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
Gospel was as the sound or noyse of many waters For many peoples of diuers and sundrie nations kynreds and languages hath confessed and still doeth confesse hym God and man by the same though the one vnderstand not the other 10 And he had in his right hande which is his mightie power seuen starres which are not only the seuen preachers of his vij congregations in Asia but also all the true minysters of hys word the worlde ouer For them hath he in his right hand They are vnder hys gouernaunce wil protection custodie So long as he retayneth them they are wyse godly and profitable but if hee once throw theÌ„ forth then are they blind wicked and accursed yea and good for nothing but to be cast out to be troden vnder foote Blessed are they therfore which fal not besides that haÌ„d 11 Out of his mouth which is hys holy spirite procéeded a sharpe two edged sweard This is hys strong mightie and quicke worde or hys sacred scrypture so sharpe that it pearceth through euen to the diuyding a sunder of the soule and the spirit and of the Ioynts the mary And is a iudger of the thoughts and intentes of the harte whom finally nothing shall be able to resist 12 And his face which is the eternitie of his Godheade glorified nature and spirituall kingdome shone euen as the cleere sonne in his most strength whose brightnesse no creature can behold without the pure sight of an vncorrupt faith For the fleshly carnall man in no wise vnderstandeth thinges belonging to the spirit of god but iudgeth them folishnesse THE TEXT 1 And vvhen I savve him I fell at his feete euen as dead 2. And he layed his right haÌ„d vpon me saying vnto me 3. Feare not I am the first the last 4. And am a lyue vvas dead 5. And behold I am a lyue for euermore 6. And haue the keyes of Hell of Death 7. Wryte therefore the thinges vvhich thou hast seene 8. And the things vvhich are and the thinges vvhich shal be fulfilled hereafter 9. And the mystery of the seuen Starres vvhich thou savvest in my right hand 10. And the seuen golden Candelstickes 11. The seuen Starres are the Angells of the seuen Congregacions 12. And the seuen Candelstickes vvhich thou sawest are the seuen Congregacions THE PARAPHRASE 1 And when I had thus séene him sayth saint Iohn dilygently marked all these poyntes in him I fell down at his féete as one almost dead for feare Consider in this that the nature of the true knowledge of christ is to throw downe to mortifie the fleshe with his corrupte affections and to cast vs in fear tyll his hidden misteries be throughly perceyued 2 And he sayth saint Iohn to coÌ„fort my weaknesse layd hys ryghte hand vpon me He releued me with his power grace and helpe when he saw me humbled before his face and fearfully astonyed at the woonderfull brightnesse of his high misteries And not without his worde for he sayd vnto me 3 Let not fearefulnesse ouercome thée nor doutfull dread oppresse thée But take vnto thée fayth which is the chiefe remedie in feare know that I am the first and the laste the maker the restorer of all creatures I am he of whoÌ„ all things depeÌ„d and vnto whom all things belong 4 I am now alyue as thou séest euydently and the very lyfe it selfe yet was I slayne now of late and my body dead and buryed 5 Behold me therfore earnestly for now in a gloryfied nature in a bodie impassyble and immortall I am a lyue for euer euer readie to make interpellatioÌ„ to obtaine mercy for all the worldes sinnes death hauing ouer me no more dominion 6 I haue in my hands vnder my power the keyes both of hel death that neither hell nor sin death nor the diuil shall be froÌ„ heÌ„ceforth able to preuayle agaynst my electes No coÌ„demnation shall be vnto them that are surely grafted in me 7 Take penne and incke therfore and seriously wryâ—e the thinges which thou hast alreadie séene 8 And note faythfully the meruayls which are by the power of God accomplyshed and the wonders also which shall be fulfilled hereafter 9 Marke first of all with due cyrcumspection the secrete mystery of the vij shyning starres which thou sawest now of late in my right hand 10 And diligently consider the seuen golden Candelstickes also 11 The vij starres in signification are the messengers of Gods word or the Apostolike preachers appointed to the vij congregatioÌ„s in Asia and in them to all the world These ought in the church as the starres in the firmameÌ„t to shine in holsome doctrine and in godly conuersatioÌ„ and as the lightes of the world neyther in life nor preachyng to mynistre any maner of darkenesse 12 Consider also the seuen golden Candelstickes which thou sawest about me to be the sayd .vij. coÌ„gregations Upon whom I ought to shine which am the lyght of the worlde In whose workes I oughte to appere which am the clerenesse of the Gentiles They are called here .vij. Golden Candelsticks as most precious in value for so much as they ar precious in the sight of God were also redéemed and boughte with a great price euen with the precious bloud of the vndefiled lambe Iesus Christ. The second Chapiter THE TEXT 1 Vnto the Angell of the congregation of Ephesus vvryte 2. These things saieth he that holdeth the seueÌ„ starres in his right hand vvalketh in the middest of the seuen Golden Candelstickes 3. I knovv thy vvorkes and thy labour and thy pacience 4 And howe thou canste not forbeare them vvhich are euil 5. And examinest them vvhich say they are Apostles and are not 6. And hast found them lyars 7. And hast suffred and hast patience and for my names sake haste laboured and haste not faynted 8. Neuerthelesse I haue somevvhat against thee for thou haste lefte the first loue 9 Remember therfore from vvhence thou art fallen and repent 10. And doe the first vvorkes 11. Or els I will come vnto thee shortly 12. And will remoue thy Candelsticke out of his place excepte thou repent 13. But this thou hast bicause thou hatest the deedes of the Nicolaitans 14. Which deedes I also hate 15. Let him that hath eares heare vvhat the spirite saith vnto the congregations 16. To him that ouercommeth wil I giue to eate of the tree of lyfe 17. vvhich is in the middest of the Paradyse of my God THE PARAPHRASE MY dearely beloued seruant Iohan sayeth the Lord Iesus my will is that thou shalte signifie by writing vnto the messenger or preacher of the Christian congregation of Ephesus which dwelling in this earthly mansion is as was Daniel ful of wholsome desires Shée looketh for the Kingdom shée séeketh for the glorie shée hungreth for the rightuousnesse of God she thursteth for the liuing waters shée
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 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
though he had ben killed 13 which had seuen hornes 14 and seuen eyes which are the seuen spirits of God sent vnto all the worlde 15. And hee came and tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the seat The Paraphrase AFter the forsayde vysion I saw saieth saint Iohn in the right hande or mighty power and wyll of hym that sate on the throne with maiestye a wonderfull Booke in the which both man and Angell were desirous to looke This booke is Gods heauenly ordinance contayning not onely all that hath bene created of God visible and inuisible but also the vniuersall contents of the holy scripture This boke hath the mercifull Lorde prouided that men should know him partly by his creatures partly by his Scriptures This booke he hath in his right hand For heauen he measureth with his spanne and the whole world he comprehendeth vnder his three â—ingers In his hande or power is the vniuersal earth bothe hills valleyes At his onely wil pleasure is the sincere vnderstanding of the scriptures and true interpretacion of the same 2 This booke is written within without The world coÌ„tayneth creatures visible and inuisible powers open hidden that men in theÌ„ should reade and vnderstand that there is a liuing God and that they should acknowledge him and worship him as the Lorde and creator of all The holy scripture hath hir figure history hir mistery and veritie hir parable plaine doctrine her night and day her letter and sence her voyce and word her flesh and spirit her shadow and cleare light her death and lyfe her law and gospell her Moyses and Christ to bring all men also vnto the knowledge of God 3 But that Booke is surely sealed with seauen stronge seales from the fleshlye vnderstanding of man not hauinge the spirite of Christ that he can neither vse the creatures of God a right nor yet perceiue the Scriptures according to their true meanning Muche hath the doctours fantasied of these seuen claspes or spearynges of thys booke wythout the aucthoritie of Gods word calling theÌ„ all maner of obscurities darkenesses Where as in verie déed they are nothing els but the strong and vnuariable decrée or set diffinition of God before the constitucion of the world that none should be able to read rightly therin nor know the iust meaning therof without the spirit of his sonne and vnles it be méekly asked in faith And this one decrée of god so oft locketh vp these heaueÌ„ly secrets froÌ„ maÌ„ as it findeth hym carnall couetous wilfull blinde malicious proude and false with such other lyke The number of seuen doeth onely respect the opening of the seales in