudgementes There is added an other reason for he alone is holy without sinne and with out spotte None of all the creatures hath this Although many gentiles nowe cōtemne God yet shal they ones come and worship shal knowe their owne filthines and the holines and rightuousenes of God For the iustice and iudgement of God whiche are not yet reuealed and therefore are contemned shal be ones reuealed that all the godly of al natiōs may attribute glory to the rightuouse God These thinges verely prepare also the reader and hearer to the treatise nowe followynge concernynge the iudgementes of God and pūnishmentes of the vngodly The lord open the eyes of our mindes that we maye see these thinges with fruicte plentifull ¶ The seuen Angelles are described coming forth to execute the seuen
cōmitted Italiā matters Totila therfore where themperour would not graūt his requestes determined to rase the citie of Rome The greatest parte of the walles in most places he made euen with the grounde setteth the Capitolle house on fire He commaundeth al Citizens with their wiues childrē to departe out of the citie The cōmons of Rome were dispersed in the townes of Campania The Senatours and nobilitie Totila kepte with him for pledges Than was fire put into euery house Thus Rome beyng fired in al places Totila lefte it vacant .13 dayes the fire brent clere The citie of Rome was .40 dayes in that solitarines that there was neyther mā nor woman in the same The citie ouerthrowē he remoued his campe towardes Lutania and Calabria Bellisarius came to the citie lefte vacant and soner than a man would haue thought fortifieth a parte of the citie with ditch walle rampare and turretes of wood For all coulde not be restored Totilas was with him but repulsed departed to Tibur Bellisarius is sent for into Grece by themperour Totila besegeth Rome and taketh it So in one yere Rome the head of the world the lady of al nations was taken thryse thus wryteth Auentinus Leonarde Aretine writing of the Italian war against the Gotthes in th ende of the 2. boke After this sayeth he Totila departing frō Rome with his whole armie lefte it vtterly desolate and vacant c. Who will saye nowe that S. Iohn hath not in fewe wordes comprehended the destructiō of olde Rome whiche the stories afterwarde haue plentifully described and finally howe after the same maner as it was prophecied it hath followed the prophecie after .451 yeres And that so euidētly to haue propounded in fewe wordes that you would thinke presently to beholde Rome both falling and burnyng New Rome also shall fall with her empire And like as in the storie of the gospel the lord intermireth a prophecie of the destruction of Ierusalem and of th ende of the world that euery mā might of this that he seeth the citie of Hierusalē right so as the lord had prophecied to haue perished nother that one stone hath remayned vpon an other gather by like trouth certentie that this world shal fall So maye we of this that we see tholde citie of Rome fallen so great an Empire which was thought shuld haue lasted for euer brought to naught gather also that new Rome with her shaddowe or image of thempire shal as sure as daye fall be brought to naught And firste in dede the Saracenes Turkes whiche ruled and yet raigne in the prouinces subiecte to the Romane Empire as in Asia Grece Aegypte Affricke Slauonie and base Hungarie and therfore be rightly accompted emonges the ten hornes doe hate worse than dogge or snake both Poperie it selfe and Rome and all that Imagerie Empire Yea stories also testifie that they haue oft times made inuasions and spoyled Rome it selfe What is done at this daye experience it self teacheth But whether the Turke or the christen Princes themselues conuerted to Christ by the Gospel shall spoyle this newe Rome destroye it vtterly and burne it with fire the Lord knoweth who semeth here to intimate some suche thing hereof This is certayne that Christ alone with his hand shal bring downe Antichrist and abolish him with his comming Certaine it is that the Earth and al the workes that be therin shal be brēt For thus is thapostolical doctrine and that al these things shal be in th ende of the world Reade Paule .2 to the Thess the .2 And Peter the .2 Epistle the .3 chap. Morouer there arrise in sondry kingdomes of the world learned men which ones being bounden to the See of Rome haue defended her her stinking idolle but after cōuerted to Christ beginne to hate both Rome the Romish churche which also they assaile burne with the fire of Gods word Therfore al the glorie dignitie and welth of the Pope poperie hath perished perisheth daily in the godly Al that be godly wise hate Rome romish wares Al crie out that this Sodome is worthie to be brente with fire fallyng from heauen Nother is ther any doubt but that a greuouse vengeaunce is prepared agaynst her And briefly is shewed a reason God hath put into the heartes of kyngs c. wherfore the Kings shuld rage so cruelly against the beaste and why these thinges are done in such sorte and maner as we haue hearde For God sayeth he hath geuē into the hartes of thē 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is that they should worke his will shuld do with one mynde and consent For where some