abhominations of this whorish church till the words and promises of God by his Apostles and Prophets which can neuer fayle be wholly fulfilled in effecte and till his last iudgemeÌ„t doe finish all But thus doe not all they which haue done of the yoke of the Popes obedyence or blotted out his name For the greater number of them retaineth still the blasphemous obseruacions cerimonies of hys Romish relygyon some making new lawes of deth for the establishmeÌ„t of the same as is in England the acte of the .vj. Articles with diuers other more And for this remayneth here stil the beast as receiuing the rendred kingdome of the whore In whom is also comprehended the wicked remnant that shal worke the last mischiefe whom the Lorde shall ende with his saide iudgement This beast is not without his liuely Image still working the same féetes that him selfe wrought afore though his head be greuouslye wounded in diuers quarters of the world Neyther is he without craftye phisitions to minister life to the same Who euer forswore the Pope more ernestly than did Stokislye and Samson Gardyner and Tunstall Wylson and fryer Wattes with such other holy prelats yet labour they toth and nayle to haue BabiloÌ„ stil BabiloÌ„ Sodome Sodom and Egipt Egipt But maruail not of the ordinance of the Lord which all at on time prouyded Moyses to guide his people yet hardened Pharao against theÌ„ which sent his sonne Iesus Christ to saue them and yet suffered the pristes to murther him considering he is the potter which maketh both the vessels of honouer and dishonour 31 Brifly to conclud the whole of thys matter saith the angel the gorious aparreled woman or glittering church of Antichrist which thou sawest here of late in mistery is also in receÌ„blance the great citty BabiloÌ„ the mother of al the spiritual abhominacions Idolatries don vpon the earth For like as froÌ„ Sion hath the laue coÌ„men forth the word of god from HieruseleÌ„ so hath isswâ—d forth froÌ„ this Babilonish Rome such a false religioÌ„ into Emperours princes peoples as with filthy superstitions hath poysoned all the world 14 For a kingdoÌ„ she hath ouer the kings or noble gouernours of the earth a false power a vsurped authority a seat of very pestelence Alas for pitty that so worthy potentates shoulde bée in subiection to so stinking an whore to so vyle an harlot being so the seruaunts of sinne and captiue slaues to all wickednesse from the whiche the Lorde once deliuer them Amen Thus endeth the second part The Contentes of the seconde parte THe xj Chap. beginneth wherin Iohn measureth the Temple the Aulter and them that worship therein The .ij. witnesses doe their appointed offices the beast making warre against them and sleying them A great Earthquake followeth and the second woe is past The xij Chapter beginneth wherin the seuenth Angell bloweth his trompet In heaueÌ„ appeareth a woman all cloathed with the sun whom the Dragon diuersly vexeth Mychaell fighteth with the Dragon and ouercommeth him The woman flyeth into the wildernesse and there is preserued The xiij Chapter beginneth wherin a beast ryseth out of the sea with seuen heades and ten hornes receyuing authority of the Dragon One of his heades is wounded and healed agayne An other beast commeth out of the earth with .ii. hornes which deceiueth the earthly dwellers and raiseth vp an Image like vnto the beast In the ende is counted the number of the beast The .xiiij. Chapter beginneth wherin the Lambe standeth vpoÌ„ the mount Sion and the vndefiled congregacion with him An Angell sheweth the euerlasting Gospel an other declareth the fal of the great whore An other is commauÌ„ded with his sikle to cut down the grapes of the vineyard The .xv. Chap. beginneth wherein Iohn séeth the seuen Angels hauing the seuen last plages of the wrath of God On the glassy sea standeth men hauing the harpes of God they sing the song of Moyses and the songe of the lambe The tabernacle of testymony is séene in heauen The .xvi. Chapter beginneth where in the seuen Angels power out theyr vials of gods wrath The first vpon the earth The secoÌ„d vpoÌ„ the sea The third vpon the riuers The fourth vpon the suÌ„n The fift vpon the seat of the beast The vj. vpon the great floud Euphrates And the seuenth into the ayre The xvij Chapter beginneth wherin an Angell sheweth vnto Iohn the iudgement of the great whore which sitteth vpon the beast Hée discrybeth both hir and the beast at large Finally he sheweth the meaning both of hys heades and hornes with other great mysteries more The poore persecuted church of christ or immaculate spouse of the Lambe Apoca. 