for hys shousholde seruauntes enioying the swéet coÌ„modyties mencioned in thys booke as pertayning to hys peculyar people 8 Lyke as are the bewtyfull trée of lyfe wyth his manyfolde fruites and leaues of wholsomnesse the swéet running ryuer of the lyuing waters and the holy citye sufficiently discribed afore with such other els None that contendeth for a mastry saith Paule shal be crowned vnlesse hée contende lawfully Arrius toke away from the tenth of Iohn this setence I the father are one Photinus added this clause to the gospell as a voyce froÌ„ the father I giue vnto Iesu his original of Mary And both their inteÌ„tes were to destroy our faith concerning christs godhede lyke as the papystes doth also our iustificacyon in hys bloude vnlesse we haue theyr lowsie masses merites A lyke adiuratioÌ„ to this hath Hireneus in the ende of his octonarie requiring al them that shal coppy out that booke to doo it truly as they will aunswers it béefore god their rightuous iudge In like case doth saint Hierome before the abreuiacioÌ„s of Eusebius chronicle coÌ„mauÌ„d that in anye wyse the veritie therof be dilygently reserued So doth also Cyrillus the Gréeke in the preface of his prophecy vnto Ioachim Abbas desiring the writings therof in no case to be corrupted of il writers which diuers other 9 In confirmatioÌ„ of the I haue sayd afore saith S. Iohn the eternall son of god which hath ratified these former things with his mighty word saith here also as one subscribing to it 10 Yea it is so or els thus Like as thou hast said Iohn shal these blasphemers here after finde it the presumeth eyther to adde or to deminish froÌ„ these scriptures for any carnall purpose 11 And to perform the promyse of thyne I wyll not long tarry I come by by to reward the wicked which swift dampnatioÌ„ for not beleuing the truth For nowe are the last dayes the endes of the worlde yea the very laste houre Ready is the Lord sayth saint Peter to iudge the quicke and dead and the ende of all things is at hande 12 Sainct Iohn hearing this of hys mercifull Lorde and sauiour lifte vp his heade and handes towardes heauen as one desirous of the perfourmaunce of Gods appoynted will and of the full deliuerance of the faythfull he sayde Amen Or be it fulfilled in effect For that is the thing which my soule dayly desireth and inwardly coueteth to the full manifestation of thy glorious kingdome 13 Consequently in the voyce of the whole congregation cryeth Iohn as did Symeon the iust Yea euen so might it be as thou hast here promised that thou mightest come out of hande 14 Oh come most merciful redemer gracious Lord Iesu Christ to iudge the vniuersall worlde Come come or hie thée hether apace to seperate the wheate from the chaffe and the lambes from the Goates so bringing them into thy eternall tabernacle Wo is mée that my banishmeÌ„t endureth so long I dwelling in the tabernacles of the sorowfull My soule hath a thurstie desire for God the fountaine of lyfe Oh whan shall I come and beholde hys face Lyke are we to those faythfull seruaunts which wayte for the return of their Lorde from the wedding very ready to open at his knocking 15 The grace of our mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ sayth saynct Iohn wherby commeth saluation to them that truly beléeueth bée with you all so many as are of that godlye expectation and desire 16 Or the fauour mercy and acceptation of God the father through his blessed death euermore preserue you in the vnitie of his godly spirite that yée may hereafter in this holye citie bée partakers of his gloryous heritage in the worlde to come 17 Let all them say Amen vnto this which myndeth the glory of the Lorde vnfaynedly So be it A conclusion of the vvhole vvorke HEre hast thou good christian reader to thy soules consolation from the eternall Trinitie the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost three distincte persons in one euerlasting godhead the vniuersall estate of the church from Christes ascencion to the ende of the world in wonderfull mysteries discrybed directed vnto thee of him by the most holy Apostle and Euangelist Saint Iohn Wherein it is fully by all due circumstances manifested of the sayde holy Ghost what the innocent Christian church is with all hir iustifications blessings to the singular comforte of the Lords true electes and what the proude Synagoge of Antichrist is with hyr filthy superstitions and plagues to their fore warning also This is specially done here of the sayde holy ghost that no true beleuer should professe him selfe a citizen of this wretched world with Cain Nemroth other reprobate vessels at the execrable doctrine of men but at the pure voyce of God with Abell and Abraham to seeke for that heaueÌ„ly heritage which is purchased for them in Christes bloud Marke heere the condition of Iohn being in most paynefull exile for he in misterie through all this booke representeth euery godly beleuer By this shall ye well knowe in this reuelation the one church from the other for the one is mayntayned by the onely preaching of Gods pure worde the other by all kyndes of Iewishe ceremonyes and heathenish superstitions And by this they also differ that Christ wold haue all of loue Antichrist of tyrannous constraint as euidently appeareth in Mahomete and the Pope For that only cause are many necessary thynges here written in mysterie that they should bee hid from the worldly wyse Hypocrites and that the iust or Gods meeke spirited seruauÌ„ts should aske them of their Lorde in fayth and prayer In the which dayly prayer is that most worthy minister of God Kyng Henry the eight afore all other to thée remembred which hath so sore wounded the beast that he may before his departure or Prynce Edwarde after him throw all his supersticions into the bottomlesse lake agayne froÌ„ whence they haue commen to the comforte of his people The grace and peace dyrected from God the Father his Son Iesus Christ with the holy Ghost in the beginning of this reuelatyon be vnto all them which vnfaynedly loue hys veritie Amen ¶ Printed at London by Thomas East Apoc. 22. 