it nor beleeue any parte of it so long as it agréeth not wyth the doctrine and gaye Ceremonies of our holy father the pope our mother the Romish churche Vpon the .xij. Sonet or vision I saw sayth S. Iohn a woman sit vpon a scarlet colored beast This woman did a far off seeme to be honest vertuous but in deede she was farre otherwise as ye shal heare This beast is that great Antechrist of whom we haue spoken right now or rather the bodie of the diuel containyng within him the Pope Cardinals patriarkes legates bishops doctors abbots priours chanons Monkes friers prebendaries priests indulgences bulles Nonnes and the reste of all suche diuelyshe sectes beyng full of hypocrisie and dissimulation reignyng wythin the whole Popedome In lyke manner all Magistrates and secular powers that fortifie and defende as well the Pope him selfe as also the abhominations and detestable idolatrie which the Romishe church doth vse be he Emperoure King or Prince Duke Earle or Lorde Maior Iudge Chauncellor Bailie Constable or whatsoâ—uer that maintaine defende and vpholde by force and violence any thing against God and his truth Of whose number I my selfe haue bene sometime and that to myne owne great griefe be it spoken thorough méere ignorance thinkyng to do God great seruice Wherof I am now ashamed and most â—arnestly repent me and am sory for it And I pray God that this nor any of the rest of my sinnes be layde vnto my charge but that he will pardon me thorough hys infinite goodnesse and mercie in the name of his dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christe oure onely Sauioure and redéemer And I thanke hym from the bottome of my hearte that it hathe pleased hym of his mercie without my deseruings to haue called me wyth the Apostle S. Paule out of the shadowe of death and the companie of hys enimies to the knowledge of his eternall wisedome in the felowship of his true spouse his churche Of these I say which seeke not themselues nor any thing in this worlde but seeke the glorie of him that bought them and the accomplishment of his kingdomâ— counted in the sight of the world as outcastes but glorious in the sight of God This beaste is whole of the colour of scarlet reddish in token of greate tyrannie sheddyng of bloud and murthers which they coÌ„mit against those which will not agree to their wicked diuelish institutions She is also ful of ignominious blasphemous names as your holynesse your clemencie your lordship your fatherhod your mastership your serenitie your worthinesse honour reuerence magnificence bounty vicar of Godâ— spiritual lord phisition of the soule defenâ—er of the faith supreme head of the church and many otâ—er as it is seâ—ne dayly by their letters and writyngs Moreouer their too too muâ—he knowâ—e trumperies and Iack an Apes plays are no lesse blasphemous than processions confirmations greasyngs purgatorie Masses for al soules pilgrimages pardons mattins Aue Maria stella or Salue regina Placebo Candlemasse Palm sonday c. This beast had seuen heades and ten hornes signifiyng all his subtil practises his craftie fetches and false conspiracies therby to impeche and withstande the graces of God and giftes of the holy Ghost And vnder a cloke of authoritie through tyraÌ„nish violence resist the commauÌ„dements of God And this woman was arayâ—d in purple and gilded with golde and precious stones and pearles Which signifieth their coapes of gold corporal stoales staues miters c. and other like trumperies of silk purple crimosin sattin redde coloured bordered wyth golde pearles and precious stones and aboue this their counterfaite pietie and shewe of holinesse This painted pampred vp and so gaily decked Romish churche bragged and boasted muche of hir Gospel and hir Apostles of golde siluer wood or stone decked and arayed wyth all kinde of costlynesse whiche is but an outwarde appearaunce for they looke for nothyng lesse than to imitate or follow and to expresse them in their conuersation She had a cup of golde in hir hande full of abhomination and filthinesse of hir fornication This cup is hir false and cursed Religion whiche she dayly communicateth distributed aboute the Chalice whiche hir Merchauntes doe so wickedly abuse It containeth all kynd of false and dyuelish doctrine all kinde of erroures lyes and beastlynesse all manner of craftie workes of hypocrites all manner of inuentions of fleshly wysedome all mans wittie deuises eyther by crafte arte or otherwise inuented as also all straunge kinde of worshippyng of idolatrie fornication Sodometrie and all other kynde of iniquitie Outwardly she séemeth to be gilded she reporteth yea boasteth to sette forth the glorie of God namely the magnfying of the name of Christ. They say they preache the sacred Scripture they lyue in chastitie and all is nothyng else but a false a counterfaite and deceiptfull shewe of holynesse full of hypocrisie and dissimulation a couer or cloke of all mischiefe and abhomination it is but the bare letter and the onely name as the rest of all their doings are And in hir forhead was a name written a mysterie great Babylon A name declaring what manner of woman