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
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
wryte them Register the thunders but not the voyces Note the figures but vtter not the misteries till God appoynt it It is not for all men to know the times which God hath in his power Many secret thinges hearde Paule which was lawfull for no man to vtter The outwarde sounde of Gods secrets may be heard of all men but the inward workinge is reserued to the spirit The Lorde alwaies with the holy ghost so informeth them inwardly that they perceiue the effect of many thinges the other heareth but a noyse For so much as the voice of gods thundrings is vnsearchable and his secret iudgementes the most mighty depth they are not open but to such as he electeth 14 Therfore was Iohn commanded in no case to writ them or to open the secret meaning of them That point the Lord reserueth peculyerly to him selfe to open to whom what or how much him lusteth Much wide ar thâ—â— which thinketh that they can of their owne wit and industry declare such causes vnles God openeth them by his worde or some euident signe as he hath done in this age most plentuously to many Lesse can we not gather of these thunders wheÌ„ the message of God is dispised abused forsaken neclected troden vnder foote 〈◊〉 damnable lyes preferred vnto it thaâ— that his wrath must folow Somewhat hath bene séene already much more wil appeere wheÌ„ they geue ful 〈◊〉 THE TEXT 1 And the Angel which I saw stand vpoÌ„ the sea vpoÌ„ the earth 2. Lyft vp his hande to heauen 3. And swore by hym that liueth for euermore 4. Which created heauen and the things that therin are 5. And the earth and the thinges that are in it 〈◊〉 And the sea and the thinges which are therin 7. That there shal be no more time but in the dayes of the voyce of the seauenth Angell 8. When he shall begin to blow 9. Euen the misterie of God shall be finished 10. As he preached by his seruantes the Prophets The Paraphrase 1 And the Angell saieth Saincte Iohn whom I saw in this wonderfull reuelation thus standynge with one foote vppon the sea an other vppon the lande after the sorte afore named 2 Lyft vp his hand towardes heauen so stroÌ„gly to affirme hys message to be true as the Lorde lyueth and to promise it so in fallibly iust as god siteth in heauen 3 What do the true preachers els in this age but maintaine their doctrine by the mighty word of God after the example of Christ and his Apostles which alleged the lawe prophecies and Psalmes to confirme their sayings with They neither alledge decrée nor decretall constitution nor Synodall Legende nor fable monks rule nor saintes lyfe doctors nor fathers Gregory nor Anselme Thomas nor Dons Plato nor Arystotle nor such lyke filthy dregs But they come to the verye true touchestoane with Iohn they proue the spirits whether they be of God or no coÌ„sidering that all men are lyers and haue erred one except 4 He sware by him that lyueth in himselfe with incomprehencible magesty power and glory for euermore which in the beginning created the heaueÌ„ aboue with the inuisible things that are therin contained 5 Which formed the poÌ„derous earth beneth and the visible creatures that are therin remaining 6 Which fashioned the flowing seas and the corruptible thinges that are there in continuinge 7 With an earnest constant spirite he protested and by the strong worde of God he affirmed so taking hym to witnesse that there shall be no more time no more leasure no more sinful occuping héere froÌ„ henceforth but in the dayes of the voyce of the seauenth Angell This othe is none other than a sure assercion that all shall be finished in this seauenth age of the church This wold not be hidden from the congregations Necessary it is that both good and badde knew it The faithfull to be assartened that their finall redemption is at hande to their consolation The vnfaithfull to haue knowledge that their iudgemente is not farre of that they may repent and be saued Not vnlyke is this othe to the othe in Daniell of time times and halfe a time whereof the time was from him to Christe The times were the ages from Christ to the seauenth seale opening or the seauenth trumpet blowing The halfe time from thence forth wherin the dayes shall be shortned for the chosen sake So much mischief shal not the enimies dâ— thaÌ„ Their tiranny shall be as waged 8 For when the vii Angel shall begin to blow or the ministers of that age sincerely declare the word 9 Euen the mistery of God shall be finished and the full meaning therof fulfilled 10 Like as he afore time both taught and promised by his peculyer chosen seruants the prophets No time shal be after this but that which will be of all times the ende But when that time shall begin we know not tyll God shall open it by his seuenth angel Of the thing we are certaine and sure but the time of it is euermore in gods hande That is sealed vp in the booke til he shal please to open it the rightuous shall not sée til it coÌ„meth but