winchester the winker of wiles largely declaring theÌ„selues to be déeply of the same profession and marke 4 But I fynde yet an other thyng in it For it is called here the number of man whose number lyeth all in vj. God created all things for maÌ„s commoditie in vj. dayes in the seueÌ„th rested After this creation continued man the space of .vj. ages til the commyng of Christ which brought with him the sabboth of the spirit And this is signified by the greater number which is the vj. huÌ„dred For not vnlike is it to the tyme tymes halfe tyme of Danyel Iohn to the yeares moneths dayes of Helyas Iohn also as we had afore Since Christes ascention hath the church continued by vj. other ages of much lesse tyme coÌ„prehended in the .vj. seales in the latter end of whom we are now And this shall conclude with suche a sabboth of peace in the fréedome of Gods worde as hath not bene since the beginning Sathan shall be tyed vp and the true beléeuers shall occupye in much quietnesse the beast coÌ„dempned with all hys false Prophetes And this is the nâ—mber of the sixt But this peace shall not thus in quietnesse long continue For longe can not Christes church be without persecution Sathan shal be loosed againe and the beleauings of the beast shall set vp their bristles and persecute the Sainctes a fresh Agayn shal they plant builde rauish kepe whores ryot and ruffle as though they should long continue But sodainly shall the latter iudgement day of the Lord light vpoÌ„ them vnbewares the perpetuall Sabboth of ioye shyning to the electe flocke of Christ. And this is the least number of all compared here vnto six And may well be signified by the xlij moneths afore which is ryghtly vj. seuenthes in the which they shall treade downe the holy citie or coÌ„gregation of the Lord once againe This latter accounte was founde out by a certayne vnnamed disciple of Iohn Wycleue and I suppose it most agréeing to the truth The second sabboth here or libertie of Gods truth hath had his shew in England alreadie if ye marke it well And whither it wil yet appeare more open or nay it is in the Lords handes let vs pray and hope for it hath great lykelihoode of a much farther appearaunce 5 Since the worlds beginning hath the misterie of iniquitie wrought in Caine and in his posteritie and so coÌ„tinued in the beastly members of Antichrist and so shall doe still to the latter day Therefore is it no lesse than the number of men six hundred sixtie and sixe Thus is he tokened with all wickednesse that admitteth the false fayth of this beast and folowith the same in his liuing by the subtile perswasions of the bishops and their lying Prophets is sealed vp to eternall dampnacion vnles the Lord cal him in time Not only in England is healed the beastes wounded heade but also in ohter certain regions But for so much as it is most liuely don there and this booke written in that language I haue onely brought forth héere examples thereof in that purpose The xiiij Chapter IN this present chapter declareth the Lord vnto Iohn and vnto his faithfull seruants by him the degrée estate coÌ„dicioÌ„ of his true beléeuing church now after he hath afore lyuely described the beastiall churche of Antichrist of his horned spiritualitye by the afore named ii moÌ„strous beastes And this is that his louers should know what they be which are of his houshold what an helper they haue of him in the midst of their aduersities to the comfort of their soules And though they bee heere amonge those raging tirantes in tirrible agonies paines persecutions troubles he is neuer absent from theÌ„ nor will not be till he hath rewarded them with vnspeakeable Ioyes THE TEXT 1 And I looked and lo a Lambe stoode in the mount Sion 2. and with him an C. and xliiij thousand 3. hauing his fathers name written in their foreheads 4. And I hearde a voice from heauen 5. as the sound of many waters 6. and as the voice of a great thuÌ„der 7. And the voice that I hearde was 8. as the harpers that playe vpon their harpes 9. And they sang as it were a nevve song 10. before the seat 11. and before the foure beasts 12. and the Elders 13. And no man could learn that songe 14. but the hundereth and xliiij thousand 15. vvhich vvere redeemed from the earth 16. These are they vvhich vvere not defiled vvith vvomen 17. for they are Virgynes 18. These follovve the Lambe vvhither so euer he goeth 19. These were redeemed from men 20. being the first fruites vnto God and to the Lambe 21. and in their mouthes was found no guile 22. for they are without spotte before the trone of God The Paraphrase 1 I looked saith Sainct Iohn on the other side in a thought as it were I behelde that a Lambe stoode vpon mount Sion Euen the Lambe of God Iesus Christ that alone tooke away the sinnes of the world Alone doeth he gouerne his faythfull church as the onely and immediate head therof hauing none other to assist him in that office For who is the King ouer SioÌ„ but he Who shall reduce Israell again to his folde but he Only is hée with his congregation to ayde them with his word to bolden them with his spirite to strengthen them with his grace 2 And with him were presente an hundreth and .xliiij. thousand hauing his fathers name written in theyr foreheads So many as haue in hart receiued his word and in faith digested his verity are the very children of Abraham and are marked vp for the sonnes of god by the seale of the holy Ghost 3 For power haue they geuen theÌ„ to be Gods children that beleue in his name And this is it to haue his name written in thir foreheads For their faith declareth theÌ„ Gods sonnes Let this set number be none impedimeÌ„t to the reader to be taken here for the vniuersall multitude of the faithful as well of the gentiles as of the Iewes that beleueth though it otherwise appeareth in the viii Chapter of this booke For so well is the gentle that hath faith a perfecte Israeltie as is the Christen Iew. Yea much rather was Zachius for his faith iudged Abrahams childe thaÌ„ was Simon for fulfilling the workes of the lawe For God is not parciall Whatsoeuer he be yâ— feareth him worketh rightuousenesse is accepted with him And so is it ment heare And therefor is not the difference written here as in the other place but al is ioyned in one to comprehende all vnder one And as touching the equall certaintie in nuÌ„ber both here and there Like as it is there certainly knowne vnto God euen so is it here thoughe it be vnto vs both innumerable vncertaine Not as concerninge the number it selfe but the common vnderstanding thereof in the scriptures For if
that hath euer since spightfully persecuted his faithful members vnto death for the truths sake 4 And all kinredes of the earth that is to saye whoremongers glouttons extorcioners ydolatours murtherers and tyrauntes shall bewayle them selues for the sight of him 5 Whose ryghtfull iudgemente is not so heatefull vnto them but it is as greatly desired of the faithful multitude saying in their hartes continually Euen so be it Amen For they at that houre shall be wholly delyuered gloryfyed and sealled vp wyth Christe for the euerlasting children of God 6 I am he sayth the Lord God almighty which hath begun all thinges and finished the same being signifyed by Alpha which is the first letter of the Greke Alphabete and Omega which is the last because this present reuelacion was written in Greke and vnto theÌ„ which only knewe the Greke tonge 7 I am the same saith the sayde Lord God euerlastinge the father the sonne and the holy ghoste .iii. distincte persones in one essenciall Godhede which is essencially in and of him selfe only which was without beginning and begunne all thynges and which shall be whithout endinge and finyshe all thinges alone able to exhibyte all vertue power and strength and alone vnable to execute errours lyes and sinne which is of fragilite weaknes and vnperfectnesse The Texte 1 I Ihon your brother companion in tribulacion 2 and in the kingdom of pacience which is in Iesu Christ. 3. was in the yle of Pathmos for the word of God and for the witnessing of Iesu Christ. 4. I was in the spirit on a Sonday 5. and heard behynde me a great voyce as it had bene of a troÌ„pe saying 6. I am Alpha and Omega the first the last 7. That thou seist write in a booke 8. sende it vnto the congregacioÌ„s which are in Asia 9. vnto Ephesus vnto Smyrna and vnto Pergamos vnto Thiatyra 10. and vnto Sardis vnto Philadelphia and vnto Laodicia The Paraphrase 1 I the faythful wryter of this present reuelacion called Iohn the Apostle your naturall louing brother so inferly caueting your soules helth as 〈…〉 companion of yours also in aduersitie trouble and persecucion for the truthes sake 2 And a partaker with you in the afflicted kingedome and in the pacient crosse of sâ—ffereÌ„ce in Christ Iesu. 3 Was now of late in a certaine yle of Licia called Pathmos exiled for the Gospel preaching made a vile abiect for testifying the name word of the sayd Iesus Christ the onely 〈◊〉 of the world 4 I being thus carefully afflicted and driuen from all solase and bodily comfort on a certayne sunday or day dedicate to the Lordes remembraunce was in the spirit rapte and clearly takeÌ„ vp from all worldly affects so swéetly did the Lord releue his poore persecuted seruaunt 5 And I heard certainly with mine eares a loude shirle voyce behynde mée as I was in this swéete heaueÌ„ly traunse which was so vehement and stoute to my iudgement as it had bene the noyse of a great trompe vttering these wordes vnto mée 6 I am the first and the last the originall beginner and the 〈◊〉 finisher of all thinges vnder Aâ—pha and Omega the first and last Gréeke letters as vnder an allegorie to bée vnderstand 7 With all dilygence therefore write that thou shalte sée here and make a perfect registre of the same 8 And that done sende it louingly vnto the vij Christen congregatioÌ„s which are in the land of Asia coÌ„mitted of the Lorde vnto thy administration in his word 9 Send it vnto Ephesus sende it vnto Smyrna directe it vnto Pergamos commit it vnto Thyatyra 10 And vnto Sardis vnto Phyladelphia and vnto Laodicia and finally by them to the .vij. Climates of the vniuersall worlde For though it be heere to them only lymitted yet is it to all people vnyuersally ment THE TEXT 1 And I turned backe to see the voyce that spake to me 2. And vvhen I vvas turned I savve seuen golden Candelstickes 3. And in the middest of the CaÌ„delsticks one lyke vnto the sonne of man 4. Clothed vvith a lynnen garment dovvne to the grounde 5. And gyrded about the brest vvith a golden gyrdle 6. His head and his heyres vvere vvhyte as vahite vvoll and as Snow 7. And hys eyes vvere as a flame of fyre 8. And hys feete lyke vnto brasse as thoughe they brent in a fornace 9. And hys voyce as the noyse of many vvaters 10. And he had in his right hand vii starres 11. And out of his mouth vvent a sharpe two edged svvorde 12 And his face shone euen as the sonne in his strength The Paraphrase 1 And sodenly I turned back saith sainct Iohn ernestly to behold from whence this voyce should come or who it should be that should speake these wordes vnto me 2 And as I had turned my selfe anon I beheld .vij. goldeÌ„ Candelsticks betokening not only the sayd vij congregatioÌ„s in Asia but also the vniversall Christianitie of the whole world For vij in the scripture most coÌ„monly signifieth all or the whole of that it comprehendeth 3 And in the midst of the saide .vij. Candelstickes I sawe one like vnto Christ which when he was conuersaunt here among vs not onely called him selfe the sonne of man but also appeared in shape and apparel as the same And this betokeneth Christ alwayes to be present and assisteÌ„t to his coÌ„gregations as a shepehard and aduocate a teacher and a redéemer to kepe them helpe them informe them and saue them 4 I sawe him clothed with a syde linnen garmeÌ„t downe to the grouÌ„de signifying his aboundant rightuousnesse wherwith all his faithfull beleuers are in this world largely replenished 5 Hee was gyrded also about the pappes with a golden gyrdle Hys pappes are his most swéete wordes and promises replenishing our souls with most suffrane consolation and gladnesse And they are speared vp togither fast vnto him with the shynyng cheane of charitie or loue Which in the whole betokeneth that he is of rightuousnesse loue fast sure vnto vs in his word promise 6 His heade which is his eternall Godhead and his heares which are his infallible verities therof procéeding are both so purely whyte as snowe in the incomprehensible mysteries of his diuyne maiestie and so perfectly white as wooll which is of a meaner sorte in the lower mysteryes of our redemption 7 Hys eyes which are hys Godlye wisdome and knowledge were as a burning flame of fyre most effectual pure and quicke in working 8 And his féete which are hys humane affections most swéet desires of our health were lyke vnto brasse most beutiful clean precious to beholde and as though they had bene proued tryed and depured in a whot burnyng fornace For in them was his frayle tender and mortall flesh by manifolde troubles sore vexed persecuted and slayne 9 Hys voice which is his holy Testament or
of vnfruitfull profitable For he it is that taketh away the stony hart and geueth a soft hart for it so making vs Abrahams children Thus are we redéemed from men whan we are taken by his goodnesse from such corrupt vsages as mans nature is inclined vnto 20 And for none other purpose but to be the first fruits vnto god as were the aulter offrings in the old lawe in the hands of the high priestes For so much as the elect number ar but a few or a certaine taken out from the vniuersall multitude and are the porcion of the Lord as were the said offerings perteyning vnto Christ the only bishop of our soules they are his first fruits Yea his owne very mistical members and al but one offring vnto God the father by him For he is the onely lambe that died for them his owne bodye beinge the only oblacion and sacrefice 21 And in their mouthes was found no gile For none other wordes vttered they but his pâ—er testimonies None other taught thei but his vndefiled lawes None other perswaded they to be obserued of other but his immaculate Gospel or easy burthen of Christ. No importable yokes laied they vpon mens shoulders neither of cerimonies fastiÌ„gs nor masse hearings 22 For they are without spot before the throne of god Both before them that are faythfull and haue right iudgment in the spyrite whiche are the very seats of God apereth their doctrine pure and also their life innoceÌ„t before god hiÌ„selfe Neyther are they spotted with filthy tradicions nor yet with vncuÌ„ly examples as coÌ„cerning their former sinnes they shal not be imputed vnto them They are remitted in Christ and so forgotten afore god Though this that here hath bin spoken be concerning the whole christen multitude and her preachers yet doth it most specially touche the Iewes or Israelyts that shal in this latter age be conuerted vnto Christ. And so doe I counsell the reader to vnderstand it For the mount Syon after the flesh was theirs Not defiled are they with vnmaried women which are the whorishe lawes and vncleane supersticions of the Gentiles vpoÌ„ none other harp haue they commonly harped but vpon the scriptures though it hath not bin to the pleasure of God tyll nowe in this latter age wherin they shall wholye turne vnto Christ. THE TEXT 1 And I savv an Angell 2. Fly in the midst of heauen 3. Hauing an euerlasting gospell to preach vnto them that sit and dvvell on the earth 4. And to all nacions kinreds and â—ongs and people 5. sayinge vvith a loude voyce 6. Feare God 7. And geue honour to him 8. For the houre of his iudgemente is come 9. and worship him that made heuen earth 10. And the sea the fountaines of vvater The Paraphrase 1 An other Angell sawe I sayeth sainct Iohn flye in the midst of heauen For Christ was the first angell or messenger of the euerlastinge couenaunt of the father This angell here mencioned is none other than he that had the seale of the lyuing god in the .vii. Chapter and he that was clothed with a cloude in the tenth chap. And he betokneth those feruent ministers whoÌ„ god hath sent in this latter time to admonishe his people to flye from the errours of antichrist returne to his heauenlye verities 2 He flyeth in the midst of heauen An earnest feruent faithful course take they in the middest of gods congregacion which is his heauenly kingedom here to whom this reuelation is written lyke as dyd Paulus Sylas and Barnabas Timotheus Titus and Clemens with other of the Apostles sincerely to declare his worde Mighty stomaked are they in gods cause both in their wordes and wrytings 3 An euerlastinge Gospell had this Angel to preach vnto them that sit dwell vpon the earth and to al nations kynreds and people His eternal testameÌ„t and couenant of peace hath the Lorde giuen vnto them to preach deliuerance to the captiue