1. Cor. 6. Rom. 12 Apoc. 1. Apoc. 22. Apoc. 4. 1. Iohn 5. Mat. 16. Apoc. 14. Hebr. 7. Apoc. 1. Iohn 7. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 18. Apoc. 15. Ephe. 5. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 17. Apoc. 2. VVhy this booke is called the Image of both churches Apoc. 11. Apoc. 18. 2. Pet. 3. 2. Timo. 3. Eccle. 2. 1. Pet 5. Ephe. 6. A brief sum is this boke of the whol scriptures Luc. 24. Esay 9. Apoc. 21. Ephe. 4. Iohn 16. Hebr. 2. Apoc. 18. Col. 1. Apoc. 4. Apoc 12. Apoc. 21. Ephe. 3. August Apoc. 21. Hier. 50. Iohn 5. Mat. 7. Mat. 13. Rom. 15. Luce. 10. Iohn 21. Apoc. 1. Iohn 12. Apoc. 22. Gilbertus porreâ—a Mat. 25. Lucc 11 Mat. 5. Mark 4. Iacobus faber super Dionisium VVhat
them heard I saying 9. Blessing honour glory and power be vnto him that sitteth vpon the seate 10. And vnto the Lambe for euee more 11. And the fowre beastes said amen 12. And the .xiiii. elders fell vpon their faces 13. and vvorshipped hym that liueth for euer more The Paraphrase 1 Furthermore saith Saint Iohn I saw an infinit host of Angels beholding the face of the heauenly father 2 I heard also the voyce of a great number of them about the throne of God geuing laude and prayse vnto hym and about the beastes and auncient elders For they are not onely the immediate ministers of God but also the seruantes of those men which shall be the heyres of saluation Where â—â—ould they be els than but about them that feare the Lord to sée to them and preserue them in all their wayes lyke as he hath geuen them in commaundement 3 And the number of them was a thousande thousandes or a number beyond our estimation And they cryed with a loude voyce signifiyng in their sort no corporall noyse but for so much as they are but spirits but a vehement zeale of most perfect loue and reioyce for the glory of God the victory of Christ the redempcion delyuerance and helth of man It betokeneth also their excéedinge gladnesse in the openinge of the veritie and conuertion of the sinner 4 Worthy is the most méek Lamb sayd they which was cruelly done vnto death and by his death ouercame the worlde hell death and the deuill to take vpon hym the title of all power heritage wisdom streÌ„gth honour glory and blessing and to be called of all creatures most mightye most rich most wise most valiaunt most worshipfull most gloryous and most blessed conueniente names for the king ouer al. Yea finally to haue â—he vniuersall aucthorytie in heauen and in the earth to gouerne euery where and al to be subiect vnto hym 5 I hard also saith saint Iohn all the creatures that God euer created as the angeles in heauen the sunne the Moone the planites the starres the fyrmament the fyre the water the ayre 6 And all that was vppon the earth as man beast foule fish mountaines valleys welsprings floudes windes wethers times trées herbs fruits 7 And al that was vnder or within the earth as rootes wormes serpentes vermine 8 And all that was in the sea or that moued in the waters with all that are conteined in these eche one in his kinde saying 9 The euerlastinge God whiche sytteth vppon the eternall throne with power and maiestie be euermore blessed worshiptfull gloryous and almightie 10 And vnto the Lambe which is his onely sonne Iesus christ be blessing honour glorye and power from him for euermore And in this al creatures desireth no longer to be subdued vnto the vanitie of the wicked nor yet to serue the same But to be wholy deliuered from the bondage of corruption and in libertie to serue the children of God to the glorye of of hym that made them 11 To this the fowre beastes or al the true seruants of God here liuing answered Amen or so might it be in effect as ye haue desired 12 And the .xxiiij. elders as the patriarks the Prophetes the Apostles with other that hath passed this life fell downe flat vpon their faces they submitted them selues 13 They worshipped lauded and gloryfied him that lyueth for euer and euer one God in thrée persons the father the sonne and the holy ghost This signified the Angels and Sainctes euermore to be ioyous as any thinge is done in the creatures to the manyfest glory of God The sixt Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I sawe vvhen the Lambe opened one of the seales 2 and I heard one of the iiij beastes say as it were the noyse of thunder 3. Come and see 4. And I savve and behold there was a whyte horse 5 and he that sate on him had a bovve 6. and a crovvne vvas giuen vnto hym 7. and hee vvent forth coÌ„quering for to ouercome The Paraphrase 1 COnsequently sayeth sainct Iohn as I was beholdyng these wonders I sawe that the Lambe which is the sonne of God opened the first of the seuen seales declaring the first misterie of the booke These openings betokeneth not onely the manifestation of Gods trueth for seauen ages of the world but also for the .vij. seuerall times and after vij diuers sortes from Christes death to the latter end of the world The first seale was remoued and the mysterie there vnder contayned made open when the Apostles disciples of Christ abouÌ„daÌ„tly replenished with the holy Ghost did coÌ„stantly preach the gospel ouer the vniuersall world 2 And at the openyng of the sayde seale sayeth hée I hearde one of the beasts in shape lyke a Lion by whom are signified the strong witnesses of Gods veritie by constancie of fayth resembling Christ the verie Lyon of the stocke of Iuda whose voice was mightie and strong as it had bene the noyse of a thundering and vehemently it sayde vnto me 3 Come hither and sée drawe nigh and be taught beléeue and thou shalt vnderstand 4 