all ages For in euery age hath God opened the trueth vnto some Godly men by his spirite with Abell and Enoch with Noe and Sem with Abraham and Iob with Moyses and Samuel with Dauid and Helias with Hieremie and Daniel with Iohn Baptist Peter 4 And I sawe sayeth S. Iohn a strong Angell which betokeneth euerie faithful minister of gods word coueting all men to be taught of god and sending them only vnto Christ for they are the Angels of the Lorde of hostes Which Angell cryed with a loude voyce with an earnest zeale of the glorie of God and with a feruent desire of his neighbours health 5 Who is worthie to opeÌ„ this booke and to vndoo the claspes thereof As though he should say None but he alone Séeke him therfore that he may open it vnto you els are yée lyke alwayes to be blynde foolishe and vnlearned lyers before the Lord séeme ye neuer so wyse eloquent and well learned in the sight of men 6 And in déede no man was founde able to doe it neyther in heauen nor in earth nor vnder the earth yet was there a diligent search made many did attempt it The Angels that by apostasie fell from God when they were in heauen wrought maistryes about it And in the earth héere the Philosophers among the Gentiles the religious fathers amoÌ„g the Iewes the Pharisies and Scribes the lawyers and priests and amoÌ„g the Christians the false Apostles Antichrists the Sophisters and Papists the sectes and scoole doctors with all the worldly wyse hath craftily compassed the thing Yea the messeÌ„gers of Sathan whose dampnation is certayne subtily to perswade and fraudelently to deceiue the innocent soules haue also done their parte But what hath folowed After their vayne enterpryse they haue bene so astonyed at the maiestie or sight of the booke that neyther were they able to open it nor yet to looke thervpon So high were the mysteries thereof so vnserchable the iudgements so inuestigable the wayes therevnto 7 And I fell in sore wéeping sayth Sainct Iohn muche dolour was it to my heart to see that none was found worthie no creature able neyther Angell nor man good spirit nor diuil to open and to read the booke which is cléerely to know the will of God therein nor yet once to looke therevpon that is sincerely to perceyue the least veritie coÌ„tayned therin No creature vnderstanding could attayn vnto it All were ignorant all darke all blynde 8 And as I was thus mournyng one of the elders euen Iacob by name comforted mée with his prophecie of Iuda Esay Micheas Esdras bearing witnesse to the same 9 These with other ascertained me that he was the Lyon of the Trybe of Iuda which should ouercome the world haue the victorie ouer death and hell for in déed they with Abraham sawe it a farre of and much reioysed He is the strong inuincible Lyon that subdued the prince of this world tooke from him the pray and hathe deuyded the spoyle 10 He is the verie roote of Dauid the ground and originall cause of all godly promises made vnto him of deliuerance victorie and raygne and alone in him are they fulfilled Only hath he obtayned by his death resurrection and ascension to make open the hydden mysteries of thys booke or whole ordinaunce of God and to loose the seuen seales thereof or to take away the vniuersall impediments wherby the said booke could in no case be séene as is carnalitie ignorance darkenesse blindenesse wilfulnesse couetousnesse malice hypocrisie lyes with such lyke So was it afore speared by the decrée of God that none could reade in it till he remoued the vntowardnesse from their heartes 11 All this I beheld saieth S. Iohn and as I looked further I sawe that in the midst of the seate which is the vniuersall congregation of God of the foure beasts which are the constaunt ministers of his worde also in the middest of the auncient elders whych hath bene the sincere witnesses of hys veritie since the beginning 12 There stood a fayre méeke most innocent Lambe as though he had bene newly slain I knew that Christ was this Lambe for he was wounded for
bodily ease and delightes of the worlde More desirous were they to rest then to labour to sléepe then to worke to take then to giue to bankette then to preache to dally then to dye Then stroue they among them selues for the premacy them sought they ambiciously to raign ouer all Not one Martyr was then among them vnlesse hée were a stynkyng Martyr made amonge themselues But all were confessours For preaching was layd a part and pryde had take vp his roume Yet were they not long without contradiction For then arose heresies and scismes sectes and deuisions and were spred the world ouer lyke as the histories mencioneth The Sabellians Arrianes Eunomyanes Macedonianes Priscillyanes Nestoryanes and Euticyanes then diuersly erred in faith and opynion of the Godhead The Manichées dispysed the olde Testament The Donatistes helde it necessarie to bée rebaptised The Pelagianes taught that men might merit heauen without grace with such lyke Then Scismes were plentuous among bishops euery where In the church of Rome were many alterations about the election much strife diuision was for the Papacie betwixt Liberius and Felix Damasus Urcisinus Bonifacius Eulalius Simachus and Laurencius Bonifacius and Dyoscorus Constantine Philip Eugenius Sisinius Formosus Stephanus Sergius and Christophorus Benedicte and Leo Gregorie and Iohan with dyuers more In the which some were noted of heresie some accused of incontinency some called insolent some Rustical some rude Some were accurssed some deposed some slaundered some exiled some poisoned some strāgeled Some had their eyes thrust out some were most spitefully murthered No colour cautel craft subtiltie nor vyolence vnsought to fulfil theyr mischieuous purpose 1 The Lambe therfore opening the third seale disclosed the mistery therof vnto Iohn 2 Which heard the thyrd beast in simylitude of a man betokenyng suche preachers as hath wysedome in the spyrite saying vnto hym 3 Drawe nygh and perceiue consider and waye 4 And anon hée was ware and behelde a blacke horse in fygure representyng the aforesayde heretiques and vnpure mynisters ambicious Prelates and false teachers full of errours lyes pryde and vncleanenesse Uppon these and suche other rydeth Sathan the world ouer for he is theyr mayster Lord Kyng and father Such Christophers of the diuill were Phassur and Semeias in the olde lawe Annas Cayphas in the new lawe Mahomet and the Pope in our tyme with all such prelates priests Moonks doctours and other spiritual dowsipers as setteth forthe themselues with arrogancie pryde pomp glorie magnificence of this world not sincerely preaching Gods word 5 He which sate vpon that horse or that reygneth in thys congregacion hath in his hande a deceiptfull payre of Balaunces of abhominable iudgements waying all things according to the doctryne of errour and lyes of hypocrites not prouing the spirites whether they be of God or no 6 And after this vision I heard saith sainct Iohan a voyce among the iiij beastes No tyme hathe there bene wherein the faithfull beléeuers and constant witnesses of the veritie in this lyfe hath not resisted the maysters of lyes and confounded their errours preseruing the vndefiled scriptures In those dayes were amonge the Gréekes Origine Eusebius Athanasius Didimus Gregorius Nazianzenus Cirillus Basilius Ioānes Chrisostomus Hisichius Euagrius Ioānes Damascenus Theophilactus And amonge the Latines were Tertulyane Cypriane Lactancius Hilarius Prudencius Ambrosius Hieronimus Augustinus Orosius Sedulius Prosper and Beda with such lyke What though all they in many poyntes haue erred to declare them selues men and least their authoritie shuld be takē among the people aboue the aucthoritie of gods word 7 This is the voyce whyche come from those holy beastes or faythfull seruauntes of the Lorde A measure of wheate for a penny and thrée measures of barly for a penny also The wheat is the new Testament faire pleasaunte and swéete in the eating 8 The barly is the old more grosse heauie and heard of digestion yet is theyr pryce all one So muche in value is the one as the other So precious are the scriptures of the old lawe for the Christian erudicion as of the newe for both they are the worde veritie spyrite and promise of God So perfect also is the one as the other eche grayne in hys kynde considered as the law to cōdempne and the Gospell to saue So necessarie is it to the sinner to knowe hys fall as to sée hys rayse In that the barley is .iij. measures and the wheat but one is signyfied that the old Testament containeth the lawe Psalmes prophecies and the newe the only doctrine of Christ confessyng altogither .iij. distinct persons in one Godheade agaynst the aforesayd heretikes erronious prelates Whensoeuer therfore the dyuill goeth forth with hys blacke horse or deceiptfull doctours to subuerte the wayes of the Lord with his vntrue balaunces of crafty interpretaciōs false iudgemēts in the scriptures attend you to thys voyce of the faythfull fathers and stande by the trueth whyche is the only price of both testaments with Christ which fulfilled the law and commaunded vs to serche the Scriptures and with his Apostles which alledged the same When the figure troubleth you confer it with the verytie and the shadow with the light 9 The dulcet wine and the fragrant oyle sée thou