health to the wounded lyfe to the dead and remission to the sinfull Yea to vtter that word that is stronger thaÌ„ is heauen or earth and that shall neuer fayle hym that truely beléeueth 4 The sound of this gospell muste go the world ouer as in the apostles time Eueri wher must it be spred to the increase of faith AmoÌ„g al natioÌ„s of the earth among al kinreds of the Isralyts among all languages of the world and among all kinds of people of what sort so euer they be whether they sit vpon the earth or dwell vpon the earth whether they be high or lowe gouernours or subiects masters or seruaÌ„ts owners or fermers So that they sit not nor dwell not within the earth or haue theyr felicitie here For that is holy should not be geuen vnto dogs nor yet pearels layed before swyne 5 And he cryed with a loude voyce with a mighty feruent spirit do they beat it into the heades of men both by wordes writings and al they can make to haue the feare of God and to geue him his due honour And this is the doctrine they teache the counsell they geue 6 Feare ye God in all that ye doe for the first poynt of godly wisdome is to dread least we offende him Be constant in the worde and feare no displeasure of men For no more can they do in their anger but slea the body and bring it to the rest of god No power haue thei ouer the soule feare him only therfore that wheÌ„ he hath destroied both may throw theÌ„ into heâ— 7 Geue honor vnto hiÌ„ worship him serue him alone praise him glorifie him aboue al. But yet after 〈◊〉 other sort thaÌ„ he hath apoiÌ„ted which is in faith spirite veritie not 〈◊〉 outward shadowes with obseruation of tymes He truely honoureth him that trusteth in him the beleueth his word and that in spight of all antichrists coÌ„fesseth it afore al men after this sort therfore feare him worship hym nothiÌ„g douting the assalts of enimies 8 For the houre of his iudgemeÌ„t is come At hand is it that all the antichristes and hipocrits shal by the inuincible word of god be iudged condemned and destroyed From heaueÌ„ shall hys wrath be declared vpon al their vngodlynes With the spirite of his mouth shall the lorde consume them and not longe after wyll the great day of his indignatioÌ„ toward them light sodenly vpon them 9 With al faithful obsequi worship him therfore that created heauen earth in wonderfull streÌ„gth beuty 10 That made the sea the fountaines of water with all that in theÌ„ doth anone whose power is eternall knowledge none other god but him None other helper redemer nor sauior but christ for al other christs not seÌ„t of hiÌ„ ar but antichrists only bow your knées vnto him for only is hys strength euerlasting onely obey his lawes for only are his lawes clean THE TEXT 1 And there folovved an other Angel saying 2. She is fallen she is fallen euen
the lawes of theyr fathers by the eatyng of meats dedicate to vncleane Idols but also fall into the high displeasure of god for committing with them most vile fornication Suche vnholsome teachers are among thy people take héede if thou list 8 Thou arte also verye familiar with such vngodly Apostates false Apostles as mayntayne the vncomely examples teachings of the Nycolaytanes which corruptyng godly maryage not only permit their own wyues to be common but also they abashe not to defyle the wyues of other men Whose damnable doyngs I detest and abhorre 9 I counsell thée therefore to repent in tyme and to bee conuerted frō the errors of those couetous gluttōs rauenous lechours which cōdemyning holy matrimony permit all kyndes of vncleannesse and nothing more gréedily deuour thā that is offred vp to Idolles in their dedycations and feastes Call backe these abuses with swéete teachings exhortations desires and patient rebukes els will I within a while visite thée to thy displeasure 10 Yea and I will valiauntly fight agaynst those Balaamitanes which giue false coūsel for filthie rewards and agaynst those Nicolaytanes that chaunge holy wedlocke for whoredome And with the swerde of my mouth which is the inuincible veritie shall I iudge them condemne them and vtterly distroy them with all those shauen Madyanites that with their whorishe inuentions paynted traditions and ceremonyall supersticions hath takē from me my most deare Israelytes bought with my precious bloud With the breath of my mouth shal I consume thée and bring thée to naught 11 Let him that hath but one eare of iust vnderstandyng take gentle warnyng by such charitable premonishments as the holy spirite of God giueth vnto the christen cōgregations 12 To him that through constante fayth in the name doctrine of God neither feareth the world sin death hel nor the diuil will I giue to tast eate and sauer an hidden manna a secret sweetnesse a wisdome in the spirite that he shall féele the goodnesse thereof and reioyce to knowe how swéete the Lord is and what an heauenly treasure it is to trust in him Which manna is hid from the wyse of this world 13 I will also giue him for a token of perpetuall peace and loue that pure and precious stone Iesus Christ so white as the lillie floure innocent and cleane frō all contagious vices to be his only whole wisdom rightuousnesse light health and redemption 14 And in the said white stone Iesus Christ which is also the booke of lyfe will I gyue him a newe name written I shall register him for the chyld of God and the heyre of lyfe euerlasting For in him alone must ye be accepted saued and glorified 15 Of this no man is certayne but he that is taught of the spirit of God No man can say Iesus is the Lorde but in the holy ghost By the spiryte of adoption ye cry Abba father The onely spirit of the Lord ascertaineth your spirit that ye are the sonnes of God THE TEXT 1. And vnto the Angell of the congregation of Thiatyra vvryte 2. This saith the sonne of God vvhich hath his eyes lyke vnto a flame of fyre 3. vvhose feete are lyke brasse 4. I knovve thy vvorkes and thy loue and thy seruice and thy faith and thy pacience and thy deeds 5. vvhich are mo at the last then at the first 6. Notvvithstanding I haue a fevv things agaynst thee 7. that thou suffrest that vvoman Iesabell vvhich calleth hyr selfe a Prophetisse 8. To teache and to deceyue my seruauntes to make them commytte fornication and to eate meates offered vp vnto Idols 9. And I gaue hir space to repent of hir fornication and shee repented not 10. Beholde I will caste hir into a bed 11. And them that commit fornication with hir 12. Into great aduersitie excepte they turne from their deedes 13. And I wil kil hir children with death 14. And all the congregations shall know that I am he which sercheth the reynes and hartes 15. And I will giue vnto euerie one of you according to your workes THE PARAPHRASE 1 Delay not cōsequently my louing friende Iohn sayeth the Lorde expresly to manifest with penne vnto the pastour of the elect congregation of Thiatyra which is frō these low partes here a sweete smellyng sacrifice vnto God of labour and contrytion in the olde aged man and bodie of death For shee detesteth the vanities of this world shée forsaketh the fruites of the fleshe shée renounceth the cōcupiscēce of the eyes shée mortifieth hir mortall mēbers she slayeth hir sensuall affects and rendreth vp hir selfe vnto hir Lord God as a lylyuing holy and acceptable offering 2 Geue vnto that contrite and feruent congregacion this comfort Tel hir that this saythe the dearely beloued and natural sonne of god which hath his eyes of godly wysdome and knowledge so lyuely effectuall as a flame of fyre that he séeth all thinges and nothing can passe from his righteousnesse in iudgement 3 Whose féete or charitable affections towardes man are lyke vnto Brasse brent in a fornace For his most innocent manhoode by his own agréement suffred here for his sake manyfolde affllictions and paines 4 For so much as all thinges are open to myne eyes and nothing can be hid from me saith that lord I perceue thy fruitefull workes I sée thy neighbourly christen loue I cōsider thy liberall heart and hande to the poore thy faythfull exhortacions thy feruent spirit in the Lorde thy pacient sufferaunce in aduersitie for the truethes sake and thy other godly déedes beside 5 I marke it also that thou shrinkest not in them but rather goest forward with increase For now at the last are they more effectual plēteous then they were at the fyrst which greatly delighteth mée 6 Neuerthelesse yet I haue somewhat to say against thée For though I iudge thée much to be cōmended yet finde I thée not without faulte 7 Thou peaceably permittest without resistance that cruel woman and abhominable strūpet Iesabel which is the malignaunt church and Sinagoge of Sathan which is not ashamed to boast hir selfe a prophetisse a publisher of the truth and maynteiner of Gods seruyce yea the mother of holy church hir selfe 8 Under that pretence to set foorth diuilish doctrine to aduaunce pernicious errours and colour false lyes in hypocrisie To the intent shee might therewith not only deceyue my faithful seruaūts but also bring them into such trade of wyckednes that they should not force to commit whoredome in the spirite by fallyng vnto straunge worshippings and to eate of Idoll offerings in consenting to wicked lawes and blasphéemous tradytions of olde dotyng Hypocrytes 9 I haue giuen to that wicked congregatiō many holsome premonishments and warnings with conuenient respyte to remember hir follie and repent hir detestable wayes of liuing least she should perish but she will in no wyse bee sorie repent
our offences tooke away the sinnes of the world He was that méek Lambe prefigured in the law whom the faithfull fathers so earnestly desired He was that gentle Lamb that was caried away to be slayne and that opened not his mouth before the shearer This Lambe standeth vp euermore for vs before God as our onely medyator aduocate peace maker Sauiour helper counsellour defender and teacher 13 This Lambe had seuen hornes which betokeneth his stronge and infinit power vertue victory kingdom glory bounteousnesse and maiestie with such lyke and in the whole his vniuersall reigne 14 He had also seauen eyes whiche are all the powers graces fruites of the holy ghost called héere the seuē spirits of God For so much as they are the singuler gifts of him whiche is his essenciall spirit And them he hath sent by his apostles other godly preachers into the seuen climates of the erth or vniuersal world the people with them to be replenished These are wisdome vnderstandinge counsell strength knowledge pittie the fear of god These are also loue ioy peace pacience gentlenesse goodnes fayth méekenesse long suffering cleannes and temperance with diuersitie of tongues interpretacion prophecie cures healings miracles and iudgement of spirits 15 And the sayd Lambe came foorth as one through méekenesse hauyng victorie ouer sinne death hell hée reuerently tooke the sayd booke from the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne Which made me anon to consider that the heauenly father had giuen vp vnto him the whole admynistration of his spirituall kingdom with all aucthoritie power in heauen and earth to open or to speare to choose or to reiect to take or to refuse to saue or to loose to rewarde or to dampne For he it was that first opened the vnderstanding of men that they might perceyue the scriptures He it was that sent the holy spirite of God to deduce them into all veritie and gaue them grace to instructe all people He it is also that shall thorowe them into euerlasting fire with the diuil his Angels that resist the same THE TEXT 1 And when he had taken the booke the liij beastes and the .xxiiij. elders 2. fel dovvn before the Lambe hauing harpes 3. golden vialles full of odours vvhich are the prayers of the Saincts 4. they sung a nevv song saying 5 Thou arte vvorthie to take the booke 6. and to open the seales therof 7. For thou wert killed 8. and hast redemed vs by thy bloud out of all kinreds tongs and people and nacions 9. and hast made vs vnto our God Kings and priestes 10. and vve shall reigne on the earth The Paraphrase 1 And when he had receyued the sayd booke of the hande of God with full authoritie and power the iiij beasts or the present protestours of the veritie here liuing in the world and the xxiiij Elders or auncient witnesses of the same departed cleane from thys worlde as were the olde fathers the Patryarkes Prophetes and Apostles méekly submitted them selues before the Lamb much reioysinge in his triumphant victorye for them 2 They fell downe before him they praysed hym they worshipped hym they gaue thanks and recognised him for their mercifull Lorde and Sauiour hauing in their handes harmonious harpes which there represented the melody of their faithfull soules or the inward reioyce that they had in faith of the eternal verytie of god For that is the agréeable concord and swéet harmony that he most delighteth in And as well had they harpes that were long afore Christe as had they that folowed hym the effecte of hys death being equall to them both So wel reioysed Abraham which saw him a farre of as did Iohn Baptist which shewed him persent 3 Each one of them had also in hys hand a golden viall full of swéete odours whiche is a faithfull harte to God full of swéete desires and wholsome praiers whiles they liued here And these vessels of prayer or harts of the faithfull beléeuers couetinge mercy to themselues and all other were very precious pleasaunt and beautifull in the sighte of the Lorde which onely desireth the harte 4 They sang also with their instruments a new songe of reioyce recording the great benefit of God They vttered the glad tidinges of peace They published the Gospel of Christ. They told of his comming They declared him present past This songe was euer new vnto flesh bloud It séemed very strange yea and folish to the children of this worlde yet is it the power of God vnto saluation for euery one that beléeueth Now it is also for so much as it nothing alloweth in our aged man of sinne but alwayes calleth vpon renouation in the spirite 5 This was the conclusion of that song Thou alone swéete Lord sayde they art founde worthye to take the Booke to receiue power and administration of the kingdome of God 6 Thou only art able to opē the seale◠thereof to take from vs all impediments of darknesse hypocrisie lyes ignoraunce wilfulnesse blindnesse and sinne and to deduce vs into all godly knowledge 7 For thou wert not only despised and wounded but most cruelly slaine for our offences whereby thou hast obtained our perpetuall peace and attonement with god 8 Thou hast clerely redéemed vs out all spirituall bondage by the price of thy bloude and by the vertue of thy passion and death thou hast gathered vs together into one kingdom of God from all the nacions of the world and hast chosen vs out of all kinreds languages peoples of the vniuersall earth Thou hast made vs also pertakers with thée in thy peculyer vnction that we are now called Christians 9 Thou hast annoynted vs Kinges by the gift of true faith to haue victory ouer sinne death the deuil and cōsecrate vs priests by the grace of thy holy spirite to offer vp our selues and vndefiled sacrifice vnto our euerlasting God So that we are now the chosen kinred the kingely pristhoode the holy generation the peculyer peple that should manifest the workes of thée which hast called vs out of darknesse into the merueilous light 10 And by the benifit of thy onely grace and goodnesse we shall raigne prosperously on the earth not héere wher as is sorow care penury scarsnesse and death but our porcion shal be in the pleasant land of the lyuing where as is the peace ioy tranquilitie comfort and life euerlasting THE TEXT 1 And I behelde 2. And herde the voyce of many angelles about the throne and about the beastes and the elders 3. And I harde thousand thousandes saying with a loude voyce 4. Worthye is the Lambe that was killed to receaue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honoure and glorye and blessinge 5. And all creatures vvhiche are in Heauen 6. And on the earth 7 And vnder the earth 8 And in the sea and all that are in