rest stil in their lot w e Daniell And the vngodly shal haue no vnderstanding then They shall builde and plant bye sel ryot banket as in the daies of Noe Loth yea they shall geue themselues to al filthy lustes couetuousnes And vnbewares shall death come vpon them the terrible iudge shal cal them to accoumpt and to the euerlasting fire condemne them thus shal their daies also be shortned when they think nothing lesse for the time shal be but halfe after Daniell THE TEXT 1 And the voyce which I harde from heauen spake vnto me againe and sayd 2. go take the litle booke which is opeÌ„ in the haÌ„d of the angel 3. vvhich staÌ„deth vpoÌ„ the sea vpoÌ„ the earth 4. And I vvent vnto the Angell and said vnto him 5. Geue me the litle booke And he said vnto me 6. Take it and eate it vp 7. And it shall make thy belly bitter But it shall be in thy mouth as svveet as hony 11. And I tooke the litle booke out of his hand and did eate it vp 10. And it vvas in my mouth as svveete as hony 11. And as soone as I had eaten it my belley vvas bitter 12. And he said vnto me 13 Thou must prophecie again vnto the people 14. And to the Heathen and Tunges and to manye Kinges The Paraphrase 1 And the voyce saieth sainct Iohn which I harde afore from heauen spake vnto me againe Gods holy spirit touched me moued me compelled me It graciously admonished me taught me and sayde thus vnto me 2 Goe thy waies foorth Iohn and take the lytle booke which is now open in the hand of the Angell Euery man hauinge grace with Iohn is héere commaunded to
No truely It hath wrought in theÌ„ whoÌ„ he hath called and roâ—ted in them whom he hath sought So that the faithfull children of Abraham and true Isralites in no wise can perish nor be taken from Christ. THE TEXT 1 And vvhen he opened the second seale 2. I harde the second beast say 3. Come and see 4 And there vvent out an other horse that vvas red 5. And povver vvas geuen to him that sate thereon 6. to take peace from the earth 7 that they shuld kil one an other 8. And there vvas geuen vnto hym a great svvord The Paraphrase 1 What the estate of the ChristiaÌ„ churh was immediatly after the Apostels time it is vnder misterie declared in the openinge of the seconde seale For so soone as the sayde Apostles and fyrste Disciples of Christe were taken from the world yea and partly in their time also many pernicious errours did springe and increase by craftie teachers and subtile seducers in dyuers quarters Some coupled the lawe with the gospel and circumcision with baptime to bring Christian libertie into bondage Some sayd the generall resurrection was past to subuert the wayes of the Lorde Some denyed hym to come in the fleshe Some brought in ceremonies and beggerly shadowes to yoke vs with Iewishe supersticions Some forbad mariage as an vncleane thing to bring in all abhominations and filthinesse Some dyd inhibite meates sanctified of God vnder colour of abstinence to set vp hypocrisie Some called Sainct Paule an Apostata from the lawe Some taught the Gospell carnally denying Mathew and Iohn and fantasied gospels vpon their owne brayne vnder the names of Peter Andrew Thomas Barthelmew Mathias Thadeus Barnabas And of this sorte in the Apostles tyme was Nicolas of Antioche Hermogenes Hymeneus Philetus Alexander Elymas Carpocras Cerinthus Hebion Helion with their affinytie And after theyr tyme Basilides Ualentinus Heracleon Cerdon MercioÌ„ Apelles Tacianus Menander Montanus and other 1 In significatioÌ„ of this the Lambe opened this second seale of the booke He remoued once agayne the darke cloudes of ignorance he replenyshed with hys grace strengthened with his spirite certayn of the Gréeks and Gentiles which beléeued to confute the errours condempne the lyes of those false teachers deceiuable Antichristes Of this number was Ignacius Policarpus Theophilus Antiochenus Iustinus Martyr Agrippa Castorius Aristides Quadratus Meliton Apollenaris Theodocion Hyrenius Appollonius Melcyades Rhodon diuers other These boldely coÌ„fessed Christ they taught his veritie they put aside the darknes they ministred the light they confounded the aduersaries both with tonge pen. 2 And when the Lambe had thus opened this seconde seale declaryng the misterie thereof I heard the second beast saith S. Iohn which was to my sight a calfe signifiyng those ministers which had mortified and wholly giuen vp them selues as a sacrifice for the preaching of the same saying also vnto mée 3 Approch nigher looke perceiue and take héed mark beare it away 4 And sodeinly I saw that there went foorth an other horse all diuers from the first for he was outwardly read This horse resembleth the sayd false teachers borne brought vp in flesh and bloud taught of the same Such went from the Apostles were not of them they cursed the true preachers out of their sinagogs they persecuted them from citie to citie they accused them as the sturrers vp of sedicioÌ„ they caused the rulers to imprisoÌ„ theÌ„ scorge theÌ„ flea them thinking therby they did God