hurte not sayeth the sayde voyce hynder not the word of God whiche is the swéete wine that replenished the hart with gladnesse and the wholsome oyle that comforteth the soule in trouble Delicious it is in aduersytie and solacious in all weakenesse Corrupte not the texte with false gloses take not from vs the swéetnesse thereof defraud vs not of the frutefull Sauour Let the text be whole the sence vncorrupt and the iudgement right And that shall well be if nothyng be added vnto it nor nothinge taken from it THE TEXT 1 An when he opened the fourth seale 2 I harde the voyce of the fourth beast say 3. Come and see 4 And I looked and behold a pale horse 5. And his name that sate on him vvas death 6. And hell follovved after him 7. And povver vvas geuen anto them ouer the fourth part of the earth 8. To kyll vvith svvord and vvith hunger 9 And vvith death of the beastes of the earth The Paraphrase 1 In the fowrth Seale opening is vnder secrete figure mencioned the vniuersall estate of the christen Churche after the increase of the aforesayde heretykes and the raise of the ambicious Prelates And though the Arryanes and Eutycianes with such lyke Heretyks were than put to sylence and all thinges pacyfyed partlye by the publyke power and partlye by the continuall disputations and writinges of the faythfull Doctours and catholyke Fathers yet continued the Bysshops styll in their vanyties and the Prelates in theyr pryde whereby the trueth was blemished and the lyghte had a sore Eclips Daylye they sought
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
without ending 8 For thou hast taken vpon thée thy great might Now haste thou shewed thy wonderful power Euer hast thou raygned among thy people but neuer so graciously so plentuouslye and so gloryouslye for our behoue 9 The Heathen euermore were angry when thy truth appered Mad were the wicked Antichristes when thy glory shyned and their pride deminished They freted for anger they swelled for woodnesse yea they slew thy seruauntes and burned vp thy people 10 But now is thy wrath towards them Now wil thy anger break out now wyll thy vengaunce appeare Now shall thy terrible iudgement without mercy be declared froÌ„ heaueÌ„ vpon all vngodlinesse of those cruell enimyes that withhelde thy trueth in vnrightuousnesse 11 Now shortly ensueth the time of the dead wherein they shall bée iudged some to ioye some to heauinesse some to glorie some to payne 12 Now approcheth the glad season wherein thou haste appoynted to reward the true seruauntes the Prophets the faithfull beléeuers made Saynctes by the onely death of thy sonne and all them that yet feareth thy name with eternall felicitie 13 None wilt thou seclude from this thy liberall goodnesse for no weakenesse nor pouertie But so well the small as the great the lowe as the high the poore as the rich the sicke as the whole the vnlearned as learned shall tast of thy inestimable cléernesse 14 Onely shalte thou distroye them that distroyed the earth compellyng both it and all that therein is not to serue thée their heauenly creator but their owne stinking desires lustes and corrupt affections thy glorie not once estéemed nor regarded Héerein may we coniecture that thâ— seuenth seale once opened and the vij trumpet blowen the last iudgemeÌ„t day is not farre of Blessed is he that watcheth for the Lordes comming THE TEXT 1 And the temple of God was opened in heaueÌ„ 2. and there was seene in his temple the Arke of his Testament 3. And there followed lightnings and voyces and thunderinges and earthquake 4. and muche hayle The Paraphrase 1 And the Temple of God sayeth S. Iohn was opened in heauen Euident will the godly and spirituall estate of the true christian church séeme in those dayes the Gospell sincerely preached In faith shal meÌ„ séeke their liuing father not in dead Images nor other corruptible things In spyrite and veritie shall they worship him and not in dumme ceremonyes nor outward shadowes Speared is Gods temple wheÌ„ his true worshipping is hid And opened it is agayne when that is clearly séene Till Christes comming in the fleshe nothing thereof appeared With the key of Dauid opened he the misteries therof Wherby thorow fayth the conuersation of many is now hath bene euer since in heauen 2 This temple thus open anon the Arke of Gods holy Testament was séene therin Christ sheweth him self in his owne colours when the Gospell is truly receyued which is that Arke wherin all the riches of Gods couenauntes and the precious treasure of his promyse is reposed to maÌ„s behoue And specially those by whom we are reconciled and saued By hym are we onely brought to Gods fauor again and graciously redéemed Yea all the sort of vs haue receiued of hys aboundant ouerflowyng fulnesse The sight of this Ark in this temple is none other theÌ„ a cléere knowledge of him in his congregation So ofte are his misteryes euydent as thys temple is opened So many tymes are they knowne as his word is truly taught 3 And no smal fruit is to be thought to come thereof For there followeâ— lightnings voyces thunderings and earthquakes Diuers respectes hath the veritie of God accordyng to dyuers audieÌ„ces In maner of lightning it moueth some making of earth heauen and of sinners godly people A sound or a noyse onely it is to some men not regarding the fruites therof To some it is an occasion of anger spight and madnesse to some of open blasphemie against the holie ghost For what els doeth the clergy maliciously withstanding it but wilfully worke against knowledge And what doth the vndiscréete laite blinded by them but babble they wot not what 4 And a great hayle also folowed which betokeneth the vehement and sharpe iudgements of God towardes such enimies of his veritie The most terrible tempests of his Ire abydeth them The Lord shall break into the lande sayeth the Prophet Esay lyke a sore tempest of haile that breaketh downe strong holdes or castles And the proude crowne of the drunken Ephraemites shall be troden vnder foote Not only is the last age appointed to these thunderings and earthquakes but they began also so soone as Christ appeared in the fleshe No sooner was the young babe borne but Herode for madnesse soughte to slea him in his verie infancie The Pharises Scribes the bishops priestes and Lawyers swelled at hys preaching neuer left till they had slaine him And this rule with the prelates and hipocrites hath continued euer since stil shall doe til the latter day Onely is there and shall be a moderation that some time it is not so extreme as at some For if it were alwayes alike there shuld none be left THE TEXT 1 And there appeared a great wonder in heauen 2. A woman clothed vvith the Sun 3. and the Moone vnder hyr feete 4. and 〈◊〉 on hir head a crovvne of xij starres 5. And shee vvas vvith chylde 6. and cryed trauelyng in byrth 7. And payned readie to be deliuered The Paraphrase 1 And there appeared saith Sainct Iohn a great token in heauen For no wonder is this token héere to bée taken as in other places of the scripture but for a type or figure contayning vnder misterie great things A woman was séene clothed with the sonne yea of Iohn For to Gods onely electes is the veritie shewed to auauntage Not Marie Christes mother is this womaÌ„ thogh many hath so fantasied in their commentaryes But it is the true christian churche of whome Marye is a moste notable member 3 This woman the church as SalomoÌ„s canticles specifie is fair louely pleasaunt sweet holsome delectable vndefiled as the Mâ—ne excelent in clearnesse as the sunne and glorious as an armie of men with theyr banners and stremers This woman is bewtifully decked with the shining sunne of rightuousnesse None is of hir that hath not don on Iesus Christ being renued in their hartes by faith They are not hir childreÌ„ that persecute gods word no more thaÌ„ was Annas and Caiphas Ioannes and Alexander 4 This woman séemed to haue the moone vnder hir féete To the church or congregation of God are all other creatures subiecte All moouable things hath the Lorde subdued vnto hir Shée is the right heire and inheritor of theÌ„ through Christ they with hir to be deliuered from the bondage of corruption and to serue in libertie 4 Upon hir head was also a crowne of twelue starres which betokeneth not onely the twelue Apostles declaring the glorie of Christes kingdome immediatly after his death
