withstande them with their craftes impugne them with their lyes and vexe them wyth their deuyllyshnesse as necessarye it is they shuld do For yf they haue trobled the head they must beâ—e also the members If the howsholder be called Beelzebub the howsholde must suffre the same No better is the seruauÌ„t than his lorde nor the massenger than he that sent hym 4 They shall also ouercome them not with the scripturs but with their beggerlye customes constitucions lawes decrees tradicyons They shall scourge them or dysgrade them in their synagoges They shall delyuer them vp to iustyces debitees and rewlers makynge them their bothers aÌ„d slaues so washinge their owne holye handes froÌ„ the shedynge of innocentes bloode 5 They shall kylle theÌ„ also by their couÌ„sell to fulfyll the measure of their fathers that all ryghtuouse bloude maye lyght vpon them which hath bene shedde vpon earthe Yet shall they not hurte their sowles but through faythe they shall haue victorye bothe ouer them and the deuyll 6 And their bodyes shall lye in the stretes of the great cyte In this worlde shall their carkases remayne where as they haue rewle and domynyon Here shall they be iudged and condempned At their pleasure shall it be to haÌ„ge theÌ„ heade them or burne them And thowgh they laye no handes vpon them for soylynge their coÌ„secrate fyngars yet must it be done by their ghostlye cownsel aÌ„d ordred also after their spyrituall appoyntment Non other is it to lye in the stretes of their greate cyte than after â—oche lawes as they haue practysed toke brought vnto deathe 7 For spiritually is their cyte called A gloryouse name vsurpe they as though they were noÌ„ of the world They wyll be called the holy churche good ghostlye fathers godly dyuines spirituall meÌ„ne not coÌ„siderynge of what sprete they are spiritual They are those into whoÌ„ the vncleane sprete hath entred with .vij. other spretes worse than hym self With the sprete of falshede the sprete of fylthynesse the sprete of lyes the sprete of wytchecrafte the sprete of erroure the sprete of blindenesse aÌ„d the sprete of cruelte And of these onlye with soche lyke are they spyrituall and of no godlye sprete as their frutes declareth And therfor the sprete of god doth iudge here this great cyte not to be called HierusaleÌ„ but stinkinge Sodome most myserable Egypte the prophecyes and other scripturs agreynge to the same For loke what fylthynesse and abhomynacion was in Sodome what Idolatrye and deuylyshnesse was in Egipt the same is now reygnynge in this paynted spyritualte and is accounted there great holynesse 8 Amonge this consecrate multytude or smered sort is Christ yet crucyfied as he was amonge the Iewes whych knewe hym not yet boasted theÌ„ selues outwardlye for the peculiar chosen peple of God Not onlye ys Christ amonge theÌ„ persecuted scourged ponnyshed aÌ„d put vnto deathe in hys membres but also he ys proued of them an vnsufficyent Sauer without their dayly doynges Their masses must be satysfactory sacrifices profytinge both the quicke and the dead And that must menne beleue vnder peyne of deathe and dampnacyon Thus crucyfye they Christ ageyne and make a mocke of hym as wytnessed Paule and yet do they call hym their lorde not vnlyke to the tormentours whych crowned hym with thorne and saluted hym with Aue rex Iudeorum The Text. 1 And some of the peple and kynredes and tunges and of the nacions 2. shall se theyr bodyes thre dayes and an halfe 3. and hall not suffre theyr bodyes to be putte in graues 4. And they that dwell vpon the earthe 5. shal reioyce ouer them and be gladde 6. and shall sende gyftes one to an other 7. for these two prophetes vexed theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And as they lye thus dead in the stretes or are contempned as heretykes aÌ„d despysed as wycked doars some of the peple peruerted by these enemies some of the kynredes or sectes of dyuysion some of the tonges or blasphemouse bablers aÌ„d some of the nacyons of al wycked workers shall beholde their bodyes iij. dayes and an half 2 They shall for all ages abhorre them hate theÌ„ reuyle them and spyghtfullye report them In ther cronycles shal they wryte them for seducers of the peple in their storyes regestre them for dampnable heretykes For