high seruyce They turned the grace of god into beastlines brought in lying sectes These were those false bretheren deceitfull maysters whom the scripture calleth strauÌ„gers hirelings théeues scorners and rauening wolues not sparing the flock These were those bloud thirstie doctours and puffed vp prelates which are partakers with their fathers in the bloud of the Prophets whose succession for a token of the same is clothed in read scarlet to this day Such a red horse was Barichu which resisted Paul Barnabas at Paphos So was Alexander the copper smith which did Paule much displeasure So was Demetrius which moued sedicion against him so was Ananias the high priest that commaunded hym to bée smitten so was Tertullus the Oratour that accused hym to the debitie so was Diotrephes that sought the préeminence and reproued Iohn 5 And power was gyuen to hym that sate vpon this horse By the sufferance of God to trye his electes the wicked rulers and Prynces of thys world perswaded and set forward by these bloudie beastes hath exercysed all crueltie fircenesse and tyrannie 6 To take from the earth the swéet peace of God ChristiaÌ„ vnitie which made of the Iewes and Gentiles one people knit vs altogither through fayth and baptime as members of one bodie in Christ Iesu. This peace haue they broken this vnitie of faith haue they torne this coate of Christ without seame haue those souldiours deuyded abusing the power which is the high ordinaunce of God they haue mayntayned the manifold sects of diuision 7 Of whome one hath kylled an other as in the distruction of Hierusalem the vnchristian gentile slewe the vnfaithful Iew. And now in the church of Antichrist one Bishop poysoneth an other one priest an other one religious as other 8 And vnto this terrible horse man was there giuen a great swerd LoÌ„g hath the Lord suffred those tyrantes to raygne much mischiefe to worke great crueltie to vse Much was the persecution tyrannie and murther vnder Nero Domicianus Traianus Aurelius Seuerus Maximinus Decius Ualerianus Aurelianus Dioclecianus Maxencius Iulianus and such like muche christian bloud in their time was shedde THE TEXT 1 And when he opened the third seale 2. I heard the third beast say 3. Come and see 4. And I beheld and lo a black horse 5. And he that sate on him had a payre of Balaunces in his hand 6. And I heard a voyce in the middest of the .iiij. beastes say 7. A measure of wheat for a penny 8. and three measures of barley for a penny 6. And oyle and wyne see thou hurte not The Paraphrase 1 Under trope or secret misterie of the thyrd seale opening is specyfied the estate generall of the chrystian church after the tyme of the martirs and strong witnesses of Iesu which were most cruelly afflicted and slayne for confessing hys name and trueth Not that the Martyres were onely and that tyme and not afore and after but for so much as they did than most abound For in the Rome churche besides other were slayne all the mynisters of the word or Byshoppes as they call them from the tyme of Peter vnto the dayes of Siluester to the number of xxxij not one of them escaped After theyr tyme as the tyrannie of rulers was stilled and theyr gagyng crueltye pacyfyed there arose an other fashioned sorte all diuers from the other giuen to
chosen sake Thus after S. Paul also before the Lordes cōming There must be a departing The quier or chauncell must be cast out that the man of sin the sun of perdition the aduersary exaltinge hymself aboue God may be known in his colours It may not be motē or alowed by gods word but reiected as that plant which the heauenly father hath not planted that the mistery of iniqutye may be vttered and perceiued of thē which shal be saued It must be geuen to the gentiles or addict to their supersticions with al lying power signes and wonders in all deceiuable doctrine by the subtile working of sathan They must also be permitted to do al mischif in vnrightuousnes vpō the citizens of God til he vtterly consūe thē with the mighty breath of his mouth THE TEXT 1 And I wyll geue power 2. Vnto my two witnesses 3. And they shall prophecie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes 4. Clothed in sack clothe 5. These are two oliue Trees 6. And two Candlestickes 7. Standing before the God of the earth The Paraphrase 1 And I will geue powre saith the Lorde vnto my faithfull witnesses and they shall prophesye a thousande two hundred and lx dayes against those enimies to the comforte of my people So that though my citie be troden downe by their cruel lawes of persecution to death yet shall it not be forsaken And though my people be ouer loaded with their heathen supersticions and blasphemous worshippinges yet shall they not be lost nor left all wtout succour 2 They shal haue my two witnesses with thē to solace thē in their troubles to comfort them in their cares Both Moyses and Christ both the law and the Gospell both the Prophets and the Apostles shal stande vppon theyr side and be vpon their parte yea