gréeue them with their curses and to torment theÌ„ with their threatenings of their purgatorie and theyr hell Though they blynded for want of the scripture erred in all popishe diuilrie and for lacke of true knowledge had not the token of fayth yet perished they not wholly no more theÌ„ did Nicodemus and Gamaliell which were but carnal men But their ends the Lord reserued to his own mercyfull goodnesse for confessing the name of Iesus Christ. 5 Yet were they sore vexed for the tyme and theyr payne was as the stinging of a Scorpion when he hath hurte a man A prickyng of a more then halfe desperate mynde a feare of a wonderfully troubled conscience yea and a great doubt of saluacioÌ„ haâ— they till God shewed his mercy vpon them opening their faint hartes and streÌ„gthning theÌ„ with his inward power 6 And in those dayes shall men séeke death and yet shall not fynde it For the gréefe of their loaded consciences they shall in confessyons take counsayle of them which is very poyson and death yet shall God so preserue them it shall be no death vnto them For no dampnacion can be vnto them which are in Christ Iesu. Loth dwelled in Sodome yet peryshed he not with Sodome 7 They shall desire to dye and yet death shall flée from them WheÌ„ they féele the terrible gnawing of inward fearefulnesse they shal séeke vp their stinking remedyes and require their dyrtie merytes which is cleane to dye from Christ and to forsake his liuing waters for their filthie puddels of hypocrisie and diuilishnesse Yet by the singular grace and vnspeakeable mercie of God that they séeke shall flée cleane from them and that they haue not sought for shall saue them which is the onely bloud and death of Iesus Christ. Thus shal they haue life vnlooked for and be taken vp with Enoch from the wickednesse of thys world and sée the God of Gods in Sion without their deseruing THE TEXT 1 And the similitude of the locustes vvas lyke vnto horses prepared vnto battayle 2 And on their heads vvere as it vvere crovvnes lyke vnto gold 3. And their faces vvere as it had bene the faces of men 4. And they had hayre as the hayre of vvomen 5. And theyr teeth vvere as the teeth of Lions 6 And they had habbergyons as it vvere habbergions of yron 7. And the sounde of their vvinges vvas as the sounde of charettes 8. vvhan manie horses runne togither to battayl 9. And they had tayles lyke vnto Scorpions 10. and there vvere stings in their tayls 11. And their povver vvas to hurte men fyue monethes 12. And they had a Kynge ouer them vvhich is the Angell of the bottomlesse pitte 13. vvhose name in the Hebrue tongue is Abadon but in the Greeke tonge Appollyon 14. One vvo is past and beholde tvvo vvoes come yet after this The Paraphrase 1 And the locusts in similitude were lyke vnto horses prepared vnto battayle full of stomake stryfe contencion anger and hate rygorous in examinacions fierce in excommunicacyons moodie in disputacions mad hastie and cruell agaynst the veritie and euermore grudging among them selues one secte agaynst another 2 Upon their heades they had counterfect crownes in maner of gold Glorious names of dignitie had they and shynyng tytles of hyghe prehemynence vndeserued Most holy fathers most gracious Lordes and moste reuerende maysters commonly were they called They made large theyr phylacteries set abroad their skirts they sought the highest places in the sinagoges and salutacions of reuerence in the stréetes They were not as other men be The simplest holy water priest amoÌ„g them was sir at the least which is no lesse than Lord. By presumptioÌ„ pride and ambicion they exalted them selues aloft as the Ceader trées of Lybanus aboue Emperours Kings and Prynces Yea they set their seates in heauen became Gods vicars to dampne and saue at their pleasure But wâ— be to the proude crown of thys dronken generacion whose God is theyr belly and whose glorie is but duste and shal be their shame confusion 3 Their faces were not vnlyke to the faces of men And outwarde pretence they had of wisedome grace and godlines yet was there nothing lesse with in them Uerie prudent wyse learned they séemed in theyr commoning discréet in behauour and sober in their lyuing yet were they but paynted combes full of all sinne and filthinesse The counterfait goodnesse they shewed outwardely was onely to be séene of the world 4 Hayre they had on theyr heades most lyke to the hayre of women All wauering were theyr myndes inconstaunt fickle and foolyshe Theyr harts were geuen to vncleanesse their fleshe to voluptuous desyres and pleasures so that in them rayned all beastly abhominations All execrable lustes flowed in them as the water of the Occean sea 5 Their téeth were as the téeth of Lyons For they were wholy geuen to gréedinesse rauine fiercenesse and cruelty not sparing but deuouring the flock not sauing but loosinge not helpinge but destroyinge These were those wilde beasts that trod downe the viniarde of the Lord those vnresonable Bores that hath rooted vp all and those blood thirstye woulues that hath rente the poore Lambs in péeces 6 Habbergyons had they vpon them lyke Iackes of Iron mayle which signifieth their obstinate malice their harde frowarde stubborne hartes against the verytie of God For wilfully they resisted it blaspheminge the holy ghost with the Pharisées and Scribes whose sinne shal neuer be remitted in this world nor in none other 7 And the sounde of their winges was as the stout noyse of charrettes when many horses busâ—le together towardes a battayle The wings of these abhominable locustes that set them aloft so farre aboue them selues are their dignities offices ryches liberties Priueleges Lawes and such lyke whiche boldeneth them in all thinges be it neuer so vniust 8 The noyse of these is greate the note the rumoure the fame is mightye the worlde ouer as well in Cromeles and writings as in the speache of the people Yea vnder the title of God they bolster their wickednesse to make it the stronger All must be Gods dignities Gods seruice Gods lawes Gods religions when it is stark deuillishnes They make what lawes they lyst they commaunde and forbid they set vp and pluck downe they both cursse and blesse yea they doe all mischiefe and all in his name Be it neuer so vngodly cruell and false yet must it forth in the name of god Thus mightier winges they haue then had the great Eagle in Ezechiel Neyther could Pharo in Egipt nor Nabuchodonosor in Babilon nor Antiochus in Iury do that they might do héere in christendome 9 For they had tayles lyke vnto Scorpions and there were sharpe stinges in their tayles Theyr study labour and practises was euer for a false conclusion The ende of their faire compassed crafts was alwaies to maintaine their errours and lies 10 And
nor forsake hyr accustomed Idolatrie 10 Bée in certaintie therfore I wil cast hir into a bed or couch of carnall quietnesse She shal in this life haue peace in the flesh libertie in vngodlynesse obedyence of the world and power in darkenesse that shee shall swim in wanton pleasures and bath hir selfe in innocent bloud and to assist hir in the same she shall haue subiect vnto hir the scepter sweard aucthoritie and power of Prynces Lordes rulers and Magystrates that none so hardy vnder payne of death to check hir rebuke hir nor ones say against hir This pleasaunt sléeping bedde had the ten trybes of Israel vnder kinge Hieroboam Achas Sedechias and the other two vnder Iorā Ochosias and such lyke tyll they were raysed of their rest ledde captiue into Babylon Such a delectable resting cowch hath also the greater part of the world vnder Mahomet and the Romishe Pope and shal haue still til God roote them out destroy them with the breath of his mouth throw them into the fyre euerlasting 11 Let them beware therefore that as hir louers hath to doe with that execrable whore cōsenting to hir pestylent lawes and tradicions defending as godly ordinaunces laudable rytes decent orders ciuill pollycies honest vsages comely fashions holy ceremonies necessary customes and such lyke boinge in very déede most damnable supersticions 12 For them doubtlesse wil I throw into the anguish of a desperate cōscience here after this lyfe into the vnquietnesse of eternall dampnaciō The wicked shal haue peace neither here nor there Neither shall their worme dye nor theyr fyre go out vnlesse they decline from that wickednesse renounce theyr abhominacions and cōuert to the trueth whiles they are yet here liuing 13 And as touching hir supersticious children which frō their beginning hath euermore sucked out of hir venemous breastes all poyson and vngodlynesse forsaking yea and abhorring the swéete veyne of the liuinge waters then will I slay with death and condempnacion euerlasting prepared for the diuell and his angels 14 Yea and it shall then be euident and cléere to all cōgregacions in heauen vnder heauen which hath béen frō the beginning to their vtter shame and confusion that I am he frō whome nothing can be hyd They shal perceue also that I go so nigh them that I serch out the ground of the harte and try the verie reynes or inward affectes so that I knowe all theyr priuie sleightes and practises be they neuer so