No truely It hath wrought in theÌ„ whoÌ„ he hath called and roâ—ted in them whom he hath sought So that the faithfull children of Abraham and true Isralites in no wise can perish nor be taken from Christ. THE TEXT 1 And vvhen he opened the second seale 2. I harde the second beast say 3. Come and see 4 And there vvent out an other horse that vvas red 5. And povver vvas geuen to him that sate thereon 6. to take peace from the earth 7 that they shuld kil one an other 8. And there vvas geuen vnto hym a great svvord The Paraphrase 1 What the estate of the ChristiaÌ„ churh was immediatly after the Apostels time it is vnder misterie declared in the openinge of the seconde seale For so soone as the sayde Apostles and fyrste Disciples of Christe were taken from the world yea and partly in their time also many pernicious errours did springe and increase by craftie teachers and subtile seducers in dyuers quarters Some coupled the lawe with the gospel and circumcision with baptime to bring Christian libertie into bondage Some sayd the generall resurrection was past to subuert the wayes of the Lorde Some denyed hym to come in the fleshe Some brought in ceremonies and beggerly shadowes to yoke vs with Iewishe supersticions Some forbad mariage as an vncleane thing to bring in all abhominations and filthinesse Some dyd inhibite meates sanctified of God vnder colour of abstinence to set vp hypocrisie Some called Sainct Paule an Apostata from the lawe Some taught the Gospell carnally denying Mathew and Iohn and fantasied gospels vpon their owne brayne vnder the names of Peter Andrew Thomas Barthelmew Mathias Thadeus Barnabas And of this sorte in the Apostles tyme was Nicolas of Antioche Hermogenes Hymeneus Philetus Alexander Elymas Carpocras Cerinthus Hebion Helion with their affinytie And after theyr tyme Basilides Ualentinus Heracleon Cerdon MercioÌ„ Apelles Tacianus Menander Montanus and other 1 In significatioÌ„ of this the Lambe opened this second seale of the booke He remoued once agayne the darke cloudes of ignorance he replenyshed with hys grace strengthened with his spirite certayn of the Gréeks and Gentiles which beléeued to confute the errours condempne the lyes of those false teachers deceiuable Antichristes Of this number was Ignacius Policarpus Theophilus Antiochenus Iustinus Martyr Agrippa Castorius Aristides Quadratus Meliton Apollenaris Theodocion Hyrenius Appollonius Melcyades Rhodon diuers other These boldely coÌ„fessed Christ they taught his veritie they put aside the darknes they ministred the light they confounded the aduersaries both with tonge pen. 2 And when the Lambe had thus opened this seconde seale declaryng the misterie thereof I heard the second beast saith S. Iohn which was to my sight a calfe signifiyng those ministers which had mortified and wholly giuen vp them selues as a sacrifice for the preaching of the same saying also vnto mée 3 Approch nigher looke perceiue and take héed mark beare it away 4 And sodeinly I saw that there went foorth an other horse all diuers from the first for he was outwardly read This horse resembleth the sayd false teachers borne brought vp in flesh and bloud taught of the same Such went from the Apostles were not of them they cursed the true preachers out of their sinagogs they persecuted them from citie to citie they accused them as the sturrers vp of sedicioÌ„ they caused the rulers to imprisoÌ„ theÌ„ scorge theÌ„ flea them thinking therby they did God high seruyce They turned the grace of god into beastlines brought in lying sectes These were those false bretheren deceitfull maysters whom the scripture calleth strauÌ„gers hirelings théeues scorners and rauening wolues not sparing the flock These were those bloud thirstie doctours and puffed vp prelates which are partakers with their fathers in the bloud of the Prophets whose succession for a token of the same is clothed in read scarlet to this day Such a red horse was Barichu which resisted Paul Barnabas at Paphos So was Alexander the copper smith which did Paule much displeasure So was Demetrius which moued sedicion against him so was Ananias the high priest that commaunded hym to bée smitten so was Tertullus the Oratour that accused hym to the debitie so was Diotrephes that sought the préeminence and reproued Iohn 5 And power was gyuen to hym that sate vpon this horse By the sufferance of God to trye his electes the wicked rulers and Prynces of thys world perswaded and set forward by these bloudie beastes hath exercysed all crueltie fircenesse and tyrannie 6 To take from the earth the swéet peace of God ChristiaÌ„ vnitie which made of the Iewes and Gentiles one people knit vs altogither through fayth and baptime as members of one bodie in Christ Iesu. This peace haue they broken this vnitie of faith haue they torne this coate of Christ without seame haue those souldiours deuyded abusing the power which is the high ordinaunce of God they haue mayntayned the manifold sects of diuision 7 Of whome one hath kylled an other as in the distruction of Hierusalem the vnchristian gentile slewe the vnfaithful Iew. And now in the church of Antichrist one Bishop poysoneth an other one priest an other one religious as other 8 And vnto this terrible horse man was there giuen a great swerd LoÌ„g hath the Lord suffred those tyrantes to raygne much mischiefe to worke great crueltie to vse Much was the persecution tyrannie and murther vnder Nero Domicianus Traianus Aurelius Seuerus Maximinus Decius Ualerianus Aurelianus Dioclecianus Maxencius Iulianus and such like muche christian bloud in their time was shedde THE TEXT 1 And when he opened the third seale 2. I heard the third beast say 3. Come and see 4. And I beheld and lo a black horse 5. And he that sate on him had a payre of Balaunces in his hand 6. And I heard a voyce in the middest of the .iiij. beastes say 7. A measure of wheat for a penny 8. and three measures of barley for a penny 6. And oyle and wyne see thou hurte not The Paraphrase 1 Under trope or secret misterie of the thyrd seale opening is specyfied the estate generall of the chrystian church after the tyme of the martirs and strong witnesses of Iesu which were most cruelly afflicted and slayne for confessing hys name and trueth Not that the Martyres were onely and that tyme and not afore and after but for so much as they did than most abound For in the Rome churche besides other were slayne all the mynisters of the word or Byshoppes as they call them from the tyme of Peter vnto the dayes of Siluester to the number of xxxij not one of them escaped After theyr tyme as the tyrannie of rulers was stilled and theyr gagyng crueltye pacyfyed there arose an other fashioned sorte all diuers from the other giuen to
great tribulacion 7. and made theyr garments large 8. and made them whyte in the bloud of the Lambe 9. Therfore are they in the presence of the seate of God 10. and serue him day and night in his Temple 11. And he that sitteth in the seate will dvvell among them 12. They shall hūger no more neyther thurst 13. Neyther shall the sunne light on them 14. neither any heate 15. For the Lambe vvhich is in the mids of the seate shall feede them 16. and shall lead them vnto fountaynes of liuing water 17. And God shall vvype avvay all teares from their eyes The Paraphrase 1 And one of the auncyent elders sayth sainct Iohan made aunswere vnto that whiche I was inwardlye most desirous to knowe concernyng this innumerable multytude saying vnto me by maner of question 2 What are these comely persons which are thus beutifully apparelled in long whyte garmentes large and fayre And from whence came they as thou supposest 3 And I as one ignoraunt of the misteries of God of myne owne nature without the speciall gifte of hym answeared after this sorte 4 Syr thou wottest what they are and from whence they come by such knowledge as the Lorde hath giuen thée 5 And hée sayde agayne vnto mée thus 6 These are they which come vnto Christ by fayth out of the great trybulacion of worldly wickednes fleshly cares and disquieted consciences 7 Abhorring the doctrine of mens inuencions they set sure holde vpō the liuing word of the Lord. There fette they out forgiuenesse of their sinnes and made their garmentes large to couer theyr olde deformities 8 They washed their lyues in the sorowes of repentaunce and fashyoned theyr déedes to his swéete lawes and commaundementes They made their garments white in the precious bloud of the Lambe beléeuing to bée purified by the meryte of his death 9 And therfore are they at this time in the presence of his maiestie accepted takē and alowed for the citizens of heauen 10 They serue him day nyght in the Temple of their soules and they prayse his glorious name in spirite for euer more 11 The Lord that sitteth on the throne will alwayes dwell among them as their most mightie defendor theyr solace and their comforte 12 The spirit shall so refresh them they shall no more hunger nor thirst Though concupiscence dwel in them they shall desire none euill 13 Neither shall the sunne so lyght on them which is this worldes prosperitie that they shall forget theyr Lord God at any season 14 No heat shall hurt them nor aduersitie of this worlde ouercome thē but in that they suffer or doe all thyngs shall worke to the best 15 For the innocent Lambe Christ which is in the middest of the seat or the cōgregacion of God by his word shall norish féede releue thē with hys promise shal preserue comfort lead them by his spirit Yea he shall so order them they shall haue néede of nothyng And if he bée their light health and strength of whom should they be afrayed 16 He shall bring them vnto the foūtaynes of the lyuing waters make them such well springs as shall flow vp into the lyfe euerlasting His doctrine must doe it and none other for none commeth to the father but by him 17 And God shall wype away all teares frō their eyes Aduersitie shall be vnto them a very consolacion No sorows shal they care for no tormēts shall they regard no troubles nor yet death shall they feare but thinke in their hartes alwayes that the suffrings of this lyfe are nothing to the glorie to come The aforesayde elder myght séeme to be Iacob whose prophecie might tell Iohn that Christ should washe his garment in wine and hys mantel in the blud of grapes So might it be Dauid or Esay which also confirmeth the same In this as in a glasse may be séene what they are afore god that at this present age or vnder this sixe seale opening vnfaynedly cleueth to his word foloweth it in effect and liueth accordyng vnto it Fyrst they are cléere afore God and no sinne shall be imputed vnto them for their faithes sake Consequently they are deliuered of a troublous cōscience The Lambe hath restored them to innocency God accepteth them for his children These séeke no doctryne but the scrypture They serue God in spirite and in no deade thinges They hunger not for mens tradycions they thirst not for hipocrites good works they are well and fully contented with the Lambe They séeke no prosperitie neyther care they for aduersitie The word of God is their gyde and therein they minde to depart None other but such are sealed vnto god nor none els walk before him in whyte garmentes The viij Chapter THE TEXT 1 And when he had opened the seuenth seale 2. there was silence in heauen about the space of halfe an houre 3 And I savv seuen Angels 4. standing before God 5. And to them vvere giuen seuen Trompettes 6. And an other Angell came 7. and stood before the aulter 8. hauing a golden censer 9. And much of odours vvas giuen vnto hym 10. that he should offer of the prayers of all saynctes vpon the golden aulter 11. vvhich vvas before the seate 12. And the smoke of the odours vvhich came of the prayers of the Sainctes ascended vp before God out of the Angelles hande 13. And the Aungell tooke the censer and filled it vvith fyre of the aulter 14. and cast it into the earthe 15. And voices were made and thunderings lightnings 16. and great earthquake 17 And the seuen Angels vvhich had the seuē trumpets 18 prepared them selues to blovv The Paraphrase 1 2 This silence shall endure but half an houre space whiche may bée the thousande yeares that are spoken of héere afore consideryng that all the age after Christ is but the last houre and a thousand yeares before God is but as the day that is paste In the time of this swéete silence shall Israell be reuyued the Iewes shall bée conuerted the Heathen shall come in agayne Christ will séeke vp his lost shéepe and bryng hym agayne to hys folde that they maye appeare one flock lyke as they haue one shepeherde 3 And I sawe sayeth sainct Iohn seuen Angels standing before the maiestie of God which signifieth the preachers of his worde for the seuen seuerall times of the vij seales opening to euerie seale corresponding an Angell For all that the preachers hath done from the beginning of the Gospell to the tyme of this last seale opening shall then appeare at once In that day sayeth Esay the Trumpet shall be blowen they that were lost shall come from the Ascirians the scattered flocke shall come from Egypt worship the Lord in Ierusalem 4 These Angels stoode before the presence of God as mynisters of acceptacion readie to execute his heauenly will and commaundement 5 And to them was giuen
vij hollow trumpettes the ministracion of his worde was vnto them committed They ran not foorth vnsent they spoke not vncommauÌ„ded They blew their trumpettes one after an other As the seales were opened the misteryes they declared as came to theyr course 6 And another Angell sayeth sainct Iohn of a much higher nature then these came forth yea euen the Angel of the couenauÌ„t that was so sore longed for came to hys holye Temple 7 He stood before the aulter he humbled him selfe hée became man hée tooke the shape of a seruaunt 8 He had in his hande a golden censer This Lorde Iesus Christ the soueraygne messenger of our saluacion tooke it vpon him alone to be our mediatour our aduocate before God and the onely attonemente for our sinnes 9 And much incense of odours was giuen vnto hym by the great fayth of Abraham Iohn Baptist and of all the sanctified number 10 That he shoulde offer vp vnto God so much of the prayers of all the faythfull beléeuers vpon the golden aulter or in his glorifyed nature as was right afore him 11 Which aulter is now before the throne of God He hath an euerlasting priesthood he is able to saue them that come vnto God by hym and lyueth â—mmortal standing on his right hand as one euer readie to make interpelâ—acion for vs. All they consented in â—ne that hée should be theyr generall â—ttourney consideryng he was their â—nely sauiour and redéemer 12 And the swéete smoke of the odorous incense which came of the wholsome and feâ—uent desires of them that had fayth ascended vp before God out of the Angels hande By his onely meryte was their fayth accepted and for his deaths sake their works pleased God 13 The sayd Angel tooke the censer he prepared his godlie spirite He filled it with fire of the aulter whych was his eternall charitie 14 And he cast it into the earth with poure he sent it downe in clouen fyerie tounges vpon hys Apostles of whose plentuous aboundauÌ„ce all wée haue receyued 15 And as it was come down there were noyses thunderings and fearefull lightnynges for it rebuked the world of sinne of rightuousnesse and of iudgement It reprooued the world of vnfaythfulnesse for contempnyng the light of Gods veritie It threatened it for supersticions hypocrisie and outwarde obseruacions And vtterly it condempned it for obstinacie of corrupte interpretacions â—6 There was also a terrible earthquake as it was comen into the world The vngodly rulers were mooued the ambicious prelates were vexed â—he couetous lawyers fretted the hypocrites and priestes waxed madde yea they are not yet quyeted to thys day They still lye prate they blaspheme and accuse they persecute and kill they hange burne and drowne their malice hath none ende â—7 And the sayd vij Angels sayeth Iohn which are the vniuersall preachers of Gods veritie hauyng theyr vij trumpettes or full aucthoritie giuen them of the Lord. â—8 Prepared them selues by power of the holy Ghost to execute their offices to blow ech one in his course THE TEXT 1 The first Angell blew 2. And there was made hayle and fyre vvhich vvere mingled vvith bloud 4. and they vvere cast into the earth 5. And the third part of the trees vvas brent 6. and all greene grasse vvas brent The Paraphrase 1 The first Angell first stoode foorth and blewe his Trumpet The Apostles after the first seale opening which was at the comming of the holy ghost went forward with the gospell and taught it the worlde ouer And when they had beléeued and throughly receiued the word which were predestinate of God to bée partakers of the glorie with Christ the residewe still blynd obstinate perseuered in theyr infidelitie and so perished 2 For vpon them came hayle fyre which were myngeled with bloude Their wickednesse ouer went them their stubborne stomakes sturred vp their furie their fiercenesse kindled euer more and more theyr madnesse made them blynde 3 And these they coupled alwais with crueltie murther For when Christes disciples had preached the Gospell the wicked sort of the Iewes and Gentiles in no case would beléeue it but their obstinacie so blinded them and their malice so inflamed them that they sought their death and procured the effusion of their blood Ouer all the Actes of the Apostles this is euident 4 And they were cast into the earth So occuppied their earthly hartes this wilfulnesse and anger with thirstynge of innocent bloude that all grace in them was extinguished and all goodnesse cleane consumed 5 The third part of the trées was brent and all the gréene grasse came to nought Though the chosen people were euer the lesser number and the wicked the much greater as in Zacharie yet are they not héere so noted for so much as in the sight of the Lord the infinite rable of infidels are nothing to the smal flock of faith Consider also that in Zacharias time the Iewes were the people of God which were nothing in comparison to the Gentiles But now are the Gentiles his people which euer excéeded them in number The thride part of the Trées wythered in their wickednesse were founde without fruit in the Gentiles 6 All the Iewes which somtime were the gréene grasse by the manyfolde gifts of God and by Christes comminge of them were then brent vp cleane True faith went from them and their owne malice blinded them Though this were veryfied of them onely which were at the first Seale openinge and the fyrste Trumpet blowinge yet doth it touche the bloodye Antechristes Hypocrites and vngodly rulers withstanding Gods word to this present day the poore Christians beinge gréene and bringinge foorth fruit in pacient sufferaunce THE TEXT 1 And the second Angell blevv 2 And as it were a great mountaine burning with fier 3 Was cast into the sea And the thirde parte of the sea turned to bloude 5 And the thirde parte of the creatures vvhich had lyfe dyed 6. And the thirde parte of the shippes vvere destroyed The Paraphrase 1 The seconde Angell blew his Trumpet at the seconde Seale opening which signifieth the preachers declaringe the secrete misteries of Gods verytie immediatly after the Apostles time 2 And as they were at the pleasure of the Lorde so doynge a monstrous thinge in manner of a great mountayne burninge with fier was cast into the sea A cruell sorte of false disciples and wicked brethren arose vp froÌ„ among them all earthly minded to couetusnesse puffed vp with pride and ambicion inflamed also with anger spight vengeaÌ„ce they boysterously entred in among the people so mutable and fickle as the sea which chaungeth with euery winde These are the mountaines that swell vp thinkinge much of themselues These are the rysing hylles that boast so much of their good workes of whose ouerthrow by Gods word both Esay and Iohn Baptist dyd prophesie Such fyery mountaines were