for so much time as their enimies shall vexe them and for so much space as their aduersaries sholl trouble them Euen a thousand two hundred and thréeskore dayes which maketh thrée yeares and an halfe and is more thē the two and fourty monthes by iiii skore dayes and fowre Which signifieth that the enimies shal not euermore kepe down his word but their daies shall be shortned for his electe sake The schoole Doctours with their sophestry hath fantasied the sayd two witnesses to be Enoch and Helyas and that they should come then frō Paradice terrestre for the same purpose because that Enoch was taken away of God and Helias was carried hence in a fyery Charet neither vnderstanding what Paradice is nor yet knowing what it is to be taken from hence Paradice is the swéete rest of God appoynted vnto them that departe hence in faith The peculier translations of Enoch and Helias were not only for a confirmation or strenthning of the faith of the fathers for their times but also that they shuld be figuers of Christes assention And what godly wise man can geue more to the figuer than to the verytie More were not they priuiledged frō death then was Christe though God wold not then haue it so openly knowen to declare his wonderfull power Unlike is it that god should cal witnesses frō the dead not promising it by his word hauing power also frō stones to raise vp Abrahās children and to geue the spirit of Helias to whō he pleaseth like as he dyd to Iohn Baptist as he doth now to many other more in our age as al the world may sée and heare These witnesses are two for so much as the truth of the Lorde in the mouth of two or thrée godly persons ought to stand 3 These two witnesses or faithfuli protestours of the aforsayde two testaments hath continued with the people of god since the death of Stéeuē for the more part secretly vnknowne to the world But now they are come abroade by the appointment of God to the vtter confusion of the great aduersary and man of sin as Paule doth call hym And vnto them in this sixt age of the church the Lord hath geuen the great power of his liuinge worde or the spirit of his inuincible verytie in much more ample wise then aforetime for the abatement of the sayd enimies or synagoge of perdition 4 Clothed they shall be in sackcloth sayth the Lord No pomp shal appeare in their apparrell no glorye of the world in their behauiour Neither shall they be accompanied with a garde of ruffelynge rutters Neyther shall they with Annas and Caiphas sit vpon life and death Neither shal they blesse in the streate with miter crosse and cope Neither claim the higher seates in side gownes shauen crownes and tippetes Neyther shall their be sack Fryers nor Franciscans monks Chanons nor Hypocrits They shall not disfigure themselues to séeme religious nor say long prayers to appere holy but in a sober conuersacion auoyding superfluitie they shall constantly witnesse the trueth of god to the vniuersall world to his glory and their edification For sackcloth in the scriptures is a signe of sobrietie sadnesse and temperaunce as in Helias and Iohn Baptist. 5 These witnesses are two swéete oliue trées shedding forth the fatnes of the scriptures and dulset sanour of the spirit God hath so blessed them that their lyps are full of grace He hath annoynted them with the oyle of gladnesse aboue their felowes of Myrre Bawme and Aloes they delectably smell None other thinges vtter thei but his infallible verities 6 They are also two shininge Candlesticks setting forth the light or clearly opening of the hidden misteries of the scriptures to the comfort of the gētiles glory of the Israelits They are not the light it self but only instrumēts ordeined to beare witnes of the light For there is but one light for al. Only are they the vessels of electiō as was Paule to carrie that lyght the world ouer 7 They stand in the presence of the God of the earth or the Lorde of all as men of moste high acceptacion before him readie to doe his will and to fulfill his commaundement and pleasure hauyng the oyle of hys spirite and the light of his eternall veritie THE TEXT 1 And if any man vvill hurt them 2. Fyre shall proceed out of their mouthes 3. cōsume their enimies 4. And if any man vvill hurte them this vvise must he bee killed 5. These haue povver to shut heauen 6 that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophesying 7. and haue povver ouer vvaters to turn them to bloud 8. and to smyte the earth 9. vvith all maner plagues as often as they vvill The Paraphrase 1 If any man will attempte to doe them scathe or presumptuouslie séeketh by craftie colours subtile reasōs and deceiptful arguments vpō daungers doubtes doctours old customes and aucthoritie of fathers to hynder their office blemishe their message and darken their light such fyre shall procéede out of their mouthes as shal consume their enimies 2 The eternall word of the Lorde that they shall declare which is the consuming fyre