the bloud of the Lambe 7 And by the worde of their testimonie 8. And they loued not their liues vnto the death 9 Therefore reioice ye heauens and ye that dvvell in them 10. Wo to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea 11. For the diuill is come dovvne vnto you 12. Whiche hath great vvrath 13. Because he knovveth that he hath but a short time The Paraphrase 1 And I hard a mighty great voice saith sainct Iohn which is the whole agremeÌ„t of all the sacred scriptures And the voice sayd thus vnto me 2 Now is there in heauen saluation in the church is the helth of soule now that the idolatry with other abhominatioÌ„s is thrown forth and she cleane deliuered from their beggery Now appereth the power of the Lord that his Gospell is truely preached 3 Now is it become our Gods kingdome that theyr doctrine is not of men 4 Now hath it the whole strength of his anointed Al Christs labours merits and deseruinges his natiuitie passion resurrection and ascencion is now hir owne good Christes victory is theirs his crown his scepter his seate and kingdome is theirs Yea the possession of his fathers right hand is theirs 5 For the enimy of our brethren is throwne downe which cruelly accused them before god day and night The aduersarye Sathen which quarelled before the Lorde against pacient Iob and vexed hym sore in his substaunce and flesh neuer ceasinge to this day to trouble the rightuous with Antichristes and Tyrauntes is now ouercome by the victory of faith and his power greatly deminished in his members Now is the kingdome of God increased much people beiÌ„g vnfainedli coÌ„uerted vnto christ 6 Conquered him they haue by no Power of theyr owne neyther merits nor works but through the inestimable strength whiche is in the bloud of the immaculate lamb Iesus Christ throgh the inuiÌ„cible word of his verity which they to the world haue testified 7 In the witnesse thereof haue they constantly suffered through faith in them haue they with him obtayned victorye ouer the worlde sinne hell death and the diuill Not theyr owne bodyes haue they spared to wyn thys conquest 8 But much more haue they loued Christ and his trueth than theÌ„selues accounting it auantage to geue their liues for hym 9 Therefore reioyce ye heauens and al you that in them in doth dwel Ye Angels aboue ordeined for mans comforte ye sainctes departed from the miseries of this worlde ye faithfull beléeuers remanyng in this life and ye feruente fauourers of the Lordes verytie be glade that your brethren hath gotten the victory of the diuill and his Angels to the glory of Christ. 10 But wo vnto the wretched inhabitaÌ„ts of the earth of the sea No small danger is towards theÌ„ that hath heard the voice of the Lord stil yet wil folow the course of this world no light peril haÌ„geth ouer their heads that are incoÌ„staÌ„t fickle wauerin giuing back with euery blast for the pleasure of theyr flesh 11 Take héede of it therefore for vnto you that are suche the diuill is come downe with his subtil suggestions and craftes with his wyly cauteles and ingines Among you doeth he remayne watchyng to haue hys pray as he did among the children of Israell when they were become vnfaithfull 12 Tares will he sow to distroy the good séed for his wrath is great to sée him selfe thus deiected his hate is excéeding beholding his kingdom decayed Among you must he wreak his anger for he can not harme the faithfull Thorowe his enuye came death first into the world If ye will escape his snares looke ye giue no place vnto him but in fayth resist him manfully 13 He waxeth now mad fretteth with him selfe He myndeth to make hauoke and to doe much mischief bicause he knoweth that his tyme is short No longe season shall he haue from hencefoorth to deceiue The latter day he perceiueth not to be farre of wherin great torments abydeth both hym and his And that maketh him so woode That maketh hym so insaciably desirous to noye not caring what spyght he worketh against God And no wicked will leaueth he vnsought to perfourme his cruell intent Woe vnto them therefore that in these dayes taketh no héede Woe vnto them that stumbreth in wanton pleasures when most daunger is and the diuill moste busie not attending to the call warnyng of God THE TEXT 1 And when the Dragon saw that he was cast vnto the earth 2. hee pursued the woman which brought forth the man child 3. And to the woman were giuen ij winges of a great Egle 4. that shee might flye into the wildernesse 5. into hir place where shee is norished for a tyme tymes and halfe a time 6. from the presence of the Serpent 7. And the Dragon cast out of his mouth vvater after the vvoman as it had bene a ryuer 8. that he might cause hir to be caught of the flood 9. And the earth holpe the vvoman 10. and â—he earth opened hir mouth 11. and svvalovved vp the ryuer vvhich the dragon cast out of his mouth 12. And the dragoÌ„ vvas vvroth vvith the vvoman 13. and vvent and made vvar vvith the remnauÌ„t of hir seed 14. vvhich kepe the commaundements of God 15. and haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ 16. and he stoode on the sea sande The Paraphrase 1 And when the Dragon or most furious serpent the diuil the head maister of pride father of lyes saw that he was throwen downe vnto the earth by the valiaunt hoast of God Or such tyme as he perceyueth the Idolatrie superstition pompe hypocrisie and other abhominable filthinesse distroied by the word of God in his malignauÌ„t Sinagoge of proud painted prelates 2 Then persecuteth he the poore woman which brought foorth the man chylde Then vexeth he the true congregation that teacheth none other but Christ and confesseth none other sauiour health and redéemer Them doeth he torment and punishe by hys mytred Mahounds and his shaueÌ„ Sodomytes subduyng vnto them for that purpose the power of Kynges and might of magistrates Then sitteth Annas in consistorie Cayphas in sessions vpon lyfe and death TheÌ„ bringeth the woman hir childe foorth in payne By the martirdom or death of godly witnesses is Christ deliuered left here behind in the harts of many 3 And vnto the woman were giuen two winges of a great Egle or the two testaments of God contayning the Prophecie Gospel with the loue of God and our neighbour And these mightie winges were giuen hyr that shée might flye with them into the wildernesse Euermore wheÌ„ dauÌ„gerous persecution is the meÌ„bers of Christes congregation which are left here behynde hath aucthoritie of the old lawe to flée from it with Iacob Moyses Dauid and Helias of the new lawe also with Christ and his Apostles If they pursue you in one citie saith the Lord flée you into an other Not onely to saue your bodies but to fructifie
promises 9 And therfore are not their names written of the lamb in the booke of life which lambe was slaine from the beginning of the world Christ hath not alowed them by his word promise With the rightuous are they not regestred as members of one misticall body in hym In the similitude of hys death are they not grafted vnto hym as the braunches vnto the vine to be partners of his resurrection Their porcion is not in the lande of the lyuing with him They are none of those whom the father hath geuen hym to participate with hym in one spirit Predestinate they are not vnto life by hym nor so written vp in the foreknowledge of God Chosen they were not of the lord before the worlds constitution to be his vndefiled children in Christ. 10 He is the méeke lamb that was slaine He alone taketh away the sins of the world In hym only is the life for he is the life it self Yet is he the life of none other but of those that only beleue in him 11 In that he was killed from the worlds beginning is signified that he dyed for all them whiche were create to be saued and that his onely death is all their health raise and remedy by the promise of God For all they haue eaten of one spiritual meat and dronke of one spirituall rocke though it came in the fleshe longe after them He onely trode downe the head of the serpent Since the beginning hath he bene slaine in his membres also as manifest it is in rightuous Abell Hieremy Iohn Baptist such other like They that are not written of the lambe in the booke of life for the children of God are registred in the booke of death for the children of perdicioÌ„ reserued to eternal death for their infidelytie with the deuill his Angels 12 He that hath an eare sayeth the text let him take good héede He that hath an vnderstanding let hym be admonished by that which foloweth héere Or he that hath receiued the wisdome of the spirit let hym iudge hereof according vnto it Thus doth the holy ghost aduertise the faithfull to consider that whatsoeuer thinges are writteÌ„ they are writteÌ„ vnto our learning 13 He that leadeth into captiuity shall go into captiuyty And he that killeth with a sworde must with a sworde be slaine This warning geueth the lord take it if they lyst For he will haue his right iudgments known He that vexeth or aflicteth the iuste beléeuers in body by outward punishments he shall be aflicted in the spirit with an inwarde darknes or blindnes of the soule that he may be the more captiue to sinne and to sathan God wyll deliuer hym vp vnto a lewde mind and wyll geue him stronge delusion to beléeue all maner of lyes that he might be damned 14 He that killeth the poore innoceÌ„t for his faith with the yron sword or slaieth hym with any other torment with the sword of the spirit which is the Lords word shall he be both iudged condemned The word that I haue spoken saith Christ shall iudge them at the latter day And this is in manner all one with that was saide in the xi chapter afore If any maÌ„ wyl hurt them fyre shall procéede out of their mouthes and consume their enemies 15 Neuerthelesse to the christian is persecution necessary For héere in this lyfe is the pacience of the saints proued and their faith required Here was AbrahaÌ„ tempted Iob sore vexed and both they were founde Gods true faithfull seruants Here were the apostles contemned reioysinge that they were found worthy for christes sake to suffer rebuke The rightuous the lorde trieth as gold in the furnace He chasteneth euery seruant that he loueth and scourgeth euery son that he