the .iij. dayes an half dyuided into .vij. halues betokeneth the .vii. ages of the churche wherin they haue and shal styll both persecute and blaspheme 3 And these wycked sortes of peple kynredes tonges and nacyons or of false iustyces prestes lawers and relygyouse shall not suffre their bodyes to be putte in graues But be these wytnesses ones iudged heretykes by the clergye aÌ„d so condempned by the layte eyther shall their bodyes be resolued in to ashes by fyre or els consumed by the fowles of the ayre Seldome shal ye se a knowne heretyke buryed amonge them but most commonlye burned Examples of thys hath bene â—aâ—elye seane here in Englande by Thomas hyttoon Thomas bylueye Iohan frith George baynham WilliaÌ„ tindale Iohan lambert Robert barnes Wylliam Hyerome Thomas garade Rycharde spenser and in Partrick hamilton of Scotlande with manye other more And longe afore our tyme in sir Iohan olde castell the lorde CobhaÌ„ sir Roger acâ—on knyght sir Reynolde pecock byshop of chychester Master IohaÌ„ Ayshton sir Willyam thorpe sir Willyam â—awtre sir Richarde with sir Iohan balle sir Willyam tayloure and sir willyam whyght prestes with dyuerse other The body of Formosus was first taken vpp by Steuen the .vi. Bishopp of Rome and disgraded After was yt beheaded mangled and throwne into the flood of Tyber by Sergius the thyrde Saynt Herman after .xx. years from hys buryall was taken vpp and burned at Ferraria in Italie by Boneface the ryhht The bones of Master Iohan wycclef were taken vpp and burned also the .xl yeare after hys death as waldene wytnesseth to hys boke de Sacramentalibus ti .ix. Capi .lxxxix. So was of late yeares in worcestre dyocese the bodye of master WilliaÌ„ Tracye esquire in LondoÌ„ the bodye of Rycharde honne merchande taylour Moreouer Iohan colet deane of Paules in londoÌ„ also was not farre froÌ„ the same for readynge of Paules Epistles by hys lyfe had not other wayghtye matters bene in the waye Soche heretykes shall not rest in their cyte they shall not be buryed amonge them They shall not be shryued canonysed nor allowed for Sayntes for they buylded no monasteries they sett vpp no chauÌ„teryes they subdewed no Princes nor yet dyed for the lybertees of holye churche They sâ—ode not in defence that prestes doynge Idolatrye thefte murther wytche crafte whoredome buggerye with other abhominacyons shuld remayne vnponnyshed But rather to the contrarye that they shuld worshypp but one God lyue by their labours take wâ—â—es of their owne teache nothynge but Gods lawes 4 And they that dwâ—ll vpon the earthe sayth the lorde or haue their felycite herewith the
him that tangle them selâ—es with soche workes of bondage as he neuer knewe as are all their Idell obseruacions hauynge no expresse commaundementes of the worde of God Onlye loke we saith Paule in sprete to be iustyfied through faythe which by loue is mightye in operacyon 6 And for them that so beleueth is this disiunctyue or put betwyn theyr handes and foreheades For all they that outwardlye kepe these heythnishe obseruacyons haue not their conscyences defyled with them for their inwarde faythes sake though they perfourme the outwarde workes doubtynge the terrour of the lawes Yet wolde I counsell them not therin to trust but at the worde of the lorde to go from it For though loth dwelt in Sodome yet at the lordes voyce he departed from thens 7 This Image made also that no maÌ„ne myght vye or sell saue he onlye that had the Marke or the name of the Beast or at the least the nombre of his name The actes of Iustynyane the Emproure shall make this good so shall the constitucyons of Adelstane and Edgare and manye other kynges here in Englande which for the ordre and commodyâ—e of the clerge made manye polytyque lawes Specyallye kynge Inas Gouernour of the west Saxons which first gaue the Peter Pens vnto Rome and made him selfe a monke there But in thys spyrytuall generacyon amonge them selues is non allowed for a merchande vnlesse he come in by Symonye Non was made bysshopp pastoure nor â—urate but payed for it their taxed sommes byshoppes to the pope and the prestes to the byshopps besydes Irem in brybes Non myght els be allowed to vtter to auauntage the wares of the beast or distribute the rytes of that holye whoryshe churche 