referre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his to the beaste that semeth to far of and straunge It is referred rather to the nexte to God I meane which put into the heartes of the kinges to do his wil I say of God For it is the mynde and will of God that the beast shulde perish that punnishment be taken of her for shedyng of innocent bloude The same God will procure that kinges shal not be at discord but at concord that being of one mynd and accorde they may execute Gods iudgemēt So we read in the Prophetes that God put in to the heartes of kynges Salmanaser Sinnacherib Nabuchodonoser Cyrus and others that they shuld do as they are red to haue done to wit in pūnishing the wicked and defending the godly And ther is also mention made in Histories howe Alaricke Kynge of the west Gothes was in dede disswaded by a seruaunt of God that he shuld not make such haste to distroy Rome but that he aunswered Ther is one that cōtinually troubleth me and sayeth go distroy Rome And he that put that mynde and wyll in to the hearte of Alarich Adolphe Genserych Odacer Theodoricke and Totila The same yf he wyll and when he wyll and in to what Princes he wyll shall put that they also shall doe their dewtie againste this newe Citie and churche of Rome The angel anexeth how God moreouer hath put into the harts of kings that they shuld geue their kingdom to the beast til the words of God be fulfilled The which the interpretours expound say howe God hath permitted that they shoulde cōceaue this coūsel in their mynds to deliuer the kingdome to the beast But I suppose it to be more playne yf we symplye confesse God to be authour of no sinne and that men sinne as compelled by no fatall necessitie but through their owne faulte and vice Therefore God woulde as by his woorde also he hath expressed and taught that kynges shulde deliuer their Kyngdomes to Christe the high Kyng which where it pleased them not but had rather for sondry causes of the flesh and the worlde delyuer their kyngdomes to the Pope and submitte themselues to the See as they call it Apostolicall God of his iuste iudgemente hath forsaken them and geuen them ouer as S. Paule wrote the
required vengeaunce So we reade in the .51 of Ieremie that the sinnes of Babilon ascēded vp to the clowdes For S. Iohn in a maner euery where vseth the places of Scripture to the intent he mighte get his boke more authoritie although otherwise inspired of the holy ghost And in dede the olde Satyrical poetes as Horace Iuuenall and others wrote sore agaynst the sinnes and vices of old Rome There remayne also at this daye many sharpe writinges agaynst Rome and the Cardinalles and Prelates of the Romish churche and Pasquillis innumerable Pasquille at this daye is a Satyrical writer one in stead of many that as well at this daye as in times paste the sinnes of Rome crie vp vnto heauen it selfe Rewarde her as she hath rewarded you He procedeth after this to raccompte agayne the plagues and most certayne destruction of Rome whiche is the thirde place of this chapt where also is excedingly well described the most horrible and cruell maner of destructiō and subuersion thereof For God is brought in callyng on and exhorting the soldiours and the cōmissaries and executours of his iudgement vnto vengeaunce and that they should punnishe her moste extremely and spare her not but rewarde her moste aboundantly and mete vnto her by the same measure wherwith Rome hath measured to others For here taketh place that same of the Lorde and cōmon saying with all nations with the same measure wherewith you mete others shall mete vnto you agayne and there shall be geuen good measure pressed shaken and runnyng ouer Therfore seyng that Rome hath robbed the whole worlde and seduced the whole worlde rightly and by the iuste wrath of God was she spoiled and vtterly subuerted The which things did the Gotthes with great faith and dilligence so that we can not doubte also but that newe Rome and that See Apostaticall muste of her enemies whom the Lord hath prepared and of the Aungelles gatheryng the tares be plucked all to peces And what shal become of her in an other world we maye gather hereof that he beateth in so ofte that her euilles shal be doubled without mercy her payne also mourning and greuouse tormentes These thinges doubtles are greuouse and horrible Would God they might be perceyued of faythfull mindes And agayne this place is written out as it were worde for worde of the .50 chap. of Ieremie where you reade to this effecte be auenged on Babilon and as she did do ye vnto her Spoile and destroye sayeth the Lord and accōplish all that I haue cōmaunded thee Destroye her that nothing remaine Intrench rounde aboute that no man escape Rewarde her after her worke according to al thinges that she hath done do ye vnto her For she hath ben prowde agaynst the Lord and agaynst the holy one of Israel Thus sayed the lord in Ieremie Thou seest therefore where the lord hath borrowed his owne at this present Thou seest what euery citie or cōmon welth or man maye promise himselfe yf beyng inriched by the losse of others he liue voluptuousely proudly in this world For God is the same alwayes and his iudgementes are egall agaynst al vngodly And he hath meddled withal the