she is She is knowne wel inough by hir naughty fruites of such as are skylful of godly knowledge and haue also the spirite of vnderstandyng So that they bâ—yng illuminated conducted and ledde by the spirite of GOD maye easily perceyue iudge and knowe accordyng vnto the Scriptures that shée is nothyng else but an vnshamefaste and pestyferous whoore full of all iniquitie abhomination and wyckednesse But thys iudgement is hydden from the Infidels the whyche are so bewitched and inchaunted by the meanes of their fayre outwarde shewe their humble knéeling creepyng and gaye Ceremonies that what soeuer she doth speaketh or commaundeth and taketh in hand they make muche of it worship and imbrace it as holy honest perfect good which thing God permitted for theyr vnbeliefs sake She is called mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth muche passyng the towne of the Chaldees in all kinde of wickednesse for she is the mother and fountaine both of spiritual and carnall whordome and abhomination And I saw that she was the maried wyfe of the deuyll For I saw hir dronke of the bloud of Sainctes and with the bloud of the martyrs of Iesus which she outragiously and most seuerely hath persecuted and slayne And when I saw hir so I maruelled with great maruell not onely bicause I saw hir defiled and sprinkled of murther and sheding of innocent bloude but also bicause of hir greate and abhominable blasphemies And most of al I was aboue measure amazed and maruelled that almightie God coulde or woulde suffer or permit so long hir intollerable wickednesse and detestable and horrible impietie This woman is called of the Angell the great whore that great Citie which ruled ouer the kings of the earth namely Rome It is no meruaile though she be called that
to the saying of King Lamuell in the thirde of the Prouerbes Fauour is deceiuable and Beautie a mere vanitie but the woman that feareth the Lorde is to be beloued But chiefly and principally when I consider that God intendyng to bestowe an excellent benefit peculiarly vpon your Maiestie more than vpon any other Prince or Princesse in the worlde hath besides al the other forenamed his manifolde giftes and graces lightened your vnderstanding with his holy spirit and hath vouchesafed by enclinyng youre graces heart spirite and minde to humilitie peace mildenesse and all kinde of louablenesse to chose your maiestie especially to be his champion to defend his beloued church And in this respect like as all faithfull and true ChristiaÌ„ princes throughout all Europe do esteme and repute you do I also and that of good right call your grace a moste happie and blessed Prince Consider I beseche you how God hath blessed your maiestie in thys worlde more than he hath done any of your progenitours For neuer was it seene in any age or time heretofore that this your realme of England hath flourished as it dothe at this present vnder your Maiesties moste happie gouernement Firste in all kinde of liberall Artes and sciences Secondarily in the abundance of treasure as well golde and siluer as all sortes of riche and precious iewels and ornamentes Thirdely in the free passage and trafike of all kinde of marchandise Besides this in good and politike lawes and ordinances namely in the due execution of iustice according to law and equitie The worde of God is purely preached here in six or seuen languages The Sacraments of Baptisme and the holy Supper sincerely ministred according to Christes institution Christian discipline in due force in many places Finally euery countrey and nation that will liue here according to his holy worde is receiued and findeth good entertainement O how happy and blessed is that King or kingdome where these things are in force Contrarywise most vnhappie are those princes that banishyng and reiecting Christ receiue that Antechrist the sonne of the Diuell and forsakyng the truth embrace errour To be short that do al things ouerthwartly clean against the hair For it is moste certaine and sure that sodaine ruine and destruction shall fall vpon all wicked and vngodly persons as well nowe as in tyme paste as experience hath well proued heretofore Namely vpon Pharao and hys kingdome of Egypt vpon Ieroboam Achab Iezabell and infinite other mo Wher on the other part the good kings princes which feare the Lord shal haue peace and comfort bothe in this worlde and in the worlde to come Like as had Iosua Iuda Gedeon Dauid and diuers other in those days and is also to be seene at this day most euidently in the realmes and countreyes vnder youre Maiesties dominion whiche God hath blessed in suche sort that it may truly be sayd that the kingdome of Saturne and the Golden worlde is come againe and the Virgin Astrea is desscended from heauen to builde hir a seate in this your moste happie countrey of EnglaÌ„d For here is peace and quietnesse where as the moste parte of foraine countreyes are full of great tumultes and that more is the pitie with the sheding of much christian bloude And where as many myghtie kings and potentates of the earthe haue banded and conspired together fight euery where against God his anointed