ascend in soule by the spirite and power of God and I will shewe vnto thée thinges wonderfull and such as must without fayle be fulfilled in euerie poynte hereafter by the vnuariable ordinaunce of God 4 And as it had bene in a thought I was sodenly by the Lordes power taken vp I was in the spirit in déed secluded frō all carnal imaginatiōs 5 And anon I was ware of a beautifull seat prepared in heauen which moued mee to consider that before the constitution of the world almightie God had appoynted by his spirite to raygne in his faithful church For I sawe that one sate vpon that seate as vpon the beautifull throne of his glorie No where els raigneth God but among his chosen people Hée dwelleth not in Temples made by hand he resteth not in houses of mās preparation Is the kingdom of God any where els thē within man Hath God any Temple that hee more fauoureth then mans faithfull harte 6 And he that gloriously sate vpon that comely seate was lyke by all similitude to a Iasper stone and resembled also a precious stone called a Sardine Betokening that his raign is durable strong his power firme and invariable his glorie cléere and precious and that he him selfe is as the red Iasper beautifull and orient and as the gréene Sardine freshe fayre and neuer fading that man shuld euer be desirous of him Whose will to consider is our felicitie and whose pleasure to folow is our perfectnesse 7 And there was a fayre raynbow about that glorious seate in sighte like a smaragde or an Amarald stone Which signifieth his perpetuall couenaunt of peace loue to all them that haue fayth which are so deare vnto him as is the apple of hys owne eye or as that thing which hee desyreth most And no lesse precious the sayde couenaunt is then the fresh Ameralde with his amorous hew and beautifull shewe of loue that wée should the rather couette it For nothing is more auydyously to be desyred then is the swéete peace of God 8 And about that excéedyng fayre seate or empyre of the Lorde were xxiiij other meane seates appointed which put me anon in remembraūce of charitie pacience stedfastnesse loue ioy peace temperance iustice knowledge of god méeknesse other fruites of fayth with innumerable giftes of the holie ghost wherein the seruauntes of God hath afore tyme and still doeth continually rest elders or notable auncient men sitting Which séemeth vnto me to be Abell and Noe Abraham Dauid Moyses and Helyas Ioseph Iohn Baptist the Prophets and Apostles the Preachers Martyrs with such other lyke To whom Christ promised in the regeneration to sitte with him vpon xij seates iudging the xij tribes of Israel These set numbers in the scripturs of xxiiij or of .xij. such lyke noteth certaintie in the promisse of God towards them which are in themselues without number 10 And the foresayd elders or men of rype discretion were cloathed in white rayment or apparell of innocencie according to the commaundement of the holye Ghost For their works were pure and cleane before God rysing only of fayth and were neuer defyled with the filthie traditions of men 11 They had also vpon their heads as myghtie rulers and gouernours crownes of fyne golde in token that they had héere the gouernance in his worde and shall hereafter be partakers with Christ in his heauēly kingdome and glorie 12 Great is the maiestie of the trone of God and the power muche For from his heauenly seate into the vniuersall world procéeded lightnings and thunderings and voyces which are the manyfolde and dyuers respectes of his worde For a fearfull lightenyng it is when it rebuketh throweth downe and condempneth the sinner It is a terrible thundering when it feareth threateneth and commaundeth thynges contrarie to the fleshe And it is a solacious voyce agayne when it rayseth reléeueth and quickeneth the desolace conscience with comfortable promises And full is all the scripture of these which commeth from Syon and the swéete worde of God whyche commeth from Hierusalem 13 And there were seuen lampes of flamyng fyre burnynge before the sayde trone of God which are the seuen spirites of God or the vniuersall giftes of the holie ghost prefigured in the scriptures by the seuen lightes of one Candelsticke the vij eyes of one stone and by vij hornes and eyes also of the lambe These shewe light euermore before Gods sight The church without them in no wyse can be the trone of God 14 And before the sayd seate there was as it had béene a sea of glasse a plentifull vnderstanding of the veritie fyrst giuen vnto Christ by the father and then vnto the church or cōgregation by the spirite of Christ. And this sea was lyke vnto a Christall cléere beautifull and pure without any corruption of humaine fantasies 15 In the middest of that heauenly seate in the circuite of the same were iiij beastes séene of diuers nature and shape not signifying the iiij greater Prophetes nor yet the iiij Euangelistes as no small number of doctors hath fantasied but rather the vniuersall number of all faithful beleeuers earnest setters foorth of the veritie in the foure quarters of the whole world And this may be gathered by the noyse of their wings in Ezechiel by their crying of sanctus sanctus sanctus by their shewing of mysteries of the opened seales of the booke as héereafter foloweth By whom are to be vnderstande the sincere openings of Gods word and the continuall praysing of his glorious name These beastes are in the middest of the seate or congregation of God when they teach them and exhorte them to persist in the trueth They are also in the circuite of the same when they diligently labour to defende them from the doctryne of diuils and errours of hypocrites 16 These beastes were full of faire eyes before and behinde Which is a cléere knowledge in the mysteryes of Gods word The sincere fauorers of Gods heauenly truth doth sée many wonderful things and know many secrete maruels not only concerning matters past but also of iudgements to come So many eyes haue they as they haue perceyued veryties For they once made spirituall by fayth discerne all things They are taught of God And the holy ghost doeth lead them into all trueth THE TEXT 1. And the first beast vvas lyke a Lyon 2. The second beast lyke a Calfe 3. and the third beast had a face lyke a man 4. and the fourth beast vvas lyke a flying Egle. 5. And the foure beasts had eche one of them sixe vvings 6. And round about vvithout and vvithin they vvere full of eyes 7. And they had no rest neyther day nor night saying Holy holy holy is the Lorde God almightie vvhich vvas and is is to come 8. And vvhen those beastes gaue glorye and honour and thankes to him that sate on
the sweate thâ—re of the labouring man nor deuour the poore widdowe fathereesse for strayning out a gnat 14 The continual light of lampes before the high aulter the burning cressettes at triumphes in the night the torches at burials solempne processions tapers at high masses and the candels at offeringes shall neuermore burne in thy sinful sinagog 15 No more shal the bridgrome desyre after thy folish ordenaÌ„ce to be Ioyned to his wife nor the bride to hir lawfull husbande No more shal that frée state of liuing be bound vnder yoke of daÌ„pnable dremes neyther for vowes vnaduised nor for popish orders nor yet for any gossiprye but be at full lyberty as the Lord hath ordained it No commodities prophets nor pleasures shalt thou haue any more of these nor yet of such like as afore time thou haste had of them in habundance 16 For thy mitred marchaunts were sumtime princes of the earth whan they reigned in their roialty Thy shorn shauelinges were Lordes ouer the multytude whan they held their priestly authority ouer the soules bodies of men 17 Yea and with thy priuy legardemaine with thy iugling castes with the craftes and inchauntmentes of thy subtile charmes were all nacions of the world deceyued With lies in hipocrisy were the great gouernours most miserably blinded with errours in supersticion the coÌ„mon people seduced And all was to satisfye thy voluptuous affectes Only remayneth to thée nowe the dwe rewarde of thy wickednesse which is an euerlasting dampnacion 18 All this is said here saith the holy Ghoste for that in this aduoutrous church is found the great slaughter of innocentes 19 Gilty appereth she afore God of al the blod of the holy prophets of the olde lawe As were Esaye Hieremy Ezechiel and Amos. 20 And of the sincere witnesses of the new lawe as were Steuen Iames Antipas and Paule 21 Yea and of all those Godly men that were slaine vpon earth from rightuous Abel vnto the end of the world for the faithfull testimony of God Among whom may they also be numbred which hath in battayles skirmyshes and vprores at the Popes appoinment in all Christian regions bene vnmercifully murthered for the fulfilling of his insacyable purpose The xix Chapter NOw foloweth in course the conuenyent prayse of thankesgiuing vnto God for rightuously condempnyng the blasphemous church of Antichrist and for graciously auenging the innocent bloud of his true seruaunts Here are two maner of peoples to be considered of whom the one is sorowful the other reioyseth all about one matter The fall of this malignauÌ„t church is to the one sorte a discomforte to the other a heauenly comforte The kings the merchaunts and the shippe gouernours of the earth most dolorously lamenteth the distruction of their mad vanities The vnregarded or forsaken number of those simple soules yâ— faithfully beleueth in Christ ar highly glad of it for his gloryes sake About thys one decay cryeth the one sort wo wo wo. The other sort singing wyfully in their harts vnto God so oft tymes Alleluia So much dyffreth the one from the other the children of darkenes froÌ„ the children of light they that séeke their owne glory from them that séeke the glory of god Not vnlike is Iohan vnto Aggeus Zacharias other holy prophetes which both shewed afore of the peoples return from the myserable captiuity of the Babilonians and also the réedyfying agayne of their new Hierusalem For here hath he first shewed the distructioÌ„ fal of the daÌ„nable whore the spirituall Babilon which manye yeres hath greuously vexed the people of God and now in this chapter their peaceable time in the Lord. Now are the precious vessels of God like to be restored into the temple the great Balthasar of Rome once ouerthrowen Now shall the swéet peace grow the plentuous quiet increase the pastures of the Lord waxe fat and the mightie verity of his worde flowe like a swéet running floud THE TEXT 1 And after that I heard the voice 2. of much people in heauen 3. sainge Alleluia 4. Saluation 5 glory 6 and honour 7 and povver 8 be ascribed vnto the Lord our God 9. For true and rightuous are his iudgementes 10. bicause he hath iudged the great vvhore 11. vvhich did corrupt the earth vvith hir fornication 12. and hath auenged the bloud of his seruaunts of hir hand 13. And agayn they sayde Alleluya The Commentary 1 After the destructioÌ„ of that whorish