And anon I saw euidently that there was a white horse which signifieth the Apostles and first disciples of Christ for why the scripture doeth so call theÌ„ These horses were white they were made pure rightuous and cleane by Iesus Christ and bare him by their preaching the worlde ouer Such a whyte horse to the glorie of God was Paule whan he beare the name of Christ before the Gentiles the Kings and the children of Israell 5 He that sate vpoÌ„ this white horse which was Christ him selfe had in his hande a bowe which figured the hartes of the foresayd Apostles and disciples out of whom he fiercely seÌ„t foorth the arrowes of his word into his chosen people Their hearts were in his hand for that his verities myght the more effectually passe foorth and the more surely lyght vppon hys elects For without his spirit nothing could they doe 6 From God the father vnto hym was giuen a crown of magnificence honour worthinesse and victorie in his resurrection and ascention 7 And when he had stomaked them by the holy Ghost to shoote foorth hys word without feare he weÌ„t forward with them by his grace conqueryng in them the prince of this worlde in processe of tyme by their doctryne so to ouercome him and all his wycked armie Were the Antichristes neuer so madde torment they neuer so sore slea they neuer so fast Christ wil ouercome them Let them inhibit his trueth and forbid his Gospell take spoyle imprison exyle murther haÌ„g head drowne burne yet wil Christ haue the victorie ouer them though it otherwyse séeme to the fleshly children of darknesse In many couÌ„treis Cities and townes hath Gods word bene taught where as it is now forbidden vnder the payne of death Is Christ therefore the weaker which chose the weake to confounde the strong
readeth they that hear the vvords of the prophecie keepe those things vvhich are vvritten therein 7. for the tyme is at hande The Paraphrase OF Iesus Christ the sonne of the liuing God this is the wonderfull reuelation concerning the diuers and doubtfull estate of the Christian church from the Apostles tyme to the latter ende of the world 2 Which reuelation with all iudgement and power God the euerlasting father hath wholly giuen vnto hym now takeÌ„ vp from the earth glorified and set aboue all the workes of hys handes 3 Euidently to declare yea to make manifest and knowne vnto hys true faythfull seruauntes beleuing in hys words and walking in his wayes the tokens signes marueils which must by hys vnchaungeable ordinaunce shortly in this latter tyme folow in effect without premonishment or warning taken of the wicked sort 4 And the sayd Iesus Christ sittyng on the right hande of the maiestie of God and being muche more excellent then the angels hath according to his former promise sent forth his spirit of truth most specially vnto his déerely beloued Apostle and peculyar dyscyple sainct Iohn the Euangelist not only to deduce him into all knowledge and veritie but also to manifest vnto him the secrete misteries of thinges to come 5 Which Iohn hath already as an earnest doer in his masters cause most constantly wytnessed his eternall godhead in the euerlasting worde against the Hebionites which denied him to com in the fleshe and hath faithfully affirmed his naturall manhode in all that he sawe being conuersaunt with him agaynste Carpocras and Cerinthus which blasphemed the same in the vtter confusion of all such Antichristes 6 Blessed is he saith Saint Ihon which after méeke prayer and godly meditacyon hauinge the gyfte of vnderstanding and grace of interpreting the scripturs doth sincerly faithfully without crafte or coloure publyshe declare the mistycall wordes of thys heauenly prophecye Blessed are they also which in a feruent faith hongeriÌ„g thristinge for the rightuousnes and with Simeon and Anna desirous of the glorye of God doth louingly heare and earnestly marke the wholsome words of the same sayd godly prophecye and that will deligently applye theÌ„ selues to obserue the rules and take the premonishementes of Godly doctrine ther in written 7 For the perelous dayes are come that the disceytfull swarme of Antichrist peruertinge the trueth shal bring the world into pernicious and dampnable errours And the Ieopardous time is at hande that the wrath of god shal be declared from Heauen vpon all vngodlynesse of these seducers that with hold his trueth in vnrightuousensse set hiâ— coÌ„maundementes at nought for their owne vile traditions The texte 1 Ihon vnto the seuen congregacions which are in Asia 2. Grace be vvith you 3. And peace from him wich is and which vvas and which is to come 4. from the seuen spirites which are present before his throne 5. and from Iesus Christe vvhich is a faythfull vvytnesse 6. and fyrst begotten of the dead 7. and prince ouer the kinges of the earthe 8. Vnto him that loued vs and vvashed vs from our sinnes in his ovvne bloud 9. and made vs kinges and Priestes vnto God his father 10. euen vnto him be glorye and dominion for euermore Amen The Paraphrase 1 Iohn the electe Apostle of Iesus Christ sendeth these greatinges to the vii churches or christian congregations which are in the land of Asia the lesse 2 Grace which is the mercy fauour and acceptacion of God be with you 3 And also peace which is the trauquilitie of conscience in them that beleue in Christ dwel euer among you from god the father euerlasting which is essencially in and of himselfe and which was before the constitucion of the world and which shall be after the worlde be finished for euer and euer without ende 4 The same grace and peace agayne be vnto you from God the holy Ghost here mencioned vnder the tytle of .vij. spirites for that he is manifolde and plentuous in gyftes 5 The thyrd tyme also the same said grace and peace be vnto you from the Lorde Iesus Christ the onely sonne of God which being the eternall