secrete 15 And ground you vpon this surelie I shall giue vnto euerie one of you true and false good and badde rightuous and vnrightuous accordyng to your doinges Rewardyng them with lyfe euerlasting that hath done the true workes of fayth and them with eternall dampnatiō that hath left them vndon to folow their owne inuentions THE TEXT 1. Vnto you I saye and vnto other of Thyatira as many as haue not this lerning and vvhich haue not known the deepnesse of Sathan as they say 2. I will put vpon you none other burthen 3. but that which ye haue alreadie 4. Holde fast till I come 5. And whosoeuer ouercommeth and kepeth my works vnto the end 6. to him wil I giue power ouer nations 7. and he shall rule them with a rodde of yron 8. and as the vesselles of a potter shal he break them to shiuers 9. Euen as I receiued of my father 10. so vvill I giue hym the morning starre 11. Let hym that hath eares heare vvhat the spirite sayeth to the congregations THE PARAPHRASE 1 And take this of my mouth sayth the Lord aforehande both vnto you which hath the doctryne of the spyrite and vnto other also of them that remayne at Thyatira that notable citie of the Macedonians so many as hath not groūded in them that godly learning of the truth but a trifling doctryne of theyr owne imaginations contrarie vnto it whereby they haue not perceyued the more then subtile craftes of that deceyuable sathan which euermore craftily cōpasseth to deuower what though their fantasticall brayns hath giuen them so to thinke standing much in their owne conceipt 2 My mynde is to yoke you with none other law nor to burthen you with none other traditiōs thē I haue alredy giuen you Neither with ceremonies rytes nor aūcient customs in the obseruaciō of dayes monthes times nor yeares in holy dayes fastings vigiles nor sabbates for they were but shadowes of thinges to come 3 Regard only that swéete yoke and that light burthen which ye haue receued of me Hold ye fast to the gospel of the kingdome of God so long as ye shal continue here And let the Pharysées leuen with olde wyues fables hipocrits dreames passe by 4 Let my godly ordinaunce suffise you Ad nothing vnto my woords of your owne braynes least I finde you false lyars when I shall come again to my latter iudgement and according to righteousnesse so condempne you 5 And whosoeuer is so earnestly faithfull in the word of God that he ouercōmeth ther by his own lustes and perfourmeth to the latter ende of his life the workes that are there commaūded to be done none other 6 To him will I geue power as to the sonne and heyre of god ouer nacions or sectes of the world diuers in opinion and fayth as ouer serpents scorpions adders and lyons 7 That he shall not onely ouercome them with the mighty yron rodde of the inuincible veritie 8 But also as the weake vessels of a potter or as most vayne fantasies confoūd their dreames destroy their imaginacions and bring their practises to nought prouing their tradicions to be most vyle draffe moste stinking dregges of sinn for so much as that which is not of faith is sinne 9 And this power he shall haue in no lesse efficacie and strength then I receued it of my heauenly father 10 And besydes all this I wil fréely geue him my selfe to reward which am the cléere morning starre shyninge lanterne of lyfe So that all shal be his that is myne My byrth my labours my lyfe my passion and death my resurreccion and ascenciō with all their fruites shall be his owne proper good 11 Let him that hath reason and discretiō set beastly fantasies apart and diligently note what the holie Ghost sayeth héere in this daungerous tyme to the deare congregations of God The third Chapiter THE TEXT 1 And vvryte vnto the Angel of the congregation of Sardis 2. This sayeth he that hath the seuen spirites of God 3. and the seuen starres 4. I knovv thy vvorkes 5. Thou hast a name that thou lyuest and thou arte dead 6. Wake and strength the thinges vvhich remayne 7. that are ready to dye 8. For I haue not found thy vvorks perfect before God 9. Remember therefore hovve thou hast receyued and hearde 10. and hold fast and repent 11. If thou shalt not vvatch 12. I vvil come on
thee as a theefe 13. and thou shalt not knovve vvhat houre I vvill come vpon thee 14. Thou hast a fevv names in Sardis 15. vvhich haue not defyled their garmentes 16. and they shall vvalke vvith me in vvhite for they are vvorthie 17. Hee that ouercommeth shall bee clothed in vvhyte aray 18. and I vvill not put out his name out of the booke of lyfe 19. and I vvill confesse his name before my father and before his Angelles 20. Let him that hath eares heare vvhat the spirit sayeth vnto the coÌ„gregations THE PARAPHRASE 1 â—Hou shalte also so shortly as may conuenyently be sayeth the Lord to his peculyar seruaunt saint Iohn take paynes by an Epistle to admonishe the watche man or Curate of the chosen congregation of Sardis which though it bee of verie slender reputation before the eyes of the wyse riche and strong men of thys world yet is it precious in the sight of God for so muche as it was prysed bought redéemed by the greatest paiment that euer was eueÌ„ by the precious bloud of the vndefiled lambe and immaculate sonne of God Iesus Christ. Hee it was that laboured hungred thursted faynted accordyng to the weakenesse of the humayne nature finally suffred blasphemies curses scornes lyes persecutions rebukes with the most paynful death of his body at the latter to deliuer hir make hir attonement and restore hir agayne to the fauour of God 2 Fynde the meanes that she may know sayth the Lord Iesus that this is to hir the message of admonishment or warning from him which hath in his power to distribute at his pleasure the seuen spirits of God or the the vnyuersall gyftes of the holye ghost 3 And hath also in his right hande the vii starres which are the byshoppes or preachers of all congregacions with full authoritie power to hold them styll or to throw them forth to glorifie them if they be faythfull ministers of his worde or to damne theÌ„ for euer if they be deceiuable hipocrites and for lucre prefer theyr owne croked inuencions 4 Thou workest not so secretlye saith that Lord but I know thy déedes and perceiue wher about thou goest For vnto me all secretes are open cléere manifest When thou thinkest I doe not perceue than sée I thée most of all 5 Thou hast a name of lyfe an outward shew of vertue of goodnesse a shyning preteÌ„ce of much holinesse yet art thou before God a dead rotten Idol full of hipocrisie and falsehood Men thinke thée a godly creature yet art thou nothing lesse 6 Awake therefore quickly froÌ„ thy more then idle imaginacioÌ„s fickle sophismes and take vnto thée fayth and spirit Watch vpon thy cure and sée to theyr profit 7 Considre that thy wayes in the outwarde letter hath made my people weake faint and féeble left them at the very poynt of death Strengthen theÌ„ now a newe with that which is effectual strong sure lyuely true and necessary which is the sincere veritie and faith least thou peryshe with the wicked 8 For though thou hast the godlie gifte of prophesie with the grace of vnderstanding and iudgement yet haue I founde thy workes vngodly and thy doings vyle and abhominable before God my celestiall father For thou haste bene inwardly corrupt with auaryce and ambition like as was Balaam the deceiptful Prophet and wicked soothsayer 9 It becommeth the iudge to know afore what he shal iudge which hath caused me to searche out thy carnall and myserable wayes Call therfore vnto thy remembraunce howe thou by the singular gift of God haste receyued his word and heard his Gospel which is the kingdome of health at the verie mouth of his Apostles 10 And for so muche as thou haste not estemed it according to the worthinesse therof nor yet bene thankfull vnto God for such an heauenly gift but rather swynishly troden it vnder thy féete and currishly persecuted his faithfull seruauntes for it haue remorse in thy conscience and once agayne set sure hands vpon it embrace it holde it fast and faithfully beleue it repeÌ„t from the hart thy vngodly vsages past and from heÌ„cefoorth liue according vnto it 11 If thou wilt not doe so taking of me this gentle warning and watch as one vncertayne of the houre of death liuing as thou wouldest dye by and by 12 I shall as doeth the théefe in the nyght come vpon thée vnlooked for with death shall I distroy thée vnbewares so shall hell and damnation swalow thée vp for euer 13 And thou shalt neither know the day nor the houre the tyme nor the mynute that I will thus fiercely come vpon thée iustly suppresse thée accordyng to thy vngodly deseruings 14 And in spight of thy cruell hart yet are there a fewe new brethren and louers of the truth in the citie of Sardis though theyr number bée but small which are so déere vnto god that he hath regestred theyr names in the booke of lyfe 15 These hath for no painted speach glosing promisse suggestioÌ„ nor threatning ones soyled theyr garments with thy dyrtie ceremonies nor defyled theyr coÌ„uersacion with thy beggerly tradytions In the myddest of the wicked and froward generacion theyr hartes are towards me my word 16 Wherfore by promisse