BabiloÌ„ which singnyfieth the wicked church I heard saith Saint Iohn in mistery the reroysing voyce of muche people in heuen which is that congregacion of faith wherin the Lord resteth 2 Uerye many were there amonge them which ioyously gaue thanks vnto God 3 Pronouncing this Hebrue senteÌ„ce Alleluia which is so much to sai as let vs together praise the Lordes name 4 Only is saluacion health deliueraunce of him Unto none other it is to be ascribed neyther in heauen nor in earth be there neuer so godly doers 5 Inestimable glorye vnspeakble honour incomprehencyble power belongeth vnto that Lord our God so doth the dewe commendacion thereof 6 He it is that only oughâ— of vs to be praised obeyed and magnified 7 For he alone hath ouerthrown the dragoÌ„ the beast and the glittring whore that deceyued all the worlde that proude churche of stynkeynge Sodomytes 8 And this hath he done for our saluacion Referre all the prayse vnto hym as to your conquerour most worthye 9 For verely moste true and perfecte is he in his merciful promises moste rightuous and iust in his godly iudgementes which hath bene of late most euydently séene 10 Specially in that he hath iudged according to his former promis the abhominable harlot the superstycyous church of Antichrist the filthy famelye of spiritual whoremongers gluttoÌ„s hypocrytes yea the execrable Sinnagog of Sathan in déede 11 Which hath most miserably corrupted not the true seruantes of God but the very earth or such men as were earthly mynded with hyr filthy fornycation of Idolatry superstition blasphemy 12 That mercifull Lorde hath most rightuously auenged the innocent bloud his faithfull seruauntes and constant witnesses of hir wicked hande From the tirryble crueltie spight and vyolence of hyr vnmercyfull ministers hath he graciously deliuered them 13 Yet once againe saith saint Iohn did this godly minded multitude break foorth into the prayse of God and cryed with a most ioyfull shought Alleluya or commeÌ„dation without end be vnto our most heauenly creator redéemer and comfortour Hys laude be euermore in our mouth for thus restoring his veritie the enimies thereof deposed THE TEXT 1 And smoke rose vp for euermore 2. And the xxiiij elders 3 and the foure beastes 4. feldovvne 5. and vvorshipped God that sate on the seat 6. saying Amen 7. Alleluya 8. And a voyce came out of the seate 9. saying 10. Prayse our Lorde God 11. all ye that are his seruauntes 12. and yee that feare him both small and great The Commentary 1 And the
vnto Idols THE TEXT 1 And I savv heauen open 2. And beholde a white horse 3. And he that sate vpon him 4. VVas called faithfull and true 5. And in rightuousnesse did he iudge 6. And make battell 7. His eyes vvere a flama of fyre 8. and on his head vvere many croâ—vnes 9. And he had a name vvritten 10. That no man knevv but him selfe 11. And he vvas clothed vvith a vesture dipt in bloud 12. And his name is called the vvord of God The Commentarye 1 After this sayeth Saint Iohn I saw heauen open Uery euident were the misteries of the Lorde vnto me I perceiued that through fayth méeknesse great knowledge men might haue of the secrets of God Open is heauen euermore when gods word is fréely taught And closed vp it is again when that is layd aparte 2 And behold a pure white horse appeared in this misterye whiche betokneth the true ministers or perfecte preachers of the Apostles doctrine as is mencioned afore in the sixt chapter hereof the godly nature of these is as is specified in Paule to carry the gloryous veritie of the Lorde the worlde ouer and to publishe it before the gouernours and peoples of the nations 3 He that sate vpon this white horse or assisted these preachers by his spyrite was the eternall sonne of God whiche hath euermore bene called in the scriptures faithful of hys promise and true of his worde Rightuous is Lorde saith Dauid in all his waies sure of his sayings perfect in all his workes 4 None other thing could he teache but the veritie which was the veryty it selfe nor yet they whiche had hys godly spirit 5 Accordinge to true equitie hath he iudged in vtterly condemning by his word the proude sinagog of sathan in exalting againe his owne méeke spirited church 6 First in his owne person as a mightie warriour did he battayle with the Diuell and by his death oâ—ercame him Now by his faithfull preachers doth he rightuouslye ouerturne his kingdome by vertue of the same graciously sending them forth in this latter age vnder the â—ipe of this white horse For horses of lustty courage are his faithfull seruantes after Abacuk Yea and whiter are they then eyther snow or milk by theyr true beléefe after Ieremy I sayth the Lord which am the word of rightuousnesse do valianaly battaile to saue you For none other purpose fighteth he but to the intent to preserue his elects 7 The eyes of this horseman were as the pure flame of fire effectuall mighty and cleare And these are not onely his godly vnderstanding knowledge wherby he perceiueth decerneth and iudgeth clearly al thinges but also the vniuersal graces of the holy ghost Upon one sure stone saith Zachary whoÌ„ Paule calleth Christ shall be seauen eyes which are the seauen spirits of god With these eyes lightneth he the herts of godly men and kindleth their mindes to the true loue of God Hys worde is a lanterne to their féete a light to their pathes Pure is his commandement geuing clearnesse to the sight Open thou mine eies lord saith Dauid then shal I wel perceiue the wonderfull misteries of thy doctrine 8 Upon his head saith S. Iohn were also many beautifull crownes like as were before in figure vpon the heade of Iosedech the high priest in token yâ— christ is the high king ouer al worlds regions and ages For he is the Lord of hostes the eternall king of glorye he was constitute a principall gouernour our Sion the holy hyl of the lord He geueth prosperitie to kings and hath their victori in his hands In him as in their head haue all his elect meÌ„bers their crowns Both with mercy shal he crowne them and also with longe kindenesse For Peter hath he laid vp a crowne of incorruptible glorye for Iohn a crown of lif for Paul a crown of rightuousnes so forth For the whole conflict victori and triumphe of the saints is of him alone 9 He had a special name written or eternally of god his father appointed whose excellent maiestie no creature vnderstanding was able of his owne industry to comprehende Omnipotent was this name maruelous honorable holy and terrible Adonay Emanuel a name of saluation a name aboue al names Yea the Lord was his name or the Lord our rightuous maker 10 No man knoweth this name saue he him selfe onely and they to whom he hath shewed it Neyther fleshe nor bloâ—d gentill nor Iewe hipocryte nor false christian hath rightlâ— knowdn it No though they haue said lord lord For none caÌ„ say ioyntly that Iesus is the lord but in the holi ghost which openeth al godly veritie In this name is registred the elect number of gods adoptiue childreÌ„ whoÌ„ the world doth not know for hys nor neuer wil do 11 And this lord was beutifully adorned with a vesture faire comely but it was al dipt in blood soÌ„ haue takeÌ„ this garmeÌ„t for his rightuousnes wherin hath appeared all auengementes ouer his enimies Som haue supposed it to be his churche all bloudy in his martires and constant witnesses But vpon their side am I which haue takeÌ„ it for his flesh for that did he on as a vesture So sore hath that vesture ben stryped and so gréeuoâ—slye-wounded that from the sole of the foote to the ouermost part of the head was no whole place in it This mighty capitayne is he which came from Edom and Bosra his clothes be sprinkled with red His apparell is all spotted much lyke vnto his raiment that treadeth in the wine presse For his mortall nature suffered most paynefull death Alone trâ—de he downe the wine presse in thâ—se dayes had no maÌ„ to help him Alone was he wounded for our offences alone were our punishmentes laid vpoÌ„ him with whose strips we ar now heled 12 And his name saith s. Iohn besids that is spoken afore is the eternal word of god He is called the word which was in the beginning which god which furnished the heuens aboue which ordered al thiÌ„gs beneth now last of al toke flesh restoring lightning quickning heling sauing all them that truly beleueth in him THE TEXT 1 And the warriours vvhich were in heaueÌ„ 2. follovved him 3. vpon vvhyte horses 4. clothed vvith vvhite and pure silke 5. and out of his mouth vvent a sharpe svverd 6. that vvith it he should smite the HeatheÌ„ 7. And he shal rule them vvith a rodde of yron 8. and hee trode the vvine fat of the fiercenesse 9. of the vvrath of almightie God 10. And hath on his vesture 11. and on his thigh a name vvritten 12. king of all kings 13. Lord of all Lords The commentary 1 The valiaunt warryours or constant ministers which were in heauen or in the holy housholde of faith dyd follow him in a comely order vpoÌ„ faire white horses 2 Accordyng to his scriptures dyd they lead their conuersation After the rules of hys godly discipline dyd they liue
they comprehended whych hauynge the wisdom of the spirite inflameth other wyth it prouokinge them thereby to the loue of god their neyghbour Thus did Moyses and Esay Barnabas and Paule in whome the glorye of the Lorde apeared plentiously 13 The eight was of a Berall which is of a pale grene coloure betokening those faithfull persones whych of christiaÌ„ compassion hath dolorously lamented the fall of theyr brethren Of this godly natur was Steuen which prayed for them that stoned him to death So was afore hys tyme Samuell whych mourned for Saul whan hée sée hym cast out of the Lordes fauour 14 The nynth was of a Topaze whych hath in hym the colours of all other stones And thys signifyeth theÌ„ whych are with all vertues adourned Lyke as was Daniell the man of desires and Iohn the Euangelist which wrote thys present prophecy whom Christ much loued The clere workes of these and such other wolde hée to shyne vnto men that by them the father might be glorifyed 15 The tenth was of a Chrisoprasos whose condicion is to shyne lyke gold and yet he is gréene in sight Suche are they whych hauing godly wysdoÌ„e vttereth it accordinge to the tallent geuen them of the Lorde thereby renewing the dull spirites of other vnto heauenly things Among this sort may Ezechiell be numbred which saw many wonderful visions so may SimeoÌ„ and Anna in the Gospell 16 The eleueÌ„th was of a Iacinct which is in coloure lyke vnto water spred ouer with bright sonne beames And this betokeneth those that are baren from the â—cience and learninge of this worlde and yet haue knowledge from aboue Uery Idiots appeare they in the sight of men and yet are they taughte of God to disclose most wonderfull secrets Of this sort were Oseas Iohel and Amos wihch was but a poore shepard with the other inferiour prophets And so were Andrew Philip Thomas with the other Apostles and Disciples 17 