promises 9 And therfore are not their names written of the lamb in the booke of life which lambe was slaine from the beginning of the world Christ hath not alowed them by his word promise With the rightuous are they not regestred as members of one misticall body in hym In the similitude of hys death are they not grafted vnto hym as the braunches vnto the vine to be partners of his resurrection Their porcion is not in the lande of the lyuing with him They are none of those whom the father hath geuen hym to participate with hym in one spirit Predestinate they are not vnto life by hym nor so written vp in the foreknowledge of God Chosen they were not of the lord before the worlds constitution to be his vndefiled children in Christ. 10 He is the méeke lamb that was slaine He alone taketh away the sins of the world In hym only is the life for he is the life it self Yet is he the life of none other but of those that only beleue in him 11 In that he was killed from the worlds beginning is signified that he dyed for all them whiche were create to be saued and that his onely death is all their health raise and remedy by the promise of God For all they haue eaten of one spiritual meat and dronke of one spirituall rocke though it came in the fleshe longe after them He onely trode downe the head of the serpent Since the beginning hath he bene slaine in his membres also as manifest it is in rightuous Abell Hieremy Iohn Baptist such other like They that are not written of the lambe in the booke of life for the children of God are registred in the booke of death for the children of perdicioÌ„ reserued to eternal death for their infidelytie with the deuill his Angels 12 He that hath an eare sayeth the text let him take good héede He that hath an vnderstanding let hym be admonished by that which foloweth héere Or he that hath receiued the wisdome of the spirit let hym iudge hereof according vnto it Thus doth the holy ghost aduertise the faithfull to consider that whatsoeuer thinges are writteÌ„ they are writteÌ„ vnto our learning 13 He that leadeth into captiuity shall go into captiuyty And he that killeth with a sworde must with a sworde be slaine This warning geueth the lord take it if they lyst For he will haue his right iudgments known He that vexeth or aflicteth the iuste beléeuers in body by outward punishments he shall be aflicted in the spirit with an inwarde darknes or blindnes of the soule that he may be the more captiue to sinne and to sathan God wyll deliuer hym vp vnto a lewde mind and wyll geue him stronge delusion to beléeue all maner of lyes that he might be damned 14 He that killeth the poore innoceÌ„t for his faith with the yron sword or slaieth hym with any other torment with the sword of the spirit which is the Lords word shall he be both iudged condemned The word that I haue spoken saith Christ shall iudge them at the latter day And this is in manner all one with that was saide in the xi chapter afore If any maÌ„ wyl hurt them fyre shall procéede out of their mouthes and consume their enemies 15 Neuerthelesse to the christian is persecution necessary For héere in this lyfe is the pacience of the saints proued and their faith required Here was AbrahaÌ„ tempted Iob sore vexed and both they were founde Gods true faithfull seruants Here were the apostles contemned reioysinge that they were found worthy for christes sake to suffer rebuke The rightuous the lorde trieth as gold in the furnace He chasteneth euery seruant that he loueth and scourgeth euery son that he receiueth Onely is it faith that al the euils of this worlde by pacience ouercommeth so obtaineth the victory The fruit which riseth to eternal lyfe is peaceable sufferance in faith And that must be heare in this lyfe where as we are vnperfect to make vs perfect THE TEXT 1 And I beheld an other beast 2. comming vp out of the earth 3. and he had two horns lyke a lamb 4. and he spake as dyd the Dragon 5. and he dyd all that the firste beaste could do 6. in his presence 7. And he caused the earth and them which dwell therein 8. To worship the firste beaste vvhose deadly vvounde vvas healed 9. And he dyd great wonders 10. So that he made fyre come downe from heauen 11. In the sight of meÌ„ 12. And deceiued them that dwelt on the earth by the meanes of those signes which he had povver to doe in the sighte of the beast 13. Saying to them that dvvelt on the earth that they should make an image 14. Vnto the beast vvhich had the vvounde of a svvord and dyd liue The Paraphrase 1 And I behelde saieth S. Iohn in this secret reuelation of my Lord an other beast arising out of the earth A figure is this of al false prophets and vngoly preachers Beastly are they euermore vaine carnal and corrupt in their studies abhominable in the practisings of their wicked harts not séeking God but their belleyes not Christes glory but their owne pride and vaine glory 2 From the earth they aryse all geuen to erthly wisdome The only affectes of this worlde doth moue them to teach no good zeale of the truth Either