receiueth Onely is it faith that al the euils of this worlde by pacience ouercommeth so obtaineth the victory The fruit which riseth to eternal lyfe is peaceable sufferance in faith And that must be heare in this lyfe where as we are vnperfect to make vs perfect THE TEXT 1 And I beheld an other beast 2. comming vp out of the earth 3. and he had two horns lyke a lamb 4. and he spake as dyd the Dragon 5. and he dyd all that the firste beaste could do 6. in his presence 7. And he caused the earth and them which dwell therein 8. To worship the firste beaste vvhose deadly vvounde vvas healed 9. And he dyd great wonders 10. So that he made fyre come downe from heauen 11. In the sight of meÌ„ 12. And deceiued them that dwelt on the earth by the meanes of those signes which he had povver to doe in the sighte of the beast 13. Saying to them that dvvelt on the earth that they should make an image 14. Vnto the beast vvhich had the vvounde of a svvord and dyd liue The Paraphrase 1 And I behelde saieth S. Iohn in this secret reuelation of my Lord an other beast arising out of the earth A figure is this of al false prophets and vngoly preachers Beastly are they euermore vaine carnal and corrupt in their studies abhominable in the practisings of their wicked harts not séeking God but their belleyes not Christes glory but their owne pride and vaine glory 2 From the earth they aryse all geuen to erthly wisdome The only affectes of this worlde doth moue them to teach no good zeale of the truth Either are they tickled with ambition pricked with auarice or els stirred with mallice to inuei These are the common affects of the wicked This goinge vp haue they from wickednesse to wickednesse and shall haue still till the Lorde destroy them like as haue the iust beléeuers from vertue to vertue in the spirit till such time as they sée him face vnto face in the euerlasting Syon From the worlds beginning hath this beast risen vp in Cayne the first murtherer in the fleshlye Children of men in Cham the shamelesse childe of Noe in Ismael Esau in Iannes Iambres in Balaham Baals prophets in the Beniamits Bels chaplains in Phasur Semeias in Iudas Annas and Caiphas in Bariehu Diâ—trephes And now seÌ„s their time most of all in Mahometes doctoures and the popes queristers Yea stil they are aloft in their beastly beggerye will be till their mischif be finished Who séeth not now a daies that hath light in the spirit the malignite hipocrisy fraud craft deceit in certen fals prophets at pauls crosse in London in other places els 3 This beast had ii hornes like the lambe at a blush but all counterfet â— fals in very déede for he spake as did the dragon the hornes of Christ are his high kingdom in the world Only ariseth his Churche by faith in the glad tidinges and promises of god That word is the scepture of Christes power and the rod of right order wheras he reigneth None other strange sceptures are there neither tradicions nor customes Seuen hornes had Christ for
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
made the Talmud of the Iwes a booke more thā .x. Bibles after Nauelerus other Historians ful of blasphemies lyes condemning the doctrine of Christ. So was Rabby Moyses the Egiptian Rabina Rabasses with such other cōfirming the same 3 All bloudy was this sea the viall once shed therevpon Al fleshely were the people in their iudgmentes theyr harts fulfilled with cruelty murther against christs true witnesses through their peruerse prechings Yea in the furious rage they thought they did God great good seruice when they put his seruantes vnto deth 4 This blood was also in a maner as the bloud of a dead mā For dead was the doctrine that they taughte euen the sleaing letter it selfe Dead were also their ceremonies their rites and their idle obseruations So that euery liuing thing died in that bloudy sea All they which séemed thorough glittering hipocrisie to liue wāted the very lyfe which is hid in Christ and that ryseth of fayth in hys lyuing word So did they also which depended all vpon the vayne pleasures of thys lyfe exercising héere tyrannie both in wordes doings Neyther were they out of the same daunger that fel from the veritie once knowne nor yet they which durst not receyue it for feare of persecution but both perished in this sea THE TEXT 1 And the third Angell shead out his vial 2 vpon the ryuers and fountaynes of vvaters 3. and they turned to bloud 4. And I heard an Angell say 5. Lorde which arte and vvaste 6. thou arte rightuous and holy 7. bicause thou hast geuen such iudgements 8. For they shed the bloud of saintes and prophets 9. therfore hast thou geuen them blud to drink for they are vvorthy 10. and I hard an other Angel out of the aulter 11. say 12. Euen so Lord God almighty 13. true rightuous are thy iudgements The Paraphrase 1 Next in his course went out the third Angel vnder the third seale opening he powred out his vyal vpon the watery floudes fountaines al they became very blud By his set decrée for the third age of the church suffered the Lord false heretyques to rage in al kyndes of errour strongly to delude the vnbeleuers 2 These lighted vpon the swéet waters by whom ar ment the sacred scriptures refreshing the drie soules Who soeuer drinketh saith Christ of the waters that I geue he shal neuer be more a thirst 3 Of these waters haue they defiled both the riuers and welspringes with bloud Both the law and gospel the figure verity the commaūdement promise the doctrine of prophets and Apostles haue they corrupted with their false interpretacions gloses with frowarde driftes and opinions with vaine tradicions and worshippings with carnal wisdom and murtherings Of this sort wer Eutices Arrius with such other like as in the .vii. chapter afore 4 And I hard saith saint Iohn an Angel betokning those sincere witnesses to whom God had opened for that age his secret iudgementes And this Angel sayd 5 Omnipotent creator Lord which art not only of thy selfe at this present instāt but wart also essencially in thy selfe without beginning 6 Thou heauenly Lord arte faithfull in thy wordes holy in thy workes 7 For as it appereth before our eyes the decrées foreiudgemēts that thou madest afore are now fulfilled in effect 8 For the religious murtherers that of cruelnesse caused the bloud of thy holy saintes Prophets Apostles preachers to be shed haue now by thy iust appointment very bloude to drinke as they are most worthy 9 For sleying of them whose message they contempned they had theyr iust plague Not only became they vain in their thoughts their folish hartes darkened not vnlike to thē that hath eares heare not eyes sée not but also there remained vnto them after this life a perpetual vengeaunce without mercy for their cruel oppressiōs as a due rewarde of their errour 10 Yet an other angel hard I saith S. Ihō euē out of the alter which is christ This angel signifieth those witnesses that sometime confessed the trueth here and now resteth frō their labours in the Lord. These though they be departed affirm that the other hath sayd afore in token that now beyng departed they forget not that truth which they afore cōfessed liuyng stil yet in the same he that holdeth my worde saith Christ shall neuer tast of death 11 And this is their saying in mistery or wordes comprehēding their secret confession 12 Euen so Lord God almighty As the liuing beleuers saith of thée by mouth so say we now in the spirit 13 That thy decréed iudgemēts are euer more true thy merueilous workings rightuous The first is called in some translatiōs the Angell of waters the other here reported to come from the aulter to signify both sortes THE TEXT 1 And the fourth Angell poured out hys vyall 2. on the sunne 3. And povver vvas giuē vnto him to vexe men vvith heate of fyre 4. And the men raged in great heate and spake euil of the name of God 5. vvhich had povver ouer those plagues 6. and they repented not to giue him glory The Paraphrase 1 Consequently by the appointment of God the fourth Angel in the fourth seale opening powred out his vyall of Gods wrath on the sunne As the Lord had eternally prefixed in the fourth age of the Christian church For the whole worldes punishment was Christ sore bleamished which is the cleare sonne of rightuousnesse Sore did the dissembling Antichrists in those dayes darkē the true glory of God with their manifold sects of hypocrisie The Pope had for hys part an innumerable swarm of shorne smered Sodomites and Mahomete a foule flock of frantike fabillers which with their newlye painted religions and prodigious obseruations made first all the world to wonder thā to worship Belial for Christ taking darkenesse for light sin for rightuousnesse 2 These being very aduersaryes vnto Christ tooke vpō them his authority and seat the one boasting him self for his general vicar in earth the other for the great prophet of the Lord so were receiued of the execrate world Néedes would they seme to be the sunne being the very shadowes of death 3 Permitted was this hearsackye sunne to vex mē with heat of fyre Sitting in the temple of God which is with in man with such wicked lawes as they made vnder the name of God of Christ they tirribly vexed tormented and cruciated the weake consciences of men leauing them commonly in most painful desperation 4 So that the men raged in great heat speaking euil of the name of God which had power ouer those plages At their abhominable perswasiōs was Christe of thē not taken for a merciful sauiour and gentil redemer but for a froward chourle vntractable tyraunt vnlesse he were molified by the merites and callings vpon of other and that could not be had without money 5 Power hath the Lord ouer plages to hold