chosen sake Thus after S. Paul also before the Lordes cōming There must be a departing The quier or chauncell must be cast out that the man of sin the sun of perdition the aduersary exaltinge hymself aboue God may be known in his colours It may not be motē or alowed by gods word but reiected as that plant which the heauenly father hath not planted that the mistery of iniqutye may be vttered and perceiued of thē which shal be saued It must be geuen to the gentiles or addict to their supersticions with al lying power signes and wonders in all deceiuable doctrine by the subtile working of sathan They must also be permitted to do al mischif in vnrightuousnes vpō the citizens of God til he vtterly consūe thē with the mighty breath of his mouth THE TEXT 1 And I wyll geue power 2. Vnto my two witnesses 3. And they shall prophecie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes 4. Clothed in sack clothe 5. These are two oliue Trees 6. And two Candlestickes 7. Standing before the God of the earth The Paraphrase 1 And I will geue powre saith the Lorde vnto my faithfull witnesses and they shall prophesye a thousande two hundred and lx dayes against those enimies to the comforte of my people So that though my citie be troden downe by their cruel lawes of persecution to death yet shall it not be forsaken And though my people be ouer loaded with their heathen supersticions and blasphemous worshippinges yet shall they not be lost nor left all wtout succour 2 They shal haue my two witnesses with thē to solace thē in their troubles to comfort them in their cares Both Moyses and Christ both the law and the Gospell both the Prophets and the Apostles shal stande vppon theyr side and be vpon their parte yea for so much time as their enimies shall vexe them and for so much space as their aduersaries sholl trouble them Euen a thousand two hundred and thréeskore dayes which maketh thrée yeares and an halfe and is more thē the two and fourty monthes by iiii skore dayes and fowre Which signifieth that the enimies shal not euermore kepe down his word but their daies shall be shortned for his electe sake The schoole Doctours with their sophestry hath fantasied the sayd two witnesses to be Enoch and Helyas and that they should come then frō Paradice terrestre for the same purpose because that Enoch was taken away of God and Helias was carried hence in a fyery Charet neither vnderstanding what Paradice is nor yet knowing what it is to be taken from hence Paradice is the swéete rest of God appoynted vnto them that departe hence in faith The peculier translations of Enoch and Helias were not only for a confirmation or strenthning of the faith of the fathers for their times but also that they shuld be figuers of Christes assention And what godly wise man can geue more to the figuer than to the verytie More were not they priuiledged frō death then was Christe though God wold not then haue it so openly knowen to declare his wonderfull power Unlike is it that god should cal witnesses frō the dead not promising it by his word hauing power also frō stones to raise vp Abrahās children and to geue the spirit of Helias to whō he pleaseth like as he dyd to Iohn Baptist as he doth now to many other more in our age as al the world may sée and heare These witnesses are two for so much as the truth of the Lorde in the mouth of two or thrée godly persons ought to stand 3 These two witnesses or faithfuli protestours of the aforsayde two testaments hath continued with the people of god since the death of Stéeuē for the more part secretly vnknowne to the world But now they are come abroade by the appointment of God to the vtter confusion of the great aduersary and man of sin as Paule doth call hym And vnto them in this sixt age of the church the Lord hath geuen the great power of his liuinge worde or the spirit of his inuincible verytie in much more ample wise then aforetime for the abatement of the sayd enimies or synagoge of perdition 4 Clothed they shall be in sackcloth sayth the Lord No pomp shal appeare in their apparrell no glorye of the world in their behauiour Neither shall they be accompanied with a garde of ruffelynge rutters Neyther shall they with Annas and Caiphas sit vpon life and death Neither shal they blesse in the streate with miter crosse and cope Neither claim the higher seates in side gownes shauen crownes and tippetes Neyther shall their be sack Fryers nor Franciscans monks Chanons nor Hypocrits They shall not disfigure themselues to séeme religious nor say long prayers to appere holy but in a sober conuersacion auoyding superfluitie they shall constantly witnesse the trueth of god to the vniuersall world to his glory and their edification For sackcloth in the scriptures is a signe of sobrietie sadnesse and temperaunce as in Helias and Iohn Baptist. 5 These witnesses are two swéete oliue trées shedding forth the fatnes of the scriptures and dulset sanour of the spirit God hath so blessed them that their lyps are full of grace He hath annoynted them with the oyle of gladnesse aboue their felowes of Myrre Bawme and Aloes they delectably smell None other thinges vtter thei but his infallible verities 6 They are also two shininge Candlesticks setting forth the light or clearly opening of the hidden misteries of the scriptures to the comfort of the gētiles glory of the Israelits They are not the light it self but only instrumēts ordeined to beare witnes of the light For there is but one light for al. Only are they the vessels of electiō as was Paule to carrie that lyght the world ouer 7 They stand in the presence of the God of the earth or the Lorde of all as men of moste high acceptacion before him readie to doe his will and to fulfill his commaundement and pleasure hauyng the oyle of hys spirite and the light of his eternall veritie THE TEXT 1 And if any man vvill hurt them 2. Fyre shall proceed out of their mouthes 3. cōsume their enimies 4. And if any man vvill hurte them this vvise must he bee killed 5. These haue povver to shut heauen 6 that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophesying 7. and haue povver ouer vvaters to turn them to bloud 8. and to smyte the earth 9. vvith all maner plagues as often as they vvill The Paraphrase 1 If any man will attempte to doe them scathe or presumptuouslie séeketh by craftie colours subtile reasōs and deceiptful arguments vpō daungers doubtes doctours old customes and aucthoritie of fathers to hynder their office blemishe their message and darken their light such fyre shall procéede out of their mouthes as shal consume their enimies 2 The eternall word of the Lorde that they shall declare which is the consuming fyre
scoldinge and set Saunder smell smock our parish priest for bearynge false witnesse Maister Fryer hath had a trentall and father Lymitour a bushell of malt or a cheese for playing the knaues also and hardly my Lâ—rde chiefe iustice hath not bene without his rewarde nor yet master Chauncelour neither maister scribe What made T. More for his tyme with so prodigious tirannie to persecute the truth and since Godsalue of Norwiche WartoÌ„ of Bongay Hales Baker of Kent with such other lyke but Aury sacra fames as Uirgil doth call it Thus do they laugh and tryumph when they haue wrought mischiefe and much it delighteth them when they haue doone vngodlye thinges 7 For these two Prophetes sayth the Lorde vexed them that dwell on the earth A great trouble it is to them to haue their faults séene a sore vexation to haue their crafts known and an excéedinge displeasure to be put from their pleasaunt Euphrates by the preaching of such busye herytickes Much was Herode offended with Iohn the byshops with Christ the prelats and religious with Paul a sore griefe it was to their harts when they were rebuked their vices THE TEXT 1 And after three dayes and an halfe 2. The spirit of lyfe from God entred into theÌ„ 3. And they stoode vp vppon their feete 4. And great feare came vppon them whiche savv them 5. And they hearde a great voyce from heauen saying vnto theÌ„ come vp hethere 6. And they asscended vp into heauen in a cloude 7. And their enimies savve theÌ„ 8. And the same houre vvas there a great earthquake 9 And the tenth part of the cytie fell 10. And in the earthquake vvere slayne names of men seauen thousande 11 And the remnant were feared 12. And gaue glory to God of heauen 13. The seconde wo is past 14. And beholde the thirde wo wyll come anone The Paraphrase 1 And after thrée dayes and an half sayth sainct Iohn dyd the spirit of lyfe by the power of God enter into them In the midest of their ioy and triumph when they thinke theÌ„selues well quieted the heryticks thus taken awaye an other storme falleth vpon them much worse then the other Many more ariseth out of their ashes to their confusion to the chosens comfort And the same witnesses they are againe geuing the same testimonie though they be not the same persons 2 The same lyuinge spirit haue they confessing the same verity that had the other No long time can christes congregatioÌ„ be without faithful testes he promysing to be with them to the ende of the world 3 These witnesses stood vp vpon their féete In the time full past is this spoken for the certenty of the thing though much of it be to come For so certen is it as it were al finished an earnest stomack shall they haue and with much bouldnes shal they speak The rightuous shall stande by sayth the boke of wisdome in great feruentnesse of spirit against them that hath extreamely handled them and taken a way their labours persecuted them blemished their doctrine 4 And great feare came vpon them which saw them When the Antichristes sée they cannot preuayle much are they inwardly anguished vexed and tormented Then doubte they their fall than feare they theyr vtter destruction They tremble and quake when they sée their lawes will no longer stand nor their insurrections no longer help them lokyng for a terrible day With horrible feare shall they wonder saith the aforsaid booke of wisdome at the comminge of the sodayne health groninge for sorowe and mourninge for very anguish of minde and sayinge within themselues These be thei whom we somtime had in derision Unwisely we thought their liues to be madnes and their endes to be without honour And now they are reckoned among the children of god their porcioÌ„ is among the Saincts Therfore haue we erred from the way of trueth and the light of rightuousnesse hath not shined vnto vs. We haue weryed our selues in the pathes of wickednesse but the waye of the liuinge Lorde haue we not knowen 5 And they harde a great voyce from heauen saying vnto theÌ„ Come vp hether The Antichrist shall heare this noyse they shall know them to be in the fauour of god and great heuines it shal be vnto them For this voyce is the frée electioÌ„ of god according vnto grace not after mans deeruing And it coÌ„meth froÌ„ heauen as doth all other good gifts from the father of light It calleth vp them that afore walked soÌ„what after the flesh and durst not for feare of punishment witnesse the verytie It commaundeth them to arise vnto God to be more perfect more spirituall more godly and to haue their conuersation in heauen They attende vnto the voice they obey it and do after it For it foloweth 6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a cloude By the power of God they are taken vp From worldly affects are they chaÌ„ged to the pure loue of God and from carnall prudence to the wisdome of the spirite In a cloude are they rapt Compassed are they with this fleshe the ill desires taken from them Euery where resemble they Christe and are dayly better and better They cease not of their progresse no payne can seperate them froÌ„ the loue of Christ til they perfectly come to the sight of the God of Gods in the supercelestiall Sion 7 And their enimies saw them The Antichrists knoweth that they are gods seruants the hipocrits perceiue they haue heauenly knowledge yea many times thei so report them both in their wordes and writinges In many of their Chronicles they affirme the BereÌ„garius Iohnnes Scotus the elder Iohn wicleue Iohn Husse Hierom of Prage Thomas Thedonensis a white fryer of Bryttaine burned in Rome Hieronimus Saâ—oâ—â—rola a black fryer burned in FloreÌ„ce and diuers other more were men of most excellent wits of most high learninge of most godly conuersation of a most perfit lyfe feruent constant and vnmoueable in the tyme of their death Bylney BaynhaÌ„ Beyféeld Frith Tindale Barnes and other are yet reported yea of some which to this houre hateth their opinions to haue dyed charytably and godly Yet beléeue they neuer the better thei come neuer the sooner to god Their malice hath so blinded them and the cloud of ignorance so darkned their knowledg that still they blasphem and most cruelly persecute 8 And in the same houre saith S. Ihon there hapened a great earthquake A terrible contradiction ariseth euer from the carnall synagoge from among the earthly minded hypocrits whan the veritie is taught as it was afore time in Christ and in his Apostels sepcially in Paul and now of late dayes in many other poore preachers When new witnesses arise then wax they more mad fierce and fell then they were afore Then imprison they then punishe they then make they actes and commaunde in payne of death no more to speake in that name Yet do they rather lose than win fall