The twelft was an Amatist purple violet rose coloured And this betokneth them that are feruent méeke and constaunt in the Lords truth and that hath bene alwaies ready to shed their bloud for it Such were the vnbrethren in the Machabées with their most faithfull mother So was also Iames the more and Antipas the faithfull witnesse with other disciples martirs None can shewe a more token of loue than he which giueth vp his lyfe for his friends This sort dyd Christe proclaime altogether blessed sayde that the kingdom of heauen was their own Thus signifieth these xii foundatioÌ„s that the godly ministers of Christes congregation haue builded vpon him according to the diuers graces which god hath geuen theÌ„ some gold some siluer some precious stones But they that haue brought vnto this building tiÌ„ber hay or stubble which are customes tradicions dum ceremonies or els worldly honors riches voluptuous plesures are not in this heauenly number admitted Figured are these foundatioÌ„s in the precious stones which were in the brest flap of Aron that hye priest in the preious decking of the king of Tirus necessary shal it be for him that will more largely know the natural properties of theÌ„ to resort vnto Plinius in the xxxvii Booke of his naturall historye or vnto Bartilmew de proprietatibus reruÌ„ for the vnderstanding of misteries vnto S. Hierom vpon the liiii chap. of Esay or vnto Beda Haymo Costasy BacoÌ„â—horpe Elyne Tilney such other as hath written great works vpon the apocalips Ynough is it for vs to shew you after the minde of S. Augustin these stones to signifie the diuers graces of the holy ghost For all these thinges doth one spirit of the Lord work deuiding seueral gifts vnto euery maÌ„ at his pleasure which ar not wtout their preciousnes beuty excelleÌ„t glory as will appere in the glorius day of the childreÌ„ of god The Text. 1 And the tvvelue gates vvere xii pearles 2. And euery gate vvas of one pearle 3. And the streat of the citie vvas pure golde 4. As a thorough shining glasse 5. And I savv no temple therein 6 For the Lorde God almightie and the Lamb is the temple of it 7. And the citie hath no neede of the sunne neither of the moone to lighten it 8. For the brightnesse of God doth lighten it 9 And the Lamb is the light of it 10. And the people vvhich are laued shall vvalk in the light of it 11. And the kings of the earth shall bring their glory vnto it 12. And the gates of it shall not be shut by day 13 For there shall be no night there 14. And ther shal enter into it none vnclean thing 15. Neither vvhatsoeuer vvorketh abhominatioÌ„ or maketh lies 16 but thei which are vvritten in the Lambes Booke of life The Commentary 1 Consequently saith the Angel vnto Iohn the xii gates or openinges into this citie were twelue fayre pearls For dilectable and precious is the doctrine of the gospell whereby men doe enter into the kingdome of God on euery side or in euery quarter age of the world 2 And euery gate by him selfe was of one pearle like as were the foundations of one precious stone euermore in their kindes In token that the verytie of Christ is whole perfect vnbroken in it selfe lyke as is his cote without seame A speciall commodyty is it in cities to haue their gates stroÌ„g and bewtifull And so is it in the kingdome of God that they which open vnto rightuousnesse be more feruent in the truth and of a more sincere life thaÌ„ the residue For they shoulde be both the salte of the earth and lighte of the world Though these gates be many yet haue they but one entraunce for eche one of them is but of one pearle But one mediatour is there betwene God and man which is Iesus Christ None maye come vnto the father but by hym onely Alone is he the dore the waye the verytie lyghte life 3 And as concerning the cytie within the great strete thereof was as of pure golde so fyne fayre and cleare all the bryght shining glasse that maye be séene through without any maner of impediment or dymnesse Thys strete is the large commynalty or the sayntes whom the father of heauen by his power made of froward stones the perfect children of AbrahaÌ„ whan he couched them here togyther in the verity of one christian fayth shall here after ioyne in such perfectioÌ„ of loue as possible can not be dissolued 4 Precious are they here through fayth in Christes bloud and there shal they be pure both in loue and lyfe incorruptible Oure reioyse sayth saint Paule is not in carnall wisdome but in the greate grace of God in singlenesse of hart in a sincere fayth Your glorye are we euen as you are ours also in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ. 5 In this glorious citye sawe I no temple builded saith Iohn for the Lord God almighty which is the eternall father and
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
nothing thou estéemest the pryde the ryches the vayne glorie and the wanton desires of this worlde yet arte thou rych for the kingdome of heaueÌ„ is thyne For with Abraham Iob Moyses and Helyas in thy hart thou séekest the only glorie of God and with all these things most highly am I pleased 6 But this pleaseth me not that thou for my wordes sake arte so blasphemed of vngodly hypocrites which call themselues Iewes and are not which boast theÌ„selues for the peculyar people choseÌ„ childreÌ„ of God are nothyng lesse but are without fayle the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ of Sathan the tyraÌ„nous rable of rauenous ruffyans 7 Certayne it is that by such spyrituall tyrauntes thou must sustain opprobrious rebukes with manifold afflictions and paynes But let neyther their subtile sleights nor their cruell snares be troublous vnto thy mynde Neyther doubt thou their false practises nor yet their vengeable lyes whoÌ„ both thou must suffer with hate slaunder reuylings false witnesse spight shame and vengeauÌ„ce Considering this paciently to lyue in Christ is to suffer persecution and that among those belly gods nothing is more to be looked for theÌ„ the crosse of contradiction and death 8 And take this for a warning afore haÌ„d The diuil doubtlesse which is the common aduersarie and the head capitayne of their empyre shall with vyolence bryng some of you not only vnder the captiuitie of cruel gouernours but also into the thraldome of wicked lawes and damnable constitutions yea and consequeÌ„tly throw you into prison chaynes sorow hunger thirst colde pouertie care and wretchednesse to tempte your hartes to trie your pacience to prooue your sufferaunce to trouble your faith least ye shuld els stedfastly stand by Christes doctrine to his glorie and profite of your brethren 9 But let this solase you for the time Theyr malice shall not alwayes endure Their mischiefe will haue an ende For though ye haue here trybulation and suffer gréeuous persecution he ye sure it shall no longer continue then .x. dayes The terme of mans lyfe is but shorte And that once finished God shall wype away from him all teares and take away all sorowes and bodily paynes 10 Perseuer therefore stedfastlye and be strong in the spirite vnto the ende Let not faith faile thée vnto the departing from this transitorious life 11 And I shall replenishe thée with the reward of faythful perseueraÌ„ce I will giue thée the crowne of eternall lyfe with full tranquilitie ioye and beatitude 12 Let him that hath eares of vnderstaÌ„ding with diligence attend not what the Hipocrites hath fantasied for lucre but what the holy spirite of God doth here graciously vtter vnto the christian congregations 13 He that so constantly perseuereth in the trueth of God that neyther flattering persuasion worldely promotion nor cruel tormeÌ„t can plucke his mynde from it shall neuer take harme of the second death For the death of them which truly beleueth is precious in the sight of the Lord their God Neither shal sinne be imputed to him that hath faith nor yet dampnation to them which are in Christ Iesu. THE TEXT 1 And vnto the Angell of the congregation in Pergamos vvryte 2. This saith he vvhich hath the sharp svverd vvith the tvvo edges 3. I knovv thy vvorkes vvhere thou dvvellest Euen vvhere Sathans seat is 4 And thou keepest my name and haste not denyed my faith 5. And in those dayes Antipas vvas a faithfull vvitnesse of myne vvhich vvas slayn among you vvhere Sathan dvvelleth 6. But I haue a fevve things against thee 7. That thou hast there them that maynteyne the doctrine of Balaam vvhich taught Balaac to put occasioÌ„ of sinne before the children of Israell that they shoulde eate of the meate dedycate vnto Idols and to commit fornication 8. Euen so hast thou them that maintein the doctrine of the Nicolaytans vvhich thyng I hate 9. But be conuerted or els I vvill come vnto thee shortlye 10. And vvill fight against them vvith the svverd of my mouth 11. Let him that hath eares heare vvhat the spirite sayeth vnto the congregations 12. To him that ouercommeth vvil I giue to eate Manna that is hid 13. And vvill giue him a vvhyte stone 14. And in the stone a nevv name vvritten 15. Which no man knovveth sauyng hee that receyueth it THE PARAPHRASE 1 Fayle in no wyse good Iohn sayd the sayd Lorde Iesus Christ consequently to make known to the christian Preacher of the congregation of Pergamos which though shée remayne here beneth vpon earth yet is she the very high building of God many times assaulted and striken of the wicked for confessing his truth but neuer yet ouerthrowen nor vtterly distroyed This Church is not only highe through grace fayth the word of God the spirite of God the inuincible veritie and all other graces and gifts of the holy ghost but also for the glorie of the name of god for the strength of his power for the secret misteries of his heauenly iudgements for the most constant assertion of his godly truth 2 Shew hir this heauenly message from him which hath froÌ„ his mouth procéeding a fine sweard sharpe edged on both the sides whereby is meant his mightie worde so effectuall quicke and strong in operation that the infallible iudgements therof doeth not only condemne but also distroy vtterly all falsehood filthines lyes lewdnesse and wickednesse 3 By my euerlasting foresight saith the Lord I know thy christeÌ„ works and for thy faithes sake I allow theÌ„ and prayse them I perceyue also where thou doest remayne dwell euen where as is the resting place of Sathan and the verie kingdome of the diuill whereas Gods heauenly word is oppressed contemned and blasphemed of the infidels tyrants and hypocrites 4 But I much commend thée that thou dwellyng among them and sustayning dayly persecution and rebukes hast so strongly perseuered in the truth that thou hast neither denyed my name nor forsaken my fayth 5 And speciallye in those terryble dayes wherein that godly preacher and faythfull witnesse of myne called Antipas among other was most cruelly murdred and slayne yea before your faces to put you the more in feare least ye should still confesse my name word to the hindraunce of Sathans kingdome for there hée dwelleth in déed There is his seate his trone his habitacle 6 Notwithstanding all these faithfull poyntes yet haue I somewhat against thée wherin thou art rebuke worthie 7 For thou arte conuersaunt with them that contrarie to their christen profession support the execrable doctryne of that subtile sothsayer cursed â—harmer BalaaÌ„ which by pestilent couÌ„sel caused kiÌ„g Balaac to prouoke the children of Israell to work wickednesse and so to haue the cursse of God through this occasion He shuld set before their eyes the most fayre damsels of the Madianytes precyously apparelled And they once tangled with their wanton beautie should not only defile