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
offered them Such were Annas â— Caiphas with our execrated bishoppes suffragaÌ„es channons 〈◊〉 â—â—cars with all the priestes of the same wicked zeale 17 The vnpytefull murtherers are also the same bloude thursty prelates those Caines these boysterous Nemrothes that neuer will bâ—e satisfyed wyth the slaughter of innocâ—ntes No cruell Antichrist after Ihon Wyâ—leues tyme dyd so spyghtfully persecute the veryte of Christe in Englande as dyd Philyp Repyngedone made than of a false brother or pâ—riuired christan byshoppe of Lincolne The graunde captaine of thys madde muster is the proude byshop of Rome the preposterous vycar of the Lambe the vnworthy successour of Peter in that he hath not yet put vp his sword Of the same sorte also are all those cruell Princes and vnmercyfull magistrates that applyeth their auctorities powers and offyces vnto the same mescheife Such deceytfull rauenours and abhomynable bloude sheders the mercifull Lorde abhorreth euermore Of this number was Pharao herod wyth innumerable tiranntes since which to reherse in order were to long 18 The filtâ—â— whoremoÌ„gers are those holy spirituall Ammorites which hath consecrate themselues vnto Moloch in the fyre of fleshly concupiâ—â—ence For euer haue they for sworne godly marryage to make daily sacryfyce to the diuell in buggary and other carnall beastlynesse The most highly estemed vertue of that generation is to haue no wyues Neuer coÌ„maunded I such filthy vowes sayth the Lorde neither came it euer in my thought to make Iuda sinne with such abhominacion For the ofte breaking of their othe profession vowe it is no matter so long as they make the rekening amonge theÌ„selues Innumerable is the swarme of these lecherous locustes of Egipte euery where are their fruites séene all after Christes resurrection to saye that his desciples had stolen hym awaye by night 22 All these with such other execrable â—â—â—tes sayth the Lord vnto Iohn shall haue their iust porcion in the foule stinking lake yâ— horrybly fometh vpward with fylthy fyre and brymstone With the diuell and his angels shall they dwell for euer 23 Thus shal the wicked saith Dauid for neglectinge their Lord God be turned into hell with perpetuall confusion The fiery floud that shall go before the Iudge wyll swallow them vp cleane 24 And this is wythout fayle the second death or damnacion both of soule and body The perpetuall shame and reprofe as Daniel calleth it that shall neuer be recouered Not onely the abhominable homicides Idolatours and whoremongers shall haue this stinking reward but also the faynt harted hipocrits the vnfaythfull sorcerers and the execrable lyers with all theyr affinitie THE TEXT 1. And there came vnto mee 2. one of the seuen Angells 3. Which hath the seuen vyalles full of the seuen last plagues 4. And talked with me saying 5. Come hither I vvill shew thee the bryde the Lambes wyfe 6. And he caryed me away in the spirit to a great an high mouÌ„tayne 7. And he shewed me the great citie 8. holy Hierusalem 9. defending out of heauen froÌ„ GOD 10. hauing the brightnesse of GOD. 11. And 〈…〉 was lyke vnto a 〈◊〉 most 〈…〉 〈…〉 had vvalles 〈◊〉 high 〈…〉 had .xii. gates 15 and at the gates xii Angells 16. and names vvrytten 17. vvhich are the .xii. trybes of Israell 18. On the East part three gates On the North syde three gates 19. And tovvardâ— the 〈…〉 And on the West syde three gates 20. And the vvalle of the citie had .xii. foundacions 21. and in them the names of the Lambes .xii. Apostles The Commentarye 1 And as I was yet stil ioyously marueiling saith saint Iohn at this most friendlye communicatioÌ„ wonderfull mistery of the Lorde 2 There resorted vnto me very louingly one of the seauen angels mencioned héere afore which angels hath committed vnto them at the Lordes pleasure the seuen vials of his wrath contayning the seauen plagues of the world 3 None other are these Angels but the decréed purposes of God vttering his iudgements against cursed Babylon at their times appointed as we haue sufficiently declared in the xv xvi chapters afore One of theÌ„ sent the lord vnto Iohn to describe vnto him at large the glory of the new HierusaleÌ„ lyke as he did afore the confusion of Babilon For onely was this in spirite as here after foloweth 4 This angell saith he familiarlye communed with me This inspired purpose of God moued my harte my minde my witte reason vnderstanding and remembraunce with the other powers of soule to make mee pryuy of this secret mistery necessary to be knowne of the faithful 5 Come hither saith it spiritually vnto me leauinge at this time behinde thée all suche considerations as thou hast of nature CerteÌ„ly wil I manifest vnto thee to the singuler comfort of many other what the beutifull Bryde is which is the vndefiled spouse of the Lambe Iesus Christ. Thou shalt wel perceiue hir by the gifte of faith to be far different from the Rose coloured whore that thou séest afore Thou shalt know here hir estate beuty behauer and aparell For that maketh God open to his louers which he hideth vnto other in parables 6 Than toke he me vp in the spirite saith Iohn and so carried me cleane away into a mightye great and excéeding high mountaine The contemplation of this heauenly misterye so occupyed my minde that clearely was I taken from the remembraunce of all worldly fantasies thought my selfe rapt vp with Paule vnto the thirde heauen Sittinge solytarye alone as did Hieremie I was lift vp aboue my selfe With Enoch Helias I thought my selfe taken from the worlde so great was the mistery 7 Anone this spirituall messenger shewed me a great godly Citie I was in remembraunce of the true congregation of God compact together in the vnitie of one perfecte Christian faith And this was not the olde Hieruâ—alem builded longe ago of Melchisadech as testifieth Iosephus For that was full of sinne ignoraunce and blindnesse She slewe the Prophets and stoned them vnto death that were sent vnto hir She disdayned also to receiue hir owne Lorde whaÌ„ he came to hir of good loue 8 But this is al of an other sort perfit godly faithfull Yea this is aboue all estimatioÌ„ holy Not for the outwarde sacrifices which were but shadowes of thiÌ„gs to come but for the eternal redeÌ„tioÌ„ yâ— came through him which offerd him selfe vnto God the father without spot 9 Not made by mans hande was this holy HierusaleÌ„ nor yet after this maner building For it issued out of heaueÌ„ and so came downe from God the Father of light of whom only is all that is good and perfect Great is this citie not onely in that it is the possession of the great kinge of all but also in that it is highest in dignitie before him spred the world ouer 10 Glorious is it also blessed spirituall and heauenly hauing the inestimable brightnesse or wisdome of the omnipotent God hir light is the lambe Iesus Christe and
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
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
mens imaginations can haue place where Christe is euer residente and his verytie manifest The nighte of infidelytie is cleane gone from theÌ„ which hath obtained the euerlastinge day The cloudes of filthy errours abideth not where the true sunne hath alwaies dominion The stronge powers of hel shall not be able to preuaile where as faith is perfect and sure So goeth the Lorde before his true Israelits in this piller of fire that the night is vnto them all one with the day That is vnto other darknesse in parables is vnto them the clere light and the euidentlye knowne misteries of Gods kingdome In the common translation that is dayly read in the Temple it foloweth that they shall bring the glory and honour of the heithen into the same citie which is not founde in the Gréeke And by this is it signyfyed that the apostles and other godly preachers sins their time conuerting the gentles haue not only brought into the christian Churche by theyr preachings many of theyr phylosophers whose glory hath bene their wisdome and learning but also theyr princely potentates whose honour consisted in power possessions magnificence Of this sort was the chamberlaine of Quéene CaÌ„dace to whom Philip declared the prophecie So was Cornelius the noble Centurion which was instructed and baptised of Peter So were also Dionisius the Areopagite Apollo of Alexandria and Aquila the Italiane with diuers other whom Paul conuerted in his progresse And after theyr dayes were of this company Iustinus the martyr Quadratus Aristides Tertullyane Origyne Cyryll Basyle Iohn Crysostome Augustyne Hieronimie with an infinite number els So was Lucius the firste Christian King of this region Philippus the Emperour with many other great gouernours which both builded almes houses for the poore and made other godly prouision els This is the precious spoile they brought out of Egypt and the fruite they haue planted in the Lords vyneyard As Esaye prophesied they enioyed the streÌ„gth of the paganes and tryumphed in theyr glory but not in their superfluous toyes and vanities as doo the Papistes 14 For into this citie saith the text or congregation which is from within vnknowen to the world shal nothing enter that is vncleane or that after any sort defyleth No rightuousnesse of men which is afore God but as the cloth stayned with meÌ„strue No tradicions merytes nor masses apere they neuer so holye For all that is done besides the prescriptes of his worde is plaine abhomination and filthinesse None that is gelded or â—oacted to chastitie by papisticall vowes None that is borne of a coÌ„cubyne or that maketh a new supersticious professioÌ„ No misbegotten Moabytes and Ammonites betokening all sectes of perdicion are allowed of the Lorde vnto this congregacion Onely are they accepted for Citizens thereof which are renewed in faith by the spirit of Iesus Christ. 