8 Neyther were anye made free of that marte vnlesse they had the marke of the beast which is not onlye the outwarde sygne of their head shauinge and anoyntinge of their fingars but also the inwarde prynte of their consciences receyued by profession made to that wicked monster For lyke as true faythe in Iesus Christ is the marke of a perfyghâ— christiane so is a false beleue in popishe tradicions a token of Antichristes member By their frutes sayth Christ shall ye knowe them For the one foloweth the rewle of Gods worde the other hath counterfet workes of mennes prescripcion 9 Els must they haue the name of the Beast to be called spyrituall menne or the holye consecrate nombre as his holye fatherhode is called 10 Or at the least they must haue the noÌ„bre of his name which is a note of magnificence and worthynesse Lesse caÌ„ they not be called than lordes so manye as are sworne to that spirituall markett The most ragged ronegate and idle ydiote amonge them is no lesse thaÌ„ a â—yre which is a lorde in the Lattyn as sir Iohan sir Thomas sir Willyam In the Lattyn onlye hangeth their great lordeshippes Amonge their vnknowne lattyn howres their masses and their dyrigees lyeth their plentuouse patrimonye in their portasses and masse bokes Noâ— he that leaueth all wyth poore peter maye be called from fishynge nor wyth Mathew from the custome howse to do these offices But he that catcheth all with Iudas aÌ„d Symon Magus must come from Symonye to do them Not he that is called of God as was Aaron shal haue cure of sowle but he that offereth to Corban with Annas and Cayphas Soche a worlde hath it bene and is yeâ— styll in the worlde abrode amonge them The Text. 1 Here is wisdome 2. lete him that hath wytte 3. counte the nombre of the Beaste 4. For it is the noÌ„bre of Manne 5. And his nombre is sex hâ—ndred sextye and sixe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Here is wysdome to be had sayth saynt Iohan. Lete hym that hath wytte count the nombre of the Beast for it is the Nombre of manne And his Nombre is sixe hondred sixtie and sixe 2 For so moche as Christ hath willed vs diligentlye to searche the scripturs and the holye Ghost here doth committ the iudgement of this secrete to the witte of manne some wryters hath deducted thys Nomber out of serten Greke wordes betokeninge thys great Antichrist because thys present Reuelacion was first written in the Greke language As out of antemos which signifyeth one contrarye to Gods honoure out of Arnume which signifieth a denyer of God and out of Teitan which betokeneth the sunne All these .iii. voâ—ables though they seme dyuerse yet contayne they after the Greke rewles neyther more nor lesse than thys sett Nomber And all this maye stande both with scripture and reason For he that ys not with Christ ys agaynst hym callynge that ys good yll and that ys yll good mynystrynge darkenesse for lyght Soche lyenge masters as hath brought in sectes of perdicyon hath denyed the lorde that bought them They are not the lyght as they boast themselues to be for all they loke to be called spyrituall but they are the fallen Starres and verye Apostaraes froÌ„ God SathaÌ„s traÌ„sfonemynge themselues into the angels of lyght by dyuerse kyndes of Hypocresye 3 Some expositours leauynge the Greke hath practysed the same thynge by these .ii. latyne wordes Dic lux contaynynge in numerall letters the same setâ— NoÌ„bre Which sygnifyed that they call them selues the lyght or menne of a spyrytuall sort beynge nothynge lesse For they in dede are the same self darkenesse that wyl in no wyse receyue the light but rather persecuteth yt with most spygâ—t and cruelte After thys sort myght I brynge in Diabolus incarnatus or filius perdictonis the deuyll incarnate or the sonne of perdycyoÌ„ for both they are the names of this beastlye Antichrist by the scripturs the one wantynge in the numerall letters but .iiii. of the NoÌ„bre the other but .vi. which myght be supplyed in the other letters But a monge all these thys worde Arnume most nyghlye towcheth the myâ—erye which ys as moche to saye as I denye Euydentlye semeth he to haue the marke of the Beast or to be sealed with the Nombre of hys name that sayeth whan he heareth the manyfest veryte I wyll neuer admitt ye whyle I