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
vij hollow trumpettes the ministracion of his worde was vnto them committed They ran not foorth vnsent they spoke not vncommauÌ„ded They blew their trumpettes one after an other As the seales were opened the misteryes they declared as came to theyr course 6 And another Angell sayeth sainct Iohn of a much higher nature then these came forth yea euen the Angel of the couenauÌ„t that was so sore longed for came to hys holye Temple 7 He stood before the aulter he humbled him selfe hée became man hée tooke the shape of a seruaunt 8 He had in his hande a golden censer This Lorde Iesus Christ the soueraygne messenger of our saluacion tooke it vpon him alone to be our mediatour our aduocate before God and the onely attonemente for our sinnes 9 And much incense of odours was giuen vnto hym by the great fayth of Abraham Iohn Baptist and of all the sanctified number 10 That he shoulde offer vp vnto God so much of the prayers of all the faythfull beléeuers vpon the golden aulter or in his glorifyed nature as was right afore him 11 Which aulter is now before the throne of God He hath an euerlasting priesthood he is able to saue them that come vnto God by hym and lyueth â—mmortal standing on his right hand as one euer readie to make interpelâ—acion for vs. All they consented in â—ne that hée should be theyr generall â—ttourney consideryng he was their â—nely sauiour and redéemer 12 And the swéete smoke of the odorous incense which came of the wholsome and feâ—uent desires of them that had fayth ascended vp before God out of the Angels hande By his onely meryte was their fayth accepted and for his deaths sake their works pleased God 13 The sayd Angel tooke the censer he prepared his godlie spirite He filled it with fire of the aulter whych was his eternall charitie 14 And he cast it into the earth with poure he sent it downe in clouen fyerie tounges vpon hys Apostles of whose plentuous aboundauÌ„ce all wée haue receyued 15 And as it was come down there were noyses thunderings and fearefull lightnynges for it rebuked the world of sinne of rightuousnesse and of iudgement It reprooued the world of vnfaythfulnesse for contempnyng the light of Gods veritie It threatened it for supersticions hypocrisie and outwarde obseruacions And vtterly it condempned it for obstinacie of corrupte interpretacions â—6 There was also a terrible earthquake as it was comen into the world The vngodly rulers were mooued the ambicious prelates were vexed â—he couetous lawyers fretted the hypocrites and priestes waxed madde yea they are not yet quyeted to thys day They still lye prate they blaspheme and accuse they persecute and kill they hange burne and drowne their malice hath none ende â—7 And the sayd vij Angels sayeth Iohn which are the vniuersall preachers of Gods veritie hauyng theyr vij trumpettes or full aucthoritie giuen them of the Lord. â—8 Prepared them selues by power of the holy Ghost to execute their offices to blow ech one in his course THE TEXT 1 The first Angell blew 2. And there was made hayle and fyre vvhich vvere mingled vvith bloud 4. and they vvere cast into the earth 5. And the third part of the trees vvas brent 6. and all greene grasse vvas brent The Paraphrase 1 The first Angell first stoode foorth and blewe his Trumpet The Apostles after the first seale opening which was at the comming of the holy ghost went forward with the gospell and taught it the worlde ouer And when they had beléeued and throughly receiued the word which were predestinate of God to bée partakers of the glorie with Christ the residewe still blynd obstinate perseuered in theyr infidelitie and so perished 2 For vpon them came hayle fyre which were myngeled with bloude Their wickednesse ouer went them their stubborne stomakes sturred vp their furie their fiercenesse kindled euer more and more theyr madnesse made them blynde 3 And these they coupled alwais with crueltie murther For when Christes disciples had preached the Gospell the wicked sort of the Iewes and Gentiles in no case would beléeue it but their obstinacie so blinded them and their malice so inflamed them that they sought their death and procured the effusion of their blood Ouer all the Actes of the Apostles this is euident 4 And they were cast into the earth So occuppied their earthly hartes this wilfulnesse and anger with thirstynge of innocent bloude that all grace in them was extinguished and all goodnesse cleane consumed 5 The third part of the trées was brent and all the gréene grasse came to nought Though the chosen people were euer the lesser number and the wicked the much greater as in Zacharie yet are they not héere so noted for so much as in the sight of the Lord the infinite rable of infidels are nothing to the smal flock of faith Consider also that in Zacharias time the Iewes were the people of God which were nothing in comparison to the Gentiles But now are the Gentiles his people which euer excéeded them in number The thride part of the Trées wythered in their wickednesse were founde without fruit in the Gentiles 6 All the Iewes which somtime were the gréene grasse by the manyfolde gifts of God and by Christes comminge of them were then brent vp cleane True faith went from them and their owne malice blinded them Though this were veryfied of them onely which were at the first Seale openinge and the fyrste Trumpet blowinge yet doth it touche the bloodye Antechristes Hypocrites and vngodly rulers withstanding Gods word to this present day the poore Christians beinge gréene and bringinge foorth fruit in pacient sufferaunce THE TEXT 1 And the second Angell blevv 2 And as it were a great mountaine burning with fier 3 Was cast into the sea And the thirde parte of the sea turned to bloude 5 And the thirde parte of the creatures vvhich had lyfe dyed 6. And the thirde parte of the shippes vvere destroyed The Paraphrase 1 The seconde Angell blew his Trumpet at the seconde Seale opening which signifieth the preachers declaringe the secrete misteries of Gods verytie immediatly after the Apostles time 2 And as they were at the pleasure of the Lorde so doynge a monstrous thinge in manner of a great mountayne burninge with fier was cast into the sea A cruell sorte of false disciples and wicked brethren arose vp froÌ„ among them all earthly minded to couetusnesse puffed vp with pride and ambicion inflamed also with anger spight vengeaÌ„ce they boysterously entred in among the people so mutable and fickle as the sea which chaungeth with euery winde These are the mountaines that swell vp thinkinge much of themselues These are the rysing hylles that boast so much of their good workes of whose ouerthrow by Gods word both Esay and Iohn Baptist dyd prophesie Such fyery mountaines were
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
but all other godly ministers of the word also which haue don the same euer since Onely reygneth the true Christian churche by the worde of God by the sincere scriptures by the doctrine of the Apostles and neyther supersticions nor ceremonies neither by councelles or customes by doctours nor fathers by miters nor rochetes by tippets nor hoods by shaueÌ„ crownes nor side gowns by crosses nor copes by belles nor torches by shrines nor gilte Images nor yet by xij couples in a liuerie with golden chaines and garded coates Hir bewtie consisteth onely in faith and in the obseruation of Gods holy commaundements Hir true ministers or preachers as very chosen stars sheweth foorth his glorie to the edification of other and not their owne Pompe and magnificence 5 And shée was as is the woman with chylde Shée cryed traueyling in byrth and was payned as one readie to be deliuered With Christ is the church bigge wheÌ„ hir members are in full faith In the harte is he euermore conceiued deliuered foorth suche time as he is declared vnto other For this cause Christ called them his mother which haâ— faith and therevpon did the will of his father Of faith in the first promise that Christ should distroy the serpent was hée first conceiued in Adam and Eua and so grewe foorth in rightuous Abell in Seth Enos Enoche Noe Sem Thare Melchisedech Abraham and Loth. And as the promises waxed stroÌ„ger as in Abraham Moyses Dauid and the Prophets and the people of God more in number so waxed the woman bigger bigger til the fulnesse of hir time was come that she shuld be deliuered Which was suche tyme as Christ appeared to the world taught and was coÌ„uersaunt here among meÌ„ And this course hath shée kept euer since shall doe to the latter day in theÌ„ 〈◊〉 beléeue Thus hath shée had Christ in hir wombe since the beginning 6 And being full of hys heauenly spirit shée hath cryed in the Patriarks and Prophetes in the Apostles and faithfull ministers as one traueiling in byrâ—h Hyr crye was the mightie and stronge declaration of Christes doctrine the feruent zeale desire of the glorie of God of all mens health in Christ. Shée traueileth euer more a new lyke as did Paule tyll Christ be fashioned in hir christian meÌ„bers With all hyr strength shée laboureth that the promised séede may encrease in the faith of all men 7 Fynally shée is payned with labours dolors blasphemies troubles and terrible persecutions and neuer is deliuered without them Neuer is Christ earnestly receyued til some of hir members doeth suffer The coÌ„stant spirite inuincible standyng by the trueth in them hath conuerted many And lyke as the payned woman in all hir agonies is muche comforted by the hope of a childe so are Gods faithfull witnesses trustyng that by their pacient and glad sufferaunce Christ should bée receyued rightly fashioned in many Yea this causeth them to reioyce in all aduersitie and litle to estéeme their paines THE TEXT 1 And there appeared an other vvonder in heauen 2. for behold a greater red Dragon 3. hauyng seuen heades 4. and ten horns 5. and seuen crovvns vpon his head 6. and his tayle drue the third parte of the starres 7. and cast them to the earth The Paraphrase 1 After this sayeth Saint Iohn appeared in heauen an other token or meruaile all dyuers from the fyrst The true church which is gods kingdome was neuer yet without contradiction nor without the craftie assaultes of enimies Adam was not so soone created but he was immediately assaulted