veritie it selfe was in preaching his Gospell a wytnesse therof both faythful true and perfect and in no wyse could lye that ye should the rather beleue him 6 He was the fyrst of all men that euer were in this mortall nature or body of death recouering againe the fauour of God lost in Adam and that with victory ouer sinne hell deathe and the diuell ascended into Heauen and became in that fleshe glorifyed the sonne of God that ye should bée the bolder of him and the rather take him for your onely aduocate 7 He is also a mâ—ste mighty Lorde ouer the kinges rulers and magistrates of this worlde hauing now all power geuen him in heauen in earth with a wryting vpon his vesture that he is Kinge of Kinges and Lorde of Lords and that of his kingdome ther shall be no ende that the wicked tyrauntes should the rather feare least they féele him a terryble iudge at the latter day 8 For so much as he hath so intyrely loued vs as to be smytten and wouÌ„ded for our offencest and as to geue his lyfe for our wycked wretchednes yea for so much as he of most natural kyndenesse would be cruelly slayne to washe vs purifie vs and clense vs in his owne most innocent bloud from the moste cankred vylenesse of our sinnes to prouoke vs to loue him agayne 9 For so much also as he hath made vs a liuing kingedome to god through fayth in him and consecrate vs priestes to offer vp our bodies by a newe Christian life as a sacrifyce holy and acceptable vnto God his euerlastinge father 10 Unto him wyth the said father with the holy ghost be perpetual praise glorye power and dominyon for euermore Amen The text 1 Beholde he commeth with cloudes 2. and all eyes shall see him 3. and they also which pearsed him 4. And all kynredes of the earth shall vvayle 5. Euen so Amen 6. I am Alpha and Omega the beginninge and the ending sayth the Lorde almightie 7. vvhich is vvhich vvas and vvhich is to come The Paraphrase 1 Take hede for moste certayne it is though Christe in his fyrste comminge as a merciful sauiour apered here vpon earth poore simple ignominious yet shal he in his latter comminge appere in the cloudes of heauen with maiestie power and glorye accoÌ„panyed with the infinite hoste of angels as a rigorous iudge 2 And vpon him shall all eyes looke both man and angell shal behold him and stande before hys terrible iudgemente seate no creature good nor bad exempt 3 Yea thâ—se cruell tyrauntes also shal at that houre appeare befere him which did not only flée his moste innocente body but also
as one mynding thée good to bye of me golde tryed in the fyre Come vnto me with faith and aske in the feruentnesse of soule If thou be féeble harted say Lorde increase my fayth Desire my heauenly word to thy comforte with vnderstanding to perceiue it and know it It is treasure much more precious then golde it is sweetenesse more dulcet thē honie And tryed it is moste pure and cleane by the holy Ghost Thou shalt haue it without payment Thy good harte shall only suffyse mée 11 Diligently procure it that thou mayest be riche in fayth and righteousnesse in the merits of Iesus Christ and in the fauour of God by them and that thou mayest be cloathed in white rayment of innocencie cleannesse not only before men but also before God 12 Be neuer without veritie fayth righteousnesse and charitie with other giftes of the holy Ghost least the filthie nakednesse of hypocrisie and sin for all thy paynted colours appeare to thy confusion Let thyne owne dyrtie merites alone decke thée with the precious deseruings of the sonne of God that thou mayest haue thy sinnes wyped away cléerely forgiuen couered and neuer more imputed vnto thée by him 13 And to auoyde the blyndenesse sée thou anoynt thine eyes thy mind or affection thy iudgement or knowledge with the eye salue of clerenes which is Iesus Christ the swéete smelling oyntment of health 14 Consider that he alone was borne for thée and dyed for thée And take him for thy only wisdome satisfaction holinesse and redemption that thou mayst hereafter sée Let this precious lycour take from thine eyes all filthie corruptiō and whatsoeuer thou shalt hereafter do in word or in déed doe all in the name of that Lorde gyuyng thankes vnto God the father by him For he is the salue that shall heale thée and the lighte that shall cléere thée THE TEXT 1 As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten 2. Bee feruent therefore and repent 3. Behold I stand at the doore and knock 4. If any man heare my voice and open the doore I vvill come in vnto him 5. and vvil suppe vvith him and he vvith mee 6. To him that ouercommeth vvill I graunt to sit on my seate 7. euen as I ouercame and haue sitten vvith my father on his seate 8. Let hym that hath eares heare vvhat the spirite sayeth vnto the congregations THE PARAPHRASE 1 So many as I loue I rebuke earnestly least they shoulde perish with the wicked And those that I fauour I chastē in this life least they should be dampned for euer Woe is the man that hath of me here neither chastisement nor rebuke but is left without restraynte wallowyng in the concupiscence and desires of his fleshe A great signe it is of the indignation of God where as the other is an euident token of loue 2 From henceforth therfore be feruent in the trueth Earnestly embrace it kéepe it and follow it Abhorre thy olde superstitions and repent from the harte that thou haste béene so longe neyther whotte nor colde 3 Beholde I stande at the doore of thy harte as one ready to helpe thy weakenesse And I knocke at the portall of thy conscience as one that would gladly comfort thée I send forth my heauenlye worde to succoure thée lighten thée raise thée vp saue thée 4 If any man with a glad harte wil heare my voyce or the true preaching of my word and opē the doore of his fayth thankefully to receyue it I wil come in vnto him enduing with all spirituall