are they tickled with ambition pricked with auarice or els stirred with mallice to inuei These are the common affects of the wicked This goinge vp haue they from wickednesse to wickednesse and shall haue still till the Lorde destroy them like as haue the iust beléeuers from vertue to vertue in the spirit till such time as they sée him face vnto face in the euerlasting Syon From the worlds beginning hath this beast risen vp in Cayne the first murtherer in the fleshlye Children of men in Cham the shamelesse childe of Noe in Ismael Esau in Iannes Iambres in Balaham Baals prophets in the Beniamits Bels chaplains in Phasur Semeias in Iudas Annas and Caiphas in Bariehu Diâ—trephes And now seÌ„s their time most of all in Mahometes doctoures and the popes queristers Yea stil they are aloft in their beastly beggerye will be till their mischif be finished Who séeth not now a daies that hath light in the spirit the malignite hipocrisy fraud craft deceit in certen fals prophets at pauls crosse in London in other places els 3 This beast had ii hornes like the lambe at a blush but all counterfet â— fals in very déede for he spake as did the dragon the hornes of Christ are his high kingdom in the world Only ariseth his Churche by faith in the glad tidinges and promises of god That word is the scepture of Christes power and the rod of right order wheras he reigneth None other strange sceptures are there neither tradicions nor customes Seuen hornes had Christ for
faithful beléeuers knowne The vnfaithful reprobats beholdeth the smoke but neither perceiue thei in it the glory of god nor the maiestie of his preseÌ„ce They neither conâ—eiue his wonderfull workes nor yet his Godly iudgements Their folish harts are so darkned that though they know God yet glorifye they him not They sée the smoke perceyue the world troubled as it is alwaies when the verity appeareth but neuer the more faith nor godly knowlege haue they But the whiche is vnto the faithfull a rayse is vnto theÌ„ a ruine That is vnto the other the power of God vnto health is vnto them slander and folishnesse And that is vnto the other a sauoure of life vnto life is vnto them a sauour of death vnto death They remember not that the Lord came down in fyre vnto Moises vpon Mount Synay when it smoked altogyther like a burnyng furnace therfore beare they away no glorified faces or conciences depured by a true perfecte fayth 14 And no man was able saith the text to enter into the temple til the vii deadly plages of the .vii. Angels were wholy fulfilled For though the true beléeuers perceiue in the misteries of the scriptures the present maiestie mightie power of GOD yet enter they not into full knowledge of him being as yet subiect vnto vanitie For héere is there knowledge vnperfect and their prophecying also And therfore acknowledging their imbesilitie and also wayting for the reuelation of the children of God they say with Saincte Paule O the wonderfull déepenesse of the wisdome and knowledge of God How incompreheÌ„sible are his iudgements and how vnsearcheable his wayes 15 And at this point shal they stil be tyl the last iudgement day finish all For the ful entring into the temple is none other then a whole perfect or consummate knowledge of God and hys mysteries Which can not fully be had till that which is vnperfect be done away the creature deliuered from bondage of corruption And til death be swalowed vp the vessell of corruption becommyng incorruptible the mortall body becoÌ„ming spiritual The rightuous shal thaÌ„ shine as doeth the sunne in the kingdom of their father glister as doth the bright stars world without end What the vij plagues are what is their fulfilling wil in this Chapter folowing appeare The xvj Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I harde a great voice out of the temple 2. saying to the seauen Angels 3. Go your wayes 4. povvre out your vials of vvrath vpon the earth 5. And the first vvent and povvred out his viall vpon the earth 6. and there fell a noysome and a sore botch vpoÌ„ the meÌ„ vvhich had the marke of the beast 7. and vpon them that vvorshipped his Image The Paraphrase AN other great voyce hard Iohn out of the temple A perfect stroÌ„g and earnest assurance had hée of the Lord by a spirituall premonishment that the vnuariable decrees of his set iudgements should be fulfilled at their tymes of him appoynted Yea ascertained he was infallibly that they should in their due seasons come to passe For vnto his friendes openeth he his secret counsailes alwayes as he did in olde tyme vnto his well beloued Israell vnto Moyses Zachary Ezechiell and Daniel with such other 2 And the voice was vnto the seauen Angels vnder the vij seals opening and the vij trumpettes blowyng after this sorte Goe your wayes foorth fulfilling the purpose ye be ordeyned vnto Powre out your vyalles of wrath vpon the earth 3 Declare them first of all to the world to be the reprobate vesselles of dishonour which of wilfulnesse coÌ„temneth my eternal veritie