haue a daye to liue it is ageynst good order yt standeth not with laudable custome our doctours agree not thâ—â— vnto our holye canoÌ„s alloweth yt not yt hath not the holye fathers consent vs prayâ— aÌ„d hope for it hath great likelyhode of a moche farder apperaunce â— Sens the worldes begynnynge haue the misterye of iniquite wrought in Caâ—n and in hys posteryte and so contynued in the Beastlye meÌ„bers of Antichrist and so shall do styll to the latter daye Therfor is yt no lesse than the Nombre of manne sixe hondred sixtye and sixe Thus ys he tokened with all wyckednesse that admitteth the false faythe of this Beast and foloweth the same in hys lyuynge by the subtle perswasyons of the Bishoppes and their lyenge Prophetes and ys sealed vp to eternall dampnacyon vnlesse the lorde call hym in tyme. Not onlye in Englande ys healed
of all lordes 11. and kynge of all kynges 12. And they that are on his syde 13. are called and chosen and faythfull ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the .x. hornes sayth the Angell vnto Iohan which thu sawest here vpon the heades of this rose coloured Beast are in significacyon .x. kynges Some hath taken these .x. kynges for all those Emprours of the larynes sens Charle mayne which haue sworne them selues obedyent to the Bishop of Rome Some haue thought them to be those prynces which here in Europa haue afore tyme bene subiect to the Empyre of Rome As the kynges of Englande Fraunce Spayne Portyugale Castele Denmarke Scotlande Dngarye Goheme and Napels But these considre not that they be yet more in nombre as Aragone Nauerre Cycyle Cypresse Sardyne Swethen Pole and soche other and are all included in the seuen heades as members of the afore rehersed empyres Neyther marke they that they are aboue the heades as hornes aÌ„d more in nombre than the heades betokenynge a rygorouse auctoryte and ferce power which they proudelye vsurpe ouer them euerye where Afore they were but suggestyons but here are they ernest doers For in euerye region hath the beastlye Antichrist of Rome his Metropolytanes and primates As in Englande are Caunterberye and Yorke in Fraunce Thuronensis and Remensis in Spayne Tholetanus and Teâ—raconeÌ„sis in Portingale Hispalensis aÌ„d Bracarensis in Irelande Armachanus and Dublimensis in Dennemarke Lundensis and Opsalensis in Germanye Colonâ—ensis and Maguntinus in Hungarye Serigonâ—ensis and Colocensis in Italye Pisanus and Rauennas in Sycyle Panormitanus and Messanensis with an infynite nombre of byshoppes prelates prestes and religiouse besydes the fyghtynge orders of the Rhodes the Prussyanes the Redemers of captyues the Aragondes the Beorgyanes called de alga the Monteseanes the Castylyanes the Lusitaneanes the Calatraneanes and Saynt Iames warryours 2 These had not yet at that tyme receyued the deuylyshe kyngedome of pestilent vsurpacyon ouer the sowles of menne For though in Iohans dayes arose certen Antichristes as Hebion Cerinthus Diotrephes Carpocras and so the lyke yet were they nothing to these 3 But now in dede they haue receyued the same self auctoryte and power with the Beast that he toke afore of the Dragon in maner of kynges to rewle in the hartes and consciences of menne to his behoue 4 For so moche as their auctoryte is not of God lyke as is the auctorite of kynges it is sayd here as kynges or as menne counterfeatynge them in vsurpynge a gouernaunce not frelye geuen them of God but of the deuyll 5 All at one houre receyued they thys auctoryte wyth the Beast And that I suppose was in the generall counsell of Laterane at Rome gathered vnder the tytle to recouer Hierusalem agayne Where as confession in the eare was cruellye extorted of Christen peple vnder peyne of deathe and dampnacion by the whole consent both of the princes and bishoppes at the former suggestioÌ„ of innocent the thirde besydes other wicked thinges As to heare lattyn seruyce to go procession on Sondayes to praye vnto dead Sayntes to worship Images to bye Masses for the dead to fast the fridayes with purgatorye pardons merytes and fryres orders In the sayd counsell became the Metropolytanes as kynges 〈◊〉 by the auctorite therof appoynted they that 〈◊〉 Balyues and other 〈◊〉 as byshoppes Curates and Pariâ—â—he Prestes to haue cure and charge of so