and his holy churche bendyng their force vtterly to deface hys name his glorie and his Churche Almightie God of his diuine prouidence hath nowe also in these days like as he hath in all ages heretofore raised vp diuers good and godly princes and states and prouided certaine places wherto the elect and faithfull haue resorted bene preserued during the time of persetion to the ende that his holy name myght there be glorified his worde purely and sincerely preached and his Churche dispersed in a manner restored As it is also come to passe in these our most miserable days in the whiche suche as syncerely loue and esteeme more derely the honoure and glorie of God than they doe their owne commodities ease and welfare after the counsel of Christ saying in this wyse Yf they persecute you in one citie flie ye vnto an other haue bene coÌ„tent to depart their owne naturall countrey wholly to forsake their landes inheritances possessions and dwellyng places yea and some also to â—urreÌ„der their offices dignities worldly preferments An other sort with their wiues children and parentes are departed into Germanie namely into the territorie and dominion of Frederike prince Elector and couÌ„tie Palatine the floure of all Christian Princes in these dayes that I knowe in the feruent zeale and true feare of God a man worthy to be compared with Dauid or Iosias Others are fled into other places elsewhere some to one cuntrey some to an other euery one according to his abilitie estate condition and facultie But we a numbre of vs are arriued in saftie in this your maiesties realme of Englande as into a moste safe and sure harborough where we liue God be thanked vnder your Maiesties protection and safegarde in greate libertie to serue God in eyther language the French or the Dutche without al feare of tyrantes or daunger of the gapyng throates of greedie rauening wolues After the same maner hath God in time past preserued deliuered his elect out of the haÌ„ds of their enimies persecuteâ—s by the ministerie of dyuers vertuous women As is to be sene in the .4 chapt of the boke of Iudges How God deliuered his people of Israel out of the haÌ„ds of Iabin king of Chanaan by Debora the prophetesse by selling Sizara chiefe captain of his armie into the haÌ„d of a womaÌ„ called Iahel As he also preserued Dauid froÌ„ the furie of Saul by Michâ—l Sauls own daughter As he deliuered the citizeÌ„s of Bethulia froÌ„ the tiranny of Holoâ—ernes by the hand of that most vertuous Ladie Iudith â— And as the childreÌ„ of Israel were saued by the counsel of Mardocheus at the instaÌ„ce request of the most gratious humble Hester â— where they were lately before in peril of death preseÌ„t destructioÌ„ by the conspiracie of wicked Haman The like hath ben brought to passe by diuers other renoumed Ladies whose fame shal endure for euer And surely the graces mercies that God hath shewed to his afflicted church in these later days by your maiesties means ar no lesse thaÌ„ those he hath shewed tofore by the late rehersed ladies so that your grace deserueth equal praise and coÌ„meÌ„datioÌ„ with them coÌ„sidering with what geÌ„tlenesse with how louing charitable affection you haue receiued the poore scattered flock of Christ. Is not your Maiestie then to be estemed infinitely more happy blessed that are so specially elect of god to serue him for such an instrumeÌ„t in such a quarel that maugre the beards of the enimies being enraged through the malice and obstinacy of
selling of their Oile Creame Salte Holy water Shrift Candels Blessings Crosses Banners Ashes Palmes Incense Waxe Beades Bulles and Pardons letters of Dispensation to contract Matrimonie licences to eat flesh egges butter c. All which not God but they vpon paine of euerlasting damnation to their owne commoditie and profite haue forbidden Of like qualitie are their Images Ringing of Belles their Reliques Bones of departed Sainctes and other like things Whereby and by many other of their fained holinesse they are become through the aboundaunce of their goods and richesse so lusty spiteful proud and lofty that they haue obtained the possession and gouerning of Countreis and Realmes of Cities Fortresies and Castels and mâ—ny other pleasaunt places Woodes Warrennes Parkes Farmes Conduits Fountaines Hounds Horsses and Mules So that in aucthoritie and power in riches and substance and in all kinde of plesant things they are nothing inferior to Kings and Princes Moreouer they are not ashamed to take other mennes wiues to fulfill their most filthie and vnsatiable desires yea honest mennes daughters maidens and seruauntes yea and yong men too which they most abhominably and shamefully defile marre and spoile I leaue you to consider what gaines Bishops Prelats gather of the first fruiâ—ts of the tenths of Buls Pardons and resigning of benefices Againe it can not well be tolde what golde and siluer they get by singing and saying of their Collects by going and gathering of their yearely Offerings and the great liuings reuenues and rentes which their Cathedral Churches Abbeis Religious houses and Couents haue so that in al things they passe the