causes of subuersion The vaine glory pride securitie of Rome crueltie couetousenes extorsions slaughters burninges wherwith Rome hath made desolate the whole world But he procedeth more expressely to recite other causes to witte pride glorying ond boastyng securitie riot pleasures and voluptuousenes For it followeth as muche as she hath glorified her selfe and liued wantonly c. And agayne for in her hart she sayeth I sitte a Queene c. He hath borrowed these thinges also out of the .47 of Esaye Where Babylon glorieth thus also and with so many wordes Rome in times past gloried her selfe to be Lady of the worlde and that she shuld be euerlastynge For they stāped in Siluer coynes of Rome eternall They had thought that the kingedomes should neuer haue ben plucked from her She thought therefore that she should neuer haue ben a widdowe And I doubte not but the Germanes borrowed of the Romanes that Germane worde Romen by the whiche they meane to boaste or bragge stoutely whiche semeth to haue ben peculiar and proper to the Romanes She was careles or insecuritie She had not thought to haue bē subuerted She saied I shal see no mournyng I will haue no mournyng chere I wil alwayes singe Gaudeamus The Romanistes at this daye also full brauely make their boaste that no Emperours no Kinges no people no heretikes and Schismatikes for so they terme the enemies of the Romisshe wickednes men godly and learned haue yet luckely assayled Rome That the enemies of the churche of Rome haue alwayes ben oppressed that she hath alwayes triumphed ouer her enemies these seuen or eyght hondreth yeres and more That the shippe of S. Peter maye be sore tourmoyled tossed and ouerwhelmed with Waues and billowes but can not be drowned and therefore that the See of Rome shal be perpetual quene and lady of al realmes and churches c. Rome shal perish vpō a sodayne But heare nowe the iudgement of God for as muche as she is prowde vayne gloriouse carelesse and wicked in one daye shal come her plagues Aretas noteth that by one daye is signified a sodayne destruction and that she shoulde than perish when she would haue thought leste And her plagues he reciteth in order death mournyng famine and fire And stories testifie that these thinges were by the Gotthes fulfilled accordingly in olde Rome whereof I haue spoken before Therfore we doubte nothyng at al but that newe Rome also shall by menne and by Gods Aungelles be torne a sonder and pluckte vp by the rotes And leest any manne should thinke this vnpossible for greate is the power and maiestie of eyther Rome in so muche that he that should haue sayed in S. Iohn his time Rome shall falle should haue semed to haue spoken a thynge as much impossible as if he had sayde the skye shall falle he annexeth incontinently for stronge is the Lorde God that shall iudge her Therefore lette vs not doubte of the falle of Papistrie For the Lorde is trewe iuste and almightie To whome be glorye for euer and euer Amen ¶ A doleful song or mourning and lamentation of Rome which the Princes and Marchaunts make for her The .lxxix. Sermon AND the Kynges of the earth shall be wepe her and wayle ouer her which haue committed fornication and liued wantonly with her when they shal se the smoke of her burning and shal stand a farre of for feare of her pūnishmēt saieng alas alas that great citie Babilon that mightye citie for at one howre is thy iudgement come And the marchauntes of the Earth shall wepe and wayle in themselues because no man wyll by their ware any more the ware of golde and siluer and of preciouse stone of pearle and silke and purple and skarlet and al thynen wood and all maner vesselles of Iuory
remnaūt wer slayne with the sworde of him that sat on the horse which sword proceded out of his mouth and all the fowles were fylled with their flesh ¶ The descriptiō of the Iudgemente and pūnyshmēt of the wicked Immediatly after the description of the Iudge and a certen lyuely picture a description no lesse euident foloweth of the iudgement that is to say howe Christe hauing vanquisshed his enemies committeth them to perpetuall tourmēts And the Apostle vseth a prepheticall phrase and eloquence For by a fyguratiue speach al foules are called to the slaughter and feaste that they mighte be filled with the fleshe of the slaine And first an allusion is made of such as sley wares and prepare a feaste whereunto they may call their frendes and make them chere Againe an allusion is made to the murther and slaughter of enemies whereof wylde beastes and rauening foules are fylled Nother is there any thyng hereby signified but Christ shall ouerthrowe all the vngodly and take punishmente of the same Before was sette forth a supper for the godly wherewith they are refresshed and fulfilled Nowe is prepared a feast of the solemne slaughter whereby the vngodly receyue no commoditie nother are they satisfied but rather are slayne and deuoured that is to say perish For no man wyll imagine that the wicked shall be ouerthrowen at ones and after weried of wylde beastes and gnawen of foules and so all punnishment to make an end to gether For so shoulde their payne seme to be none at all But by temporal parables eternall thinges are fygured These are taken oute of the Prophetes namely oute