12. The DragoÌ„ was wroth with the woman which fled into the wildernesse and went and made warre with the remnaunt of hir séede which kept the commaundement of god and haue the testimone of Iesus Christ. The proude painted Church of the Pope or sinfull Sinagoge of Sathan Apoca. 17. I sawe woman sitte vpon a Rose coloured beast full of names of blasphemye decked with golde precious stone and pearles with whom the Kinges of the earth committed whordome and the inhabiters of the earth are dronken with the wyne of hir fornication ¶ THE THIRDE parte of the Image of both churches after the most wonderfull and heauenly reuelation of saint Iehn the Euangelist c. Compiled by Iohn Bale Apoca 1. ¶ I Ihon your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdome of pacience which is in Christe Iesu was in the I le of Pathmos for the worde of God A small Preface vnto the Christen Reader FOr so muche as this Image of both churchs or exposition vpon S. Iohns Apocalipsis seemed vnto me as it came vnto the printing to be farre to much for one volume I thought to deuide it by equall porcions into three smal bookes as I haue now done in deede Of whom the firste contayneth x. Chapter the second vii the third v. onely which maketh out the whole number of the xxii Some peraduenture wil maruel that the smaller nuÌ„ber of the chapters should comprehend so much of that commeÌ„tarie as the greater number But if they marke in the text the aboundinge of misteries euermore as the matter thereof aboundeth they will soone leaue their marueiling The nature of this reuelation is the further it goeth the more wonders it sheweth openeth vnto hym that after praier shal in faith reade it and deserne it Neuer therin are the principles well perceiued till the conclusion thervpon folowinge doth playnely with the other scriptures conferred declare them In these v. last chapters are the two churches wherevpon resteth the whole argumeÌ„t of this booke fully by all dew circumstaunces described theÌ„ turned ouer into a moste fearefull and terrible destruction vnder title of the olde whorish Babilon the other obtayning a moste glorious rayse vnder the name of the holy new Hierusalem In the xvijâ— Chapter is that execrable churche of
his worde the lantarne to hir very footesteps Indued is she here with the graces of the spirit and after this shall possesse these benifites of immortalitie Lyke shall she be to hir spouse to his latter appearaunce and shall see God as he is in déede when she is like fashioned to his glorious similitude 11 And this hir shining light or wisdome in the spirit saieth the Angell was like vnâ—o a stone most orient and precious For more precious is the verytie than Golde in hys most purenesse 12 And of all thinges in the worlde most rightly might it séeme to be compared to a fine Iasper resemblinge a pure Cristall in clearenesse For not onely is it here in faith cleare as the cristall high incomperable and inestimable But also in the regeneration it will be to the eyes of the gloryfied saincts as the gréene Iaspar most amiable fresh and desirous The doctrine of the Lorde is here all pure expelling the darknesse of errours and lies He that foloweth me saieth Christe wandereth not in the darke but shall haue the light of lyfe And there shall neither their eies be sore nor yet their sight bleared by any impediment but they shall be made able to behold him face to face being of most inestimable brightnesse 13 The wals of this citie betokning the manifolde strengthes of God were inestimable great and high meruilous and glorious Great is the Lorde saieth Dauid and mighty is his power He compasseth his people round about from this time forth and for euer A wall of fire is he vnto Hierusalem a defence of stéele vnto Iuda Their kéeper protector sauiour and defender is he most stedfast perfect constaunt and sure Stronge is the Citie of Sion for she sauer is both hir wall and Bulwark 14 Twelue gates hath this Citie to open and to speare Yet is ther but one opening vnto them which is Christe Diuers are they called for the diuersitie of nations peoples languages kindredes From all quarters of the world rounde about commeth people to Christes congregation yet enter they not but through him no man saieth he commeth vnto the father but by me I am the dore into the