then ryse disprophet then profite 9 For the tenth parte of the city fell to the grounde Their buildinge vpon sand will in no case endure That God hath not planted must vp by the rootes Their holy whoryshe church which is heere called Sodom and Egipt is ruinously decaied their monasteries of monkes their houses of friers their coleges of idle priests with theyr Nuns Chanons chantryes in many places are downe Tythes are not as they haue bene nor Trentals nor other deuocions Images are not sought nor pardons in confession The people inclineth to new learning and goeth from their olde beléeue of holy church They yâ— were moÌ„ks priests friers are now become gospell teachers Such as afore were dead standeth vp now against them boldely This fallen part is heare the tenth for it is the Lords by the law It is the same shéepe that afore was loste and nowe is brought to Christes folde These were called away from thence by the witnesses the other stande yet styll and are euery daye worse and worse 10 In the earthquake were slaine names of men to the number of seueÌ„ thousaÌ„d An innumerable multitude hath ben sent out of the way by these Antichristes in their fury but yet nothinge haue they slayne but their names Onely haue they hurt their bodyes vpon their soules haue they had no power no more than had Sathan vpon the soule of Iob. Yet haue their not names perished befor god for of him are they writen in the booke of lyfe In no case are the wicked of the godly héere put to death though some do so vnderstand it but rather of the wicked the godlie For they neuer retaile their wronges but rather pray for their enimies 11 And the remnaunt or residue were feared saith saint Iohn and gaue glory to God of heauen Of such as were left in their earthquakes or terrible persecutions some remayned in pryson Some were beggered some were exiled some fled some lost their estimacion and friends and yet gaue prayse vnto God 12 In all their aduersities they gloryfied the name of their heauenly father and Lorde Thus haue we héere what is done already and what is it to come vnder this sixt trompet blowyng where vnder we are now which al belongeth to the second wo. 13 And these thinges once accomplished the second woe wyll be past And then looke by and by for the third woe for it wyll folow anone after without faile yea so soone as this second woe is done 14 In the later age of all shall this third woe raigne such time as Gog and Magog most extremly shall rage And the vninuersall iudgement shall finishe that woe as héere after more euidently wyll appeare But consider that these woes are to the infideles The faithfull feareth them not but receiuinge the worde in a pure hart they bringe forth fruite in pacient sufferaunce The xij Chapter NNw foloweth in order the seueÌ„th trumpet blowinge or the pure declaration of Christes ioyfull tydynges for the laste age of the Church vnder the seuenth seale openynge with the wounders and maruayles that there after ensueth THE TEXT 1 And the seuenth Aungell blew 2. And there were made great voyces in heauen 3. Saying The kindomes of this worlde are our Lordes and his Christes 4. And he shall rayne for euermore 5. And the xxiiii elders vvhich sate before God on their seates 6. Fell vpon their faces and worshipped God saying 7. We geue thee thankes Lorde God almighty whiche art and waste and art to come 8. For thou hast receiued thy greate might and hast raigned 9. And the nationâ— were angry 10. And thy wrath is to come 11. And the time of the dead that they should be iudged 12. And that thou shouldest geue rewarde vnto thy seruantes the Prophets and sayntes 13. And to them that feare thy name small and great 14. And shouldest distroy them which destroye the earth The Paraphrase 1 And the seauenth Angel blewe sayeth Sainct Iohn The seuenth sort of sincere prechers shall vtter their message accordinge to the will of God they shall declare his pleasure as he hath appointed them For though it be spoken heare as past and done for the certentie of the thing yet is it not fulfilled in effecte The word of God was without beginning and his promyse euerlasting yet is it not all perfourmed in his creatures but many things are yet to come 2 After this blaste of the Angell were made great voyces in heauen Many the congregation or kingdom of God his Gospell once purely publyshed by the preachers shall speake godly thinges to the edification of other The simple poore weaklings idotes and infants shall vtter the hydden wisdome of god to the confusion of the great wise men and sage seniours of this world Yea the stones in the streat the outcastes of the world the forsaken people shall wonderfully prayse the Lord. 3 And these shal be their sayings when they shall sée the Antichristes coÌ„fused and not able to speake again The kingdomes of this worlde that were somtime wicked cruel and vnfaithfull are now become the Lords and his Christes of his onely grace and goodnesse Now fall they to the worde that afore thought it foolishnesse Now cleaue they to the trueth that somtime did abhorre it Now haue they in hand the Gospel that afore dyd persecute it as sedicious learning and heresy 4 And in this congregation shal he raigne euermore Continually is he with them that in faith retaineth hys verytie All this shall they vtter with no small reioyce For doubtles after the seauenth seale opening and the gospell preaching then a peaceable time shall be and figured it is by the halfe houre spoken of afore For it shal not continue to the ende Long may not the church of Christ be vnpersecuted But yet this peace for the time shall â—ot onely be an inward peace in the conscience as is alwayes among the faithful but an outward quiet also or a season wtouâ— persecution abroade 5 And the xxiiij elders saith S. Iohn or the great number of saincts departed whiche sitteth before God on their seats or resteth in his swéet peace in such graces of the spirit as he gaue them by their lyfe time as charite stedfastnesse loue ioy peace méekenesse rightuousnesse and such other lyke fell downe flat vpon their faces 6 Most humblye haue they euer submitted themselues referryng vnto god the father the benfite of their creation and vnto Iesus Christ hys sonne the frée gyft of their redemption Yea sepcialli at this time being vnder the Antler of God knowyng by hys méere goodnesse the number of their bretheÌ„ shortly to be fulfilled and them selues with theÌ„ to be at a gloryous liberty after their gostly sorte they laud hym saying 7 From the verye depth of our spirituall hartes we render vnto thée most hygh thankes Lorde god almighty eternall Father sonne and holy ghost which art one essenciall God and wast without beginninge and shalt be
readers of the Gospell and poore fauorers of Gods trueth 16 Upon the sea sande stande they euer more with theyr grande Captayne to fight this battayle None other lawes haue they to ground thē selues vpon but their owne tradytions and customes with suche fantasticall actes as they dayly make or procure to bée made of Princes for their owne wicked purpose And as their lawes are beggerly and weak so is their vsurped aucthoritie so are their proude titles also so are theyr myters their anointings pompous functions All are sand dust rotten pouder before God not grounded vpon his worde All are vnprofitable chaffe Yea their selues are a ground vnfruitfull sandy vnsure fit for the Dragō to stand vpon to fight against Christes mēbers For they are the very seat of Sathan and hys continuall dwelling place And that he can not do by him self he bringeth euermore to passe by them Innumerable also are their diuilishe practices theyr wyles and their subtilties to vphold their master as are the sandes of the sea The xiij Chapter BY the monstruous vgly and most odious beast rysing out of the sea with seuen heades and ten hornes is ment the vniuersall or whole Antychrist comprehending in him all the wickednesse fury falshead frowardnesse deceipt lyes craftes slaightes subtilties hypocrisie tyrannie myschiefes pride and all other diuillyshnesse of all his malicious members which hath bene sence the beginning The excéeding presumption of them that hate the blessed Lord saith Dauid aryseth day by day Continually thine enimies growe alwayes they increase euermore they prosper in this world Not frō the stedfast or sure ground which are the Lords people ariseth this beast but out of the wauering sea or frō the fickle fellowship and moueable multitude of the vngodly For the wicked sorte after Esay are the raging sea that can not rest whose water fometh with the mire grauel No peace is amōg the vngodly saith the Lorde no vnitie no charitie nor mutuall christian loue It pleased therfore the holy Ghost to prouoke Iohn after hys secret vision to discribe this mightie Antichrist thus in his right colours according to that he had séene to the forewarning of Christes people THE TEXT 1 And I savve a beast ryse out of the sea 2. hauing seuen heads ten horns 3. vpon his horns .x. crounes 4. vpon his heade the names of blasphemy 5. And the beaste vvhich I savv vvas like a cat of the moūtain 6. and his feete vvere as the feete of a Bear 7. his mouth as the mouth of a Liō 8. And the Dragō gaue him 9. his povver 10. and seate 11. and great aucthoritie The Paraphrase 1 I beheld saith sainct Iohn an execrable beast very odious hatefull to looke vpō rising out of the rauenous roaring sea For the wicked auance thē selues as the gréene baye trée in vngodlines the sinagoge of proud hypocrites riseth vp a lofte setting vp their Christes as doeth the fat Cedar trées of Libanus All beastly are they as was Elimas the sorcerer full of filthinesse gile falshead yea the very whelps of the diuil subuerting the waies of God None other is this beast here discribed thē was the pale horse in the fourth age the cruel multitude of locustes in the fift age and the horses of incomparable woodnesse for the sixt 2 Seuen heades and x. hornes had this cruel beast not vnlike therin to the aforesaid red Dragō or Serpēt For looke what pestilēt suggestions in errors lies what deceiuable power in signes wonders hath reigned in the diuil for all ages the same also hath reigned in the wicked members of his beastial body in the furious bishops lawyers doctors priests hipocrytes false magistrats for their heads are their vniuersal crafts their hornes their tirannous aucthhrities vsurped primacies or malignaūt magistrats Thy strōg mightie power Lord saith Dauid hath brokē the dragōs heads in the raging waters Thou hast smitē in péeces the heads of the great Leuiathan Inhaunce not your hornes so hye yée stifnecked Antichrists for the horns of the vngodly wil the Lord pluck down and exalt the horns of the rightuous in the house of Dauid his seruaūt More are the horns here in nūber thā are the heds For greater is the power thā is the suggestiō the vsurped aucthoritie than the craft the Maiestie than the error and much more mischiefe may worke 3 This beast had vpon his .x. horns x. crownes signifying his victorie dominiō primacie ouer the vniuersal worlde and that he through the wickednesse of the people is the vnworthy captayne and prince thereof In this onely poynt differeth the dragon from the beast the diuell frō his mēbres or sathan from his carnal sinagoge He had vii crowns vpon his vi◠heads They haue .x. crowns here vpon their .x. hornes For that he hath but in simple suggestion they haue in double power of coactiō Wher as he dooth but dallyingly perswade they may enforce and compell Where as he doth but easely moue they may by rigorous aucthoritie cōstrain Whan he hath propounded an errour they may by their powre establish it for an infallible truth make of it a necessary article of the christian beleue as they haue done of purgatory pardōs confession saints worshipping latin seruice hearing such lyke Whā he hath once made a lye as he is the father of all lyes they may authorise it for an vnwrittē veritie lyke as they haue don many Much more mischif◠may they doo beinge his spiritual instruments than he can dooe alone as largely appereth by their works Neuer could sathan thā haue put Christ vnto death had he not entred into Iudas so betrayed him had he not entred into the bishops lawiers so cōdēned hī Neuer had the apostles nor al other godly prechers sens their time béene sent out of the way had not those mytred Mahomets priests wrought still theyr olde feates 4 Upon this beastes head was written the names of blasphemie against the Lord and his Christ. Which are none other than the proude glittering tytles wherewith they garnish their vsurped authoritie to make it séeme glorious to the world hauinge within them contained the great mistery of iniquitie What other els is Pope Cardinall Patriarke Legate Metropolytane Primate Archebyshop Diocesane Prothonotary Archdeakon Official Chaūceller cōmissary Dean prebēd Person Uicar my lorde Abbot maister Doctor and suche lyke but very nams of blasphem For offices they are not appointed by the holy goste nor yet once mencioned in the scripturs What other is it but abhominaton the Pope to wryte him selfe the most holy father the generall vicar of Christe the supreme head of the christian church the only distributer of the treasures of god The bishops priestes also to call them selues their churches bridgromes sitters in gods sted forgeuers of sinne our Ladies chast knights None other are they so abusing their flock in leauing the iust office of
trusting vpon longer continuance whan they sée his heade restored agayne in their rulers the godly teachers burned and the preachers put to silence 5 They worship also the beaste so many as worshipped the DragoÌ„ For as they which worship Christ worship his father also so they the worship Antichrist agréeing to his lawes and decrées doth also worship the diuil of whom he receiued his pryde They wonder with the Iewes that séeketh cauilations to coÌ„teÌ„pne Christes doctrine as doth the filthie family of the dotyng dodipolles priestes vnlerned lawyers They worship with the HeatheÌ„ that admitteth their power and alloweth their faces as doeth the foolysh multitude that neuer will be godly wyse None other iudgement remayneth in these dayes to these wonderers and worshippers of the newlye restored head of the beast then did vnto them that with double deuotioÌ„ agréed to the abhominatioÌ„s of Mahomet the pope 6 And this will be their saying as foloweth in the text spoken in the time past for the certaintie of the thing as the maner of the scripture is 7 Who is lyke vnto the beaste in outward glittering workes or in the externo obseruations of counterfayt religion 8 Who is able to war with hir the worldly powers now so déeply maintainiÌ„g hir quarel All seketh the papists that they can in the world imagine to vpholde the glory magnificence and beautie of their holy whorish church or malignauÌ„t muster No cautels nor craftes leaue they vnsought nor vnsearched out to cause the people to estéeme hyr of incoÌ„parable power No small labour tooke standyshe in hand in Whittington College when he made his more theÌ„ foolish booke of reproch against Barnes being dead Nor no lesseÌ„ diligeÌ„ce the wise poet Iohn HuÌ„tiÌ„gtoÌ„ wheÌ„ he registred in his genealogy of heritikes with out grace wit learning the names onely of such godly men as were the Popes enimyes no heretike agaynst God once mentioned No more dyd Thomas Smith Richard Dallison WilliaÌ„ Stawne SteueÌ„ Prowet Fryer AdriaÌ„ Quarrie the Pardoner with suche other blynde Popish Poetes and dyrtye metristes when they vttered theyr shitton rymes and poesies And sure I am that many moe be yet abroade of the same wicked zeale and spirite to the great blasphemie both of God and his trueth now that the beastes wounde is made whole agayne by so many new actes so many new titled Bishops so fresh sale of benifices maisterships and dignities spiritual offices degrées and aucthorities as pleÌ„tuous as euer was in Rome And least we should be depryued of our new pleasaunt Euphrates and so bée compelled by the word of God to follow the Monks Chanons Nunnes and Fryers in theyr banyshments We haue procured certaine actes to be made for our commoditie and those only to be published among the people once in a quarter or so oft as shall please vs to blemishe all Godly preachings of the scriptures Thus séeke we our selues and not God our owne strength and not his our owne glorie and not Iesus Christs But let vs not thynke that he sléepeth with Baall the false God knowyng the most hydden thoughtes of the harte but that he will within shorte space sende foorth his lightnyngs and scater vs brynging our heathenishe deuises to nought For the kyngdome of one faith in vs and the Pope thus manifestly in certayne points deuyded must surely decay THE TEXT 1 And there vvas giueÌ„ vnto him a mouth 2. to speake great things and blasphemies 3. And povver vvas giuen vnto him to doe xlij moneths 4. And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his Tabernacle and them that dvvell in heauen 5. And it vvas gyuen vnto him to make vvarre vvith the Sainctes 6. and to ouercom them 7. And povver vvas giuen him ouer all kinreds tongue nacion 8. And all that dvvelt vpon the earth vvorshipped him 9. vvhose names are not vvritteÌ„ in the booke of life 10. of the lambe 11. vvhich vvas killed from the beginning of the vvorld 18. If any man haue an eare let him heare 13. he that leadeth into captiuitie shall goe into captiuitie 14. Hee that killeth vvith a svvearde must be killed vvith a svvearde 15. Heere is the patience and the faith of the sainctes The Paraphrase 1 To this beast saith sainct Iohn was giuen a mouth not of God but of Sathan to speake great mightie things and blasphemies So well is this spoken of the one as the other so many as hath done vpon the Antichrstâ—s liuery title power aucthoritie or name When the veritie of the Lord was opened before them they gaue no thankes for it but became vaine in their thoughts wherfore god gaue them ouer into a leude mynde darkening their hartes So that now thinking them selues wise they appeare more foolish then afore 2 Now speake they great thyngs in their conuocations seanes sermons and all are sore blasphemyes against God his Christ. Now must they serue God by most straite commaundement with olde Romish beggerry though he most highly abhorreth it no scriptures may be reade in the time thereof For the scriptures must onely passe as we wil haue theÌ„ How shuld the beasts hed els be healed again or howe should our church be known els to be his own Image Oh beastly abhominatioÌ„ most hellish decree Now must Christ be takeÌ„ for no sauior at all wtout our deseruiÌ„gs The supper of the lord that was somtime a mutual perticipatioÌ„ of Christes body and bloud must now be a new crucifying of him one traitour playing al parts Iudas Annas Caiphas Herode Pylate the Iews Matrimony must be iudged vncleanes though it be the earnest institutioÌ„ of god No popish vow may be dissolued though it be well knowen a matter so diuilish as hath made an huÌ„dreth thousaÌ„d Sodmites The Eucharisti may not be receiued in both kindes though it be the expresse commaundement of Christ so to bée vsed Without the blynde bussings of a Papist may no sinne be soluted for that is the vpholdyng of their kyngdome with many other lyke blasphemies Certayne other great thyngs are vttered by thys mouth whiche now I passe ouer least I shoulde bée tedious to the reader How be it thys one great blasphemy that is spokeÌ„ I can not leaue vntouched Where as they boast them selues yet still alone to be the holy church by the onely vertue of theyr vnctions and shauings receiued first of the Pope the laitie secluded And vnder thys most falsely vsurped title they will still be taken for the redéemers of mens soules For they say that their masses are satisfactorie sacrifices for the quicke and the deade iustifying reléeuing and sauing them both from dampnation ex opere operato And ouer that abhominable swarme of Antichristes filthie ministers make they nowe their Kyngs the heades most blasphemouslye onely to be by them vpholden now in all their mischiues Truth it is that a king is the politique head supreme gouernour great stay vnder God of the people