they shal walk with me in white their faults shal neuer be imputed vnto theÌ„ their sinnes shal be wyped cleane away I wil cléere them restore them to parpetual innocencie make them partakers with me in euerlasting felicitie glory For doubtlesse they are worthy for my will forsaking theyr owne will and leauinge the corrupt wayes of men to folow my sincere worde 17 He that after this sort ouercommeth perseuering in the faith therof to the latter ende of his lyfe shall be sure of these thrée benefits He shall be clothed with me in white apparel made innocent and pure incorruptible impassible and immortall 18 I will in no wyse put his name out of the booke of lyfe nor separate him from the predestinate number of them which shall be saued but associate him with the rightuous 19 And besides all this I will earnestly witnesse hym confesse hym and allow him by name before my heauenly father and all his company of Angelles for one of myne to haue the inheritaunce with mée 20 Let him that hath eares in no case be dull or slacke in hearing but diligently attende and marke what the spirite of God doeth héere vtter before the congregations to theyr singular warning and comfort THE TEXT 1. And vvryte vnto the Angell of the congregacion of Philadelphia 2. This sayeth he that is holie and true 3. vvhich hath the keye of Dauid 4. vvhich openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth no man openeth 5. I knovv thy vvorkes 6. Beholde I haue set before thee an open dore and no man can shut it 7. For thou hast â— little strength hast kept my
our offences tooke away the sinnes of the world He was that méek Lambe prefigured in the law whom the faithfull fathers so earnestly desired He was that gentle Lamb that was caried away to be slayne and that opened not his mouth before the shearer This Lambe standeth vp euermore for vs before God as our onely medyator aduocate peace maker Sauiour helper counsellour defender and teacher 13 This Lambe had seuen hornes which betokeneth his stronge and infinit power vertue victory kingdom glory bounteousnesse and maiestie with such lyke and in the whole his vniuersall reigne 14 He had also seauen eyes whiche are all the powers graces fruites of the holy ghost called héere the seuē spirits of God For so much as they are the singuler gifts of him whiche is his essenciall spirit And them he hath sent by his apostles other godly preachers into the seuen climates of the erth or vniuersal world the people with them to be replenished These are wisdome vnderstandinge counsell strength knowledge pittie the fear of god These are also loue ioy peace pacience gentlenesse goodnes fayth méekenesse long suffering cleannes and temperance with diuersitie of tongues interpretacion prophecie cures healings miracles and iudgement of spirits 15 And the sayd Lambe came foorth as one through méekenesse hauyng victorie ouer sinne death hell hée reuerently tooke the sayd booke from the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne Which made me anon to consider that the heauenly father had giuen vp vnto him the whole admynistration of his spirituall kingdom with all aucthoritie power in heauen and earth to open or to speare to choose or to reiect to take or to refuse to saue or to loose to rewarde or to dampne For he it was that first opened the vnderstanding of men that they might perceyue the scriptures He it was that sent the holy spirite of God to deduce them into all veritie and gaue them grace to instructe all people He it is also that shall thorowe them into euerlasting fire with the diuil his Angels that resist the same THE TEXT 1 And when he had taken the booke the liij beastes and the .xxiiij. elders 2. fel dovvn before the Lambe hauing harpes 3. golden vialles full of odours vvhich are the prayers of the Saincts 4. they sung a nevv song saying 5 Thou arte vvorthie to take the booke 6. and to open the seales therof 7. For thou wert killed 8. and hast redemed vs by thy bloud out of all kinreds tongs and people and nacions 9. and hast made vs vnto our God Kings and priestes 10. and vve shall reigne on the earth The Paraphrase 1 And when he had receyued the sayd booke of the hande of God with full authoritie and power the iiij beasts or the present protestours of the veritie here liuing in the world and the xxiiij Elders or auncient witnesses of the same departed cleane from thys worlde as were the olde fathers the Patryarkes Prophetes and Apostles méekly submitted them selues before the Lamb much reioysinge in his triumphant victorye for them 2 They fell downe before him they praysed hym they worshipped hym they gaue thanks and recognised him for their mercifull Lorde and Sauiour hauing in their handes harmonious harpes which there represented the melody of their faithfull soules or the inward reioyce that they had in faith of the eternal verytie of god For that is the agréeable concord and swéet harmony that he most delighteth in And as well had they harpes that were long afore Christe as had they that folowed hym the effecte of hys death being equall to them both So wel reioysed Abraham which saw him a farre of as did Iohn Baptist which shewed him persent 3 Each one of them had also in hys hand a golden viall full of swéete odours whiche is a faithfull harte to God full of swéete desires and wholsome praiers whiles they liued here And these vessels of prayer or harts of the faithfull beléeuers couetinge mercy to themselues and all other were very precious pleasaunt and beautifull in the sighte of the Lorde which onely desireth the harte 4 They sang also with their instruments a new songe of reioyce recording the great benefit of God They vttered the glad tidinges of peace They published the Gospel of Christ. They told of his comming They declared him present past This songe was euer new vnto flesh bloud It séemed very strange yea and folish to the children of this worlde yet is it the power of God vnto saluation for euery one that beléeueth Now it is also for so much as it nothing alloweth in our aged man of sinne but alwayes calleth vpon renouation in the spirite 5 This was the conclusion of that song Thou alone swéete Lord sayde they art founde worthye to take the Booke to receiue power and administration of the kingdome of God 6 Thou only art able to opē the seale◠thereof to take from vs all impediments of darknesse hypocrisie lyes ignoraunce wilfulnesse blindnesse and sinne and to deduce vs into all godly knowledge 7 For thou wert not only despised and wounded but most cruelly slaine for our offences whereby thou hast obtained our perpetuall peace and attonement with god 8 Thou hast clerely redéemed vs out all spirituall bondage by the price of thy bloude and by the vertue of thy passion and death thou hast gathered vs together into one kingdom of God from all the nacions of the world and hast chosen vs out of all kinreds languages peoples of the vniuersall earth Thou hast made vs also pertakers with thée in thy peculyer vnction that we are now called Christians 9 Thou hast annoynted vs Kinges by the gift of true faith to haue victory ouer sinne death the deuil and cōsecrate vs priests by the grace of thy holy spirite to offer vp our selues and vndefiled sacrifice vnto our euerlasting God So that we are now the chosen kinred the kingely pristhoode the holy generation the peculyer peple that should manifest the workes of thée which hast called vs out of darknesse into the merueilous light 10 And by the benifit of thy onely grace and goodnesse we shall raigne prosperously on the earth not héere wher as is sorow care penury scarsnesse and death but our porcion shal be in the pleasant land of the lyuing where as is the peace ioy tranquilitie comfort and life euerlasting THE TEXT 1 And I behelde 2. And herde the voyce of many angelles about the throne and about the beastes and the elders 3. And I harde thousand thousandes saying with a loude voyce 4. Worthye is the Lambe that was killed to receaue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honoure and glorye and blessinge 5. And all creatures vvhiche are in Heauen 6. And on the earth 7 And vnder the earth 8 And in the sea and all that are in