15 Whatsoeuer it be that worketh abhominacion in vncommaunded worshippings or maketh lyes in Hipocrisie is clerely sequestred froÌ„ this vndefiled citie The constrayned virginitie of priestes which hath made so many Sodomytes Confession vnder a stole that hath bredde so many false traytors and théeues The two horned order of Bishops that hath hatched so many proud gluttoÌ„s and murtherers The anoynted priesthoode the hath so many Idolatours The vnholy profession of monkes that hath brought forth so many stinking hypocrits with suche other sedes of the diuell hath héere no place at al. For nether whormongers nor yet Idoâ—l worshipers nor buggerers nor Gomoreans nor extorcioners nor couetuouse brybers nor dronkardes nor blasphemers of the Lordes word nor cruel destroyers of innocentes can in any wise inherit the kingdome of God 16 But they onely shal possesse that which are writen in the Lambs booke of lyfe or that were predestinate ther vnto in Christ before the worlds constitution to be holy and vnspotted in his sight These are they whoÌ„ he hath a perpetuall remembrance whom he hath ordained of goodnes choseÌ„ of mercy called by the Gospell iustified thorough faith glorified in the perfourmaunce of hys commaundemeÌ„ts that they shoulde be lyke fashioned to the shape of hys sonne Though these of frailnesse offende many tymes as the fleshe can doe none other yet denye they not the verytie they abhorre not the scriptures But after they haue fallen they repent froÌ„ the hart they séeke the remedyes they hate their owne déedes they call vnto Christ they lament their chaunce they honger and thyrst continually for the rightuousnesse of God and such other like Now as concerninge thys citye in the regeneration or Sabboth to come all will be golde precious stone and pearle Theyr glorye wyll bée perfect their knowledge whole and theyr iudgement in the spirite full All wyll be there square euen and right nothinge shal be croked rough and frowarde All wil be newe and precious no maner of deformitie appearing in the creaturs The bewtie of the citie will bée wonderfull the lyght inestimable the dwelling most quietous and pleasaunt There shall we clerely beholde howe myghtie maruelous hygh bewtyfull glorious perfect stronge victoryous delectable and swéet our redemer Iesus Chryst is wyth hys father and holy Ghost Here haue wée but a small taste thereof but there shall we bée fully replenyshed there wyth The xxii Chapiter Styll doth thys Chapiter folowynge whych is the laste of thys Reuelacyon prosecute the spirituall and heauenly commodities of thys Cytie concluding wyth most excellent admonicions and Godly warninges The text 1 And hee shevved me a pure ryuer 2. of vvater of lyfe 3. cleare as crystall 4. proceedynge out of the seate of God and of the lambe 5 in the myddest of the streate of it 6. and of eyther syde of the tyuer 7. vvas theyr vvoode of lyfe 8. vvhych bare tvvelue maner of fruites 9. and gaue fruite euerye moneth 10. and the leaues of the vvoode serued 11. to heale people vvith all The Commentary 1 And the Angell saith S. Iohan or gracious purpose of the Lord which coÌ„moned with me al this time to bring me yet into a farder knowledge of his misteries shewed vnto me a most pure and commodious ryuer whych was the wholesome water of lyfe None other can I suppose thys ryuer to be by the serche of the scriptures but the flowing veritie the worde of saluacion or the effectuall doctryne of Christs holy spirit That is the swéet floud of Eden which pleasauÌ„tly floweth through Paradyse visiteth the .iiii. quarters of the worlde This is the wholsome dilectable water which daily coÌ„forteth preserueth the spirituall Hierusalem from all contagious maladies This ruÌ„ning flood with his ryuers on euery syde reioyseth the cytie of god which is the habitation of the highest 2 All full of quyckenesse is it springing into the lyfe euerlasting Here is it the spirituall coÌ„fort of gods children ther shall it be the enestimable glory of the sainctes To whoÌ„ shal we go lord saith Peter but vnto thée For onely haste thou the wordes of eternall lyfe 3 So cleare is
by my onely reuelation or shewing whiche am the eternall spouse of the church hath he receiued them to their singular health and comforte 3 And as cōcerning me without faile I am the originall roote or grounde of saluation in Dauid after the word and after the flesh I am of his stocke or generation For in mée are fulfilled all promises of health that euer god made for that faythfull housholde By mee had Dauid his beginning for I made him and by me shall he and all other true Israelites in him haue for euer a glorious continuaunce for I saued them in that fleshe 4 To all them which walke after Dauids fayth am I the bright mornyng starre of grace remouyng the filthye cloudes of errour The shyning clearenesse of godly vnderstanding finishing the darke night of ignoraunce I bring with me the day of mercy health and rightuousnesse and the Sabboth of full reconciliation to God I giue light vnto them that sate in darkenesse directing their féete in the path way of peace 5 For my worde is spirite and veritie resurrection and lyfe And where as it shyneth in the hartes of mortall men it maketh them the children of light To séeke vnto this necessarye light the eternall spirite of God the holy Ghost dayly moueth and prouoketh by many inwarde callings vpon saying alwayes 6 Come with a sincere fayth Drawe nygh vnto him and be lightened and your frayle consciences shall neuer be confounded Resorte vnto him all you that are loaden and he shall refreshe you The bryde or congregation of the Lorde thus taught sturred and prycked forewarde of his spirite sayth also in hyr heart euermore with a feruent desyre Oh come my moste delectable spouse lord Iesus Christ my health ioye and swéetnesse Apply that the immortall glory of the chosen children of God may be séene of all creatures iniquitie cōdempned for euer Accomplish the mariage appointed from the worlds beginning Permit the prepared spouse with hir appoynted number to enter into thy eternall tabernacle of rest 7 Moreouer sayth the Lord whatsoeuer they be that shall heare and beleue this prophecie let them desire the consummation therof and so conforme them selues vnto Christ his church saying also 8 Come moste mercifull sauiour and redéemer and fulfill the godly promyses of this booke to the eternall comforte of man Make hast to the iudgement seat for a full deliuerance of the whole chosen number that thy seruaunts may be where as thou art in perfecte glory and ioy 9 Fynally let him sayth the Lorde that in faith is a thirst or that hath in him a desire to be saued hast him selfe forewarde and come also Let hym onely beleue For the plentuous fountaynes of the lyuyng waters mencioned afore are withholden from no seruaunt of God Nothing is denyed vnto him that asketh in fayth In prayer are all spiritual commodities graūted 10 Whosoeuer therfore hath a wil◠conformable vnto Gods will let hym take fréely without price or payment without satisfaction or merite the pleasaunt water of the lyfe for euer refreshing hys soule in the plentuousnesse thereof 11 Of grace and fauour is saluation in Christ layde forth Onlye is héere required but a will to séeke for it Not that it shall so be deserued For neyther is it of hym that willeth nor yet of him that runneth But the gracious Lorde whiche calleth men to these waters putteth into thē a stomake thirst desire to couet them Yea he mynistreth strēgth to the séeking of thē least some of the glory therof shuld remayn vnto their deseruings and not all to his mercy alone Thus standeth the doctrine of our worke braggers voyde which neither féedeth nor satisfieth considering that not for our rightuous doings but alone for his owne mercyes sake hath he saued vs. The text 1 But I testifie vnto euery man that heareth the vvordes of prophecie of this booke 2. if any man shall adde vnto these things 3. God shall adde vnto him the plagues 4. that are vvrittē in this booke 5. And if any man shall mynish of the vvordes of the booke of thys prophecie 6. God shall take avvay hys parte out of the booke of life 7. and out of the holy citie 8. from the things vvhich are vvritten in this booke 9. He vvhich testifieth these things sayeth 10. Yea 11. I come quickely 12. Amen 13. Euē so 