of Sathan Christ entered not so soone the worlde but hée was by and by persecuted The diuill goeth about lyke a roaring Lyon séeking whom he may deuoure 2 For behold there was séene a great red Dragon betokening the saide diuill with his whole retinue full of deceite crafte mallice poyson pryde and fiercenesse to enforce the poore weaklings to consent vnto his falsehood All red his bodie séemed in tokeÌ„ that they which are of hym are all full of crueltie spight bloude sheading afflicting the constant beléeuers for withstanding hys assaultes Seldom is he out of the earth as winesseth Iob but commonly in the company of men impugnyng the faythfull And no power is able to matche him vnlesse it commeth from aboue 3 The sayd Dragon had vij heads signifying all the craftie wyles and subtile suggestions that he hath practised and vsed against Christ and hys word vnder all the vij seales opening and the vij trumpettes blowing Uerie easie it is to coniecture what maner of heades they were marking other places of the scripture A serpeÌ„ts head should séeme to be the first considering that in the Serpent he deceyued our first parents with hys venymed craftes This head so maliciously poysoned man that God repented him of his creation and distroied hys whole kinde in the floud .viij. persoÌ„s only reserued After the floud had hée the head of a calfe for the seconde in signification of the shamefull Idolatrie and wicked worshippyng that then begon in Nemroth and so continued in the Heathen The third was the head of a Lyon full of pryde and oppression expressed first in the cruell reigne of the Assirians Caldeanes and after in the proude Bishoppes and priestes The fourth was a Beares head full of rauine and cruelnesse betokenig the fierce kingdom of Meades and Persianes CoÌ„sequeÌ„tly his fift head was lyke a Leopards head of many colours full of ficklenesse and chaungeablenesse And that was the vncoÌ„stant raign of the Greeks His sixt was the head of a beast farre vnlyke all other beastes which signifieth the kingdome of the Romans with their monstrous lawes more then néedeth The seuenth is not vnlyke to a mans heade including all carnall wisedome with all diuilyshe polices craftes this is the very papacie here in Europa which is the general Antichrist of all the whole world almost which hath alreadie subdued and distroyed the Empyre of Rome For he is called the Apostata man of sinne By this only head is the Dragon named the enuious maÌ„ The whole bodie foloweth the heads As the diuill is malicious wicked fierce cruel tyrannicall false execrable and deceitfull so are all his meÌ„bers In the prudeÌ„ce of the flesh after him they walk in Idolatrie hipocrisie all other filthinesse And like as afore Christes comming these heads were in the serpeÌ„t in the golden calues in the kingdome of Babilon in Nemroth in Pharao in Antiochus in the Pharisies scribes bishops Lawyers priestes so haue they bene since his time vnder the vij seales opening and the vij trumpets blowing after the same sort Under the first he had a serpeÌ„ts head in the Iewes most maliciously and subtilly withstanding Christ his Apostles preteÌ„ding the zeale of God his lawes Under the second he had a calues head in the Idolators which slew the constant witnesses of Christes veritie Under the third the head of a proude Lyon in
sincere preaching vnder such vain titels after the mind of Zacharye but very shamful Idols in déede Their decres decretals cōstitucions canons rules statutes prouinciall sinodall traditions lawes fatherly customes vsages not groūded vpon gods cōmaūdemēts are very diuelishnes hipocris◠blasphemīg the name of god For why to haue the name of blasphemy vpō their heads is none other thā vnder a glorious title to maītain that thing which is blasphemous glorifying themselues in the same The vngodly saith Dauid with mocks hath disdained the Lord with open mouth hathe vttered wickednesse against God 5 And the strange fashioned beaste saith S. Iohn whome I saw in this vision was like in similitude to a cat of the mountaine full of many coulored spots in token of inconstancy varietie and ficklenesse 6 His féete wer as the féete of a bear fierce rough and ill fauored in signification of crueltie stubburnnesse vncleannesse 7 And his mouth séemed as the mouth of a Lion declaring him to be full of pryde rauin excesse To such beasts as here are mencioned cōparith Daniell vnder hidden mistery certaine mightie kingdomes of the world As to the Lions which here is caleld a Lion for the more crueltie now vsed thā was in those daies the proud kingdomes of the Assirians Caldeans To the beare the cruell kingedomes of the Medes and Parthianes And vnto the Cat of the mountaine the vnstedfast kingedome of the Grekes Of pryde spoile and rgbbery are the Assirians Caldeans condemned by Esaye Nahum and Abacuck the prophets The Medes Parthians held captiue the people of god as witnesseth Hester Paralipomenō Esay The Grekes most spightfully were bent against them vnder the cruell king Antiochus as in the Machabes is euident No abhomination nor mistery of iniquitie as Paule calleth it was euer founde in these kingdomes but now reigneth manifould in the detestable papacie or monstruous kingedome of Antichrist as all the worlde may sée No where was euer more pryde vanitie and cruelnesse Idolatry horedome and filthinesse hipocrisie falsehoode and ficklenesse extorcion vaineglory couetousnesse sorcery supersticion and vnfaithfulnesse More than all the vnfaythfull kingdomes vnder heauen haue this sodomiticall spiritualtie defyled with theyr witchery the holy temple of God which is the Christen church They haue most shamefully abused gods chosen people which are the vessels ordeyned to his glory They haue holden his frée seruants most miserable captiue vnder their wycked decrées and tradicions The crueltie of Pharao Antiochus and Caiphas compared to theyr tyranny is but as it were a play dalliance or shadow In them is all lechery and vncleannesse all raginge lustes and wantonnesse all fleshly abuses and beastlinesse no naturall order obserued Nothing in a maner are the cruell constitutions made against the Iewes by the suggestions of Aman and by Antiochus to their wicked lawes and ordinances For they were onely againste the body theirs are against mens soules So that the papistical kingedome of antichrist are to be séene both the Lyon the Beare and the cat of the mountayne they not onely participatinge with all vnfaythful regions but also doubling with thē in al abhominatiōs vnder the Sky The mouth they haue of a Lion roaring out euermore blasphemies curses bytternesse The féete of a bear signifieth their rauenous affections rūning vnto all pernicious euills very swift also to the sheddīg of bloud As Cats of the moūtain they are spottid with diuers fickle fātasies in sects obseruations ceremonies ryts lawes customes no wher stedfast vniforme but euery wher variant foolish And worthy they are to be forsakē of god to be left to the spirit of errours lies to their damnation that so contēneth the veritie of god 8 More ouer the dragon saith s. Iohn which is sathan the diuel gaue ouer vnto this beast or curssed generation of antichrist beīg his bestial body al his whole power his blasphemous seate his mighty authoritie To geue thē his power is no more but to fyl thē with crafts subtilties wiles malice fraud and deceit and to make them apt to seduce the simple or to able them to all falsehood wittie gile To admit thē his seat is to leaue them here a kingdom of vaine glory hipocrisie abhominable Idolatry To graunt thē his ful authority is to worke in thē all lying singes wonders throughe deceiuable doctrine strōgly to delud the vnbeluers to their greater damnacion 9 To this power of the dragon is no power comperable vpō earih No power is able to suppresse it onlesse it cōmith frō aboue is geuen vnto vs from the father of light as is the strong gyfte of faith Thus is this great antichrist a king with sathan ouer all the children of pryde With Lucifer he vsurpeth the seat of God sitting in the consciēces of men euermore boasting himselfe to be in gods stede seducing the people of the worlde finally ouercomming them by bringing them into all kindes of errour 10 And as concerning the seat lyke as Christ our lord sitteth in the throne of God reigninge with his eternall father in méekenesse so sitteth he in the throne of sathan with his father the diuel in al pride and blasphemie As touching the power lyke as Christ had his power of God so hath he his power of the diuel Like as Christ is full of grace and verity and of his fulnes all they haue receiued that truly haue beleued in him so is this antichrist full of hate falsehed and all other iniquite of whose errours and lies the vnbeleuers haue tasted Like as the holy spirit of Christ hath wrought in his louers the misterie of truth goodnesse so hath the erronius vnclen spirit of this antichrist wrought the mistery of his wickednes in chrstes enimies since his deathe and asscencion 11 And finally as conserning authoritie like as Christ beinge man toke power of God to doo such mirakles as none els could do so dyd he of the deuil being his wretched body to work prodigiuos maruels wonders in hipocrisy among the vnfaithfull multitude by the secret fufferance of god So that in all peruerting power supremite and authoryty he foloweth his father sathā yea in euery point For like as he depriued simple Iob a man that feared god of his substāce cattell chilldren and seruauntes and vexed him in his flesh with most greuouse botches so doth this gredy Leuiathan this malicious murtherer the man of sinne body of the diuel with his deuourig locoustes robbe the poore people of their sweat labours trauaile and nessary liuing sparing neither sicke nor succourlesse poore widow nor fatherles no goods gottē by theft mans slaughter extorcion bribery pollage idolatry bandry al other vngodlines comming to thē amisse in their priuat confessions And that is most to be lamented they defile their soules with al supersticions fals beleue and deuilishnesse leauing their conciences all doutfull desperat comfortles Finanally to