figure what should be the estate of that time to assertaine his chosen friendes therof I saw saieth Saincte Iohn vnder the Aulter of God which is Christe vpon whom the whole sacrifice of our redempcion was offered 3 The soules or spirits of those constant beléeuers whiche through the violent handlynge of the afore sayde false prelats and Antichristes were cruelly put to death by diuers maner of tormeÌ„ts not only for the vndefiled word of god but also for the sincere testimonye of Iesu which they had by the gift of his only spirit Under this Aulter remaine all they which haue bin killed for that witnesse of truth In his faith they slept and still rest now in his hope In him now they liue for whom they once dyed Under his shadow they dwell Under his winges they flocke vnder hys couerte they cloyster He is their comforte kéeper and defender With hym are they now whose presence they euermore coueted 4 In that they cried with a lowde voice is signified that their innocent death fercely asketh and requireth the great indignation vengance and terrible iudgement of GOD vppon those tirauntes lyke as dyd the bloude of Abell vppon that murther Cayne 5 And this is their daylye crye O Lorde God almighty so holy thou art that thou hatest all euill so true and so iust that thou abhorrest al lies and peruerse doctrine so manifest is the filthy lyfe of the spirituall antichristes that thou séest it so euidente is their vnshamefast crueltie vpon thy seruantes that thou knowest it Yet doest thou leaue them vnpunished and suffer them vncorrected Howe long time wil it be ere thou iudge them to dampnation What yeares wilt thou take ere thou reuenge our bloud 6 Sure it is that thy lawes are holy and thy wordes are faithfull and true Why doest thou then permitte these proud homicides and spightfull murtherers to defyle them with their errours and blaspheme them with their lyes Kyllyng vp thy seruants without pittie for holdynge with them and reigning héere as Gods vpon earth in ambiciousnesse vayne glory pompe glotony and leâ—herye with other abhomynable vices Thus these beastly bellye Gods doth dayly dispise thée They treade downe thy testimonies and shed innocent Christen bloud in despight of thée 7 Looke once vpon them therefore according to thy promisse and sée thou rewarde them according to their wickednesse Thys reuengement doe we not aske for our scath but for the contempt of thy truethe Not for our harme but for the blasphemy of thy name 8 And longe white garmentes sayth Sainct Iohn very large and comely were geuen vnto euery one of them A full innocencye perfectnesse and cléerenesse was powred ouer them and abundantly spred vpon them Indued they were with an inestimable purenesse by Christe for whose veryties sake they dyed With him they are now in peace ioy and swéetnesse But whether they be in full glory afore God or no that wyll we not temerously define Sure we are that they be deliuered from all payne sorrow and care and that they clearely be assertayned so haue that glory complet both in body and soule at the latter day More swéete is their estate for the time yea more delycious and pleasaunt then all the delightes prosperytye and wealth that euer was yet in thys worlde 9 And as they were in this swéete solace much desirous of their bodyes delyueraunce from corruption they were requyrâ—d by these secrete heauenlye mocyon of Christe as we are in this life by the outwarde word 10 Paciently to pause for a while and quietously to rest for a season 11 Untill such time as the complet nuÌ„ber of their coÌ„stant fellowes and faithfull brethren 12 Yea and of all those poore creatures that shoulde be kylled by these vnsaciat blud suckers for his truthes sake like as they were afore shuld be fulfilled and wholy accomplished according to the eternall prediffinition of God And so much the rather to content themselues with their peaceable and quietous estate for their brethrens sake that it should not belonge ere their death were reuenged and they restored to a full tranquillitie For nothing in comparison are the sufferinges of this time to that glorye whiche shall be shewed vnto the chosen sort in that day Let no man think where as Christ hath willed those soules to rest that they sléepe in death for they rest in hym which is lyfe Out of hym they are not he is their Aulter he is theyr couert They lyue they decerne and in swéetenesse they abide the latter day and all vnder him Their white garment of innocencie they haue onely by him Worship him then and not them Pray and call vpon him and not vpon them For he is the onely meditour and generall aduocate to God the father so wel for them as for you Nothyng can they doe but by hym Their office is not to heare suters causes nor to goe to and fro but still to rest abyding the glad day of theyr deliuerance It is Christes onely office to receyue all complayntes to pleate them and to iudge them THE TEXT 1 And I beheld when he opened the sixâ— seale 2. lo there was a great earth quake 3. and the sunne was as black as a sack cloth made of heare 4. And the moone vvaxed euen as bloud 5. And the starres of heauen fell vnto the earth 6. euen as a figge tree casteth from hir hir figges vvhen it is shaken of a mightie wynde 7. And heauen vanyshed avvay as a scroull vvhen it is rolled togither 8. And all mountaynes and yles vvere moued out of their places 9. And the kings of the earth and the great men and the riche men 10. and the chiefe captaynes and the mightie men and euery bond man and euerie free man 11. hid themselues in dennes and in rockes of the hilles 12. and sayde to the hilles and rockes 13. Fall on vs 14. and hyde vs from the presence of hym that sitteth on the seate 15. and from the vvrathe of the Lambe 16. for the great day of hys vvrath is come 17. And vvhoÌ„ can endure it The Paraphrase 1 This know they well whome the lambe hath deliuered from their dark sinagoge to whom he hath in these dayes opened the sixte seale of the booke raysing vp the spirites of many to detect by his holy worde theyr shamefull abhominations Blessed be the name of that Lord which hath now so mercifully vysited hys poore people from aboue sending his word vnder the tipe or figure of this Lambe to open vnto them at this sixt time of darkenesse the vj. seale of the hydden misteries of the booke I looked yet farther sayeth sainct Iohn and as the Lambe Christ disclosed the sixte seale to manifest the cléernesse of his truth to shewe the estate of his church anon I behelde a merueylous earthquake arise Most liuely was this fulfilled such tyme as William Courteney the Archbishoppe
great tribulacion 7. and made theyr garments large 8. and made them whyte in the bloud of the Lambe 9. Therfore are they in the presence of the seate of God 10. and serue him day and night in his Temple 11. And he that sitteth in the seate will dvvell among them 12. They shall hūger no more neyther thurst 13. Neyther shall the sunne light on them 14. neither any heate 15. For the Lambe vvhich is in the mids of the seate shall feede them 16. and shall lead them vnto fountaynes of liuing water 17. And God shall vvype avvay all teares from their eyes The Paraphrase 1 And one of the auncyent elders sayth sainct Iohan made aunswere vnto that whiche I was inwardlye most desirous to knowe concernyng this innumerable multytude saying vnto me by maner of question 2 What are these comely persons which are thus beutifully apparelled in long whyte garmentes large and fayre And from whence came they as thou supposest 3 And I as one ignoraunt of the misteries of God of myne owne nature without the speciall gifte of hym answeared after this sorte 4 Syr thou wottest what they are and from whence they come by such knowledge as the Lorde hath giuen thée 5 And hée sayde agayne vnto mée thus 6 These are they which come vnto Christ by fayth out of the great trybulacion of worldly wickednes fleshly cares and disquieted consciences 7 Abhorring the doctrine of mens inuencions they set sure holde vpō the liuing word of the Lord. There fette they out forgiuenesse of their sinnes and made their garmentes large to couer theyr olde deformities 8 They washed their lyues in the sorowes of repentaunce and fashyoned theyr déedes to his swéete lawes and commaundementes They made their garments white in the precious bloud of the Lambe beléeuing to bée purified by the meryte of his death 9 And therfore are they at this time in the presence of his maiestie accepted takē and alowed for the citizens of heauen 10 They serue him day nyght in the Temple of their soules and they prayse his glorious name in spirite for euer more 11 The Lord that sitteth on the throne will alwayes dwell among them as their most mightie defendor theyr solace and their comforte 12 The spirit shall so refresh them they shall no more hunger nor thirst Though concupiscence dwel in them they shall desire none euill 13 Neither shall the sunne so lyght on them which is this worldes prosperitie that they shall forget theyr Lord God at any season 14 No heat shall hurt them nor aduersitie of this worlde ouercome thē but in that they suffer or doe all thyngs shall worke to the best 15 For the innocent Lambe Christ which is in the middest of the seat or the cōgregacion of God by his word shall norish féede releue thē with hys promise shal preserue comfort lead them by his spirit Yea he shall so order them they shall haue néede of nothyng And if he bée their light health and strength of whom should they be afrayed 16 He shall bring them vnto the foūtaynes of the lyuing waters make them such well springs as shall flow vp into the lyfe euerlasting His doctrine must doe it and none other for none commeth to the father but by him 17 And God shall wype away all teares frō their eyes Aduersitie shall be vnto them a very consolacion No sorows shal they care for no tormēts shall they regard no troubles nor yet death shall they feare but thinke in their hartes alwayes that the suffrings of this lyfe are nothing to the glorie to come The aforesayde elder myght séeme to be Iacob whose prophecie might tell Iohn that Christ should washe his garment in wine and hys