welthiest There is no kind of pleasure come it neuer so farre off be it neuer so deare and costly but they wil haue a tast of it NotwithstaÌ„ding they caÌ„ play so wel the hipocrites at their sermons y t it séemeth they regarde nothing lesse than the vanitie of this world and praise aboue measure fasting and abstinence But they haue their rewarde héere and shall héereafter haue their portion with the dissemblers and hipocrites where shall be wéeping wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth And I hâ—ard another voice an other warning of the spirite whereby the true and faithfull ministers of God are instructed and taught warning vs and saying Goe out of hir my people come away with Esdras out of that wicked Babylon goe forthe with Abraham out of Caldee runne and flie with Lothe out of filthye Sodomâ— and meddle no more wyth that whoorish Church of Rome denie forsake and detest wholly hir false and fained holynesse hir foule and filthy ceremonies abhorre hir dissimulation and hypocrisie curse and ban their trifles and iestings and haue no felowship more wyth these whooremongers Nicolaites Balaamites Lifte vp and repent from the bottom of your hearts your former follie and abhominations which you haue done in times past and come to me sayth the Lord all ye that trauail and are heauie loden and I shall refresh you Get ye away from among them without looking behinde you that ye be not partakers of their sinnes which is the veÌ„geance and ire of Gods wrath and indignation At all tymes and seasons there haue bene holy and godly men and well learned fathers whiche through their excellent and diuine woorkes and writings haue exhorted and cried especially since the comming vp of the Pope for redresse and reformation of the churche for the amendemente of many faultes and to sée brotherly exhortation and christian discipline vsed in the same As by Bertrandus Herebaldus BereÌ„garius Thuronensis Bruno Andegauensis Peter Damianus Valeriane Medeburgensis Bernardê° ClareualeÌ„sis Robertus Tuitiensis Ioachim Abbas Cyrillus Graecus IoaÌ„nes Salisburgensis Gilbertê° LaÌ„tcestrius Angelus Hierosolimitanê° Guilhelmus de sancto Aniore Guido Bonatus Nicolaus Gallus Hubertinus de Casali Pelius Casali Petrus Ioannes Marcilius Patauinus IoaÌ„nes Paris Arnoldê° de villa noua Michael Caesenas Gulielmus Occam Nicolaus de Luca Marcus de FloreÌ„tia IoaÌ„nes wiclefus IoaÌ„nes Hus Michael de Bononia Ioannes Hildeshem Dante 's Aligerius FraÌ„ciscus Petrarcha Nicolaus Clemadis Petrus de Aliaco Ioannes Gerson Laurentius Valla Lodouicus Arelatensis Ioannes Segebius Thomas RedoneÌ„sis Gallus Mattheus Palmarius Dauid Boys Dionysiê° Chartusianê° IoaÌ„nes Miluerto Ioannes Gorchius Ioannes de Vsalia VVormaceÌ„sis Ioannes Ghyler IoaÌ„nes Crutser VVessalus Groenegensis Eneas Siluius Redoricus Samorensis Iulianus Brixiensis and Hieronymus Sauonarola Beside these there be other which are of oure time as IoaÌ„nes Reuchlin Baptista Mantuanus Baptista Panetius Iohannes Crestonê° Erasmus Lutherus Zwinglius Caluinus and more other All whiche the Papistes for the moste parte haue condemned for heretikes To rehearse here their wrytings their reasons and testimonies it would require to much time I muste therefore leaue it behynde I haue onely rehersed some of their names to thys end and purpose that it myght appeare to the Reader that at all tymes God hath had one or other that hath not ben in all poynts consenting to their blasphemies Albeit the light of Gods truthe was not then so perfectly reueled vnto them as it is now a dayes God be praised vnto vs. Many godly and vertuous Emperours Princes haue by generall Counsels and by al other meanes possible assayed and proued to haue a refourmation and amendemente made of all absurdities and abuses whiche were crepte into the churche but they haue alwayes met with wicked and vngodly princes which resisted them and letted them of their vertuous enterprises whiche also maintained those Antechrists in their impietie wickednesse defending them with toothe and nayle to the vttermoste neuerthelesse it is without any doubt that these as Pharao with all his power in the red Sea and as that proude kinde of Phariseys and priestes of the Iewes in the Citie bicause of theyr manifeste blasphemies perished so shall likewise at the hour and time of God appointed all these perishe and vanishe away For the sinnes of this whoore or the innumerable blasphemies of this false religion the great abhomination and filthie idolatrie the burning hangyng drowning and sheading of innocente bloude are come vp into Heauen there to desire the vengeance of God for their vncleannesse vnshâ—mefastnesse hath caused prouoked Gods wrath and indignation against them And God hath remeÌ„bred their iniquities The multitude greatnesse wherof ar come vp into heauen Therfore haue they most iustly deserued the threatened plagues of the most righâ—eous God no lesse than Sodome and Gomorre for their transgression and wickednesses which when it was foretolde them made light of it and went forwarde to al mischiefe vntil God pouring out his vengeance destroyed them with fire and brimstone Rewarde hir euen as she hath rewarded you Measure vnto hir againe with such measure as she did measure vnto you Take ye good héede and looke narowly ye that haue gotten the iudgement seate Crie vpon hir euen as she dyd crie vpon you snare hir as she hath snared you Againe as she hath heretofore wrongfully molested and