shepfolde He yâ— entreth in by me shall be saued 15 Twelue angels are set at yeâ—ntes of this citie which are both the Angels in déed the godly preachers signified by them The angels of yâ— Lorde saith Dauid pitched their tents rouÌ„d about those yâ— feareth him to preserue them WatchmeÌ„ hath he sâ—t saith Esay vpoÌ„ the walles of HierusaleÌ„ to preach his glorious name So that it is now become inexpugnable The diuel with his whole army caÌ„not preuaile against it None is he able to pluck out of his hande 16 Names were gloryously written ouer the gates of this citie And none other were they but the names of the xii tribes of the children of Israell As are Iuda Ruben Gad Aser Neptalim Manasse Simeon Leuy Isachar Zabulon Ioseph and Beniamin For this consideration were their names there in sight and none other 17 Onely was the heritage promysed vnto Abrahams séede Onely commeth saluation from among yâ— Iewes Christ was the onely séede of AbrahaÌ„ and we are now become the children of promise in him In the scripture are their names registred And not the names of them alone but of so manye els as haue brought vnto vs the true worship of God As were Moyses Samuel Dauid Helias Esay Hieremy Ezechiel and Daniel with the xii inferior prophets Iohn Baptist Ioseâ—h Simeon such other For the number of xiâ— is a viniuersall number comprehending all 18 Upon the East part of this beautyfull citie were three gates So were thrée gates also vpon the North side 19 Towardes the South were thrée gates And on the West side iii gates to performe vp the number of twelue Such a Citie is the true Churche of Christ as is spred the worlde ouer What so euer they be that wyll approche vnto this Citie which way so euer they come necessary is it for theÌ„ to enter into it through an only faith in the father in the sonne and in the holy ghost Behouing is it saith Paul for him that wil resort vnto god faithfully to beléeue Through faith haue we entraunce into his fauour Baptise them that beléeue saith Christ in the name of the father and the sonne and the holy ghoste Excéedinge great is the multitude of those iuste beléeuers which hath come from these iiii quarters of the worlde and hath entred into this citie through this faith Uery many shal come saith the Lord from the Easte and the Weste which includeth the other two partes and shall reste with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of God From the East come the Iewes inhabiting the mid parte of the worlde From the iii. out quarters els as are Asia Aphrica and Europa came the Gentiles and after this sort through one faith in the trinitie became one citie of the Lord hauing .xii. fayre gates Prefygured was this in the passage of the children of Israell out of Egipt In the wildernesse of Sinay at the Lordes commaundement were the tribes of Iuda Isachar Zabulon with their hostes of a C.lxxx and syxe thousand and foure hundred vpon the East side Ruben Simeon and Gad with their armies of a C.li. thousand foure hundreth and fyftye vppon the South side Ephraim Manasse and Beniamin vpon the West part with their C. and eight thousande and one hundreth Dâ—n Asser and Neptalim vpon the north with their C. and lvii thousand and six hundred also Where as the tribe of Leuy was onely appointed to minister in the tabernacle of witnesse in the midst of the hostes and therfore was not at that time nuÌ„bered among the children of Israell 20 Finally sayth the Angel the wal of this beautyfull Citie whiche is the power of God vnto saluation for them that beléeueth hath xii strong foundations surely couched vpon the vnmouable and hard rock Christe For vpon hym was the Christian Churche firste grounded Adam Noe Abraham Moyses Dauid Helias and Iohn Baptist with all the other fathers prophetes builded vppon him though they were long before hym For all they trusted surely in the promises that God had made them in hym All they being vnder the cloude dyd eate of one spirytuall meate and dronk of one spirituall rock folowing them in the flesh which was Iesus Christ. No man can lay any other foundation than is layde alredy which is Christ Iesus 21 Upon this one foundation perpetually strong and durable were layde these twelue foundations agréeing to the same And in them were the names of the Lambs .xii. Apostles or faithful messengers As Peter Iohn Iames Andrew Philip Bartilmew Thomas Mathewe Iames the lesse Symon Thadeus and Mathyas These are figured in the xii stones that Iosua raised vp in Galgala for a remembraunce of the dry passage of the children of Israell through Iordane So are they signified also by the xii other stones wher