articles and actes they graunt to obay those blasphemous doctrines that shall both corrupte their life and fayth both theyr workes and conscience For in consentinge vnto errours in their faith they spot their forheads hauing so their cōsciences marked with an hot iron In ful granting also to do them in effect they defile their hands perfourming such workes as are vnpure before God If they were gone quite from Christ that wrapped thēselues againe in the workes of the law appointed of god before his cōming much more are they gon from him that tangle themselues with such works of bōdage as he neuer knew as are al their idle obseruations hauing no expresse commaundements of the word of God Onely looke we saith Paule in spirit to be iustified through faith which by loue is mighty in operation 6 And for them that so beleueth is this disiūctiue or put betwéen their handes and foreheades For all they that outwardly kéepe these heathenish obseruations haue not their consciences defiled with them for their inward faiths sake though thei performe their outwarde workes doubting the terrour of the lawes Yet would I counsell them not therein to trust but at the word of the lord to goe frō it For though Loth dwelt in Sodome yet at the Lordes voyce he departed from thence 7 This image made also that no man might bye or sell saue he onely that had the marke or the name of the beast or at the leaste the nūber of his name The actes of Iustinian the emperour shal make this good so shal the constitutions of Adelstane Edgare many other kings here in englād which for the order cōmodity of the clergy made many politique laws Specialy king Inas gouernour of the west Saxōs which first gaue the Peter pence vnto Rome made him selfe a monke there But in this spirituall generation among thēselues is none alowed for a marchant vnlesse he come in by simony None was made bishop pastor nor curat but payd for it their taxed sūms bishops to the pope and the priestes to the bishops besides Item in bribes None might els be alowed to vtter to aduantage the wares of the beast or distribute the rytes of that holy whorish church 8 Neyther were anye made frée of that marte vnlesse they hadde the marke of the beast which is not only the outwarde signe of their head shauing and anointing of theyr fingers but also the inwarde prynte of their consciences receyued by profession made to that wicked monster For lyke as true faith in Iesus Christ is the marke of a perfect christiā so is a false beleue in popish traditions a token of Antichrists mēber By their fruits saith christ shal ye know thē For the one foloweth the rule of gods worde the other hath counterfeit works of mens prescription 9 Els must they haue the name of the beast to be called spirituall men or the holy consecrat number as his holy fatherhod is called 10 Or at the least they must haue the number of his name which is a note of magnificence and worthines Lesse can they not be called then Lords so many as are sworn to that spiritual market The most ragged ronnagat and idle idoit among them is no lesse then a sire which is a lord in the latin as sir Iohn sir Thomas sir Williā In the Latin onely hangeth theyr great Lordships Amonge their vnknowne latin houres their masses their diriges lyeth their plentuous patrimony in their portasses masse bookes Not he that leaueth all with poore Peter may be called from fishing nor with Mathew from the custome house to do these offices But he that catcheth all with Iudas and Simon Magus must come from Symony to doe them Not he that is called of God as was Aaron shal haue cure of soule but he that offreth to Corbā with Annas and Cayphas Such a world hath it bin and is yet styll in the world abrode among them THE TEXT 1 Here is vvisdome 2. Let him that hath vvit 3. Count the number of the beast 4. For it is the number of man 5. And his number is six hundred sixty and sixe The Paraphrase 1 Here is wisdome to be had saith sainct Iohn Let him that hath wit count the number of the beast for it is the number of man And his number is six hundred sixty sixe 2 For so much as Christ hath willed vs dilligentlye to searche the scriptures the holy ghost here doth cōmit the iudgement of this secreat to the wit of man some writers haue deducted this number out of certaine gréeke words betokning this great antichrist because this presēt reuelatiō was first written in the gréeke language As out of Antemos which signifieth one contrary to Gods honor out of Arnume whiche signifieth a denier of God out of Teitā which betokneth the sunne All these 3. vocables though they séeme diuers yet containe they after the gréeke rules neyther more nor lesse than this set number And all this may stande both with Scripture and reason For he that is not with Christ is against him callyng that is good euill and that is euil good ministring darknesse for light Such lying masters as hath brought in sectes of perdition hath denyed the Lorde that bought them They are not the light as they boast them selues to bée for all they looke to bée called spirituall but they are the fallen starres and very Apostataes from God Sathans transfourmyng them selues into the Angels of light by diuers kyndes of Hipocrisie 3 Some expositors leauing the Greke hath practised the same thing by these two latine wordes Dic lux cōtaining innumerable letters the same set number Whiche signified that they call them selues the light or men of a spirituall sorte being nothing lesse For they in déede are the same self darknesse that will in no wyse receyue light but rather persecuteth it with most spight and crueltie After thys sorte might I bring in Diabolus incarnatus or filius perditionis the diuil incarnate or the sonne of perditiō for both they are the names of thys beastly Antichrist by the scriptures the one wanting in the numeral letters but .iiij. of the number the other but vj. which might be supplyed in the other letters But among all these this word Arnume most nighly toucheth the mystery which is as much to say as I deny Euidently séemeth hée to haue the marke of the beast or to bée sealed with the numbed of his name that sayth whē he heareth the manifest veritie I will neuer admit it whyle I haue a day to liue it is against good order it standeth not with laudable custome our doctours agrée not thervnto our holy canōs alloweth it not it hath not the holy fathers consente with suche lyke What are these els but the voyces of an Antichrist ful of such voices was the Popes legate Gaspar Contarene at the laste counsayle of Rainsburgh so was the frantike papist Iohn Eckius our
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
Unto them which at that day shall be in the cittie wil be that sitteth in the thron make all things now All dolour afflictioÌ„ sorow paine penury wrath coÌ„dempnatioÌ„ death shal be past with them Only shal they be trodeÌ„ down in this winefat of gods wrath that lyued héere lyke beastes without reason and that wandered here lyke horses and mules in theyr owne filthy lustes 12 All shal be punished there that was here vnbrideled vnordred vngouerned after the worde pleasure of God And therefore it is here sayd vnto the horse bridles Euery man shal receiue in body according to that he hath don whether it be good or euell They that haue wrought the work of God in faith shall reape according vnto it The bridles also betokeneth the mesure of gods iudgement not as concerning the tyme which is euerlasting but concerning the payne rightly mesured according to the iniquity For the lord hath set his iudgments ouer the wicked in weight and mesure the stripes agreing in quaÌ„titi to the exces of sin so much tormeÌ„t to haue as their reioice hath ben in wikednes 13 The space of these terible tormeÌ„ts or punishmentes of hel is a M. and .vj. hundred furlongs A furlong of the Grekes is called the runne of Hercules it is in length an C. .xxv. paces or steppes And coÌ„moÌ„ly they vsed accordiÌ„g to the length to measure their playing places Of whome Paule maketh meÌ„cion to the CorinthiaÌ„s being Gréekes by theÌ„ that ruÌ„neth in a course that proueth masteries In this thousande and vi hundred furlonges here is comprehended the whol vniuersal course of the wicked for the iiii quartars of the world The number of an hundred is euermore an whole complete perfect number And â—iij huÌ„dred .iiij. times nuÌ„bred is .xvj. huÌ„dred which maketh this number of a thousand vj. huÌ„dred the number of iiij respecting alwayes the iiij clymates of the world which are the common habitacioÌ„s of sinners In theÌ„ course they in all wantan kindes of liuing In theÌ„ worke they their masteris of all vngodly obseruacioÌ„s and false worshippinges walking in the large or opeÌ„ way which leadeth vnto death According to the number mesure of this course hath God here measured the place punishment Notwithstanding neuer is he without mercy Maruelous he is in his workes iudgemeÌ„ts which are vnsercheable Blessed is he that shal haue his part in the citie or congregation of the rightuous and that shal sée the peace vpon Israel when the Lord shal lead forth them with the euil doers that hath 〈◊〉 them selues with their lawes The Lord graunt vs once to tast the prosperitye of Hierusalem Amen The xv Chapter NOt only for the common sinnes of the world doth the Lord plague but most of al for vnthankfulnes of al blasphemies the greatest From that spurneth against knowlege directly worketh against the holy ghost A double distruction or decay both of soule bodye by the righteousnesse of god must nedes followe the wilful coÌ„tempt of his veritie manifestly shewed and openlye taught Yet is the Lorde so mercifull that hee willeth not the daÌ„nation of a sinner Such coÌ„passioÌ„ hath he euer our manifold weakenesse that he premonisheth vs of hys moste terrible plagues to call vs backe by feare if loue will not doe it As here consequently in the first vysion of this present reuelatioÌ„ to Iohn which followeth after this sort in this xv and xvj Chapters THE TEXT 1 And I saw an other signe in heuen great and merueilous 2. seuen Angels hauyng the seuen last plagues 3. for in them is fulfilled the vvrath of God 4. And I savve as it vvere a glassy sea 5. mingled vvith fyre 6. and theÌ„ that had gotten the victory of the beast and of his Image 7. and of his mark and of the number of his name 8. stande on the glassy sea 9 hauing the harps of God 10. And they sang the songe of Moyses the seruaunt of God 11. and the songe of the Lambe saying 12. Great and merueilous are thy vvorkes Lord God almightie 13. iust and true are thy vvayes thou king of Sainctes 14. VVho shall not feare O Lorde and glorifie thy name 15. For thou onely arte holy 16. and all gentiles shal come and vvorship before thee 17. for thy iudgements are made manifest The Paraphrase 1 And I sawe sayeth sainct Iohn by the secret goodnes of my Lord God yet an other tokeÌ„ in heaueÌ„ great merueilous straunge and wonderfull For in the churches or congregation of God are euermore vttered his wonderfull and déepe iudgementes vnto them only whome his grace appoynteth as vnto Iohn And this is the token in mistery 2 Seuen Aungels had in their hands the seuen last plagues Some expositors haue taken these Angels for the right ministers in the .vii. ages of the christian church Some haue thought them to be the peruerse prechers and vngodly ministers of all the sayde ages suffered of God strongly to delude the vnbeléeuers that he wich hurteth should hurte stil and that he wkich is in fylthines should still be filthy Unto euery age corresponding an Aungell to declare the nature of those deceitefull hyrelings and lying masters And this maketh them so to vnderstande the texte They are here expresly noted to be in heauen Among the congregation of God are the false Prophets and discembling Hipocrits euermore as the chaffe among the corne the teares among the wheate and the filthy dregs amonge the pure wine For that kyngdome is as a net throwen into the sea and gatheringe all manner of fishes both good and bad In all ages hath the wicked generacioÌ„ increased to impugne the truth and stifly sâ— to stande vp agaynste God and his Christ whiche is none other after their mindes than to minister the .vii. laste plagues here For no poyson is to the soule so pestilent nor yet venim so noyfull as is false doctrine No plage can be thought more deadlie nor violent than to depriue vs of that faith of that veritie of that life whiche is in Christ Iesu or to bring vs out of the way which he hath appointed And al this séemeth no smal likelyhood of the iust vnderstanding of the text here Yet Frances Lambert geuith a far better iudgment calling theÌ„ the set senteÌ„ces or vnuariable decrées of god difining his iudgments against the wicked in his latter age of the world at their appointed times to be vtterred For all these thinges are iontely to be considered These Angles came not onely from heauen which is the congregation as they haue mencioned but also out of the celestiall temple of the tabernacle of testimonie which is the omnypotente God his Christ as the xxi chap. hereof declareth They are also clothed with pure whit linnen gyrded with golden girdles they haue golden vials deliuered vnto them by one of the iiii beasts and one of them commoneth with Iohn declarynge vnto him the iudgement and fall of the