Babylon that great citie 3. For she made al nations drink of the vvine of her vvhordome The Paraphrase 1 And there folowed an other Angell saith S. Iohn which betokneth an other sort of preachers whose office is here appointed them of the holy Ghost to declare vnto the people the certenty of the fall of the aduoutrus cursed and malignant church of hipocrits here figured by wretched BabiloÌ„ For though al the true prophets and preachers haue but one worde of God in their mouth yet passeth it diuersly from them Unto each of theÌ„ is geuen a diuers vtteraunce of the spirit to edifie One is soft méeke gentle as was Dauid Iohn Peter an other is boysteous harde vehement as was Helias Esay Paule And all this worketh the selfe same one spirit This diuersitie of techers was neuer more plentuous in the world than now in our time figured here by these two angels Praysed be the Lord therefore 2 And the tenour or ground of this latter sort of preachers is this She is fallen she is fallen euen miserable Babylon the great citie of whoredom bicause she made all nacions to drink of the wrathful wyne of hir fornication So sure is it that the execrable church of Antichrist shal be ouerthrowen and vtterly destroyed as it wer now perfourmed in déede Nothinge shal be vnrooted out that the heauenly father hath not planted Sooner shall heauen earth perish than this promisse be vnfulfilled 3 For with the stinking whorishnes of hir supersticious worshippinges hath she poysoned all nacions peoples vnder heauen The great gouernours lerned lawiers of the world hathe she made in maner of beastly dronkerds wytlesse faythlesse and gracelesse by theyr prostibulous doctrine And this shal be declared more at large in the .xvij. cha folowing wheras she is more pleÌ„tuously described The texte 1 And the third Angell followed them 2. saying with a loude voyce 3. If any worship the beast and his Image 4. and receiue his marke in his forehead or on his hand 5. the same shall drinke of the wyne of the vvrath of god 6. vvhich is povvred in the cup of his vvrath 7 and he shall be punished in fyre brimstone 8. before the holy Angels 9. and before the Lambe The Paraphrase 1 The thyrd Angel also saith saint Iohn followed theÌ„ in the thyrd kinde of preaching of the same selfe message that in the mouth of two or thrée faithful witnesses all veritie might stand 2 And by this Angell are they signified that by the word of God stifly impugne theyr wicked lawes vngodly ordinaunces whose maner of earnest preaching is this 3 If any man worship the beast which is the great antichrist And his Image which are those gouernours that taketh vpon them his blasphemous titles names authoritie or defence If any man also receiue his mark in his forehead beléeuing theyr lawes to be a christen doctrine or haue the print of his seale vpoÌ„ his right hand which is to fashion his outward workes after the same The same man shall drinke of the wine of Gods wrath which are the dregs of the pure wyne poured in the cup of his high displeasure He shall taste of the euerlasting damnation that is reserued in the latter cursse or fearefull sentence of their moste terrible iudge To worship the beast and his Image is to accept them in conscience and in the outward obedience with ful consent of the hearte For that they blasphemously pretend without Gods authority As the Pope for Gods vicar or forgeuer of sinnes Mahomet for the greate Prophet of the Lord the rulers of the earth for the Popes elder or yonger sonnes for moste christian Kinges and defenders of the fayth of that holy church 4 To receiue the beastes marke in their forheads and hands is to agrée to such decrées traditious lawes constitucions actes proclamations as they vnder those titles haue made onely for theyr owne couetousnesse pomp and neither for the glory of god nor yet for the right maintenance of the christen common wealthe as I haue declared afore And also to be sworne to the same to subscribe to it to geue counsel or ayde to it to maintayn it by learning to minister in it to execute vnder it to accuse punish and put to death for it or to think it lawfull and godly with such lyke 5 These marked worshippers that tast of the cuppe of gods indignation of calamitie sorow wretchednesse in the dayes of theyr fal here after the last iudgement of vnspeakeable paines and most gréeuous torments in euerlasting fyre prepared for the diuell and his angels 6 The dregges that the Lord hath powred out sayth Dauid shall the wicked of the earth drynke Cleane coÌ„trary are these Angels to the horned ministers of antichrist For they maintaine the Popes errours these the onely verities of christ They labor for the glory of their pope these séeketh the only honor of god They prate that their holy Church shall continue thâ—se say it shall downe with shame They require worship to the beast and his Image these will report it blasphemous the reward therof damnation Marke in these two sortes the preachers of our time and iudge whiche are of god Against both beastes in Christes quarell shall these Angels contende Against the Pope and his bishops Mahomet and his doctours wyll these godlye ministers replye whom the Lorde hath sent in this latter age for that purpose condemniÌ„g by the scriptures their auctoryty iurisdiction power declaring also the plagues that wyl fall vpon them for witholding the truth of God in vnrightuousnes 7 For these Antichristes and their worshippers with so many as beareth their token shall be punished in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lamb. Fyre shal be kindled saith Moyses in the anger of the Lorde shall burne vnto the bottome of Hell Upon the vngodly sayeth Dauid shall he raine snares Fyre brimstone storme and tempest shall be their porcyon to drynke The vehement indignation and mighty iudgement of God shall light vpon them as vpon Sodome and Egipt and shall both deuoure them and consume them 8 And this shal be in the sighte of Aungels which are not onely the spirites of heaueÌ„ but also the church of the faythfull Yea the righteous shall reioyce when he séeth the destruction and shall washe his handes it the bloud of the wicked 9 In the presence of the lambe shal it be also For he is euermore with his flock shal be vnto the end of the world wherin he shal sit coÌ„dem theÌ„ The Texte 1 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore 2. And they haue no rest day nor night 3. vvhich worship the beaste and his Image 4. and vvhosoeuer receyueth the prynt of his name 5. here is the pacience of sayntes 6. Here are they that keepe the commaundements 7. and the fayth of Iesuâ— The Paraprhase 1 And the smoke of their
tormeÌ„t ascendeth vp euermore as the flame of a fornace with most horible stinke for a perpetual signe of their punishmeÌ„t like as it dyd froÌ„ Sodome Gomor when the Lorde ouerthrew them 2 So that they haue no rest neyther day nor night so mani as worship the beast his image receuiÌ„g the priÌ„t of his nam 3 Both in this lyfe are they cruciate with a troublous and doubtfull conscience and also after this life with vnspekeable paynes For neither shal their worm dye nor yet their fyre be queÌ„ched all flesh abhorring theÌ„ 4 Thus shal they be with the beast tormeÌ„ted which haue the spirite of the beast For like as al the faithful which hath ben from the beginning belongeth to one misticall body in Christe and shal be preserued by him so doeth the wicked perteine to one misticall Antichrist hauing al one spirit with him and so shall with him perish 5 Here is the pacience of the saynts In this life ar their troubles no plesure is for them in this world but hate rebukes slaunders lies persecutions and death of their bodyes Their life vpon earth is continuall affliction but gloryous is the fruite of their labours Manifold are the misfortunes of the rightuous but the Lord cleareth them of all 6 Here are they vexed that kepe the commaundements the fayth of Iesu Here are they had in derision that behaue theÌ„selues as the ministrs of god in much patieÌ„ce afflictioÌ„s néede anguish labour stryps imprisonment and such lyke 7 Here are they chastened of the LORDE with many sore storms that they should not be damned with this world Much haue they héere to suffer of enemies that onely cleueth to the word of god in life doctrine THE TEXT 1. And I heard a voyce from heauen saying vnto me 2. Write 3. Blessed are the dead which hereafter dye in the Lord 4 euen so saith the spirit that they may rest froÌ„ their labours 5. But their vvorkes shall follovve them The Paraphrase 1 And I heard a voyce from heaueÌ„ saith S. Iohn saying vnto me 2 Wryte with penne or marke suerly this sentence following for them that here suffer in the truthes quarell 3 Blessed are the dead or they which are already departed and that also shal heereafter depart in the Lorde This voyce from heauen are the infallible scriptures ascertaining the faith of Iohn of the swéete rest of the saintes in the hands of God And that their ende is not without honour as the vain sort supposeth but they are couÌ„ted among the dere children of God Let theÌ„ therefore that suffer in this age be earnestly sprited not feare the tormeÌ„ts of the enimies in Christes cause 4 For from hence forth the spirit saith that they rest froÌ„ their labours In a woÌ„derfull quietnesse dwel they by the very sentence of the holy Ghost shall neuer more féele of any woo God hath clean wiped away al tears froÌ„ their eyes all sorrowes paynes from their bodies the first daungers being â—ast Happy are they therefore and moste godly fortunate that are slaine for Christ bicause they wil not worship the beast his Image nor corrupt their faith with their wicked lawes but in a pure christian beleue departeth froÌ„ hence to the Lord. Theyr portion is in the land of the liuing and their lot among the holy ones 5 For certainly their works doth folow them The promised rewarde of God for constantly standing by the veritie for the fruites of their christian patience for other exercise of theyr fayth is euermore to their glory present with theÌ„ Not as deserued of theÌ„ but of Christe in whose fayth they wrought here for the promise sake that they should be gods heyres togither with Christ. The lyuely word also which they earnestly receyued héere and so rooted in their faith wil neuer suffer them to perishe nor to be hurte of the second death THE TEXT 1 And I looked and beholde 2. a vvhyte cloude 3. and vpon the cloude one sitting lyke vnto the sonne of man 4. hauyng on his head a golden crovvn 5. and in his hand a sharpe sickle The Paraphrase 1 I looked yet further saith S. Iohn and euidently before me appeared a whyte cloude which betokeneth the true ministers of Gods word Whom the holy ghost calleth clouds by Esay Dauid Peter Iudas For from theÌ„ falleth vpon the people the swéete droppes of his verities 2 White they are as milk for their faith in the word and for their christian conuersation not blotted with hipocrisie of meÌ„s corrupted customes 3 Upon this cloude was one sittyng lyke vnto the sonne of man whiche is verely Christ in his glorified maÌ„hood For euermore is he among hys true preachers gyuyng them suche vtteraunce and wisedome as all theyr enymies are not able to withstande Alwayes walketh he among the vij candelstickes which are his congregations as we had afore 4 He had vpon his heade a golden crowne in token of his eternall and vncorrupte kingdome and in hys hand a sharpe sickle which is the sharp iudgement or rightuousnesse of hys worde for there with shall hée reape his latter haruest According to hys worde and promyse shall hee iudge good and euill 5 This sickle receyued he of hys euerlasting father suche tyme as hée gaue ouer vnto hym hys vniuersall iudgements By the order of this vision should the preachers séeme in the last age of the church much to admonish the people of the latter day with the commyng of Christe agayne to iudge both the quicke and the deade as is in their créede or beléeue THE TEXT 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2. crying with a loude voyce to hym that satte on the cloude 3. Thrust in thy sikle and reape 4. for the tyme is come to reape 5. For the corne of the earth is rype 6. And he that satte on the cloude 7. thrust in his sickle on the earth 8. and the earth vvas reaped The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angell sayth sainct Iohn came out of the temple which is the congregation of fayth consecrated as an holy temple vnto God in the bloud of the vndefiled Lambe Iesus This Angell betokeneth those iust men that with Symeon and Anna the doughter of Phanuell in thys latter age are desirous of the glory of God and of the finall redemption of man from bodily corruption 2 These shal cry with a loude voice with a feruent spirite shall they call vnto Christ which sitteth vpon the cloude 3 And thys shall bée theyr saying Thrust in the sickle and reape Send foorth thy lyuing word And lyke as it hath created all things so let it now trye and iudge all things 4 For the tyme is at hand to reape For we are those vpon whoÌ„ the ends of the world are come 5 And doutlesse the corne of the earth is ripe the worlde is at the best that it wil be As it hath bene euer so is it stil altogether set vpon