delights as rightuousnesse peace loue and ioy in the holy Ghost 5 Yea to hym shall I make manyfest as to my friend the hidden misteryes of the scripture and secret coūsels of my father And he shall finallie suppe with me and with him in the eternall habitacle of God where no harte can estéeme what hee hath prepared for them that loue him 6 That man which through the earnest zeale of Gods trueth distroyeth hypocrisie and ouercommeth sin wil I admit to reigne with mée in the kingdome of my father and graunt him to sitte with me in the seate of euerlasting peace as a déere member of myne owne body declaring him a tryumphaunt conquerour in mée ouer dampnation hell death and the diuill in a glorified nature 7 Euen as my selfe was before sitting with my celestiall father in the seate of his eternitie And to haue with mée that health that blessyng that ioye that victorie that honour power and glorie that I haue 8 Let him that God hath giuē eare◠vnto apply them to his mynde and marke what the spirite hath héere spoken to the Christen cōgregatiōs for therevpon resteth his lyfe or his death his saluacion or his dampnation The fourth Chapiter THE TEXT 1 After this I looked and behold a dore vvas open in heauen 2. and the first voice vvhich I hearde vvas as it vvere of a Trumpet talking vvith me vvhich sayd 3. Come vp hither and I vvill shevv thee thynges vvhich must be fulfilled hereafter 4. And immediatly I vvas in the spirite 5. and behold a seate vvas set in heauen and one sat on the seate 6. And hee that sate vvas to looke vpon lyke vnto a Iasper stone and a Sardine stone 7. And there vvas a reyne bovve about the seate in sighte lyke a Smaragde 8. And about the seate vvere .xxiiij. seates 9. And vpon the seates .xxiiij. elders sitting 10. clothed in vvhyte rayment 11. and had on their heads crovvnes of golde 12. And out of the seate proceeded lyghtnings and thundrings and voyces 13. And there vvere seuen lampes of fyre burnyng before the seate vvhich are the seuen spirits of God 14. And before the seate there vvas a sea of glasse lyke vnto Christall 15. And in the middest of the seate and rounde about the seate vvere foure beastes 16. full of eyes before and behynde THE PARAPHRASE 1 After thys speciall iniunction of my Lorde and maister Iesus Christ sayth saint Iohn I did cast vp mine eyes towards the skye lifting vp my hart to giue thankes vnto God And anon as I seriously beheld the face of the fyrmament or maiestie of Gods works I saw a doore open in heauē Which was a significatiō to me that God mynded to opē certain high misteries of the scripture hidden secretes concerning his kingdome or church vnto me his simple seruaunt 2 And the first thyng that ascertained me of the same from thēce was a mightie great voyce as it had bene the stoute noyse of a Trompe or the vehement blaste of an horne The which voyce though it were fearfull vnto my fleshe as commonly the commaundement of God is yet was it solatious vnto my spirite for so much as it familiarly talked with mée and sayde these wordes 3 Come thou vp hyther Suspende thyne owne wil wit studie practise and iudgement Condempne that thou hast of nature Lift vp thy self aboue thy self
bodily ease and delightes of the worlde More desirous were they to rest then to labour to sléepe then to worke to take then to giue to bankette then to preache to dally then to dye Then stroue they among them selues for the premacy them sought they ambiciously to raign ouer all Not one Martyr was then among them vnlesse hée were a stynkyng Martyr made amonge themselues But all were confessours For preaching was layd a part and pryde had take vp his roume Yet were they not long without contradiction For then arose heresies and scismes sectes and deuisions and were spred the world ouer lyke as the histories mencioneth The Sabellians Arrianes Eunomyanes Macedonianes Priscillyanes Nestoryanes and Euticyanes then diuersly erred in faith and opynion of the Godhead The Manichées dispysed the olde Testament The Donatistes helde it necessarie to bée rebaptised The Pelagianes taught that men might merit heauen without grace with such lyke Then Scismes were plentuous among bishops euery where In the church of Rome were many alterations about the election much strife diuision was for the Papacie betwixt Liberius and Felix Damasus Urcisinus Bonifacius Eulalius Simachus and Laurencius Bonifacius and Dyoscorus Constantine Philip Eugenius Sisinius Formosus Stephanus Sergius and Christophorus Benedicte and Leo Gregorie and Iohan with dyuers more In the which some were noted of heresie some accused of incontinency some called insolent some Rustical some rude Some were accurssed some deposed some slaundered some exiled some poisoned some strāgeled Some had their eyes thrust out some were most spitefully murthered No colour cautel craft subtiltie nor vyolence vnsought to fulfil theyr mischieuous purpose 1 The Lambe therfore opening the third seale disclosed the mistery therof vnto Iohn 2 Which heard the thyrd beast in simylitude of a man betokenyng suche preachers as hath wysedome in the spyrite saying vnto hym 3 Drawe nygh and perceiue consider and waye 4 And anon hée was ware and behelde a blacke horse in fygure representyng the aforesayde heretiques and vnpure mynisters ambicious Prelates and false teachers full of errours lyes pryde and vncleanenesse Uppon these and suche other rydeth Sathan the world ouer for he is theyr mayster Lord Kyng and father Such Christophers of the diuill were Phassur and Semeias in the olde lawe Annas Cayphas in the new lawe Mahomet and the Pope in our tyme with all such prelates priests Moonks doctours and other spiritual dowsipers as setteth forthe themselues with arrogancie pryde pomp glorie magnificence of this world not sincerely preaching Gods word 5 He which sate vpon that horse or that