mantel in the blud of grapes So might it be Dauid or Esay which also confirmeth the same In this as in a glasse may be séene what they are afore god that at this present age or vnder this sixe seale opening vnfaynedly cleueth to his word foloweth it in effect and liueth accordyng vnto it Fyrst they are cléere afore God and no sinne shall be imputed vnto them for their faithes sake Consequently they are deliuered of a troublous cōscience The Lambe hath restored them to innocency God accepteth them for his children These séeke no doctryne but the scrypture They serue God in spirite and in no deade thinges They hunger not for mens tradycions they thirst not for hipocrites good works they are well and fully contented with the Lambe They séeke no prosperitie neyther care they for aduersitie The word of God is their gyde and therein they minde to depart None other but such are sealed vnto god nor none els walk before him in whyte garmentes The viij Chapter THE TEXT 1 And when he had opened the seuenth seale 2. there was silence in heauen about the space of halfe an houre 3 And I savv seuen Angels 4. standing before God 5. And to them vvere giuen seuen Trompettes 6. And an other Angell came 7. and stood before the aulter 8. hauing a golden censer 9. And much of odours vvas giuen vnto hym 10. that he should offer of the prayers of all saynctes vpon the golden aulter 11. vvhich vvas before the seate 12. And the smoke of the odours vvhich came of the prayers of the Sainctes ascended vp before God out of the Angelles hande 13. And the Aungell tooke the censer and filled it vvith fyre of the aulter 14. and cast it into the earthe 15. And voices were made and thunderings lightnings 16. and great earthquake 17 And the seuen Angels vvhich had the seuē trumpets 18 prepared them selues to blovv The Paraphrase 1 2 This silence shall endure but half an houre space whiche may bée the thousande yeares that are spoken of héere afore consideryng that all the age after Christ is but the last houre and a thousand yeares before God is but as the day that is paste In the time of this swéete silence shall Israell be reuyued the Iewes shall bée conuerted the Heathen shall come in agayne Christ will séeke vp his lost shéepe and bryng hym agayne to hys folde that they maye appeare one flock lyke as they haue one shepeherde 3 And I sawe sayeth sainct Iohn seuen Angels standing before the maiestie of God which signifieth the preachers of his worde for the seuen seuerall times of the vij seales opening to euerie seale corresponding an Angell For all that the preachers hath done from the beginning of the Gospell to the tyme of this last seale opening shall then appeare at once In that day sayeth Esay the Trumpet shall be blowen they that were lost shall come from the Ascirians the scattered flocke shall come from Egypt worship the Lord in Ierusalem 4 These Angels stoode before the presence of God as mynisters of acceptacion readie to execute his heauenly will and commaundement 5 And to them was giuen
Iānes and Iambres that maliciously resisted Moyses so were Phassur and Semeias which vexed the Hrophet Hieremy Such burning hylles were Cayphas and Annas against Christe Diotrephes Herpocras Hebion and Cerinthus against Iohn the Euangelist Demetrius Bariehu Himenius and Alexander against Paule with such lyke moody prelates resistinge the truth to this present day Suche smocky mountaines of contradiction both dayly withstande Christ in the edifying of his Christen Church as rebuked Zorababel in the building of the Iewes temple 3 They sturre vp the sea they moue the weake people and make them blynd as Asses In their hate they prouoke the Princes to cruelty and malice They cause them to punishe the poore Preachers and put asyde the trueth least they should fal vnto it 4 By reason of this burning hyll fallyng into the sea the third parte of the water turned into blood the third part of the people seduced by them became hatefull murtherers Not only they accused GODS seruauntes but as bloud thirsty beastes they consented to their deathes not consyderynge that he which doth but onely hate his brother is an homicide 5 The thyrde parte of the creatures which had lyfe dyed Of those which séemed to be faithfull amonge them a great number were worse then nought Dissembling with faith they betraied the truth and wrought much wickednesse Many martirs were then euery where 6 So that the third part of the shippes were destroyed also Many Churches or pryuate congregations called parrishes for feare of loosinge their goodes and for doubt of imprisonment and death refused the faith and fell cleane from the trueth and so were perished and loste For Shippes in the scriptures betokneth them THE TEXT 1 And the third Angell blevv 2. And there fell a great Starre from Heauen 3. Burning as it vvere a Creshet 4. And it fell into the thirde parte of the Riuers and into fountaines of vvaters 5. And the name of the Sarres is called vvormvvode 6. And the thitd part of the waters vvas turned to wormevvod 7. And many men dyed for the vvaters because the vvere made bitter The Paraphrase 1 When the thirde Angel blew hys Trumpet at the third scale openinge there fell from heauen a great mighty Starre burning lyke a Creshet 2 As the preachers of that time opened the trueth of god many great doctors and excellent learned men as Arius Macedonius Cutices Ualens and such other declined from the sincere faith and fell to blasphemous opinions concerning the Godhead 3 These séemed gloryous to the earthly minded people they appeared notable and famous to the blind forsaken sort yet was their learninge madnesse and their doctrine fables and lyes But this is here to be noted that they which are true techers remaine still in heauen they perseuer in the christen church where as the other are fallen cleane frō thēc◠by apostasie and errours so that they are none of Christes 4 This starre fell into the thirde parte of the ryuers whiche are the scriptures peruerted and into the fountaynes of waters whiche are Gods owne very wordes depraued These haue the false doctours yea pernicious heritikes infected with their errours corrupted with their lyes and with theyr false interpretations made them bitter and vnsauerye 5 For the name of the starre was wormewoode whose nature is to withdraw all swéetenesse These with their bitter heresies and their noysome doctrine destroyed the pits of Abraham they troubled the Text they mixed the truth with falshod they poysoned the waters they tooke away the louesomnesse of them they left them vnpure and vnperfite not that they can be so of thē selues but of their false workinge they made them vnpleasant vnprofitable yea and most perylous vnto many 6 For it followeth When the third parte of the waters whiche are the scriptures corrupted by them was turned into woormwoode or bitternesse of errours 7 Many men dyed of them They perished by those doctrines bicause they were made bitter Yet were not all men cast away for two parts were left vndefyled and many that dronke the poysoned waters enometed them againe Onely were they lost that retayned thē styll The pure waters are héere doubled vnto the waters infected For double in value is the verytie before GOD and the true minister therof worthy double honour where as the other are nothing at all THE TEXT 1 And the fourth Angell blew 2. And the third part of the Sunne vvas smitten the thirde parte of the Moone the third parte of the Starres 3 So that the thirde part of them was darkened 4. And the day was smitten 5. That the thirde parte of it shoulde not shine and lykewise the night 6. And I beheld and heard an angell flying through the midst of heauen 7. And saying with aloude voyce 8. Wo wo wo to the dwellers of the earth 9. Because of the voices to come of the Trompetes of the three Angels which were yet to blow The Paraphrase 1 At the fourth Seale opening the fourth Angell stoode forth and blew his Trumpet Neuer was the time yet so perylous but some trewe preachers hath bin in it Were there neuer so many herisies abroad yet haue there reigned some godlye ministers what though they were vnknowne to the worlde Many sincere fathers were in the desert wildernes when most mischief was in doynge amonge the cruel tiraunts which priuyly resortinge to Cities taught them whom God had appointed to be saued Of this number was Paulus Antonius Hilarion Macharius Pambo Theonas Effrem suche lyke And longe since their time Anastasius Persa Theophilactus Fulgencius Beda Alcuinus Strabus and such other many Not with standinge all that they taught and wrot was not gospell All was not without superstition though they lyued in much purenesse of lyfe 1 These blew the Trumpet as they had receiued that time But the false Hipocrites and the Antichristes so preuayled more and more vnder Mahomet and the romish pope that 〈◊〉 Christianitie and spirituall holynesse was turned into supersticious sects None was well christened that had not a moonkish disguising None was thought spirituall vnlesse he were shauen on the crown Then brought thei in many new waies of saluatiō to proue Christ but a second Sauyour as pardons pilgrimages Masses and fryday fastings Then was god able to helpe no disease but images were sought vp euery where saincte Iob for the pox Saint Roke for the pestilence sainct Germine for the ague saint Appolyne for the tooth ake sainct Graciane for thrift losinge and sainct Barbara for gonnshote That Lady in that place and that Lady in that This Roode héere and that Roode there And he that dyd miracles héere coulde doe nothinge there Thus was all chaunged into diuilishnesse and their preachers for lucre confyrmed alwayes the same whiche were many more in number then were the true messengers of God 2 In this most corrupted