glory In the strong faith of his name and word stande these worthie witnesses agaynst the whole swarme of Antichristes not once remouyng their fote from the rock which is Christ also for no persecution nor death 3 These hath cryed and yet shall crye still to the worldes ende with a mightie loude voyce or a sure constant spyrite Earnestly shall they protest and publish vnto the fethered foules of the ayre that flye by the middest of heauen by whome are vnderstanded the méeke sprited multitude made spirituall by fayth and by knowledge of heauenly misteries 4 These as flying byrdes are taken vp from vnpure delightes leauing at their tayles all corruptible thinges They lift vp them selues aboue them selues haue their coÌ„uersatioÌ„ in heaueÌ„ vnfainedly Yea these are those gentil soules whom the heauenly father abouÌ„dantly féedeth without theyr deseruings Such a soule was faithfull Abraham in Mesopotamia Moyses in Synai Helias in Carme Danyell among the Lyons the children of Israel in the wildernesse Paul in Damascus Iohn in Pathmos and many other more which afterward became Angels also in the sunne or teachers in Christ. And this not onely hath ben but shall be also stil to the worlds end the tenour of their crye 5 Come you that haue receyued the veritie from the heauy and carefull cures of this worlde and gather your selues togither into the vnitie of one faith and spirite Knit your selues togither in christian loue whiche is the cheayne of perfection let the peace of God which passeth all wit kéepe your hartes and vnderstandyngs in Christ Iesu that ye may be counted worthye your christien vocation 6. And so prepare your selues as hys louinge frindes vnto the bounteous supper of the almightye God whiche is the eternall refection of soule that ye may be fed with his most precious delicates Learne of the word of God what is his heauenly wyll and folow it in your works Flée therby from all worldly lusts liue soberly iustly godly here abyding his glorious aperaÌ„ce 7 So order your selues in liuing doctrine that ye may eate the flesh of kings or take froÌ„ the worldly gouernors by your godly preaching al that is filthy carnall 8 Consume the fierce flesh of the captayns in plucking theÌ„ froÌ„ crueltie mallice 9 Denowre the froward flesh of meÌ„ that be mighty in power possessioÌ„s cause theÌ„ to leaue their superfluous vanities 10 Spare neither horses nor yet those that sit vpoÌ„ them but byte both theyr fleshes harde Rebuke both the beastly Antichrist the prince that is ruled by him 11 Plucke from those belly Gods byshops and priestes their pompes lecherous pleasures from those that follow them in superstitions the cruell persecuting of innocents 12 See that no flesh be left vntouched neither of frée men nor bonde men rulers nor subiects maisters nor seruaÌ„ts Neyther of small nor great poore nor riche low nor high but be doing with theÌ„ all Play as doth the Egles other rauening fouls Wher as ye sée a dead carkasse or body without faith spirit thither resort ye apace Tell euery man his right offyce Exhort the kyng to be learned and to liue in the fear of the Lord. The prince to be wise and the Iudge to be godly Bid the graunde captaynes be faythfull to theyr commons and the great rich men more mercyfull to the poore CommauÌ„de the carnall hypocrites no longer to dissemble their vndiscréets clients no longer to folow theÌ„ in darknesse Require them no longer to ney after their neyghbours wyues lyke â—ancke stoned horses the other no loÌ„ger to pamper them vp to all beastlye vices Charge the gouernours to rule faithfully the commoÌ„ people to obey louyngly Sée that the woman obeye theyr husbandes the chyldren theyr fathers the seruants theyr maysters And agayne that the men be louing to theyr wyues gentyle to theyr chyldren fauourable to their seruants Open the foure cornerde shéete as did Peter Sley all maner of foure footed beastes of the earth vermin wormes and foules of the ayre eat them Rebuke them with pacience whatsoeuer they be tyraÌ„ts persecutors murtherers glottons Antichristes extortioners ribalds Idolatours théeues and pluck from them their filthye and carnall customes Ye shall eate the flesh saith Ezechiell of the worthyes and drink the bloud of the princes of the land of the wethers of the lambs of the gotes and of the oxen that be al slayne at Basan THE TEXT 1 And I savv the beast 2. And the kings of the earth and their warryers 3. Gathered together 4 To make battayle 5. Against hym that sate vpon the horse 6. And against hys souldiours 7. And the beast was taken 8. And with him that fals prophet 9. That tought miracles before him 10. With vvhich he deceiued them that receiued the beasts mark 11. And theÌ„ that worshipped his Image 12. These both werre caste quick into a ponde 13. Of fyre burning vvith brimston 14. And the remnaunt were slaine vvith the svvord of him that sate vpoÌ„ the horse 15. Which svvord proceedeth out of his mouth 16. And all the soules vvere stuffed vvith their flesh The commentary 1 Anone after this I behelde saith S. Iohn the great horible beast that rose out of the sea that battailed with the Saintes and that beare the greate whore of Babilon which is the generall Antichrist 2 I saw also following him the cruell kinges of the earth and their host of bloudy warriours the mitered bysshops of his beastly kingdome with their great bellied monks and priestes the malicious tirants of the world with their mad moodye magistrates and slaues 3 These gather them selues togeather in one minde of mischiefe hath done since Christes assencion They muster in aray as dyd Pharaoes host they buskle together as dyd Cayphas hyered knights in the dark with fyre brands and weapons 4 To make fierce war or very sharp battaile against the most valiant capitayne Iesus Christe which sate vpon the aforesayde whit horse and against mighty stomaked soldiours of his faithful army of true christiaÌ„s Neuer was the holy gospell yet sincerely taught the glory of God proponed and the inordinate liuings of men reprehended but such vprore of hipocrits and suche tumulte of tyrantes hath followed 5 The word of the Lord is alwayes of one nature to be the marke of contradiction and rocke of reproch Horsemen for the more parte are these malicious warriours against Christ his word sturred prouoked and set foreward by the beastly bishops None other caused Herode Pylate to put Christ vnto death but Annas Caiphas Non other moued Felix the president of Iury to emprison Paule but the puffed vp prelate Ananias Traianus the Emperour would neuer so extremely haue persecuted the Christian church nor yet other cruell tyrauntes euer since had they not béene propped forewarde by such pampred palfraies of the diuil 6 Not onely agaynst Christ doe they moue this bold battail but also against those that faithfully
the lambe Iesus Christe which is his eternall sonne is the holy full and perfect temple therof None outwarde priesthoode ceremonye nor sacrifyce for fiue coÌ„maundeth Christes doctrine to his congregation The golden measure of his word which diffyneth and iudgeth all thinges necessary therevnto appointeth no such matter For in no teÌ„ples made with stone dwelleth God which wil be all in all Only is required of them a sacrifice from the soule which is the very temple of God In his onely name shoulde the faithful sort ther offer vp themselues And therefore Christ appoynted Uespasian and Titus to turne ouer the great temple of Hierusalem and vtterly to destroy that priesthoode because we should put no trust in suche thinges nor yet be addict or bound to places A damnable inuencion is it of Antichrist that the suffragans halloweth the sinagogs to bringe them into al kinds of superstition They constitute also a feastfull daye to the honour and worshipe therof called the dedication which is most abhominable wickednesse Truthe it is that after the Apostles time ther were places appointod where as the congregacion met together once in the weake for the hearinge of Gods word and for the holy communion and that was called the oratorie or house of praier But that house was not exercysed nor coniured crossed nor smered blessed nor be sprinkled wyth water Neyther was there at that time anye aulter set vp in it anointed with oyle creme to offer any newe sacrifice vpon Consider also that the appoinmente of this bare house withoute aulter or images was lefte to mans ordinaunce without any exprest commaundement of Christ that it should be thought of no reputacion For in spirite and veritie wyll god only be worshiped And for this cause after that Christ had dryuen the byers and sellers out of the temple he commended none other temple vnto vs but his body which he raysed vp in the daye of his resurection to our behoue 6 God therfore is our temple and his Christ. In them ought we to do sacryfice and in none other In their faith should our workes labours studies be grounded only if we couet them to profit vs. Iohn for his time could sée none other temple but this The Lord of his tender mercye graunt vs to be Iohns in this behalfe Iohn beheld also at the Angels demonstration that this Citie had neither néede of Sunne nor Moone to minister light vnto it as the olde Hierusalem had Neither hath Christes congregation néede of mans naturall reason nor yet of hys worldly wisdom coniectures nor practises subtilties nor wiles polices nor witts inuencions nor traditions No neither of their philosophy nor sophystrie the decrées nor sentences