of vnfruitfull profitable For he it is that taketh away the stony hart and geueth a soft hart for it so making vs Abrahams children Thus are we redéemed from men whan we are taken by his goodnesse from such corrupt vsages as mans nature is inclined vnto 20 And for none other purpose but to be the first fruits vnto god as were the aulter offrings in the old lawe in the hands of the high priestes For so much as the elect number ar but a few or a certaine taken out from the vniuersall multitude and are the porcion of the Lord as were the said offerings perteyning vnto Christ the only bishop of our soules they are his first fruits Yea his owne very mistical members and al but one offring vnto God the father by him For he is the onely lambe that died for them his owne bodye beinge the only oblacion and sacrefice 21 And in their mouthes was found no gile For none other wordes vttered they but his pâ—er testimonies None other taught thei but his vndefiled lawes None other perswaded they to be obserued of other but his immaculate Gospel or easy burthen of Christ. No importable yokes laied they vpon mens shoulders neither of cerimonies fastiÌ„gs nor masse hearings 22 For they are without spot before the throne of god Both before them that are faythfull and haue right iudgment in the spyrite whiche are the very seats of God apereth their doctrine pure and also their life innoceÌ„t before god hiÌ„selfe Neyther are they spotted with filthy tradicions nor yet with vncuÌ„ly examples as coÌ„cerning their former sinnes they shal not be imputed vnto them They are remitted in Christ and so forgotten afore god Though this that here hath bin spoken be concerning the whole christen multitude and her preachers yet doth it most specially touche the Iewes or Israelyts that shal in this latter age be conuerted vnto Christ. And so doe I counsell the reader to vnderstand it For the mount Syon after the flesh was theirs Not defiled are they with vnmaried women which are the whorishe lawes and vncleane supersticions of the Gentiles vpoÌ„ none other harp haue they commonly harped but vpon the scriptures though it hath not bin to the pleasure of God tyll nowe in this latter age wherin they shall wholye turne vnto Christ. THE TEXT 1 And I savv an Angell 2. Fly in the midst of heauen 3. Hauing an euerlasting gospell to preach vnto them that sit and dvvell on the earth 4. And to all nacions kinreds and â—ongs and people 5. sayinge vvith a loude voyce 6. Feare God 7. And geue honour to him 8. For the houre of his iudgemente is come 9. and worship him that made heuen earth 10. And the sea the fountaines of vvater The Paraphrase 1 An other Angell sawe I sayeth sainct Iohn flye in the midst of heauen For Christ was the first angell or messenger of the euerlastinge couenaunt of the father This angell here mencioned is none other than he that had the seale of the lyuing god in the .vii. Chapter and he that was clothed with a cloude in the tenth chap. And he betokneth those feruent ministers whoÌ„ god hath sent in this latter time to admonishe his people to flye from the errours of antichrist returne to his heauenlye verities 2 He flyeth in the midst of heauen An earnest feruent faithful course take they in the middest of gods congregacion which is his heauenly kingedom here to whom this reuelation is written lyke as dyd Paulus Sylas and Barnabas Timotheus Titus and Clemens with other of the Apostles sincerely to declare his worde Mighty stomaked are they in gods cause both in their wordes and wrytings 3 An euerlastinge Gospell had this Angel to preach vnto them that sit dwell vpon the earth and to al nations kynreds and people His eternal testameÌ„t and couenant of peace hath the Lorde giuen vnto them to preach deliuerance to the captiue health to the wounded lyfe to the dead and remission to the sinfull Yea to vtter that word that is stronger thaÌ„ is heauen or earth and that shall neuer fayle hym that truely beléeueth 4 The sound of this gospell muste go the world ouer as in the apostles time Eueri wher must it be spred to the increase of faith AmoÌ„g al natioÌ„s of the earth among al kinreds of the Isralyts among all languages of the world and among all kinds of people of what sort so euer they be whether they sit vpon the earth or dwell vpon the earth