idle and in the sayd eare confession to receyue theyr accountes 6 These counterfett kynges are all of one deuyllishe mynde practyse and purpose agaynst God and his â–ª veryte 7 And fullye they are fixed to geue their whole power their stodye and theyr streÌ„gthe vnto the behoue of the Beast â–ª Not accordinge to Gods mynde wyll they rewle but all after his wyll pleasure agreynge alwayes vnto him as meÌ„bers to their heade to serue wickednesse after wickednesse in BabiloÌ„ His popisshe decrees wyll they seke his deuylishe decretals wyll they folowe his ceremonials wyll they obserue nothynge of the sacred scripturs What lerning so euer they haue what giftes of nature fortune or grace all must be to the maintenaunce of his fantastycall fopperyes To hym are they sworne to do hym homage to obeye his lawes to kysse hys fete for hys gloryes sake to persceutâ— the Gospell 10 And in so doynge they shall fyghâ— with the lambe which ys Iesus Christ. They shall impugne hys truthe whan they thinke to do hym seruyce For that myschese they do to one of his they do to hys owne persone 9 But be they neuer so dogged yet shall the lambe ouercome them in hys faythfull members yea by pacyent sufferaunce onlye The vyctorye sayth Saynâ— Iohan which ouercometh the worlde is a sure Christen faythe Vpon their syde fyghteth he which ys most myghtye aÌ„d stronge yea the lorde that ys valeaune in battayle And he shall first ouercome them in this lyfe with the myghtye breathe of hys mouthe scatterynge them awaye as dust from the earthe And after thys shall hys terryble iudgement for euer condempne them 10 For he ys by the auctoryte geuen hym of hys father the lorde of all lordes and by hys owne eternall Godhede the Kynge of all kynges hauinge all power in heauen and in earthe He ys constytâ—â—te iudge of the quycke and the dead hauynge alone the euerlastynge Empyre with his father and the holye ghost and of his kingedome shall neuer be an ende â–ª 11 By his permyssion doth all kinges regne he hath their hertes in his hande and iudgeth their thoughtes Both maye he geue them hys sprete and also take yt froÌ„ them and of his enemyes he shall make hys forestole He ys the same stoâ—ne after Danyell that without anye haâ—â—des was cut out of the mounte which breaketh the IroÌ„ the copper the earthe the syluer and the golde in peces By whome are ment the vnyuersall kyngedomes of this worlde 12 Of this hys vyctorye are all they paâ—â—tyners with hym which are vpon hys syâ—de by faythe Most specyallye those truâ— seruauntes of hys which after they arâ— called by grace and chosen by faythe perseuer styll constaunt feruent faythâ—full and sure in his veryte to the latteâ— ende of their lyues 13 Not onlye the lambe therfor shall oâ—uercome the Beast but they also afteâ— the doctryne of Paule that are called aÌ„d chosen in him not fallynge from his trâ—â—che for anye temptacyoÌ„ or grefe but staÌ„â—dinge fast by yt vnto the verye deathe For those that the lorde hath prefixed afore he hath called iustifyed and allowed These auaunceth not themselues with the proude but mekelye they submit their crownes referrynge all vyctorye to the lambe as menne that coulde haue done nothinge in that behalfe with out hym The Text. 1 And he sayde vnto me 2. The waters which thu sawe it where the whore sitteth 3. are people folke and nacyons and tuÌ„ges 4. Ad the teÌ„ horns which thu sawest vpon the beast 5. are they which shall hate the
whore 6. and shall make her desolate naked 7. aÌ„d shall eate her fleshe 8. aÌ„d burne her with fyre 9. For God hath putte in their hartes to fâ—lfyll hys wyll 10. and to do wâ—th one consent 11. for to geue her kyngdom vnto the beast 12. vntyll the wordes of God be fulfylled 13. And the woman which thu sawest is the greate cytye 14. which reygneth ouer the Kinges of the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And after this longe communicacyoÌ„ sayth saynt Iohan the aforeseyd Angel sayd thus vnto me to make vp his tale with 2 The wauerynge waters which thu sawest here now of late in mysterye where as the Babylonyshe whore sitteth vpon the rose coloured Beast are in sygnyficacyon all maner of peples of the carnall nacyons and the superstycyouse folke of manye sondrye tonges 3 Not onlye in one place