great whore Whiche ar no arguments that they are here to be taken for ill preachers though thei here minister the last vii plagues Therfore shall we iudge them here to be Gods appoynted purposes or eternally decréed pleasures against the wilfull obstinates and indurat rebellions to the end of the world These are called the last plagues because they fall in the last age of the world whoÌ„ Esay Hieremy Oseas Micheas calleth the last daies IhoÌ„ the last hourâ— Paul the ends of the world Seauen are they named here in a vniuersall respecte both of the times parsons places and peruerse doctrins of the whole world And also because of the .vii. seales and the .viii. trompets to whose iudgementes they ioyntly agrée as in the nexte Chapter following will appeare more largely 3 For in them sayeth the text is fulfilled the wrath of God The indignation of the Lord is in them wholy declared For what hate can he shewe more vnto a man than to withdrawe him from him his grace to leaue him to himselfe to suffer him in his owne blinde iudgements to geue him ouer to his owne fylthy lustes and to sende him the operation of errour to his double damnation A very fulfilling of Gods anger is it also to appoynte vs a false Prophete or deceiuable curate a wanton Prince or vngodly gouernour These therefore with such like are those plagues in whome is déepely accomplished the displeasure of God And they are here named the last plagues for after them shall none other be séene the latter day finishing and clearin all 4 And I beheald sayeth Iohn in the same sayd vision as it were a glassy sea or a greate fllowing water in similitude of glasse all myngled with fyre None other is this sea but the precious verity of the Lord so cleare as glasse and so pure as christal This sea gushed out of the harde rocke of stone that was clouen a sonder in the desarte When he sente forth his spirite these waters flowed forth in abundaunce 5 Most effectual and quick is this sea And therefore it is here noted and myngled with fyre which signifyeth the holy ghost For neuer is the verity without Gods spirite A fierce fiery streame calleth Danyell this sea all fiery is the word Lord sayeth Dauyd also and therefore thy seruant loueth it This is the fountayne of liuing water springing vp into the life euerlasting Unto this water shoulde all they resort that are thirsty thereof to take refreshing 6 Upon this glassy sea were they séene of saynte Iohn that had obtayned victory of the beast of his Image of his mark and of the number of his name By whom are ment those constaunt christiaÌ„s which hath for al ages firmly affirmed the truth For none aduersitie declining from it Strongly haue these since the Apostles time resisted the aduersaries of God by his onelye word persisting therin vnto the death as did Stéeuen Iames and Antipas with such other his faithful witnesses Uictory haue they gotten by faith both of the beast and his Image both of the great Antichrist and his supporters of the pope and of Mahomet with their maintainers Emperours Kings and maigistrates and of al theÌ„ that vsurpe their title name seate aucthorytie pompe or power 7 They haue blemished likwise by the said word not only the mark of the beast which is corrupted faith but also the number of his name which is the denial of God Them haue they to their rebuke vttered and to their confusion declared They haue proued their orders â—amnable their doctrin deuilish their religion hipocrisie their spiritualty playne wickednes condemning them by the scriptures as vngodly dissemblers denying the Lord which bought them These are they whom the lorde tenderlye nourished and graciouslye brought forth vpon the refreshing waters coÌ„uerting their soules to his godly feare and loue 8 These stand euermore on the glassy sea they set sure footing vpon the rocke stone Unmouably they perseuer in â— truth neuer deniyng it afore men 9 And they haue in their handes the harps of god which are deuout mindâ— geuen all vnto godlynesse and reioysing in spirituall things 10 Harmoniously they sing the tuneâ—able song of Moyses the faithfull seruant of god and the melodious swéetâ— song of the lamb Iesus Christ. 11 Of both testaments they make vtterance declaring the wonderful works and terrible iudgementes â—ute of the olde lawe and â—ute of the Gospell of gladnesse the moste swéetâ— mercy of the Lorde Withoute ceasing open they the the scriptures vnto other inwardly reioysing in spirituall Himnes and Psalmes hauing this euermore for the standing tenour of the song 12 Inestimably greate is thy goodnes and wonderfully maruelous are thy workes Lord God almighty 13 Iust are thy promyses and moste perfitely sure thy wayes thou gloryous King of sayntes gracious gâ—ydt of the Godly beléeuers 14 Who shall not euermore feare thée a mighty Lord who shall not alwayes in heart glorifye thy blessed name 15 Thou alone art holy iust and perfite for none is there good but thy selfe onely Thou arte our our only maker redéemer and comforter None other haue we for our God but thée 16 No doubt of it but the time will be that al kinds of people both Iewes and gentiles faythfull and Heaten shall seeke vnto thée and shall faythfully in verity and spirite worship before thée acknowleging thée for their only Lord God 17 Because thy wonderfull iudgements that somtime were secret are now to the world made openly knoweÌ„ and manifest Though this songe be litle and small yet is there in contayned all veritye that both Moyses and Christ confesseth at large Moreouer whatsoeuer the scriptures coÌ„preheÌ„deth either of the great omnipotency of god or of his most wonderfull works eyther of his louing mercy or of his benigne pittie towards man of his glorious name or mighty power or that he is to be magnified and feared or how that the faithfull pertaineth only to his kingdome or how that al people shall finally be conuerted vnto him Al is compendiously in this briefe songe here contained what though it be not so word by word expressed And as coÌ„cerning that is here last spoken that his iudgements are made manifeste it is to be vnderstaÌ„ded of those faithful creatures whom he calleth cleareth and iustifieth of none other For vnto them onely are his heauenly veryties knowne to whom he witsaueth to opeÌ„ them Though the other outwardely sée the iudgments of God yet doe they not inwardly perceiue theÌ„ though the bâ—st it neuer so much For it is geuen them so to doe They must haue eyes and not see eares and not vnderstand The Text. 1. And after that I looked 2. And behold the teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of testimonie 3. Was opeÌ„ in heaueÌ„ 4 and the vii Angels 5. came out of the teÌ„ple 6. vvhich had the .7 plagues 7. Clothed in pure and bright linnen 8 And hauing their breasts girded with golden girdles 9. And one
thrée vncleane spirits one comming out of the Dragons mouth which signifieth sathan the deuill an other out of the beastes mouth betokeninge the vniuersall Antichrist and the third out of the false prophets mouth compared afore to the two horned beast And all they séemed in maner as frogs both in their colours and fashions 7 Idolatry was that yll spirit which first went out from the serpent hath continued euer since in the world vnder the colour of good works as pilgrimage deuocion labour 8 Errour in abhominable filthynesse was the spirit whiche came from the beastly Antichrist defilinge the whole christianitie with innumerable superstitions vnder the colour of chaste lyuing in pristhod sacrifices and ceremonies 9 Hipocrisie was the foule spirite which issued from the false preachers poysoning the catholyque faith with false doctrine vnder the colour of religion pretending abstinence prayer and clennesse These thrée wicked spirits are not all vnlyke to the wilde fire smoke and brimstone whiche the terrible fierce horses euometed in the ix chapter of this present prophecye For cursed false and vnpure they are Their doctrine is wickednesse lies deuilishnesse and the execrable wisdome of the flesh In manner of frogs are they here described for their diuersitie of coloures in ceremonyes doctrine sects for their filthy dwelling in the dyrty tradicions of men and for crookelyng of theyr vnknowen Psalmodye and seruice disquietynge with their ydle customes the consciences of the symple multitude 10 These are the very spirites of deuyls the ympes of sathan workinge such signes and myracels as would deceiue the very chosen persons and bring them into erroure yf it were so possible But the Lorde euermore defendeth his 11 A stronge power haue they by the workynge of sathan to shewe lyinge wonders deceyuable signes amonge them that shal perish for detesting the truthe 12 These shal by the permission of god be suffered to go at large they shall strongly delude the kings of the earth and blynde the gouernoures of the vniuersall world making them dronken with the cup of all abhominatioÌ„s 13 And all this shal they doe to gather them to gether by their wicked counsayles to bring them in to one cruel consent of battailing against Christe and his meÌ„bers to receiue the penalty therof in the great day of the lord almighty 14 Most busely they gather them to battel when they moue them to persecute the iust beléeuers with ful vngodly actes as now most of all in our age which god hath promised in short space to reuenge Of this wil more be spoken in the xix chapter folowing Least any man knowinge the truthe shoulde tangle his owne conscience with their spirituall sorceryes for feare of princes lawes vnder the vaine hope of repentance in the end of their liues it foloweth in playne sentence 15 Beholde sayeth the Lorde Iesus Christ or earnestly take héede vnto it for I come dangerously vnlooked for as commonly doth the thiefe to thy hinderaunce if thou watch not in fayth but lyue in superstition Though this not without reasonable cause may be taken in a generaliti for the last iudgmeÌ„t dai yet is it here spokeÌ„ particularly of euery maÌ„s departing As a premonishment he geueth this here of loue least any man should perish without warning 16 Blessed is he saith that Lorde which watcheth in the true christian beléeue and liueth not in the vaine but in the sure hope of life sealed with the iust promises of god For all that he doth shall prosper and turne him to great aduantage in the concluston 17 Happy is he allo that holdeth fast vnto him his garments or workes of Gods prescription which are the fruits of the spirite or that hath done on the Lord Iesus Christ gyrdinge hym suer vnto himselfe by faith 18 Least he be founde a naked hypocrit witout faith veritye iustice charitie with such lyke or least the rightuous number at the latter day sée his filthines vncouered and reioyce at his condemnation 19 He is blessed whiche at that day shall be couered with the white garment of the Lambe not hauinge his sinnes imputed vnto hym 20 To shewe the certaintie of the aforesayde battayle Saint Iohn saith that the diuel gathered together those wicked rulers into a certaine place called in the Hebrue tonge Armagedon The vncleane spirites that afore are named thrée of their diuers workinge in the Dragon beaste and false prophet are here brought into one as all of one lying spirit whome Christe calleth the father diuell This one lyinge spirit whiche hath bene a murtherer from the beginning comprehendinge in hym all vncleane spirites like as doth the beast all Antichristes hath combined together into one execrable zeale of fatherly tradicions all vaine-glorious and vngodly minded gouernours against God and his Christe And this hath not bene withoute the secret permission of God wyllynge to proue his elects by stroÌ„g suffering that they might receiue at his hand the rewarde of stronge victorye or of his aboundant riches 21 This place here called in the Hebrue Armagedon betokneth in mistery an hyll of delectable fruites interpreted of some for the hyll of the gospell and is commonly taken of the Hebreues for that is swéet or of valew And this without faile is the churche whiche â—ft times in the Scriptures is called the plentuous hyll of God the hyll of Gods house the hyll of mirth the hyll of oliues the hyll of Sion Carmelus and Libanus with such other lyke In this mounte euermore are they bene â—o battaile There slea theâ— innocent Lambes of Christe All their power malice and tirannye is there extremely vttered at the Antichrists labour and desire whiche are excéedingly drunken in the bloude of holye martires whiche hath bene shed vpon the earth from the rightuous Abel vnto this day But when the almighty setteth kings vpoÌ„ the earth it shall be cleare euen in the darknes that the hill of Basan is Gods hill The texte 1 And the seauenth Angell poured out his vial 2. Into the ayre 3. And there came a great voyce out of heauen from the sate sayinge 4. It is done 5. And there followed voices thunderings and lightninges 6 And there was a great earthquake 7. Such as was not since meÌ„ were vpon earth 8. So mighty an earthquake and so great 9. And the great citie was deuyded into three parts 10. And the cities of the nations fell 11. And great Babtlon came in remembraunce before God 12. To geue vnto her the cup of Wine of the fiercenesse of hys wrath 13. And euery I le fled avvay 14. And the mountaines vvere not founde 15. And there fell a great haile 16. As it had bene talents 17. Out of heauen 18. Vppon the men 19. And the men blasphemed God beause of the plague of the hayle 20. For it vvas great and the plague therof vvas sore The Paraphrase 1 Fynally the seuenth Angell wente forth vnder the seuenth seale opening as God had eternali determined
throwing out the content of his viall into the aire For the seauenth age of the christen church by the very set purpose of God are manye conuerted to the truth and become with Paule the vessels of election that afore were with Iudas the vessels of wrath vnder the great aduersary of God Neither is it any blemishe vnto them to be called here that they were afore vials of wrath consyderynge that SIMON Leprosus beinge once healed of hys leprosie was euer after called a leper In case lyke Paule after his conuersion was not ashamed to reporte himselfe both a Pharisie also the sonne of a Pharasie 2 These by the mighty determination of Gods stronge iudgemente are sent into the ayre Most effectually are they lightened with the spirit of god and prouoked stifly to stand vp against the aereall powers regning in the fickle fantasticall Antichriste and hypocrites condempninge by Gods worde their vniuersall doctrines and deuillishnes These powers are no lesse than diuilles whome Christe calleth fowles of the ayre Peter and Iohn mans aduersaries and saint Paul the gouerners of these darknesses in spirituall wickednes 3 Whiles these things are in doing out of heauen which is the vniuersal congregation yea from the verye throne of god whiche is the elect faithful number for thei are the only seat of God came a voyce of reioysinge saying after this sort 4 It is done All things are finished Christs glory once manifestly knowne the world is at an ende The wicked hath done all their mischies and the number of our brethren is fulfilled Thus shall they preache a full deliueraunce of the captiues the peaceable yere of the Lord. This is the silence of an halfe houre space mencioned afore in the viii chapter and the returne of this world vnto Christ in the .xii. chapter Not that there shall in those dayes be no enemies for the remnaunte shall styll remayne but that they shall not then openly dare rage persecute and kyll the world being at such a vniuersal quiet 5 Yet shall there happen in those dayes voyces thunderings and lightnings Uoyces of swéete blessings and delectable promises to the faithful coÌ„gregation Thunderings of terror to the vnfaithful multitud coÌ„manding thiÌ„gs contrary to the flesh And feareful lightnings of condemnation to there probate hipocrits and desperat obstinats 6 And al from one word of the Lord or one gospell preaching in diuerse respects no small earthquake folowyng vpon the same What commocions heuye complayn tes fearfull tremblynges sorowes cryes griefes sighynges waylynges grudginges gruntynges gronynges wepynges and handes wryngyng wyl be among the earthly minded Antichrists and hypocrits bishops priests prelates holy watter mongers and parrish clarkes lawiers whores caruers paynters waxe sellers whan their whoryshe church shal be turnedouer by iudgmeÌ„t of the sayd word is easy to coniecture 7 Such a one wyll this earthquake be saith the text so mighty so stroÌ„g as neuer was yet since men were vpon the earth or since that earthly generation first beganne Than shall be cleane taken away the carnall church of Antichrist or the smered Sinagoge of shauelings Neither shall the Pope with his disgysed rable any more be séene here nor yet Mahomet with his monstrous muster 8 In such wise shal their laws sects ceremones be destroied in those daies that no man shal be found so bolde as once to allow one of theÌ„ openly Than shal the glory of Christs name shine the world ouer he making of his enimies his footestoole 9 Moreouer in this terrible earthquake the great spirituall cytie called Sodom and Egipt or the holy whorish mother the church shall be dissâ—uered into thrée parts of the which two shal styll be wicked the third coÌ„uerted vnto godlines Two partes shall be dispersed saith Zachary the thirde shall remaine to the Lorde Of them which haue and shall go out of minsters and monasteries colleges and couentes churches and cloysters parrishes and nunneries one sort shal inwardlye be geuen to Antichrists superstitiousnes and hipocrisie An other sorte vpon diuers fleshly consideracions shall faynedly fall to the Gospel The thirde sort onely of loue towardes God and zeale of helth in their neighbors shall vnfainedly cleaue to the scriptures Thus shal the vngodly sorte be coupled stil with the godly in eueri land prouince be the much greater number yet shal they for the time atteÌ„pt nothing against them the truthe so strongly regning Neuertheles yet is it to be thought that they shal then haue nothing to suffer coÌ„sidering that it is a kingdome of sufferance Christ to be head of that congregation suffered once incommoditie or other alwaies so long as he was here lyuing It shall therfore behoue them which are his misticall members alwayes to suffer For the seruant is no better then his Lord nor the soldiour then his head capitayne And to make this good the lord sayeth in Zachary The same third part will I leade thorow fire and purge it as siluer or gold in the furnace Then shall euery godly creature follow Christ in bearinge his crosse They shall mortyfie theyr flâ—shly members sleyng al fornicatioÌ„ filthynes â—dolatry couetousnes pride anger and malice They shall helpe suffer and forbeare one an other hauing pittifull compassion vpon the weake sicke and néedy No duty beséeminge a christian shal they leaue vndone 10 Therfore this great or generall cytie thus deuided al other perticuler or national cities muste also fall The blasphemous PantheoÌ„ of Rome once perishing all other churches of the vnfaithfull must néedes folow soone after in their course For the fouÌ„dation takeÌ„ away that buildyng cannot endure So that from thenceforth shall be no Popish sects no supersticious ceremonies no Hethenish obseruatioÌ„s nor opeÌ„ Idolatry in all the world But when the remnaÌ„t of the wicked shal attempt afresh to raise vp again such abhominatioÌ„s the Lord shal sodainly without warning fal vpoÌ„ them with his most fearfull tirrible last iudgment 11 Great BabiloÌ„ the aforsaid mother of all whordom filthinesse shal than come in remembrance before god He shall than consider hir abhominable blasphemye hir pryde crueltye murther sinnes without number waying them in righte ballance according vnto iustice 12 He shal also reward hir to drinke the fierce cup of his wrath or wine of his great indignacion which is the perpetual death of soule The very dregges of his Ire shal shée taste yea vnspeakable sorowes paynes without ende For none other is it to come in remembraunce before him at that day but to be coÌ„dempned receiue punishment according to hir déedes 13 Then shall euery Ile which is a place of refuge within the sea flée away and not tarry The mountaynes that are wonte to giue succour vnto them that be on the land shal not at the day be founde No comforte shall shée theÌ„ haue nor sure helpe any where 14 No remedy will be at that day to flée from the fearful face of the Iudge Then