whether they be high or lowe gouernours or subiects masters or seruaÌ„ts owners or fermers So that they sit not nor dwell not within the earth or haue theyr felicitie here For that is holy should not be geuen vnto dogs nor yet pearels layed before swyne 5 And he cryed with a loude voyce with a mighty feruent spirit do they beat it into the heades of men both by wordes writings and al they can make to haue the feare of God and to geue him his due honour And this is the doctrine they teache the counsell they geue 6 Feare ye God in all that ye doe for the first poynt of godly wisdome is to dread least we offende him Be constant in the worde and feare no displeasure of men For no more can they do in their anger but slea the body and bring it to the rest of god No power haue thei ouer the soule feare him only therfore that wheÌ„ he hath destroied both may throw theÌ„ into heâ— 7 Geue honor vnto hiÌ„ worship him serue him alone praise him glorifie him aboue al. But yet after 〈◊〉 other sort thaÌ„ he hath apoiÌ„ted which is in faith spirite veritie not 〈◊〉 outward shadowes with obseruation of tymes He truely honoureth him that trusteth in him the beleueth his word and that in spight of all antichrists coÌ„fesseth it afore al men after this sort therfore feare him worship hym nothiÌ„g douting the assalts of enimies 8 For the houre of his iudgemeÌ„t is come At hand is it that all the antichristes and hipocrits shal by the inuincible word of god be iudged condemned and destroyed From heaueÌ„ shall hys wrath be declared vpon al their vngodlynes With the spirite of his mouth shall the lorde consume them and not longe after wyll the great day of his indignatioÌ„ toward them light sodenly vpon them 9 With al faithful obsequi worship him therfore that created heauen earth in wonderfull streÌ„gth beuty 10 That made the sea the fountaines of water with all that in theÌ„ doth anone whose power is eternall knowledge none other god but him None other helper redemer nor sauior but christ for al other christs not seÌ„t of hiÌ„ ar but antichrists only bow your knées vnto him for only is hys strength euerlasting onely obey his lawes for only are his lawes clean THE TEXT 1 And there folovved an other Angel saying 2. She is fallen she is fallen euen
Babylon that great citie 3. For she made al nations drink of the vvine of her vvhordome The Paraphrase 1 And there folowed an other Angell saith S. Iohn which betokneth an other sort of preachers whose office is here appointed them of the holy Ghost to declare vnto the people the certenty of the fall of the aduoutrus cursed and malignant church of hipocrits here figured by wretched BabiloÌ„ For though al the true prophets and preachers haue but one worde of God in their mouth yet passeth it diuersly from them Unto each of theÌ„ is geuen a diuers vtteraunce of the spirit to edifie One is soft méeke gentle as was Dauid Iohn Peter an other is boysteous harde vehement as was Helias Esay Paule And all this worketh the selfe same one spirit This diuersitie of techers was neuer more plentuous in the world than now in our time figured here by these two angels Praysed be the Lord therefore 2 And the tenour or ground of this latter sort of preachers is this She is fallen she is fallen euen miserable Babylon the great citie of whoredom bicause she made all nacions to drink of the wrathful wyne of hir fornication So sure is it that the execrable church of Antichrist shal be ouerthrowen and vtterly destroyed as it wer now perfourmed in déede Nothinge shal be vnrooted out that the heauenly father hath not planted Sooner shall heauen earth perish than this promisse be vnfulfilled 3 For with the stinking whorishnes of hir supersticious worshippinges hath she poysoned all nacions peoples vnder heauen The great gouernours lerned lawiers of the world hathe she made in maner of beastly dronkerds wytlesse faythlesse and gracelesse by theyr prostibulous doctrine And this shal be declared more at large in the .xvij. cha folowing wheras she is more pleÌ„tuously described The texte 1 And the third Angell followed them 2. saying with a loude voyce 3. If any worship the beast and his Image 4. and receiue his marke in his forehead or on his hand 5. the same shall drinke of the wyne of the vvrath of god 6. vvhich is povvred in the cup of his vvrath 7 and he shall be punished in fyre brimstone 8. before the holy Angels 9. and before the Lambe The Paraphrase 1 The thyrd Angel also saith