of the worlde rewleth this wanton relygyon of Antichrist but in euerye lande in euerye domynion in euerye cumpanye amonge all occupacyons and languages The folyshe multytude euerye where beynge blynded by their subtyle sorceryes neyther hauynge faythe nor yet the feare of God before their eyes as a ragynge flood the bankes broken downe â—oâ—â—eth headlynges into all blasphemie and deuyllyshnesse 4 More ouer the afore named .x. hornes sayth the Angell which thu by the will of God beholdest here in sprete vpon the seyd Beast of destruccyon are those verye persones which also shall hate the whore Her abhominacyons ones knowne by the Gospell preachinge they shall abhorre her lawes despyse her auctoryte and contempne her customes They shall defeate her of those landes and possessyons which now she vniustlye hoâ—deth 5 They that afore were her fryndes shall than be her mortall enemyes denyenge her both tribute obedyence and seruyce so leauynge her without all coâ—fort Not onlye are these the temporall gouernours as the kynge of Englande the kynge of Denmarke the Duke of saron the Landgraue of hesse and other Princes of Germanye with soche other as wyll here after folowe the same pryncyples but also the Metropolytanes and Byshoppes the Doctors and Prelates As are all redye Thomas CraÌ„mere the arche Byshop of CauÌ„terburye Hermannus de weda the archebyshopp of Coleyne Godryck the Byshop of Holye Barlowe the Byshop of Saynt Dauids Byrde the Byshop of Chestre Thuâ—â—leby byshop of Westmynstre 〈◊〉 tymer and Nicolas Sharton of late years Byshoppes of Worcester and Salysburye with soche other lyke as wyll here after folowe their trade Though they were afore the hornes of the Beast for defence of the whore yet are they now fallen from hym and more shall euerye daye to make her desolate of honoure aÌ„d naked of rentes and possessions 6 So shall they chace that Babylonyshe harlot Rome with their preachers that neyther shall they leaue her coloure nor yet bewtye Considre what IohaÌ„ Reuclin Martyne Luther Erasmus Occolampadius â—winglius Pomeran Buter Capito Melanchton Grineus Calninus Brencyus Frances LaÌ„bert Bullinger aÌ„d soche other hath done agaynst her alredye Lyke wyse here in Englande Bylneye Cyndale Frith Barnes Cromwell Couerdale Turner George Ioye Rose Rydleye Warde BecoÌ„ aÌ„d other els leauynge her neyther Rellyques nor Rodes Sectes nor Shrynes Abbeyes nor Pryoryes manye more coÌ„mynge after them of the same sort These shall make her so desolate that no maÌ„ne shall in processe of tyme regarde her They shall leaue her so naked that all the worlde shall abhorre her that shall loâ—â— vpon her Yea in the conclusyon they 〈…〉 her fleshe 7 Besydes the takynge awaye of her carnall profyghtes and pleasurs they shall confounde her flâ—shelye vnderstandinge of the scripturs and vtterlye consume the superfluouse obseruacyons of her whoryshe câ—remonyes 8 Finallye with fyre shal they burne her in brynginge vnto nought all her abhominable rewles customes kyndes of Idolatrye All these ones plucked awaye by the euydent worde of God no longar shall this harlot apere For no loÌ„gar contynueth the whore than the who redome ys in pryce Take awaye the rytes and Ceremonies the Iewels and ornamentes the Images and lyghtes the lordeshyppes and fatherhodes the aulters and Masses with the Byshoppes and Prestes and what is their holye whorâ—she churche any more Not onlye is this fleshe eatynge and burnynge declared now adayes in outwarde experymentes as in the rebellyouse Monkes and Prestes of Englande and in theÌ„ that arose there in the Northe specyallye in fryre forest and Margareâ—â— Chenye which were for their churche consumed lyke as were Baals chaplaynes at the broke of Cyson by Helyas but also misticallye in that is spokeÌ„ of here afore 9 For God hath sayth the Angell all blindenesse secluded put it into the hartes of those and soche other Godlye menne by the infusyon of his sprete to fulfyll hys decreed will so pleasure in this behalf as vtterlye to destroye the Popyshe relygyon or fylthye abhominacyons of Antichrist 10 He hath geuen yt them more ouer to do these thynges to hys glorye through the agrement of faythe that they haue in the vnyte of his Godlye truthe to the abolyshment of all Sectes false