Consequently send them into most déepe errour that they may waxe worse and worse and not onely to erre in them selues but also to bring other into errour that they may receyue the double reward therof abyding my most fearfull iudgemeÌ„t 4 And in such tyme as the Lord appointed the first Angel went foorth vnder the first seale opening and poured out his viall vpon the earth For in the first age of the church to trye hyr as golde in the furnace permitted the Lord by his eternall decrée the malicious Sinagoge of the Iewes to rage and to doe their vngodly feats In the which their furious madnesse not onely dyd they persecute the Apostles and fyrst preachers of Christ from cittie to citie but also peruerted the earthly mynded multitude by many and diuers vngodly kindes of false doctrine in hipocrisie Of this sorte was Himineus Philetus becommyng of Saduces false Christians and denying the latter resurrection whom Paul did excommunicate So were also Phigellus Hermogenes bringing in agayne circumcision with certaine ceremoniall obseruacions to bleamishe the Gospell of Christ. These with suche lyke subuerted whole houses sayeth Paule teaching things that they ought not to haue taught for filthie lukers sake 6 And whan they were thus by the decâ—â—ed purpose of God shead vpon the earth or â—eâ—te vnto their owne earthly â—â—astlinâ—sse all destitute of hys grace for coÌ„tempning his word so graciously 〈◊〉 there lighted a noysome and 〈◊〉 botch vpon those men whych 〈◊〉 marke of the beast or an 〈…〉 through their perswasioÌ„s 7 〈◊〉 vpon them also that worshipped his Image or accepted them for godly that made lawes repugnaunt to his lawes For the great headed Rabines of the Iewes did not onely spot the conscieÌ„ces of the Israelites their own natiue coÌ„trie men but also of the Grekes and Latines the Asians Romaines compelling them for their own tradytions to make Gods commaundemeÌ„ts of none effect These hauing a pretence of godly liuing denied the power therof Of this sort were they which entered into houses brought into boÌ„dage supersticious women loaden with sin For a more déepe vnderstaÌ„ding hereof coÌ„fer this with the first seale opening and the first trumpet blowing and lykewise the other vj. folowing THE TEXT 1 And the second Angell shead out his vyall 2. vpon the sea 3. and it turned as it vvere into the bloud 4. of a dead man 5. And euery liuing thing dyed in the sea The Pharaphrase 1 After this went foorth the seconde Angel of the second seale opening effunding hys vyall vpon the sea According to the decrée of God almightie for the second age of the Christian church reigned among the Christians deceytfull brethren peruerse teachers betraying the tru ministers deliueriÌ„g theÌ„ vnto deth for Iesus Christs sake that his life might be sene in their mortal flesh For in this life he proueth his electes with Abraham and Iob to saue them to make theÌ„ iust folowers of Christ whom it behooâ—ed to suffer ere he entred into hâ—s glory 2 Upon the sea or wauering multitude was this â—â—alâ—shed Only are the false Prophets receiued taken of the folishe fantasticâ—ll â—â—ipper witted sort as a réed shakeÌ„ of euery wind Non regardeth them which hath set sure footing vpon the harde rocke Christ. Such a vial or vessel of Gods Ire was Mair the Idonâ—â—t which
theyr bellyes and thys wyl be the tenour of their wofull tragedy 10 Alas alas that worthy citie that royall Rome that swéet Babilon that holye mother of ours in whom we were left so rich so mighty so strong that all the worlde feared vs we felt of no sorrowes 11 Specially all we that had ships in the sea or that had Bishopprickes benefices and other fat liuings amonge the wauering wanderers of the light laytie inconstaunt fyckle and foolysh where as GODS worde is not knowne 12 We became wealthy in all maner of pleasures by reason of hyr costly and profitable wares that those our shippes contayned whiche are to many to be now rehearsed 13 Full woe are we heauy at the hart remembring that famous citie for at one houre is she made desolat In this last age of his Churche wyll the Lord consume hir with his breth not leauing in hir one stone vppon an other Like as the shadow that passeth shal she vanish away lyke the dry thistle Floure or dust that is scatered with the winde Suche wordes sayeth the wise man Philo shall they speak in hell that haue sinned besides their desperate complaynt in this lyfe Some expsitours haue taken al these kings marchants vnd ship gouerners for one manner of people or generation of Antichrist And it may wel be for so much as they are all of the earth None of these are they iustlye by the authorytie of God but very tiraunts théeues and manquellers THE TEXT 1 Reioice ouer hir thou heauen 2. And ye holy Apostles 3. And Prophetes 4. For God hath geuen your iudgemente on hir 5. And a mighty Angell tooke vp a stone lyke a great milstone 6. And cast it into the sea saying 7. With such violence shall that great Citie Babilon be caste 8. And shall