saint Iohn followed theÌ„ in the thyrd kinde of preaching of the same selfe message that in the mouth of two or thrée faithful witnesses all veritie might stand 2 And by this Angell are they signified that by the word of God stifly impugne theyr wicked lawes vngodly ordinaunces whose maner of earnest preaching is this 3 If any man worship the beast which is the great antichrist And his Image which are those gouernours that taketh vpon them his blasphemous titles names authoritie or defence If any man also receiue his mark in his forehead beléeuing theyr lawes to be a christen doctrine or haue the print of his seale vpoÌ„ his right hand which is to fashion his outward workes after the same The same man shall drinke of the wine of Gods wrath which are the dregs of the pure wyne poured in the cup of his high displeasure He shall taste of the euerlasting damnation that is reserued in the latter cursse or fearefull sentence of their moste terrible iudge To worship the beast and his Image is to accept them in conscience and in the outward obedience with ful consent of the hearte For that they blasphemously pretend without Gods authority As the Pope for Gods vicar or forgeuer of sinnes Mahomet for the greate Prophet of the Lord the rulers of the earth for the Popes elder or yonger sonnes for moste christian Kinges and defenders of the fayth of that holy church 4 To receiue the beastes marke in their forheads and hands is to agrée to such decrées traditious lawes constitucions actes proclamations as they vnder those titles haue made onely for theyr owne couetousnesse pomp and neither for the glory of god nor yet for the right maintenance of the christen common wealthe as I haue declared afore And also to be sworne to the same to subscribe to it to geue counsel or ayde to it to maintayn it by learning to minister in it to execute vnder it to accuse punish and put to death for it or to think it lawfull and godly with such lyke 5 These marked worshippers that tast of the cuppe of gods indignation of calamitie sorow wretchednesse in the dayes of theyr fal here after the last iudgement of vnspeakeable paines and most gréeuous torments in euerlasting fyre prepared for the diuell and his angels 6 The dregges that the Lord hath powred out sayth Dauid shall the wicked of the earth drynke Cleane coÌ„trary are these Angels to the horned ministers of antichrist For they maintaine the Popes errours these the onely verities of christ They labor for the glory of their pope these séeketh the only honor of god They prate that their holy Church shall continue thâ—se say it shall downe with shame They require worship to the beast and his Image these will report it blasphemous the reward therof damnation Marke in these two sortes the preachers of our time and iudge whiche are of god Against both beastes in Christes quarell shall these Angels contende Against the Pope and his bishops Mahomet and his doctours wyll these godlye ministers replye whom the Lorde hath sent in this latter age for that purpose condemniÌ„g by the scriptures their auctoryty iurisdiction power declaring also the plagues that wyl fall vpon them for witholding the truth of God in vnrightuousnes 7 For these Antichristes and their worshippers with so many as beareth their token shall be punished in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lamb. Fyre shal be kindled saith Moyses in the anger of the Lorde shall burne vnto the bottome of Hell Upon the vngodly sayeth Dauid shall he raine snares Fyre brimstone storme and tempest shall be their porcyon to drynke The vehement indignation and mighty iudgement of God shall light vpon them as vpon Sodome and Egipt and shall both deuoure them and consume them 8 And this shal be in the sighte of Aungels which are not onely the spirites of heaueÌ„ but also the church of the faythfull Yea the righteous shall reioyce when he séeth the destruction and shall washe his handes it the bloud of the wicked 9 In the presence of the lambe shal it be also For he is euermore with his flock shal be vnto the end of the world wherin he shal sit coÌ„dem theÌ„ The Texte 1 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore 2. And they haue no rest day nor night 3. vvhich worship the beaste and his Image 4. and vvhosoeuer receyueth the prynt of his name 5. here is the pacience of sayntes 6. Here are they that keepe the commaundements 7. and the fayth of Iesuâ— The Paraprhase 1 And the smoke of their