Prophetes and coniurers of Egypte 11 Fynallye by hys grace he hath moued them through knowlege of his worde to rendre vp her blasphemouse kyngedome whom sumtyme of ignoraunce they vsurped vnto the malygnaunt Beast agayne as the hornes of hys pestyleÌ„t heades After this sort ded good Latimer and Shaxton geue ouer their Bysshop-ryckes and so hath dyuerse other Godlye menne their promocyons and liuinges as manye more yet here after wyll do 12 For as they haue begonne so shall they contynue in demynyshynge the abhomynacyoÌ„s of this whoryshe churche tyll the wordes and promyses of God by hys Apostles and Prophetes which can neuer fayle be whollye fulfilled in effect and tyll hys last iudgement do fynyshe all But thus do not all they which haue done of the yoke of the Popes obedyence or blotted out hys name For the greatter nombre of them retayneth styll the blasphemouse obseruacyons and Ceremonies of hys Romyshe relygyon some makynge newe lawes of deathe for the establyshment of the same as ys in Englande the acte of the .vi. Artycles with dyuerse other more And for this remayneth here styll the Beast as receyuynge the rendred kyngedome of the whore In whome ys also comprehended the wycked reÌ„naunt that shall worke the last myschefe whome the lorde shall ende with hys seyd iudgement This Beast ys not without hys lyuelye Image styll workynge the same feates that hymself wrought afore though his head be greuouslye wounded in diuerse quarters of the worlde Neyther ys he without craftye Phesycyanes to mynystre lyfe to the same Who euer forswore the Pope more ernestlye thaÌ„ ded Stokyslaye and Sampson Gardyneâ— and Tunstall wylson and fryre wattes with soche other holye prelates Yet labour they tothe and nayle to haue Babylon styll Babylon Sodom Sodom Egypte Egypte But maruele not of the ordynauÌ„ce of the lorde which all at one tyme prouyded Moyses to gyde his peple and yet
the beastes wounded head but also in other serten regyons But for so moche as yt ys most lyuelye done there and thys boke written in that language I haue onlye brought forth here examples therof in that purpose The .xiiii. Chapter IN thys present chapter declareth the lorde vnto Iohan and vnto hys faythfull seruauntes by him the degre estate and condycyon of hys true beleuynge churche now after he hath afore lyuelye described the bestyall churche of Antichrist and of hys horned spyritualte by the afore named .ii. moÌ„struouse Beastes And thys ys that hys louers shuld knowe what they be which are of hys howsholde aÌ„d what an helper they haue of hym in the middes of their aduersitees to the confort of their sowles And though they be here a monge those ragynge tyrauntes in terryble agonyes and peynes persecucions and trobles he ys neuer absent from them nor wyll not be tyll he hath rewarded them with vnspekeable Ioyes The Text. 1 And I loked and lo a lambe stode in the mounte Syon 2 aÌ„d with him an C. and .xliiij. thousande 3. hauynge his fathers name writteÌ„ in their foreheades 4. And I herde a voyce froÌ„ heauen 5. as the sounde of manye waters 6. and as the voyce of a great thundre 7. And the voyce that I herde was 8. as the harpers that playe vpon theyr harpers 9. And they sange as it were a newe songe 10. before the seate 11. and before the foure Beastes 12. and the Elders 13. And no maÌ„ coulde lerne that songe 14. but the hundreth and xliiij thousande 15. which were redemed froÌ„ the earthe 16. These are they which were not defyled with womeÌ„ 17. for they are virgynes 18. These folowe the lambe whither so euer he goeth 19. These were redemed from menne 20. beynge the first frutes vnto God and to the lambe 21. and in their mouthes was founde no gyle 22. for they are without spotte before the trone of God ¶ The Paraphrase 1 I â—oked saith saynt Iohan on the other syde and in a thought as it were I behelde that a lambe stode vpon mounte Syon Euen the lambe of God Iesus Christ that alone toke awaye the synnes of the worlde Alone doth he gouerne his faythfull churche as the onlye aÌ„d immediate head therof hauynge non other to assist him in that office For who is the kynge ouer Syon but he Who shall reduce Israel agayne to his folde but he Onlye is he with his congregacyon to ayde them with his worde to bolden them with