of the .66 chapter of Esaye and the .39 of Ezech. where are red in a maner the same wordes what time he couereth wrappeth the vngodly with calamities I meane warres and destructions and with other tormentes as it were killeth them but chiefely when at the laste iudgement he committeth them to paynes euerlastyng And this slaughter is declared of the Angel An Angell stādyng in the sunne stāding in the sunne criyng with a lowde voice Wherby is signified that the daie of iudgement shal be solemnely proclamed with trōpettes shal be a notable daye That no man can be ignorāt herein but that al thinges herof shal be hearde of al mē And therfore he crieth with a lowde and an audible voice And he calleth to gether as it is in Ezechiel the birdes and foules to deuoure kinges and men of al states age and sexe that is to saye that all these muste be called together to suffer eternall punnishement and destructiō Therfore he reciteth dilligently kinges chiefe captaynes stronge men and of all sortes to witte the persecutours of Christ Antichristians vngodly cōtemners and impenitent persones Here is shewed the cause of the damnation and destructiō of the vngodly whilest their enterprise indeuour The cause of damnation resisting of the trewth attempte is shewed Thei are now assembled to fight a battaile against Christe and his electe that is agaynst the churche who the beaste the Kinges of the Earth and their Armies Captaynes and Soldiers fightyng both spiritually and corporally And here nedeth no longe commentary Reade the stories of the churche for the space of these fiue hondreth yeres And see what is done at this daye of Popes Bisshoppes and Princes and of theyr coūsellers and ministers Parliamentes are called in them are blouddy decrees and lawes made agaynst the gospellers And a greuouse persecutiō attempted agaynst the Gospel and churche The spirituall fathers cluster together they consulte and crie out that there muste a counsull be called Wherefore I praye you to the intente that newe doctrine as they calle it of the Gospell maye be cutte vp rooted out and plucked vp by the rootes And therfore they stande alwayes ready to fighte are many times assembled against God his annoincted to fight with the lord Christ and with his chosen Nowe a dayes yf at any time peace be concluded and the moste blouddy warres of Princes taken vp other in the composition of peace or immediately after consultations are had how to oppresse the godly But there is no other kinde of sinne more heynouse than to impugne the veritie of the Gospell And therefore is this the chiefeste cause of the condemnation of the wicked at the same daye It is accompted at this daye emonges the chiefest vertues of Princes if a Prince will geue no place to the preachyng of the gospel but the same shut out wil defende and maineteine the church of Rome with those doctrines rites and ceremonies falsely called olde Suche are called right good catholickes most christen and defenders of the fayth The beaste is taken But nowe is their damnation and the maner thereof annexed And the beast is taken And he speaketh of these notorious offenders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were takē with the maner and taken in dede beyonde their expectation For in the middes of their enterprise are they intercepted whilest they be yet in great hope thinke verely to bring many thinges to passe agaynst Christ and his church then in the selfe heate and wickednes of impugninges and persecution they shal be comprehended Whereupon also this is manifest that persecutiō impugning of the veritie shal perseuer to the worldes ende But who shal be taken the beast and the false prophet which wrought miracles Touchyng these thinges see what is sayde about the ende of the .13 chapt The cause of eternall damnation is agayne here placed For he hath seduced the worlde by his inchauntementes and crafty iuggelynges by his decrees and commaundementes Whereof I haue spoken before oftener than ones as also in the .17 chapt c. The fellowship also of his condemnation is adioyned so many as haue receyued the marke of the beaste and haue worshipped the beast Wherof we wil now repete nothing These things are declared in the .13 chapt And albeit nothing can or ought to be proued by the pictures yet is it neuerthelesse certayne that Paynters haue borrowed hereof those their olde payntinges of the laste iudgement For we see the olde pictures of the laste iudgement painted an hondreth yeres sins and more to represent and exhibite to vs a great rabble of Priestes Monkes and Freres and al maner of spirituall fathers but chiefely the ghostes of kinges and Popes whiche are hurried to helle and burne in the botome thereof with fire euerlastyng Whereupon it is sayde that there go mo priestes thā plowmē to the deuel c. Furthermore the damnation it self and maner of tormēt A lake of fire burning with brimstone or the torment it selfe shal be fire For S. Iohn sayeth these two are cast quicke into a ponde burnyng with brymstone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into a lake or stāding water as be in fenne coūtries for such is the description of helle and of thextreme punnishmēt as is also described with Esaye in the .30 cha Tophet was longe