fleshe They are not ashamed to aduouch in their Decretals that it is better and a smaller offence to kepe a â—uÌ„dreth hoores than to marrie or contracte matrimonie after they haue vowed chastitie Oh beastes that ye are the spirite of Chastitie did neuer cause you to forbid holy matrimonie but it was the spirite of vncleannesse Asmodeus Beelsebub and that spirit whereof the Sodomites and them of Gomorra were driuen These foule spirites made you to do it to accomplishe the prophecies of S. Paule and of Daniell whiche amongest other wordes speaketh of Antechrist on this maner He shal â—xalt him selfe aboue all which is called God For the God of hys predecessors he shal make no count of He shal loue neither God nor woman but only his Maosim for he exalteth himself aboue all things The naturall duetie and affection whiche God hath graffed in man wyfe to loue and haue company comforte and healpe one of the other to increase and multyplie is the onely meane whych God hath prouided to preuent the decay of mankynde It is also a greate kinde of beneuolence and friendeshyp wherein the one parte of maÌ„s nature honoreth aswel for the likenesse as for the creatours sake the other in the feare of God whome they in the state of matrimonie not onely serue if it be well vsed but honour and worship Then the duâ—tie of a good husbande is according to Gods worde to labour and with the sweate of his browes to get his bread to care and prouide for hys familie for his wyfe and chyldren that shée neyther thorough pouertie hunger or other cause of wretchednesse haue no occasion to committe or do any thyng agaynst the rule of honestie and prescript commaundement of God A good wyfe agayne wyll be diligent and carefull for all things necessary and belonging to the house she shall be sober honest faithfull and busie This affection and kindenesse wherof we speake here procedeth out of the naturall loue gyuen vâ—to vs by nature and all men in generall are bounde to obserue it This naturall kyndenesse and diuine loue hath not this monstrous beast and beastly monster Antechrist nor his sodomitishe greasy ones They lurke onely in their dennes and wyth daintie dyshes and delitious meates fil their bellies and make merrâ—e they care for no bodie they beare neither honest loue nor heart or any good wil to woman neither for propagationâ— nor for the ordinance of God who is the author instituter of it They labour not to maintain their wife they seeke not to defeÌ„d any against dishonestie rauishment or shame they desire none for their owne but when they lust they take one nowe and an other to morowe and then sende hir packing to haue neither trouble cost nor charges of hir nor of the childe but like vnkyndely Cuckoes lay theyr egges into other folkes nestes Whether these things tende to the despysing disgracyng of women or not iudge you And surely the rather for that they not passing for the ordinaÌ„ce of God but reiecting it take one or other of their acquaintaunce after theyr owne minde forsooth to cast hir of like a broken pot and to take an other so often as they lust But what great euyl and inconuenience dothe procéede and followe here hence is to be séene in great Cities where these belly gods for the most part vse to haunt as at Rome and in other places where any Byshoprikes or canonistes or colledges be where ye may sée an infinite numbre of queanâ—s and painted CurtisaÌ„s which get their liuing by y â— lâ—tting of their flesh and body to these beastly vnnaturall kind of people to whom they beare neither heart nor good will for abusing them selues In that they haue to do with them they loose their honestie fame they marre and destroy both body and soule I leâ—ue the murtheryng and slayinâ— of chilâ—â—â—n whiche is no synne amongst them 〈◊〉 â—any other vnclean vnnaturall and 〈◊〉 abhominable filthy déedes vsuall amongst them in theyr priuie chaumbres and celles These bee the fruits of their promised sworné vnchast chastitie For what I pray you is chastitie or virginitie more before God than marriage no more than circumcision to vncircuÌ„cision one is neither better nor worse before god than y â— other coÌ„cerning the life of a christian man Christ Iesu requireth demauÌ„deth only of vs tru faith working thorough charitie so theÌ„ al they y â— lead their lyfe in the holy state of matrimonie accordyng to the word of God are reputed virgins as S. Paule testifieth The Lambe whyche taketh away the sinne of the world stands with them which y â— father hath giuen him vpon that strong mounte Syon Contrarywise the Dragon and the beast with all theyr adherents are set vpon the slyding sandes of the sea their kingdome their power their myght their lawes statutes and ordinaunces theyr frée will and wycked purpose their proude titles haue no sure foundation but are