his sprete to streÌ„gâ—then them with his grace 2 And with him were present an hondreth and .xliiij. thousande hauynge his fathers name written in their fore heades So manye as haue in hart receyued his worde and in faythe digested his veâ—e are the verye chyldren of Abraham and are marked vpp for the sonnes of God by the seale of the holye Ghost 3 For power haue they geueÌ„ theÌ„ to be Gods chyldreÌ„ that beleue in hys name And thys is yt to haue hys name written in their fore heades For their faythe declareth them Gods sonnes Lete thys set Nombre be non impediment to the reader to be taken here for the vnyuersall multitude of the faythfull as well of the Gentiles as of the Iewes that beleueth though yt otherwyse apereth in the .viii. chapter of thys boke For so well ys the Gentile that hath faythe a perfyght Israelyte as ys the Christen Iewe. Yea moche rather was Zacheus for hys faythe iudged Abrahams chylde than was Symon for fulfyllynge the workes of the lawe For God ys not parcyall What so euer he be that feareth hym and worketh ryghtousnesse ys accepted with hym And so ys yt ment here And therfor ys not the differeÌ„ce written here as in the other place but all ys Ioyned in one to coÌ„preheÌ„de all vnder one And as touchynge the equall certente in Nombre both here and there Lyke as yt ys therâ— certeynlye knowne vnto God euen so ys yt here though yt be vnto vs both innumerable and vncertayne Not as concernynge the Nombre yt self but the common vnderstandinge therof in the scripturs For yf the Nombre of one seuenth be an infinite Nombre there moche more of many seuenthes 4 And I harde a voyce from heauen sayth Saynt Iohan which ys all one with the aforeseyd Syon and ys the vnyuersall congregacyon of Christ all clere from the superstycyons af menne For from Syon cometh the lawe of the lorde after Esaye and the worde of God from Ierusalem 5 Thys worde ys as the noyse of manye waters whan yt ys in the mouthes of manye dyuerse peples of dyuerse natyons and languages one not vnderstandynge an other and yet knowynge yt yche peple amonge themselues 6 Verye lyke ys yt also to a great thoÌ„der cracke myghtye feare full and terrible to the fleshe Very harde ys thy worde lorde sayd Christes disciples who is able to abyde yt 7 And the voyce that I harde saith IohaÌ„ was moche after the noyse that the harpers make whan they playe vpon their harpes Full of agrement are the holye scripturs yea full of swete hermonye and concorde More precyouse are the verytes of the lorde than ys golde and their melodye more swete than honye 8 With them reioysed Dauid before the arke of the lorde In theÌ„ toke Paule a stomake and confounded the Iewes at Damasâ—us 9 And swetelye they vttred with their voyces a songe that semed all newe before the seate of the lorde before the .iiii. Beastes and before the auncyeÌ„t elders This songe is the worde of the lorde all newe both to the good aÌ„d to the yll The faythfull it reneweth in the sprete of their myndes prouokynge them to do on a newe maÌ„ne in Christ. The hartes of the vnfaythfull it so hardeneth that they in disdayne and spyght doth call it newe lernynge as ded the ignoraunt multitude at Capernaum and the worldly wyse menne of Athenes 10 Before the seate of the lorde was this songe vttred which is the godlye disposed multitude For lyke as the harte of an hipocrite is the verye seate of sathan so is the hart of a faythfull manne the seate of God and habitacle of the holye Ghost 11 Before the .iiii. Beastes was it opened also by this nomber of godlye teachers Which Beastes are the pryuate congregacions of the lorde remayninge here yet in the fleshe in the .iiii. quarters of the worlde â—â— Finallye before the elders was it songe also For non other doctrine is it nor Gospell of glad tydinges than hath bene sens the begynnynge nor thaÌ„ hath bene thankefullye receyued of owr olde auncetours the Patriarkes the Prophetes the Apostles and the faythfull fathers 13 And no manne coulde lerne that newe songe but the aforesayd hondred aÌ„d xliiii thousande which were redemed from the earthe On mightye wonderfull yea and terrible sentence of the lorde Non that take them selues for the peple of God caÌ„ be accepted afore him for the true sede of AbrahaÌ„ nor for the iust