14. come lord Iesus 15. The grace of our Lorde Iesus 16. be vvith you all 17. Amen The Commentary 1 As my dutie is sayeth saint Iohn to premonish afore hande I faithfully proteste by this my present testimony vnto all those men that shall hereafter receyue the wordes of this wonderful prophecy here written in thys booke eyther by reading or hearing 2 That if any of them shall presumptuously take vpon him to adde any thing thervnto in purpose to peruert the truth or cōtrary to the holy ghostes meaning as Carpocras Hebion Cerinthus and other antichristes hath done with the other scriptures 3 Be certayn and sure of it that the eternall god from whom nothing can be hid shal adde vnto him for so doing the most terrible and woful plages regestred afore in thys worke 4 That is to say he shall suffer him to runne in to moste déepe errours giue him ouer for euer into the sinne against the holy ghost whervpon all other plages of dampnation dependeth Ye shall put nothing sayth the Lorde vnto the worde that I haue giuen you neither shall ye take any thing from it Put thou nothinge vnto his sayinges sayth Salomō of thine owne imaginytion least he reproue thée for a dāpnable liar Nothing is this against thē which by the other scriptures and histories doth expounde thys reuelacyon to make it to theyr vnderstandynge more playne For than should Saynt Augustyne saint Hierome Isydorus Beda Rabanus dyuers other great pillars of the church be vnder these plages for doeing that charitable office So should also the doctrine of this booke be against it self in the .xiii. chapter where as libertie is giuen to hym that hath writ to count the number of the beast in other places els But this is here spoken from them that corrupteth the text to mayntaine their blasphemous lyes for aduauntage or that séeketh to blemish the right sence therof least men should behold thē in their right colours as the wicked papists hath don euer since their begīning so drownning the authoritie maiestie thereof 5 Moreouer sayth saynt Iohn if any mortall man shal presume to deminish the wordes contayned in the volume of this heauenly Prophecye vnreuerently so controuling the wysdome of God 6 The sayd omnypotent god and reuenger of al vngodlinesse shall clerely wype away his porcion out of the booke of lyfe so that he shal be none of theyr number whych are predestinated to the glory of his children 7 Neyther shall such be alowed for cityzens with the saintes in the holy cōgregation of hys newe Hierusalem nor yet be accepted
thē or remoue thē By his rightfull iudgement at his only pleasure he hardeneth As the potter may he break thē or make them vessels of dishonor 6 In no wyse did this peruerted multitude repēt their wicked blasphemies to giue him glory for all their cōfessyons masse hearings pilgrimages satisfactions without number For they were not according to his prescription 7 After none other sort wil he be plea and glorified than he hath by his scriptures appointed Nothing lesse ar their fantasies than true repentance THE TEXT 1 And the fifte Angell powred out his vyall 2. vpon the seat of the beast 3. his kingdome vvaxed darke 4. And they gnevve theyr tongues for sorrovve 5. and blasphemed the God of heauen for sorovv and payn of their sores 6. and repented not of theyr deedes The Pharaphrase 1 In order succéedeth by the diuine ordinaūce the fifte Angel vnder the fifte seale opening powring out his vyal of Gods indignation vpon the seat of the beast After none other sorte than the Lorde had afore prediffined for mans vnfaithfulnesse sake was the proude beastly kingdome of the papacie the execrable reigne of Mahomet replenished with all filthy abhominations vnder the sunne For in the other age afore they did but créepe into the hartes of men through the glitterings of hypocrisie and dissimulate sanctitie 2 But here haue they obtayned the power seat and aucthoritie of the beaste and so gotten vnto them the myghtie Monarchies of the vniuersall worlde Here raigned they without checke in all vain glory hautinesse malice pryd murther hipocrisie superstitiō Idolatry and blasphemy of Gods name 3 And therfore their kingdomes as all one in diuillishenesse became all darke without the light of Gods veritie full of the stinking smoke of the bottomlesse pitte Than went the locusts abroad and filled the world with ignorance and blyndnesse 4 Euery where gnewe they theyr tōges for very sorow In detracting the veritie muche griefe they suffered in their desperate hartes their wormes not dying nor their fyre quenched the scorpiōs of the earth stinging them also 5 Spitefully they blasphemed the omnipotent Lord of heauen for very anguish dolour of their sores woūds For none other are the fruites of a desperate cōscience thā blasphemies of God as in Cain Iudas and such other lyke None other are the vtterances of an vnpenitent harte but heauy hatefull murmurings 6 And therefore it followeth that they repented them not of their déeds For in a cruciate or fearfully vexed conscyence can neuer dwel true repentāce So vnquietous alwayes is the foolishe desperate mynde as is the troubled raging sea A wicked harte is laden with sorrowes heaping sin vpon sin the Sinagoge of proude hipocrites hauing no health In the fifte seale opening and trumpet blowing is more of this mysterie declared which agréeth much with this vyall of God lyke as doeth the other with the other in their numbers though not in their figures The texte 1. And the sixt Angell poured out his viall 2. Vpon the great riuer of Euphrates 3. And the water dried vp 4. That the way of the Kings 5. Of the east should be prepared 6. And I saw three vncleane spirits like frogs 7. Come out of the mouth of the dragō 8. and out of the mouth of the beaste 9. And out of the mouth of the false prophet 10. For they are the spirits of deuilles 11. Workinge miracles to goe out 12 Vnto the kinges of the earth of the whole vvorld 13. to gather thē to the battel 14. Of the great day of god almightie 15. Beholde I come as a thiefe 16. Happy is he that vvatcheth 17. And kepeth his garments 18. Least he be found naked 19 And men see his filthynesse 20. And he gathered them together into a place 12 called in the Hebrue tonge Armagedon The Paraphrase 1 In course now followeth the sixte Angel of gods appointment vnder the sixt seal opening shedding out his ireful viall vpō the great riuer Euphrats a floud of the Assirians or of Babilon betokening in misterye the pleasaunt possessions and wauering delights of the Papisticall cleargye with suche lyke 2 Into all filthy desires of carnal and worldlye lustes gaue the Lorde their hartes ouer in the sixt age of the christian church for their vnbeléeues sake to doe those things which are vncumly and beastly So that all their study trauaile and labour sought to none other end but onely to abound in them Wholly were they geuen therevnto and nothing to the glory of God in all their practised obseruations 3 Yet were the waters therof in processe of time dryed vp Their wealthy pompes possessions pleasures their false feats once knowne are shal be clearely taken away from them For after Iesus Sirach the plant of sinne shall be rooted out in the proud Sinagog of the wicked 4 And all this shal be to prepare the way of the kinges from the spring of the sunne Neuer shall the gouerners walke in the waies of the Lorde nor rule according to Christes doctrine nor yet that doctrine be apert open til the waters be dryed vp not one drop remaining So long as the priests dwell in wanton delights vaine pleasures either are the princes childishe or els tyrannous according as their déeds require 5 Neuer are they kinges from the spring of the sunne or accordinge to Christs rule séeking Gods honour with Dauid and Iosias In England by the Gospell preaching haue many of these waters bene dryed vp in the suppression of monasteries priories couents fryers houses yet are not all things brought vnto Christes clere institution A sincere christē order can not yet beséene there And a great cause why For all is not yet dryed vp there The bishops reigne still in as much vaine gloryous pompe and with as manye Heithenish obseruacions as euer they dyd As cruelly harted and as bloudye mynded are they yet as euer they were afore no mischiefe vnsought to holde in the waters Mark how Winchester Durham York London and Lincolne woorketh with such other pleasantly disposed Euphratines But be of good comfort and pray in the meane time For the holy ghoste promiseth here they shall wither away with all that the heauenly father hath not plāted All that generation wyll the Lordes breath consume Now is the axe layde to the roote of the trée to hewe downe the vnfruitfull braunches the withered reserued to vnquenchable fyer God graunt the Princes at that daye more christenly to bestow the waters of Euphrates than they haue yet bene bestowed noe prouision made for the poore nor yet order set for the gospell preaching For great part of it is now turned to the vpholdings of dise playing maskinge and bankatinge yea I woulde I coulde not by iust occasions speake it bribing whoring and swearing the townes peoples and housshouldes miserablye decayed whiche wyll not one day be vnplaged vnlesse they repent 6 Furthermore I saw sayeth saint Iohn in the same self vision