buylded only vppon tâ—e waueryng sandes of doubtefulnesse and falshode agaynst whiche when any tempeste or winde of Gods holy worde bloweth sodainly it is moued and ouerthrowen yea and these vile shauelyngs them selues are these sandes whâ—reon their captain the dragon staÌ„dethâ— they are the chair and dwellyng place of the diuel Thoroughe them as instrumentes and false prophetes he vsed to speake to commaunde and execute all hys deceiptfull and false hypocrisâ—es and idolatries It is then moste sure and certaine that this beast with all theyr beastlynesse can neuer abyde long For it followeth that the Beast was apprehended and taken and with hir the false Prophetes whyche did signes and wonders before them As heretofore Iames and Iambres the enchaunters of Egypt wente aboute to counterfaite the sigâ—es whiche Moyses and Aaron dydde in the presence of Pharao lykewyâ—e doe these false inchaunters peruert the truth in these oure days namely in that they shew greater wonders than any heretofore hath ben heard of That is that they as they affirme and violently holde can turne very bread into naturall fleshe and bloud and that so cunnyngly that it can not be once perceyued neyther in beholdyng féelyng or tastyng of it otherwyse than breade And more other as to redéeme soules out of Purgatorie by sacrifices and workes supererogations and other shamefull braggs wherwith he deceyued them that receyued the beastes marke and seale and worship his image These both namely the head and the bodie the beast and the false prophete were aliue caste into a lake of fire burning with Brimstone These shall surely thorough the power and ryghteous iudgement of God receyue theyr portion wyth the hypocrites and false Prophetes And the remnant which folow of what state and condition so euer they be were slayne with the sworde of him that sitteth vpon the horse which commeth out of his mouthe This sworde is as is before sayd his mightie and true word which hath within hym spirite and life Such then
by the Prophet Ezechiel saying I wil make a bond of peace with them which shall be vnto them an euerlasting couenaunt I will set my sanctuarie among them for euermore My dwelling shal be with them yea I wil be their God they shal be my people The same also he confirmeth heere in this place saying He will dwell with them and they shal be his people and God him sâ—lfe shal be their God In suche sorte that they shall neuer acknowledge any other than him only He shal alwayes comfort and strengthen theÌ„ heere by his holy spirit and heereafter by his preseÌ„ce so mightely defend and surely kéepe them that they shall neuer faile him heere nether afterward be seperated from him And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes so cleane that no kinde of trouble or feare shall make them afraid neither any aduersitie shrinke or make them heauie The same also saith the lorâ— by his Prophet I shall make a pleasant Ierusalem and I my selfe wil be glad with hir From that time forward shall there be heard within hir no more sorrow nor paine neither shall there be any death for death shall be destroyed for euermore The conscience of man shall not then be subiecte to any mistrustfulnesse or other infirmitie but shall haue ioy in the holy Ghost They shall through sinne not die any more but shall liue through faith in God That cruel whoore shal drink droÌ„ke no more in the bloud of the Martirs for she with al hir adherents and wicked tirantes shall be kept in that filthie lake which burneth with fire and brimstone for euermore So that no kinde of trouble persecution slaunder hatred malice anguish or pain or any kind of aduersity crueltie or wretchednesse which coulde be deuised can hurt or hinder them for sorowes wailing and wéeping shall be put farre from them The building of the frame and the situation of this citie was four square which signified not only vnto vs the sure grounde and stedfastnesse of the true Christian faith which God kéepeth tenderly nourisheth and augmeÌ„teth in his elect but also sheweth y t euerlasting certaintie of that mightie and inexpugnable kingdom of Christ and that hope which is neuer ashamed for who so euer beleueth and dependeth vpoÌ„ Christ shall neuer be confounded Whatsoeuer is foure square abideth firme vnmoueable and is not subiect to rolling or vnstablenesse like a boule or speare or any thing that is rouÌ„d In like maner haue we to consider of the four squarenesse of 〈◊〉 new IerusaleÌ„ wherof material Ierusâ—â—â—â— bâ—ing also square was a figure that none of what so euer kindred language or nation he be shall haue either preferment héere in this citie or be lesse regarded for whether he be froÌ„ the East or the West from the South or the North rich or poore Grecian or Barbarian if he be but a true beléeuer he shall be receiued and accepted of God Wherof we haue a manifest ensample in the Gospell where Christ teacheth by the Parable of a certaine housholder which hired labourers into his vineyard who calling them vnto him in y â— euening gaue as much to them that wrought but an hour as he did vnto them that wrought the whole day The walles of