and dolorus age the fourth Angell blowinge his trumpet the poore forsaken disciples shewing the trueth the thirde parte of the sunne was smitten so was the thirde parte of the Moone also the thirde part of the stars Good creatures they found the third part of Gods heauenly word sore blemished by the hypocrites the Christen Churche piteously disfigured by the antichrists and the inferioure ministers thereof darkned by Tyraunts and cruell magistrates 3 By their wicked strocke the light of GODS verytie was hydden and appeared lesse by the thirde part then it was afore Lesse was Christ the sonne of rightuousenesse knowen lesse was the Christen Church faithfull and lesse were the preachers godly More ignorant was at the time then afore more supersticion hipocrisie and falshod wherfore the third parte of them all was darkned 4 At that time also by reason of them the day was so smitten that the thirde parte thereof shewed no clearenesse and so was the night lykewise 5 In no case might Christe shine in the Curates and religious which â—ooke themselues for the day nor yet Christen fruits in the common people whiche were estéemed the night Onely were their will works alowed and their dyrty traditions thought godly The true trumpet blowers or ministers of the word were then compelled by cruell coÌ„mauÌ„dements the â—oÌ„mons by cruell lawes enforced in â—o case to medle with the truth least their â—bhominable doynges were espyed In this therefore marke what a detestable thinge false doctrine of hypocrites is for it bringeth in all darknesse an ignoraunt blindnesse and it shadoweth vnder pretence of vertue all wickednesse and sinne 6 And then saith saint Iohn I behelde an Angell flyinge through the middes of heauen as it had bin an Eagle which betokeneth certaine peculiar seruauntes of GOD illumined with some knowledge and leaâ—ing an high conuersation in the church Such were Ioachim Abbas Cirillus of Carme Angelus of Hierusalem Theolespherus of Cusencia Raynhardus and other And since their time Petrus Iohannis Robertus de vsecio Iohannis de rupescissa Arnoldus de villa noua Hieronimus Sauonarola with suche lyke 7 These perceiuing the light of Gods veritie and the true teachers therof dayly deminishinge considering also the mighty increase of darknesse with a lowde voyce they cryed earnest writings they seÌ„t the world ouer vnder the title of reuelation and prophecie 8 Saying by the threatninges of scripture wo wo wo to the inhabitours of the earth More wickednesse is comming more blindnes and more darknesse to the vngodly infydels and earthly minded people It will stylll be worse and worse to the foolish ignoraunt sorte through the errours lyes and abhominable superstitions of the false Antychristes and cruell Chaplaynes of Baal 9 And this rebuking crye was because of the voyces of the other thrée Aungels were yet to blowe with the Trumpet whose blastes they shoulde also more déepely contemne By prophesies scriptures hath many godly men perceiued afore hande with Paule the fall of faith the increase of errours and that diuers shoulde decline from the truth and earnestly they haue premonished the gouernours of it Yet haue they neglected the warning and vtterly dispised them for it leadinge the People into the depth of all errours and filthy abhominations The .ix. Chapter THE TEXT 1 And the fifte Angell blew 2. And I sawe a Starre fall from Heauen vnto the earth 3. And to hym vvas geuen the key of the bottomlesse pit 4. And he opened the bottomlesse pyte 5. And there arose a smoke of the pytte as it were the smoke of a furnace 6 And the sunne and the Ayre vvere darkened by the reason of the smoke of the pyt 7. And there came out of the smoke Locustes vppon the earth 8 And vnto them vvas geuen povver 9. As the Scorpions of the earth haue povver The Paraphrase THe fift Angell which blew his trumpet vnder the fift seale openyng of the Lambe were they which had the worde of God for that age of Christes Church and that published it to his electes And these doeth not onely séeme to bée fewe in number but also they appear to haue taught priuily in priuate congregacions and houses 2 For wheÌ„ this trumpet was blowen Iohn beheld a starre fallen downe cleane from heauen into the earthe no parte thereof reserued neyther of the starre in heauen representing the spirituall church nor yet of the earth from the starre betokening the worldly people Neyther were the spiritualtie of Christes church nor yet the laytie cléere from their poysons anye where This glittering starre or shyning multitude of prelates pastours and religious fathers were fallen away from the doctryne of the spyrite from the liuing word of the Lord and from the right conuersacioÌ„ of Christ into the earthe of their owne decrées and lawes nothing sauouring but carnall tradicions dumme dark ceremonies and doctryne of diuilles fashioning their lyues all after the same Then soughte they vp Plato Aueroys and Auicenne Then was Aristotle thought necessarie to interprete the scriptures Then was there an infinite rable of Sophisters schoole doctours of reals and nominalles of sentencioners and summistes of collyginers and Canonystes of Scotistes Thomistes Olcamystes Alberstystes Baconystes Anconistes And euerye man thought hys owne wysedome best which God hath proued starke foolishenesse all and moste ydiotishe dottage When the blynde world supposed they had the truth by this fallen starre they had nothyng lesse Under the fifte seale openyng this darkenesse was not séene but the sixte now discloseth all Onely the slayn sorte complayned that tyme desiryng theyr bloud to be reuenged where as an answer was made them that many more yet should bée kylled to fulfill theyr number And it was proued true For none in those dayes once hyssed agaynst them but suffered death for it Yea of Emperours and kings that offended them some were accurssed some deposed some slaine some poysoned Neyther spared they power nor yet noble blud In EnglaÌ„d héer they slew King Herolde poysoned King Iohn and famished King Richard the ij by their own historyes they burned sir Roger ActoÌ„ knight sir Iohn Oldecastel the Lord Cobham sir Raynolde pecock byshop of Chychester they imprisoned to death besides an infinite number of poore simple soules no lawful cause known but lyes of their owne forging Yea and the articles that they dyed for than they affirme nowe to bée good But no maruayle though they dyd suche myschiefe in those dayes 3 For to the starre was giuen the key of the bottomlesse pitte After they were fallen from the wisedome of God to the corrupt dreams of men folowyng rather the creatures then the maker of them hée gaue them ouer vnto theyr owne imaginacions and fantasies 4 TheÌ„ had they poure in darknesse by their carnall beastly and diuilishe diuinitie to open the well of dampnacion For what is the wisedome of
voyce I doubt it not but the other thrée will shortly doe the same 7 The fowre yll Angels were prepared saith saint Iohn for an houre for a dae for a month and for a yéere At no time are the Antichristes vnready to doe mischiefe the hypocrits to deceiue the tiraunts to persecute and kyll Since Christes time to this day neuer ceased they but styll euermore they haue ben doyng Yet hath their fiercenesse bene more and longer at one time then at an other more vehement in some places then in some And at this time their continuance is some where longe some where short Some where is their crueltie more some wher lesse Their dayes are not alwayes alike nor their liues of one length 8 Notwithstandinge for their time they shrinke not but styll 〈◊〉 goe forward to slay the third part of men None other can the tyraunt be but a Tyraunt nor the Antichriste but an Antichriste None other parte can the hypocrite play but hys owne nor yet the spightfull murtherer Euer séeke they to kill the innocent people Euermore practise they to bringe out of the way the rightuous seruants of God taken héere for the third part of men or in the smaller number for so much as héere is neither bloud nor fyre wormwoode nor smoke 9 And the number of their horsmen lyke vnto the horsemen of armes in warre was twenty times tenne thousand or ten score thousand An innumerable multitude haue they sent forth the world ouer to deceiue and blinde to destroy and kyll Horsed they are with their beastly lawes and decrées and armed with their fierce authoritie and cruell power And who is not now an horseman of theirs and a cruell Saul making hauock of Christes poore congregation Euery where they by them and sell