reygneth in thys congregacion hath in his hande a deceiptfull payre of Balaunces of abhominable iudgements waying all things according to the doctryne of errour and lyes of hypocrites not prouing the spirites whether they be of God or no 6 And after this vision I heard saith sainct Iohan a voyce among the iiij beastes No tyme hathe there bene wherein the faithfull beléeuers and constant witnesses of the veritie in this lyfe hath not resisted the maysters of lyes and confounded their errours preseruing the vndefiled scriptures In those dayes were amonge the Gréekes Origine Eusebius Athanasius Didimus Gregorius Nazianzenus Cirillus Basilius Ioānes Chrisostomus Hisichius Euagrius Ioānes Damascenus Theophilactus And amonge the Latines were Tertulyane Cypriane Lactancius Hilarius Prudencius Ambrosius Hieronimus Augustinus Orosius Sedulius Prosper and Beda with such lyke What though all they in many poyntes haue erred to declare them selues men and least their authoritie shuld be takē among the people aboue the aucthoritie of gods word 7 This is the voyce whyche come from those holy beastes or faythfull seruauntes of the Lorde A measure of wheate for a penny and thrée measures of barly for a penny also The wheat is the new Testament faire pleasaunte and swéete in the eating 8 The barly is the old more grosse heauie and heard of digestion yet is theyr pryce all one So muche in value is the one as the other So precious are the scriptures of the old lawe for the Christian erudicion as of the newe for both they are the worde veritie spyrite and promise of God So perfect also is the one as the other eche grayne in hys kynde considered as the law to cōdempne and the Gospell to saue So necessarie is it to the sinner to knowe hys fall as to sée hys rayse In that the barley is .iij. measures and the wheat but one is signyfied that the old Testament containeth the lawe Psalmes prophecies and the newe the only doctrine of Christ confessyng altogither .iij. distinct persons in one Godheade agaynst the aforesayd heretikes erronious prelates Whensoeuer therfore the dyuill goeth forth with hys blacke horse or deceiptfull doctours to subuerte the wayes of the Lord with his vntrue balaunces of crafty interpretaciōs false iudgemēts in the scriptures attend you to thys voyce of the faythfull fathers and stande by the trueth whyche is the only price of both testaments with Christ which fulfilled the law and commaunded vs to serche the Scriptures and with his Apostles which alledged the same When the figure troubleth you confer it with the verytie and the shadow with the light 9 The dulcet wine and the fragrant oyle sée thou hurte not sayeth the sayde voyce hynder not the word of God whiche is the swéete wine that replenished the hart with gladnesse and the wholsome oyle that comforteth the soule in trouble Delicious it is in aduersytie and solacious in all weakenesse Corrupte not the texte with false gloses take not from vs the swéetnesse thereof defraud vs not of the frutefull Sauour Let the text be whole the sence vncorrupt and the iudgement right And that shall well be if nothyng be added vnto it nor nothinge taken from it THE TEXT 1 An when he opened the fourth seale 2 I harde the voyce of the fourth beast say 3. Come and see 4 And I looked and behold a pale horse 5. And his name that sate on him vvas death 6. And hell follovved after him 7. And povver vvas geuen anto them ouer the fourth part of the earth 8. To kyll vvith svvord and vvith hunger 9 And vvith death of the beastes of the earth The Paraphrase 1 In the fowrth Seale opening is vnder secrete figure mencioned the vniuersall estate of the christen Churche after the increase of the aforesayde heretykes and the raise of the ambicious Prelates And though the Arryanes and Eutycianes with such lyke Heretyks were than put to sylence and all thinges pacyfyed partlye by the publyke power and partlye by the continuall disputations and writinges of the faythfull Doctours and catholyke Fathers yet continued the Bysshops styll in their vanyties and the Prelates in theyr pryde whereby the trueth was blemished and the lyghte had a sore Eclips Daylye they sought
gouernours of the aforesayde monarchyes sedused by a kynds of crafty errours and dyuelysh suggestions of that beast So that if ye marke well this place the head with the tayle and the cause with his effecte in these presente significacions shall no preiudice be founde to that hath bene sayd in the other thoughe they séeme very diuers For both the gouernours and also the landes or the peoples subiect vnto them haue vniuersallye bene blinded by their wylye wichcrafts And so haue the worldlye potentates with the spirituall Antichristes agréede that both they haue vsurped one malignant medlynge ouer the soules of men to corrupte their faith the princes applyinge their powers vnto the same And that causeth the holy ghost here to call them the beastes heades vnder the title of mountaines and kinges For vnder their princely authorities haue al their mischiefes bene fulfilled to vphold this whore against Christ his word 5 Fyâ—e of these heades are fallen from the vniuersal monarchy of Rome All the dominions of Affrica and Asia hath renounced the obedience of hyr Empyre Onely cleaueth Europa vnto hyr which is the least of the thrée and yet not all therof When the Papacy grew the whole Empire of the Gréekes called Constantinople fell cleane from the Latines and became with other diuerse Monarchies the possession of Mahomets sect or of the Agarenes and Turks Of the other Empires may a like coniecture be had Thus haue they declined from hir not so goyng forth nor yet risinge vp vnto Christ for onely is it sayd here that they were fallen 6 And one head is saith the text at this preseÌ„t time remaining the other head is not come as yet but wyl come hereafter This head