this Citie are strong and well furnished wherout we may coÌ„clude and gather that the blessednesse of saluation or Gods promises are sure and strong in so much that hell gates can not preuaile against or withstand them These walls are of such a height that no enimie be he neuer so craftie subtile or wise by anye meanes of faire speach dissimulation or hipocriâ—ie is able to get ouer them onely must they enter through the gate which is Christ Iesu. This holy Ierusalem is glorious blessed heauenly and spiritual not made by mans hande but it is made and builded of God the heaueÌ„ly father the father of light of whom all goodâ—â—nd perfect gifts onely do descend are sent down Therfore hath she a maruellous and incomprehensible light and wisdome of almightie God The Lambe Iesus Christ is hir light and his word the lanterne to his fâ—ete And hir shining light and spiritual wisdom was like an oriental stone most precious for his word is more costlier than golde yea than the moste finest golde This Citie hath twelue gates for to open and to shut with sundrie names bicause of the diuers natioÌ„s and languages For from euery side of the worlde come the people to the churche of Christ yet passe they al through one gate which is Christ Iesu. None saith he coÌ„meth to the father but by me I am the doore to enter into the shéepe folde Who so euer entreth through me shall be saued Thys Ierusalem hath twelue gates And on euery gate was a very costlye and precious Pearle for the doctrine of the Gospell is precious and costly without comparison whereby so many as are ordained from all coastes of the earth enter into the kingdom of Christ. And at these gates were set twelue Angels In that respecte Dauid also did sing saying The Angels of the Lord are about the tents of them that feare him to kéepe them He did set a garde vpon the walles of Ierusalem sayth Esayas to annouÌ„ce his worthy name So that it is wel garded fenced round about The Diuel with all his bost haue no force against it No man is able to draw any one out of his hands And aboue these gates were written honorable names namely the names of the twelue tribes of Israell which are Iuda Ruben Gad Assur Nephthalim Manasle Simeon Leui Isachar Zabulon Ioseph and Beniamin These names were wrytten héere bicause the right inheritance was promised to the séede of Abraham and Christ Iesus was the true séede of Abraham and by him are we made children of the promise The walles of the Citie hath twelue foundations grouÌ„ded vpon y â— strong and mightie stone Christ Iesu which is vnmoueable for so much that from the beginning the Church of God vpon hym hath bene builded and grounded Uppon him did Adam Noe Abraham Moyses Dauid Helias with the rest of the godly fathers that euer were build remaine stedfast although they were neuer so loÌ„g before him or shall be after him for they beleued certainly on the promises which God had wrought to theÌ„ by Christ. They all being vnder the cloud did eate of one kinde of meat and dronke of one spirituall stone which is Christ Iesu which afterward is come into the flesh No man may lay any other foundation sayeth S. Paule than that which is layd alreadye which is Christ Iesu. Upon this one strong and euerlasting foundation were laid and builded these twelue foundatioÌ„s agréeable vnto him Namely the twelue Apostles of the Lambe Peter Iohn Iames Andrewe Philip
great whore for no where was at any time more straunge and superstitious worshippings vaine institutions cold trifling ceremonies bisides sectes errors and false Prophets yea so many kind of vncleaÌ„nesses raigned in hir more than euer did raign in Sodome or Gomorre or the miserable land of Egipt This Babilonish whore or disguised Sinagoge of these shauen and greased ones sitteth vpon many waters which is many foolish inconstant and wauering people and not vpon those which are grounded vpon the sure rocke of Gods word and the true doctrine of the articles of the christian faith With this most wicked vile and stinking whoore and common strumpet to all men haue the moste mighty Kyngs Princes and Potentates committed spiritual whoredom in that they consent to diuers and sundry kinds of their strauÌ„ge new found and altogither superstitious Ceremonies and other their most wicked decrées Héere if I shuld make a discourse of al that might be spokeÌ„ of in this place time should faile me My purpose meaning at this present is onely to make a shorte exposition and declaration vppon these oure visions and that in as fewe wordes as is possible to the consolation edification of all godly and faithfull Christians Séeing theÌ„ what through the subtiltie craftie fetches of Babels priestes on the one side and what for the cruell straight plackets of Princes on the other side the dwellers vpoÌ„ earth or the worldly minded are all dronke of the wine of hir wickednesse and abhomination and spirituall whooredom They are al fallen without the prescript rule of Gods holy word to a straunge and new found kinde of seruing of God Moreouer not only these as couetous carnall and other wicked and sinnefull persons haue folowed their abhominations but