them betray them and accuse them persecute and emprison them indite them and burne them 10 And I heard the number of them saith sainct Iohn or knew certainly asorehand that the truth in those daies should haue many such enimies I vnderstood it in spirit I beléeued it and surely marked it vp for a warninge to them that shoulde come after 11 Consequently I saw the setting forth of them I behelde in a vision the horses frank fat and fearce which were none other then the aforsayd locustes that crept out of the smoke from the bottomlesse pyttâ— In the fift opening or blast of the Trumpet which was the rank time of their goynge forth they were but locustes leane bare and néedy In their beginning the Antichristes and hypocrites as Byshoppes Priestes Monkes Chanons and Fryers were poore abiecte and vntydy But vnder the sixt they grew vnto great horses They were so pampered with possessions fatted with pleasures and boldened with aucthorytie And when they were once comeÌ„ into the estimacion of the worlde then waxed they high heady fierce proud and cruell Then were they horses of pleasure for Princes and worldly magistrates to carye them at theyr owne lustes for they were vnbrideded No lawes had they for them The scepture Crowne sworde and power might then passe none otherwise in Emperours and kings then they had fantasied A faut then done against them could be no lesse then both heresy and treason If they sayde but burne then must they be both drawne hanged and burned no remedye For that that toucheth theÌ„ toucheth the princes honour also to make the matter more greuouse They shoulde not els be both partners in the vengeance of God for innocent bloud shedding Yet hurt they not the rightuousnes in all their mischiefe though â—t so appeareth vnto theÌ„ for so much as their death is precious in the sight of the Lord and their dwelling place the alter of god Christ ful of rest peace 12 And the men that sate on these horses had fyerye Habbergions of a yalow and brimstone coulour The Princes and Rulers prouoked by the craftes of these false Prophetes and deceiuable teachers to ryse against Christ and his worde are armed with crueltie in vnrightuousnesse with a false charitie and with a counterfeit wisdome In the examination of causes they wyll oft tymes séeme fauourable louinge and wyse when in effect they are nothing lesse For moue them once with the truth or the quick learning of the spirit and then wyll they do as doth the Brimstone that is touched with fier They flame out their malice they spit forth their wickednesse and their filthye iudgementes stinketh the worlde ouer Many such swéet sauers of their politique wisdome or rather fleshly foolishnesie haue they left behind them in the chronicles and histories that vnwholsoÌ„ly sauoreth yet to this day And this haue they of their vnbrideled horses their ghostly fathers confessours couÌ„sellers ouer whoÌ„ their selues haue neither power nor aucthoritie but as they list THE TEXT 1 And the heades of the horses were as the heades of Lyons 2. And out of theyr mouthes went foorth fyre and smoke and brymstone 3. And of these three was the thyrd parte of men killed 4. That is to saye of fyre smoke and brimstone which proceded out of the mouthes of them 5. For their power was in theyr mouthes 6. and in theyr tayles 7. For their tayles were lyke vnto Serpentes 8. and had heades and vvith them they did hurt 9. And the remnaunt of men vvhich vvere not killed by these plages 10. repented not of the deedes of theyr handes 11. that they shoulde not vvorship diuilles 12. and Images of golde and siluer brasse and stone and of vvoode 13. vvhich neyther can see neyther heare neyther goe 14. Also they repented not of theyr murther and of their vvitchcrafte 15. neyther theyr vvhoredome neyther of their thefte The Paraphrase 1 The heades of these horses were in similitude as the heades of Lyons which betokeneth their proude bold and mightie malice against gods veritie In the other age when they were but locustes they had the faces of men for some reason yet appeared in their lawes and dooings though they stoode not all with Gods word But since they grew vp in courage and becam furious horses they haue layde away those faces and nowe takeÌ„ to them fierce Lions heads Now is there nothyng in them but open malice crueltie and spight Now are they termagauntes all togither and very diuilles incarnate where their dyrtie tradicions be not kepte So eger they are theyr horse men can not restraine them their princes can not rule them in suche a matter vnlesse they will be torne in péeces as many of their predecessours haue béene afore tyme both Emperours Kings and other gouernors 2 For out of theyr mouthes goeth fyre smoke brimstone Gods worde they preach not for they are become horses Their office is now to carrie whither it shall please them and to leade the princes at their lust Nowe roare they lyke Lyons with theyr great grandsyr SathaÌ„
the bloud of the Lambe 7 And by the worde of their testimonie 8. And they loued not their liues vnto the death 9 Therefore reioice ye heauens and ye that dvvell in them 10. Wo to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea 11. For the diuill is come dovvne vnto you 12. Whiche hath great vvrath 13. Because he knovveth that he hath but a short time The Paraphrase 1 And I hard a mighty great voice saith sainct Iohn which is the whole agremeÌ„t of all the sacred scriptures And the voice sayd thus vnto me 2 Now is there in heauen saluation in the church is the helth of soule now that the idolatry with other abhominatioÌ„s is thrown forth and she cleane deliuered from their beggery Now appereth the power of the Lord that his Gospell is truely preached 3 Now is it become our Gods kingdome that theyr doctrine is not of men 4 Now hath it the whole strength of his anointed Al Christs labours merits and deseruinges his natiuitie passion resurrection and ascencion is now hir owne good Christes victory is theirs his crown his scepter his seate and kingdome is theirs Yea the possession of his fathers right hand is theirs 5 For the enimy of our brethren is throwne downe which cruelly accused them before god day and night The aduersarye Sathen which quarelled before the Lorde against pacient Iob and vexed hym sore in his substaunce and flesh neuer ceasinge to this day to trouble the rightuous with Antichristes and Tyrauntes is now ouercome by the victory of faith and his power greatly deminished in his members Now is the kingdome of God increased much people beiÌ„g vnfainedli coÌ„uerted vnto christ 6 Conquered him they haue by no Power of theyr owne neyther merits nor works but through the inestimable strength whiche is in the bloud of the immaculate lamb Iesus Christ throgh the inuiÌ„cible word of his verity which they to the world haue testified 7 In the witnesse thereof haue they constantly suffered through faith in them haue they with him obtayned victorye ouer the worlde sinne hell death and the diuill Not theyr owne bodyes haue they spared to wyn thys conquest 8 But much more haue they loued Christ and his trueth than theÌ„selues accounting it auantage to geue their liues for hym 9 Therefore reioyce ye heauens and al you that in them in doth dwel Ye Angels aboue ordeined for mans comforte ye sainctes departed from the miseries of this worlde ye faithfull beléeuers remanyng in this life and ye feruente fauourers of the Lordes verytie be glade that your brethren hath gotten the victory of the diuill and his Angels to the glory of Christ. 10 But wo vnto the wretched inhabitaÌ„ts of the earth of the sea No small danger is towards theÌ„ that hath heard the voice of the Lord stil yet wil folow the course of this world no light peril haÌ„geth ouer their heads that are incoÌ„staÌ„t fickle wauerin giuing back with euery blast for the pleasure of theyr flesh 11 Take héede of it therefore for vnto you that are suche the diuill is come downe with his subtil suggestions and craftes with his wyly cauteles and ingines Among you doeth he remayne watchyng to haue hys pray as he did among the children of Israell when they were become vnfaithfull 12 Tares will he sow to distroy the good séed for his wrath is great to sée him selfe thus deiected his hate is excéeding beholding his kingdom decayed Among you must he wreak his anger for he can not harme the faithfull Thorowe his enuye came death first into the world If ye will escape his snares looke ye giue no place vnto him but in fayth resist him manfully 13 He waxeth now mad fretteth with him selfe He myndeth to make hauoke and to doe much mischief bicause he knoweth that his tyme is short No longe season shall he haue from hencefoorth to deceiue The latter day he perceiueth not to be farre of wherin great torments abydeth both hym and his And that maketh him so woode That maketh hym so insaciably desirous to noye not caring what spyght he worketh against God And no wicked will leaueth he vnsought to perfourme his cruell intent Woe vnto them therefore that in these dayes taketh no héede Woe vnto them that stumbreth in wanton pleasures when most daunger is and the diuill moste busie not attending to the call