remayning is the sixt and it is that féeble Empyre that Rome nowe holdeth and haue holden since Iohns time The power of this Empyre is â—uenously deminished and the notable fame thereof decayed betwixt the Popish prelates and the Frenchmen a great part of the lands becomming saint Peters patrimonye To make it a fit head of the beast to the vp holding of this whorishe churche the authorytie thereof maintaining hyr lawes Gregory the fift pope committed the emperours chosing vnto vi princes of Germany thrée of them being Archbishops He appoynted also the King of Bohem for the seauenth then beinge tributarye vnto hym and hys owne féede man as an odde person to waye vpon their sides if néede place and time should require it Prouided alwayes that he shoulde take hys oth and receiue hys crowne Imperiall at Rome So that now though it styll be the same in title that it was in Iohns dayes yet is it so diuers from it through diminishmeÌ„t of power and so vnlyke in outwarde magnificence as it neuer had ben the same 7 The seuenth heade that is not yet come is the papistical kingdom of our romish spiritualti for therfore apéered nothing in Iohns time nor yet more then v. hundred yeares after it The Bishops of Rome as they call them from Péeter to Siluester were very poore soules simple creatures men not regarded but dispised of the worlde They were no new law makers for the more parte but rather they gaue their whole dilligeÌ„ce to sée those lawes obserued whoÌ„ the holy ghost had made to their handes Neither were they any masse saiers soule singers or procession goers but as was S. Paul with the other Apostles simple preachers onely and for their sincere preaching thei suffered the death of their bodies But after the donation of ConstaÌ„tine and other plentuous almses committed vnto their handes for the soccoure of the poore they became al confessers and toke them to their ease at home Then was labour verye tedious vnto them preaching veri troublous painful Then studied they all to please the powers peacablye to holde sâ—yll theyr pleasaunt possessions and by spiritual policies to increase theÌ„ more more the poore in a maner forgotten Then came in that holy ceremony and that with latine houres seruing of saints and praying for the deade to prouoke men to offer to Corban Thus crepte they vp in hypocrysie day by day tyll such time as Iohn of Constantinople contended with Gregory of Rome for the supreâ—â—â—e In the which contencion though Gregory laied for hymselfe saint Péeters keies with many other sore arguments and reasons yet was he commaunded by Maurcius the Emperoure after the generall Synode to obey the saide Ihon as the vniuersall head bishop of the whole world Then were these holi fathers compelled to tarry a laisure and vnder crafty coloures to wayte their pray In processe of time when Phocas was Emperour Bonifacius the iii a man of wilâ— practise perceiuing hym much to be geuen to vaine glory couetuousnes greatly also to dissalow the actes of Mauricius his predecessour thorugh flattery and mede obtained of him that the churche of Rome should be holden from theÌ„ce forth for the head church of the world and he for the head bishop Whan this was once gotten than rose they vp so high that the Emperour became their foote stoole and all other christian princes their waiting slaues to ryde and run make and marre striue and fight slea and kill at their commaundemeÌ„t and pleasure Thus became the Romish Pope the seauenth Kinge that was in Iohns time yet to come If the marke in the Cronicles good Reader thou shalt finde that Phocas the first Pope maker slew his master the Emperour Mauricius signifiyng in mysterye the sayde Pope making to be an vtter destruction to the Empyre The Popes name was also at that time Bonifacius whiche is as muche to say as Bonafacies a good face Which betokeneth that this new raysed kingdome shoulde shew a fayre face euermore or a shining preteÌ„ce of holynes what mischiefe so euer it wroughte eyther agaynst God or man in abhominable supersticion 8 And whan this seauenth Kinge commeth sayth the text he must continue a space or abide a litle season He muste haue a time by the permission of God strongly to delude the vnbeléeuers which wyll neither sée nor heare reade nor yet thankfullye receiue hys worde of saluation so graciously offered them So corrupt are the fleshly affects of men that much more prone they are to lies superstitions than to the verytie of the Lord which is to be lamented Christe came first in the name of hys heauenlye father but hym wyll they nor receiue The Pope commeth in hys owne wycked name and to hym runne they by heapes Whose continuaunce here hath bene but a time For yet is it not a thousande yeares since the Papacy first beganne vnder Phocas which is but as a day before God and that day wyll he shorten by hys owne promise for his elects sake whiche to remember is their greate comforte And a great cause whye For soone after that shal they be fully restored into the persight number of the children of God 9 And the execrable beast sayth the text that of late