also an infinite nuÌ„ber euen of the elect and chosen of god haue bene intangled yea and haue giuen credite to their false lies and erroures They were so nusled and busily occupied with their fonde and fained traditions with their naughtie customes and inuentions that they more like senselesse persons without any discretion or vnderstaÌ„ding yea without any respecte of Gods holy word wandred from all godlinesse grace Not only haue they stouped bowed and kneeled before stockes and stones lighting candels before it made Crosses blessing it kissing it held vp their hands to it but also haue put their confidence in it Neuerthelesse it shall not continue alwayes for it foloweth The .x. horns which thou sawest vpon the beast Signifying the Kings Princes and their subiects which héeretofore were fauourers seruauntes and maintainers of the Romish churche seeking to doe good to that whoore yea to their owne damage and hinderaunce bicause of the good will and blinde zele they bare vnto hir Euen as a man which loueth a light and an vnhonest woman is through hir loue and alluremeÌ„ts so blinded that he considereth not hir vnhonest behauior nor caÌ„ mislike any thing in hir but frameth himself alwayes to hir pleasure frendship or seruice and so much as in him lieth hating contemning and putting to death through vnlawfull loue wherewith she hath bewitched him all them which meaning his wealth warne him of hir and tel him of his fault how he is deceiued and greatly misused setting before his eyes hir fraude falshoode vnshamefastnesse fainednesse and vnfaithfulnesse all which he cannot iudge of vntil his eyes be open and his vnderstaÌ„ding illuminated by the grace of God so that when he perceiueth how he was beguiled and deceiued he hateth and defieth hir the more Euen so are now a dayes the eyes of many Princes and Kings Countreis Townes and Cities and other wel disposed opened and their hearts are touched by the mighty working of gods holy spirite and by the meanes of preaching hearing of the woord of God so that now they defie the whoore with all hir traditions and abhominations which they were wont to maintain and defend so willingly Yea those I say which for very blinde zeale and loue which they bare vnto hir were contented to kisse hir féete shal be as now hir mortall and deadly ennimies They shal not passe vpon hir aucthoritie they shall condemne hir vsages they shall take from hir the Realme and dominion which she now vniustly possesseth they shall deny hir tribute and obeisaunce or to doe hir any homage and at length shall leaue hir desolate and comfortlesse This shall not Princes only do but Kings and other temporal Magistrates yea euen the Metropolitanes Cardinals Archbishops Bishops and Prelates Of which many ensamples are at this instant to be fouÌ„d And more followers of these ensamples wil be héerafter Which albeit they were the hornes of the beast to defend y t whoore withal yet shal they so abolish hir mislike hir and forsake hir that at length she shal be left whole naked They shall chase pursue and hunt the Babilonish whoore of Rome with the cleare trumpe of Gods holy word that she shall become pale and colourlesse ready to sound Cal to remembraunce what God hath wrought by his seruaunts Iohn Wicliffe Iohn Hus Martine Luther Oecolampadie Zwinglie Melancton Capito Bucer Caluin Theodore de Beza Viret Peter Martyr Bullinger Alasco Brentiê° Regius and other moe All whiche haue brought low their Reliques Crucifixes Idols which they call sainctes Abbayes Purgatorie Masses for all soules and Indulgences And moreouer God shall raise some not inferior to them which shall make so muche a doe and bring hir to such a fall that she shal not be able to recouer againe so that no man shall regarde hir any more neyther shall there be any found to set hir vp againe They shall strip hir naked that so many as behold hir may cry out vpon hir detest hir and finally consume hir flesh Moreouer they shal bisides the taking away from hir al teÌ„poral reuenues rents and al other worldly pleasures confound hir peruerse and carnal iudgement of the scriptures and so consequently consume and make weake the kéeping and obseruing of all hir whorish Ceremonies Last of all they shall all to burne hir with fire and bring to nought the whole masse of their Decrées Decretalles Canons Customes and all other kinde of Idolatrie When as all these abhominations shall cease and be gone by the meanes of the preaching of the Gospel then this whoore shall not be seene any more bicause the harlot continueth no longer than hir estimatioÌ„ lasteth Take away their customs and Ceremonies their iewels and costly raiment their Images the light of their dominion their paternitie and estimation kéepe back their Altares their Masse Bishops Priests Miters Staues Crosses and Banners of what estimation I pray you shal be their holy as they terme it whâ—rish Church which standeth in nothing else than in outward false shew of many gay trifling and vaine hipocritical Ceremonies This kind of consuming of the flesh or this maner of burning is not only declared by external proues and euideÌ„t examples as