warnyng of God THE TEXT 1 And when the Dragon saw that he was cast vnto the earth 2. hee pursued the woman which brought forth the man child 3. And to the woman were giuen ij winges of a great Egle 4. that shee might flye into the wildernesse 5. into hir place where shee is norished for a tyme tymes and halfe a time 6. from the presence of the Serpent 7. And the Dragon cast out of his mouth vvater after the vvoman as it had bene a ryuer 8. that he might cause hir to be caught of the flood 9. And the earth holpe the vvoman 10. and â—he earth opened hir mouth 11. and svvalovved vp the ryuer vvhich the dragon cast out of his mouth 12. And the dragoÌ„ vvas vvroth vvith the vvoman 13. and vvent and made vvar vvith the remnauÌ„t of hir seed 14. vvhich kepe the commaundements of God 15. and haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ 16. and he stoode on the sea sande The Paraphrase 1 And when the Dragon or most furious serpent the diuil the head maister of pride father of lyes saw that he was throwen downe vnto the earth by the valiaunt hoast of God Or such tyme as he perceyueth the Idolatrie superstition pompe hypocrisie and other abhominable filthinesse distroied by the word of God in his malignauÌ„t Sinagoge of proud painted prelates 2 Then persecuteth he the poore woman which brought foorth the man chylde Then vexeth he the true congregation that teacheth none other but Christ and confesseth none other sauiour health and redéemer Them doeth he torment and punishe by hys mytred Mahounds and his shaueÌ„ Sodomytes subduyng vnto them for that purpose the power of Kynges and might of magistrates Then sitteth Annas in consistorie Cayphas in sessions vpon lyfe and death TheÌ„ bringeth the woman hir childe foorth in payne By the martirdom or death of godly witnesses is Christ deliuered left here behind in the harts of many 3 And vnto the woman were giuen two winges of a great Egle or the two testaments of God contayning the Prophecie Gospel with the loue of God and our neighbour And these mightie winges were giuen hyr that shée might flye with them into the wildernesse Euermore wheÌ„ dauÌ„gerous persecution is the meÌ„bers of Christes congregation which are left here behynde hath aucthoritie of the old lawe to flée from it with Iacob Moyses Dauid and Helias of the new lawe also with Christ and his Apostles If they pursue you in one citie saith the Lord flée you into an other Not onely to saue your bodies but to fructifie
any more 22 In hir moreouer shall be no more death for it shall be destroyed for euer No more shal mennes consciences dispayre here But haue ioye in the holy ghost No more shal they die through sinne but lyue vnto God by fayth And there shall no more the rose coloured whore be dronken in the bloud of martyrs Hir tyrauntes shal be closed vp in the stinking lake of fyre from the slaughter of them they than becomming immortall and impossible Moreouer thaÌ„ this he that beléeueth in christ shal neuer die nor yet come into iudgement but passe cleane froÌ„ death vnto lyfe 23 Neyther shall there be any sorow nor crying any more For all maner of displeasure of the bodye as pouertye sicknesse losses emnytie vexacions and yll reportes are here paciently borne of the faythfull And ther shal be founde nothynge to minister any suche occasions Here is neyther age doubted nor yet persecution feared in them that reckeneth death aduantage hauinge in desire wyth Paule to be hence and wyth Christ. Nor yet shal be there where all is in ioye and peace durable for euer 24 Neyther shall there be felt any more payne Such hath bene the constauncye of the martirs here that litle haue the tormentes greued them Eleazarus paciently suffered all punyshmente Steuen reyosed to sée heauen open Andrewe woulde in no case be delyuered from deathe Laurentius offred his brent fleshe to be eaten The burnynge coles were so sweete vnto Tiburcius as the fragraunt roses So desyrous were the terryble tormeÌ„ts vnto Uincent as a moste pleasaunt banket Angelus desired the people in Sicilia to esteme the tyraunt hys frynde What the exceding constauncy was of Iohn Husse and Hieronime of Prage dyuers Chronycles mencyoneth And in our tyme George Baynham in the fyre dyd neuer complayne Ihon Frith neuer shewed him self once greued in countenaunce Barnes neuer moued as hys enymyes doth report Peter Franke in Colchester sang ioyfully to the Lorde The thrée young men of Southfolk reioysed at the death with such other many And how farre they shal be from paines after this the great daye of the Lorde shall declare 25 For the olde thynges are paste sayth the text All that afore was tedious heauy and fearefull to the flesh is nowe become easie light and pleasaunt through that they haue learned of Christ. His word refresheth them in spirit and is a swéet rest vnto their soules And in the regeneration shall hunger thirst werinesse labour heat colde rayne winde thunder earthquakes with all other discommodities be taken cleane from them Neyther shal they haue ther néede of meat nor drinke foode nor rayment beddes nor buildings féeldes nor medowes welspringes nor riuers gardens nor vineyardes The Text. 1 And he that sate vppon the seate sayde 2. Behold I make all thinges nevve 3. And he sayde vnto me 4 Wryte 5. for these vvordes are faythfull and true 6. And he sayde vnto me 7. it is done 8. I am Alpha and Omega 9. the beginning and the ende 10. I will giue to him that is a thirst 11. of the vvel of the vvater of lyfe free 12. He that ouercoÌ„meth shall inherite all thynges 13. I vvill be his God and he shall be my sonne 14 but the fearefull 15. vnbeleuing 16. the abhominable 17. murtherers 18. and vvhoremongers 19. and sorcerets 20. and Idolatrs 21. all lyars 22. shall haue their part in the lake 23. that burneth With fire and brimston 24. vvhich ys the seconde beath The commentary 1 And the omnypotent Lorde whych sate vpon the eternall throne concluded thus with me Hys holy spirite of promise assertayned my spyryte by hys heauenly word that all these thynges should be true 2 Behoulde sayth he I wyll make all thynges freshe and newe Heauen earthe the Sea and the vnyuersall Cytye of peace I wyll delyuer from all corrupcyon I make all pure cleane holy immortall vncorrupt impassible clere heauenly spirituall and glorious Neuer more shall they bee as they were afore whan they were yet olde Neuer shall be more eating nor drinking wyuing nor â—anketing traueling nor sléeping â—or other such doeinges pertayninge to the corruptible lyfe The rightuous shall than shyne as the red fyre sparkes So bright as the sunne shall they be in the kingdome of theyr father 3 Thus hath the Lorde here midsts meruielously described vnto Iohn and by hym vnto vs the misticall Sabboth of his people here the eternal Saboth after this lyfe oÌ„maÌ„ding him to 〈◊〉 it as foloweth Much to fro hath bene amoÌ„g the 〈◊〉 doctours is 〈◊〉 to thâ—â— day whether the saued multiâ—â—â—â— shall reygne here vpon earth 〈◊〉 Christ or aboue in heauen afteâ— the iudgement dayâ— Which is easy to be perceiâ—ed if the scriptures hée truâ—â— conferred Therefore serâ—h dâ—lygently the scriptures for they hearâ— witnesse of all truth Christ hath in Math. the they shal be thaÌ„ as the Angels are nowâ— in heauen whose office is hath to be hâ—re â— there And so muche 〈…〉 the they shal be as thaÌ„ all one 〈◊〉 wâ—ll shall the earth be new as the heauens And nedes it must be to some purpose Neuer woulde Esay Peteâ— haue said the rightuousâ—sse should dwelt in theÌ„ if they shuld not occupy theÌ„ both It is said here also the the new Hierusalem shall come downe froÌ„ heaueÌ„ But not so that it shall not vp againe For Christes electes shal be whereas he is Whan they shal be vpoÌ„ the earth no let nor impedimeÌ„t shal they haue to be also in heaueÌ„ both they being one 〈…〉 agyltie perfectioÌ„ shall be thaÌ„ in their bodies as is now in the glorified body of Christ or in the spirituall nature of the angels Which are nowhere now theâ— And whether they be here or ther alwaies they sée God â— are 〈…〉 absent from him Manye scriptures myght be brought in to declare thâ—â— matâ—er more at large but it wold 〈◊〉 much tyme. What mutuall feloship heauenly amyte glorious pastyme will be betwixt them the angels at that day it fare passeth al capacities to diffine I couÌ„sail 〈◊〉 to be curious in the serch of high misteris â—s this here is one without the feare of God least he ouercoÌ„meÌ„ of their exceding 〈◊〉 whoredom with many kinges by many false worshippinges This for hir méekenesse is commended of God the other proudely boasteth hir 〈◊〉 through holy tradicions merites and deseruinges to bâ—â— a riche quâ—ene With many such other 4 And the Lorde sayth saint Iohn which worketh all thinges by his onely word and commaundement 〈◊〉 thus vnto me Emprente first in thy hart that I haue here sheweâ— theâ— than leaue it in writing to the 〈◊〉 of those that than folow theâ— 5 And if thou wyll kâ—owe a reason why thou shalt thus doe take this 〈◊〉 sentence with thee I assure the so 〈◊〉 as I am God yâ— the wordes which I haue shewed in this present ReuelatioÌ„ are effectually most faithfull and ruste In no manner of