shal she appeare as the beautiful bride prepared to the spouse accompanyed with the wise maydens the vnwyse neither hauing oyle nor light for euer reiected THE TEXT 1 And he sayde vnto me 2. Write 3. Happye are they which are called vnto the Lambes supper 4. And he sayde vnto me 5. These are the true sayings of God 6. And I fell at his feete 7. To vvorship him 8. And he sayde vnto me 9. See thou doe it not 10. For I am thy fellovv seruant 11. And one of thy brethren 12. And of them that haue the testimonye of Iesus 13. Worship God 14. For the testimony of Iesus 15. is the spirit of prophesie The Commentarye 1 And the Angell sayth saint Iohn which shewed vnto me afore the fall of the great whore sayde at this present time vnto me 2 Seriouslye register this sentence followynge that it may remayne to their comforte whiche shall followe thée 3 After a most happye and fortunable sorte are they blessed whiche hauing the wedding garmente the pure fine raines afore named are graciously prdestinate called and accepted of the heauenly father vnto the euerlasting supper of the vndefiled Lamb Iesus Christ there to perticipat with him the eternall refection both of soule body Satisfied shall I be saieth Dauid without end when thy glory shal manyfestly appeare Not of corruptible meates and drinkes shal this supper be but of vncorruptible delightes and of pleasures that shall neuer fayle Nothing shal be there prophane voide or vncomely but al things pure clean true stedfast godly perfect TheÌ„ shal the méetinges be heauenly and the clippinges wtout deformity The bride shal at that day reioyce with hir euerlasting spouse and the daughters of Sion shal beholde the true Salomon in full glorye accompained with hys holye how shoulde of Angelles and Saintes 4 And the aforesaide Angell sayeth S. Iohn sayd thus vnto me 5 These words whiche I last tolde thée frinde Iohn are not mine but they are the true sayings of gods owâ— mouth So much the rather they are to be beleued as most certayne and sure that they are of hym whosâ— vniuersall language is the veâ—itie â—nfayned 9 As I heard the Angell speake thus vnto me saith saynt Iohn I fel down by and by at hiâ— fete flat vpon the grounde myndynge to haue worshypped hym So wonderfull wer the secretâ—â— of god whome he ther declared vnto me and the misteries so ioyful vnto my soule that in a maner I clearly forgote my selfe 7 〈◊〉 hand I was at the poynt to haue worshipped the messeÌ„ger for the Lord and the Angell for the Laâ—be otherwise thâ—â— did Abraham not of ignoraunce but of forgetfull reioysing 8 But in no wise would the Angell suffer me so to doe but gently he sayd thus vnto me 9 Se thou do no such homage vnto me a creture as peculiarly belongeth vnto god the creator of all So great is thy selfe and such as thou art I am so excellente a creature of God Trueth it is that I am the aungel of the Lorde and so are you also so many as beare witnes of the same veritie 10 And as concerninge myne owne persone I am but thy felowe seruaÌ„t For he that is â—hy god is also my god and he that is thy Lord and master is also mine Indifferently are we bothe created for his seruauntes and admitted for his messengers 11 Of thy bretheren am I one by creation 12 So am I also both a brother and felow of al them that haue the faithful testimonie of Iesus For like as they by his godly appointment are messengers thereof to the world so am I now vnto thée here for the same 13 worship not me therefore which am but a creature but worshippe thy Lord god for sending by me this message of health vnto thée Though Loth Iacob Iosue Gedion Tobias other fathers of the olde law gaue worship vnto the Angels whom God sente vnto them in message yet shalte thou not do so vnto me now considerynge that at thys tyme Gods sonne hath taken the nature of man hath raised it from death hath sette it vpon the fathers right hand and therin hath sent from thence the spirite of reconciliation vnto men By thys are ye become no longer in feriours vnto vs but equall with vs infauour and dignitye No loÌ„ger are ye strangers foreners but citizens of heauen and the very househould chyldren of God 14 And as for the testymony of Iesus Christ which both I vnto you you to the world haue to vtter it is the very sprit of prophisi on message of helth committed vnto vs both The true spirit of god it is that beareth witnes of Christ both in the law prophets for none can saye that Iesus is the lord but in the holy ghost and in that spirit do we nowe make mencion also of him This is the spirit of adoptioÌ„ wherby ye ackonwledge god for your deare father Thys spirit assertaineth your spirit that ye are become his children beleuing in hys name 15 And in this spirit do I admonishe thée Iohn by this presente ReuelatioÌ„ which is a Prophicy in thée al them that haue the same faith to acknowledge worshyp and confesse the sayde Iesus Christ as we do nowe for the onely Lord sauiour of the world Not only shalt thou be by the plaine manifestation of thys prophesye an Angel but also by an excellent prerogatiue of singuler grace aboue all thy felowes a Ppophete After the maner of this Angel dyd Paule Barnabas vtterlye refuse to haue honour geuen them of the people at Listra Peter would in no case suffer Cornelius the noble Centurion to worshype hym Contrarywise the Antichrist of Rome not onely suffereth but also commaundeth straightly such homage of honour euermore to be geuen to his holy fatherhood Yea he is not ashamed to coÌ„straine noble Emperours to kâ—sse hys filthy féete kings with cappe knée to holde hys steroppes and the greatest princes of the world to wayte vpon his Mule Great pardons hath he geuen to the worshyppinge of Idols and of olde rotten bones threatning most terrible death vnto them that would not at his commaundement do the same At Geneua was honorablye worshypped an Asses tayle and at Tholosa a young boyes shoo great in dulgences graunted vnto them both But let not him and his mitred Mahomets thinke easely to auoyde the indignation so God whan he shal call them to accountes wyth theyr craftye distincton of Latria Dulia and hyperdulia whom the scripture knoweth not Notwythstanding in this is not vtterly inhibited mutual reuerence betwixt man man for so much as Paul willeth the faithful to preueÌ„t eche other in honor geuing Necessary it is that they first honour God and then for his sake that they procecute their neighbours with such christen beneuolence as the comlines of humanity requireth The gospel neuer forbiddeth such politike maner as norisheth mutual frendship yet â—oth it not geue them