of the great Lawyers Schoolemen which all is but darknesse and blindnesse 8 For the brightnesse of God sheweth theÌ„ light sufficient His shining verytie his pure gospell and his vndefiled lawes cleareth their vnderstandings A lanterne to their féete is hys heauenly word Only doth that clerenesse suffise them whiche faith offereth vnto them 9 Onely are they contented with the light they haue of the Lambe which is the bright Sunne of rightuousnes He is the Lamp the Candle and the flaming Cresset of this citie None other admonisher haue they néede of none other counseller nor teacher Accursed holde they him that bringeth any other doctrine than his though he were an Angell from heauen For he is the only light of the world the brightnesse euerlasting the vndefiled myrrour of the maiestie of God and the Image of his infinite goodnesse Whoso euer foloweth him can in no wise walke in the darknesse The dayes wyll come saith the Lorde in Hieremy that a man shall not néede to teach his neighbour or brother for they shal know me froÌ„ the highest to the lowest I shall plante my lawe in their inwarde partes and write it in theyr hartes 10 And the people of al maner of regions which are predestinate of God to be saued shall walke in the clearnesse of the light None other wisdome helth rightuousnesse and redemption shall they seke than they finde in him Neither shal they care for Mary nor Ihon rodes nor reliques hedes nor holy water masses nor merites For so shall he shyne vpon them and his glorie apere in them that the cloudes of Antichrist and his false prophits shal take no place So liuely shall the rightuous waxe in that faith of saluacion that they shall become not only the children of clernesse but also very lyghtes in the Lorde 11 Morouer vnto this heauenly light shall the myghty kynges of the earth bringe their glory magnifycence and honour as did the wise men of the East which offred rewardes vnto Chryste They shal be conuerted from their erroures to a sincer beleue in the Lord as were in the Apostles tyme Abagarus Egippus and Gundoforus And since their dayes the mighty Emperour great ConstaÌ„tine Iouinian Theodosius and diuerse other Yea some were so feruent in that faith that gladly they suffred death for it Of whose numher were here in Englande saint Edmound Oswalde Ethelbert Edwyne and Fremonde with a greate sorte more in other Christian regions All kinges saith Deuid shall worshipe him and all paganes shal do him seruyce Amonge these are not they to be rekâ—ned which leauing their kingdomes hath made them selues monks and friers or hath founded masses and monastaries to be praied for For they neuer brought theire glorye to thys light No more haue they done which hath enriched the cleargye gluttinge them with possessioÌ„s and setting them vp in a glitteryng pompe But rather haue they sought darknesse than light blyndenesse than to be taught of god Some haue thought them selues in our age clearly coÌ„uerted to thys lyght But ryghtly hath their iniquitie lyed vnto them For nothynge haue they done lesse than broughte vnto Chryste theyr glorye Truthe it is that they haue discharged them selues of the Pope and to some of hys sects They haue plucked downe shrynes and Images that receaued offeringes and dayly worshippings with a fewe superstitions besides but still bringing vp whelps of the same false generation both bishops prists Stil haue they to this day the same wicked rits and ceremonies that they had afore And when thei should bring ani thing to a right christian order according to Christes first institution they cannot away with it Great is the vengeance terrible heuy and fearefull the iudgement that abideth them 12 And as concerning the great gates of this Citie which are the true vnderstandings of the Lordes verities they shall not be shut vp by day Hidden shall they not be to them the walke in this light All that Christ hath receiued of his heauenly father leaueth he manyfest and plaine vnto his faithfull leuers Not only openeth he their feble vnderstandings but also sendeth them his spirit to deduce them into al godly knowledge 13 For in that citie shal be no night No doctrine of darknesse nor fylthye mist of
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
the seate vvhich lyueth for euer and euer 9. The xxiiij elders fell dovvne before him that sate on the trone vvorshipped him that lyueth for euer 10. and cast their crovvnes before the trone saying 11. Thou art vvorthie Lord to receyue glorie and honour and povver 12. For thou hast created all things and for thy vvilles sake they are and vvere created THE PARAPHRASE 1 These iiij beastes hath iiij diuers exteriour similitudes which are not els but the outward tokens testimonyes and signes of faith or the fruitfull workes thereof only procéeding For fayth is neuer without hir holesome fruites The first beast was in similitude lyke vnto a Lyon strong and mightie in power And that are they which hath layde asyde the olde man of sinne with his féeble faynte workes and conuerted them selues into the ghostly image of Christ which is the mightie stronge Lyon of the Trybe of Iuda for that they myght haue the victorie ouer sinne 2 The seconde beast was fashyoned lyke vnto a Calfe much vsed in the olde lawe to bée offered vp in sacryfice And suche are they which forsaking them selues and mortifying the corrupte lustes of theyr fleshe doeth walke in a newe Christian lyfe and offer vp them selues vnto God as a lyuing sacrifice readie to suffer all kyndes of persecution and death for his names sake 3 The third beast had a face in fauour lyke a man hauing reason wit and discrecion And those are they which through pollicie of fayth and prudencie in the spirit so wysely and discretely order them selues in that they goe aboute that nothyng is against the glorie of God but al things worketh for the best in them 4 The fourth beast was lyke vnto a flying Egle which buyldeth hir neast very highe in the harde rocke stone Which are those godly persōs that liuing héere in this mortall bodie by the counsell of the holy Ghost haue their conuersation in heauen They séeke for those thinges which are aboue where as Christ is sitting on the right hand of God In whom only as in the sure rocke they buylde all their whole hope and trust By these foure similitudes is the true congregation of God knowne from the painted sinagoge and coūterfaict church of Sathan glorifiyng hir selfe in vaine glorie pompe crueltie rape simonie lyes hatred sectes murther Idolatrie sedition and tirannie with other fruites of the flesh whose God is their bellie and theyr ende dampnation And though these iiij simylitudes be diuers yet doe they respect one congregation after Ezech. which euer more applyeth all .iiij. vnto one beast And euerie one of the sayd iiij beastes had .vj. winges about him 5 The winges whereby Gods people are raysed vp vnto him is fayth hope charitie iustice mercie veritie with such other vertues as euer more accompanyeth them By these are they lifted vp vnto heauenlye thinges By these auoyde they the common mischieues of the world By these obtayne they a plentuous quyetnesse in God abyding their sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christ. And wher as in Ezechiell the sayd winges appearing but iiij are here founde sixe we may gather this That the gospel now published the giftes of the holy ghost are more high plentifull and open vnder christ then afore time vnder Moyses 6 Round aboute them without and within the sayde beastes were ful of eyes The seruants of the Lord hath Godly wisdome and knowledge euery where inwardly to consider heauenly things durable sure and perfite and neuer to perish Outwardly agayne to iudge earthly things corruptible wretched and vaine and shortly to be ended 7 Neither day nor night could the sayde beastes cease from the praise of their Lord God saying Holy holy holy Or blessed art thou almightye father blessed art thou almightie sonne blessed art thou almighty holy ghost distinct thrée persons in trinity and in substaunce one Lorde God almighty which was withoute beginning and is of him selfe onely and shall be for euer euer euerlasting And what is this els but that the righteous feruently eprayinge geueth continnuall thankes vnto GOD reioysinge amonge them selues in psalmes in hymnes and in spiritusonges praysinge hym euermore in their harts 8 And when those .iiij. beastes or faithfull feruent sincere and pure beleuers héere beléeuing in the flesh gaue glory honour and thanks from the iiij quartes of the earth in professing the verity in teaching it vnto other and in liuinge accordinge to the same And that vnto hym which sate on the seat which is god almighty reigning ouer that congregation which lyueth for euer and euer and hath of his kyngdome none end 9 Anone stepped forth the .xxiiij. elders or the whole perfit and vniuersall number of them which hath rested in the Lorde and they with all méekenes fel down before him which sate on the throne They submitted themselues vnto him ackowleginge him for theyr onely Lorde They worshipped him also with dew reuerance gaue high thankes vnto him as vnto their eternal liuīg god 10 Yea finally they threwe downe their crowns before the throne of his eternal maiestie They cōfessed their owne good workes merites and deseruinges to be nothyng at all But their whole health wisdome knowledge vertue holines rightuousnes and redemption to be onely of his lyberall gift and vndeserued goodnesse 11 And as men most highly reioysing they cryed vnto him saying thus It is thou O Lord God most mightie creator that is alone worthie to receyue all glory all honour and all thankes for that hath bene wrought in heauen in earth and none other els but thou 12 For thou hast alone by thy vnsercheable wisedome created all things and brought them foorth out of nothing And for the onely pleasure of thy will they are now at this present tyme in substance and fashyon and were created of thée at the beginning not onely to be at thy commaūdemēt but also to be euermore thākefull vnto thée and to laude thée and prayse thée for euer The fift Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I sawe in the right hande of him that sate on the throne a booke 2 written with in and on the back syde 3. sealed with seuen seales 4. and I sawe a strong Angell preaching with a loude voyce 5. Who is worthie to open the booke and loose the seales thereof 6. And no man in heauen nor in earth neyther vnder the earth vvas able to open the booke neyther to looke thereon 7. And I wept much bycause no man was found worthie to open to read the booke neither to looke thereon 8. And one of the elders sayd vnto me Weepe not 9. Beholde the Lyon which is of the trybe of Iuda 10 the roote of Dauid hath obtayned to open the booke and to loose the seuen seales thereof 11. And I beheld and lo in the middest of the seat and of the iiij beastes and in the middest of the elders 12. stoode a Lambe as