be founde no more 9. And the voyce of harpers and musitianes 10. and of pipers and trumpeters 11. shal be heard no more in thee 12. And no craftes man of vvhatsoeuer crafte he be shall be founde any more in thee 13. And the sounde of a mille shall be hearde no more in thee 14. And candell light shall be◠no more burning in thee 15. And the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde shall be heard no more in thee 16. For thy merchaūts vvere the Princes of the earth 17. and vvith thine inchauntments vvere deceiued all nations 1◠And in hyr vvas founde the bloude 19. of the Prophets 20. and of the saincts 21. and of all that vvere slayne vpon the earth The Commentary 1 With all myrth possible sayeth the text reioyce thou heauē or thou faithfull congregation of God to sée thys aduoutrous church of Antichrist ouerthrowen Be glad in thy hart not that thy quarell is reuenged but in that the rightuousnesse of God is fulfilled hys people being at libertie 2 Haue myrth conuenient ye holy Apostles or messengers of the Lorde with them that the Gospell hath called 3 Ioye with our brethren ye aunciēt Prophets or godlye teachers of the olde lawe 4 For your merciful God hath heard your pittious crye from vnder the aulter and hath perfourmed vpon the blasphemous whore the same selfe iudgement that you desired According to your owne request hath he reuenged all your innocēt bloud which hath bene shed vpon earth since Abell the ryghtuous The same dampnation haue they now iustly that they ministred vnto you vniustly Yea double for so muche as they haue it both in theyr bodyes and soules where as you had it but alone in your bodyes 5 And immediatly saith S. Iohn an Angell of great power betokening the true preachers of the latter age of the church strōgly indued frō aboue tooke vp a stone of exceding weight very like in simylitude vnto a greate milstone They shal gather vp out of Esay Hieremy Abacucke other Prophets the mighty tirrible iudgemēts of the Lord which are the heauy stone that shall grinde his enimies into pouder 6 This stone shal they cast into the sea They shal publish preach and declare vnto the people of this worlde which are as the mouable floud those heauy iudgements which shal light vpō that blasphemous churche of theirs at the tyme appoynted and thus shall they say vnto them 7 So vyolent and heauy shall be the distruction of that myserable citie that mysticall Babylon that prostibulous church of Antichrist with hir shorne citizens and smeared hipocrites as is the waightie fal of an excéeding great milstone in the bottome of the sea rysing vp no more agayn yea so tirrible and fearefull 8 With shame and confusion shall that wicked generation come downe and neuer more be foūd hereafter neither in the earth nor yet in heauen Though in their painted stories they put popes cardinals bishops monks chanōs shauen priests friers nuns and heremites in heauen amonge the saincts yet are there none such nor neuer shal be Their resting place is the bottome of the sea by the iudgements of God vnlesse they renounce those vaine supersticions and cleaue to the sincere verities of the Lord. Much haue they boasted in their writinges that their holy mother of predigious orders and disguised relygyons should euermore continue 9 But be certaine and sure thou myserable church saith the holy ghost that thou shalt no lēger enioy the cōmodious pleasures of a frée cittye all quietous without trubles The mery noyes of them that play vpon harpes lutes and fidels the swéet voice of musicians that sing with virginals vials and chimes the armony of them that pipe in recorders flutes and drums and the shirle showt of trumpets waits shawmes shall no more be heard in thée to the delight of men 10 Neyther shal the swéet Organs containing the melodious noyse of all maner of instruments byrdes be plaied vpon nor the great belles be rong after that nor yet the fresh discant prick song counter point and faburden be called for in thée which art the very sinagog of Sathan 11 Thy lasciuious armonye delectable musique much prouoking the weake hartes of men to meddle with thy abhominable whordom by the wantonnes of Idolatry in that kinde shal perish with thée for euer 12 No cunning Artificer Caruer Paynter nor Gilder Embroderer Goldsmith nor silk worker with such other like of what occupacion so euer they be or haue bene to thy cōmodity shall neuer more be found so agayne Copes cruettes candelstickes miters crosses sēsers crismatoris corporasses and chalices which for thy whorishe holines might not somtime be touched will thā for thy sake be abhorred of all men Neuer more shall be builded for marchāts of thi liuery mark palaces tēples abbeys collages couēts chauntries fair houses horcherds of plesure 13 The clapping noise of neyther wyndmil horsemil nor watermil shal any more be heard to the gluttenous féeding of thy puffed vp porklings for the maintenaunce of thine idle obseruacions ceremonies No more shal those idle belly gods swill vp