will neither merites nor yet soule masses helpe neyther blessinges nor knéelings sacrifices nor sensings wawlings nor ringings bussings nor singings but will she nyll shée néedes must shée abyde his heauy and tirrible sentence 15 And there fell great hayle sayeth the texte as it had bene waightie talents Alwayes must it be remembred that commonly the tyme paste is vsed in this hrophecie for the tyme to come for the certayntie of the things héere spokē This haile is none other thē the heauy tempest or plague of the said fearfull tirrible iudgements of the Lord which shal on that woful day fal sodaynly as a thicke hayle vpon the miserable multitude of them that boasted thē selues to be the holy church vpon their wicked folowers cōpared here vnto Babilon 16 This plague is here also for none other cause lykened vnto talents but for that it is in wayght measure to bée ministred vnto them by the preordination of God So much paine and sorow is due vnto that whorish generation as shée hath glorified hir selfe in filthy delightes so many punishmentes to be rewarded hir Yea double must shée haue according to hir workes 17 Out of heauen shall this vehemēt hayle fall from the fearful sentence of the Lord Iesus Christ which shal than sit as a Iudge in the myddest of hys faithful congregatiō they fitting with him as the body with the head in condempnation of the wicked 18 And vpon the men shal it light For the great whore or the citie called héere Babilō is in this place to bée takē for that it comprehendeth euen for men in whom also are included women by the common vsage of the scriptures 19 These men shall spightfully blaspheme God bicause of the hayle plague or terrour of their torments They shall crye out of him wishing that hée had no such power so to torment them 20 For the tempest is great and the sufferaunce thereof excéeding painfull As the Lorde is mightie so are hys iudgements whan they fal Uehemēt fierce and strong is the Lorde sayeth Esay as is the tempest of hayle breaking out on euery side bearing down strong holdes The xvij Chapter OFte hath occasions bene giuen me in this booke to speake of greate Babilon and of the execrable beast but here is place offered to discribe them more at large THE TEXT 1 And there came one of the seuen Angels vvhich had the seauen vyalles 2. and talked vvith me 3. saying vnto me 4. Come I vvill shevve the iudgement 5. of the great vvhore 6. that sitteth vpō many vvaters 7. vvith vvhō the Kinges of the earth haue committed vvhoredome 8 and the inhabiters of the earth are dronken vvith the vvyne of hyr fornication 9. And he caryed me away 10. into the vvildernesse in the spirite The Paraphrase 1 After this came sayth Saint Iohn one of the vij Angels or vnuariable decrées of the Lordes eternall iudgements which had the vij vyals of hys wrath as afore hath bene declared 2 And this Angell or set purpose of God as an heauenly messenger talked with me in mysterie 3 Of fauourable goodnesse in secreat maner he ascertayned me thereby of this wonderfull iudgement héere following to be fulfilled at the latter end of the worlde And thus it sayde vnto mée 4 Come hither friende Iohn I will shew thée in secretnesse the tirrible iudgment of the great whore or coūterfaite church of hypocrites as God hath appointed it Néedes must this whore be Rome for that which is hereafter spokē that she is the great citie which reigneth ouer the kings of the earth Euidēt it is both by the scriptures Cronicles that in Iohns dayes Rome had hyr dominiō ouer all the whole world And being infected with the abhominatiōs of all landes rightly is shée called Babylon or citie of confusion not onely in this reuelation but also in the first Epistle of Peter And like as in the scriptures ofte tymes vnder the name of Ierusalem is ment the whole kingom of Iuda so vnder the name of Rome here may be vnderstanded the vnyuersall worlde with all their abhominations and diuillishnesses theyr Idolatryes witchcraftes sectes superstitions papacyes priesthoodes relygions shauings anointings blessings sensings processiōs the diuil all of such beggeryes For all the people since Christes assēcion hath this Rome infected with hyr pestilent poisōs gathered from al Idolatrous nations such time as she held ouer them the monarchial suppremit And like as Babilon had the Israelites captiue vnder a bodily tribute so hath this Rome had the Christians both in their bodies soules At the wryting of this prophecy felt Iohn of their crueltie being exiled into Pathmos an I le of Licia for the faithfull testimony of Iesu. And so did I poore creature with my poore wife children at the gatheringe of this present commentary flyinge into Germamye for the same 5 No maruail though she be here called a great whore For no wher were euer yet séene so many Idole worshipinges so many vaine obseruatiōs so many supersticious sects so many errours in hipocrisie so many false prophets and so many prodigious kindes of filthynes no not in Sodom it selfe nor yet in miserable Egipt 6 This Babilonysh whore or disguised sinagoge of shorelings sitteth vpō many waters or peoples that are fantastical fickle or folish For none are in conscience subiect vnto hyr that are constantly grounded in the sure doctrine of fayth only alloweth hir traditions the wauering witted multitude the slipper and vnstedfast number obeying them in theyr hartes of feare not of loue so throwing them selues into a moste confuse Chaos or vawte of double dotage 7 With this stinking strompet haue the mightie potentates of the vniuersall earth the Emperours Kings Princes and other notable gouernours cōmitted most shamefull whoredome in the spirite by many straunge worshippings agréeing among them selues to hyr wickedly decréed lawes customes To long should we stande here in this place if we should discribe them all seuerally in theyr colours at large as they be 8 Through the craftie legerdimaine of the priests on the one side the cruel cōstitutiōs of Princes on the other side the dwellers of the earth or worldly minded multitude are dronken with the wyne of hyr fornication spirituall or practised worshippings besides the prescript rules of Gods word Not only they which haue bene couetous carnall leude wreched hath followed theyr abhominaciōs but also an innumerable sort of the elect number hath beleued their lies and errors Yea they haue bene so dazed with theyr dotages so tangeled with theyr customes that as men losing theyr wittes without all godly remembrance reason wisdom discressiō vnderstāding iudgement grace the lawes of God laid apart the commandementes neclected and the scriptures despised they haue not only knéeled crossed kissed set vp lights holdē vp their hāds before rottē postes but also called thē their fathers in heuē Yea I axe God mercy a thousand times I haue
abhominations of this whorish church till the words and promises of God by his Apostles and Prophets which can neuer fayle be wholly fulfilled in effecte and till his last iudgemeÌ„t doe finish all But thus doe not all they which haue done of the yoke of the Popes obedyence or blotted out his name For the greater number of them retaineth still the blasphemous obseruacions cerimonies of hys Romish relygyon some making new lawes of deth for the establishmeÌ„t of the same as is in England the acte of the .vj. Articles with diuers other more And for this remayneth here stil the beast as receiuing the rendred kingdome of the whore In whom is also comprehended the wicked remnant that shal worke the last mischiefe whom the Lorde shall ende with his saide iudgement This beast is not without his liuely Image still working the same féetes that him selfe wrought afore though his head be greuouslye wounded in diuers quarters of the world Neyther is he without craftye phisitions to minister life to the same Who euer forswore the Pope more ernestly than did Stokislye and Samson Gardyner and Tunstall Wylson and fryer Wattes with such other holy prelats yet labour they toth and nayle to haue BabiloÌ„ stil BabiloÌ„ Sodome Sodom and Egipt Egipt But maruail not of the ordinance of the Lord which all at on time prouyded Moyses to guide his people yet hardened Pharao against theÌ„ which sent his sonne Iesus Christ to saue them and yet suffered the pristes to murther him considering he is the potter which maketh both the vessels of honouer and dishonour 31 Brifly to conclud the whole of thys matter saith the angel the gorious aparreled woman or glittering church of Antichrist which thou sawest here of late in mistery is also in receÌ„blance the great citty BabiloÌ„ the mother of al the spiritual abhominacions Idolatries don vpon the earth For like as froÌ„ Sion hath the laue coÌ„men forth the word of god from HieruseleÌ„ so hath isswâ—d forth froÌ„ this Babilonish Rome such a false religioÌ„ into Emperours princes peoples as with filthy superstitions hath poysoned all the world 14 For a kingdoÌ„ she hath ouer the kings or noble gouernours of the earth a false power a vsurped authority a seat of very pestelence Alas for pitty that so worthy potentates shoulde bée in subiection to so stinking an whore to so vyle an harlot being so the seruaunts of sinne and captiue slaues to all wickednesse from the whiche the Lorde once deliuer them Amen Thus endeth the second part The Contentes of the seconde parte THe xj Chap. beginneth wherin Iohn measureth the Temple the Aulter and them that worship therein The .ij. witnesses doe their appointed offices the beast making warre against them and sleying them A great Earthquake followeth and the second woe is past The xij Chapter beginneth wherin the seuenth Angell bloweth his trompet In heaueÌ„ appeareth a woman all cloathed with the sun whom the Dragon diuersly vexeth Mychaell fighteth with the Dragon and ouercommeth him The woman flyeth into the wildernesse and there is preserued The xiij Chapter beginneth wherin a beast ryseth out of the sea with seuen heades and ten hornes receyuing authority of the Dragon One of his heades is wounded and healed agayne An other beast commeth out of the earth with .ii. hornes which deceiueth the earthly dwellers and raiseth vp an Image like vnto the beast In the ende is counted the number of the beast The .xiiij. Chapter beginneth wherin the Lambe standeth vpoÌ„ the mount Sion and the vndefiled congregacion with him An Angell sheweth the euerlasting Gospel an other declareth the fal of the great whore An other is commauÌ„ded with his sikle to cut down the grapes of the vineyard The .xv. Chap. beginneth wherein Iohn séeth the seuen Angels hauing the seuen last plages of the wrath of God On the glassy sea standeth men hauing the harpes of God they sing the song of Moyses and the songe of the lambe The tabernacle of testymony is séene in heauen The .xvi. Chapter beginneth where in the seuen Angels power out theyr vials of gods wrath The first vpon the earth The secoÌ„d vpoÌ„ the sea The third vpon the riuers The fourth vpon the suÌ„n The fift vpon the seat of the beast The vj. vpon the great floud Euphrates And the seuenth into the ayre The xvij Chapter beginneth wherin an Angell sheweth vnto Iohn the iudgement of the great whore which sitteth vpon the beast Hée discrybeth both hir and the beast at large Finally he sheweth the meaning both of hys heades and hornes with other great mysteries more The poore persecuted church of christ or immaculate spouse of the Lambe Apoca. 12. The DragoÌ„ was wroth with the woman which fled into the wildernesse and went and made warre with the remnaunt of hir séede which kept the commaundement of god and haue the testimone of Iesus Christ. The proude painted Church of the Pope or sinfull Sinagoge of Sathan Apoca. 17. I sawe woman sitte vpon a Rose coloured beast full of names of blasphemye decked with golde precious stone and pearles with whom the Kinges of the earth committed whordome and the inhabiters of the earth are dronken with the wyne of hir fornication ¶ THE THIRDE parte of the Image of both churches after the most wonderfull and heauenly reuelation of saint Iehn the Euangelist c. Compiled by Iohn Bale Apoca 1. ¶ I Ihon your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdome of pacience which is in Christe Iesu was in the I le of Pathmos for the worde of God A small Preface vnto the Christen Reader FOr so muche as this Image of both churchs or exposition vpon S. Iohns Apocalipsis seemed vnto me as it came vnto the printing to be farre to much for one volume I thought to deuide it by equall porcions into three smal bookes as I haue now done in deede Of whom the firste contayneth x. Chapter the second vii the third v. onely which maketh out the whole number of the xxii Some peraduenture wil maruel that the smaller nuÌ„ber of the chapters should comprehend so much of that commeÌ„tarie as the greater number But if they marke in the text the aboundinge of misteries euermore as the matter thereof aboundeth they will soone leaue their marueiling The nature of this reuelation is the further it goeth the more wonders it sheweth openeth vnto hym that after praier shal in faith reade it and deserne it Neuer therin are the principles well perceiued till the conclusion thervpon folowinge doth playnely with the other scriptures conferred declare them In these v. last chapters are the two churches wherevpon resteth the whole argumeÌ„t of this booke fully by all dew circumstaunces described theÌ„ turned ouer into a moste fearefull and terrible destruction vnder title of the olde whorish Babilon the other obtayning a moste glorious rayse vnder the name of the holy new Hierusalem In the xvijâ— Chapter is that execrable churche of
antichrist with hyr filthye wares and occupings painted out hereof the holye Ghost with hir most horrible fal in the end hir worldly fauours shewing gret heanies and the seruants of God an excedyng reyse In the .xix. Chapter is that reyoice of elect number ouer the tirryble iudgments of that whore much more highly discribed the deth of Christes holy witnesses most plentyously reuenged and how the Angel in no case will of Iohn be worshiped In the .xx. Chapter is the dragon tied vp for a thousand years the chosen sort reigning with Christ. Gog and Magog gather theÌ„ to battayle and are ouercoÌ„men The dead after that ariseth and receiueth iudgement In the xxi Chapter is the church of the chosen or the new Hierusalem prepared to to hir spouse That citie commeth downe from heauen and is of the holy ghoste here after most wonderfull circumstaunces in hir right proportion described In the xxii Chapter the riuer of lyuinge waters proceedeth from the throne of God Iohn sealeth vp the sayinges of this prophecy Christ concludeth what his kingdome is and who shall be therevnto receyued admonishyng that vnto his worde nothing be added of men in payne of dampnation Some hatefull and vngodly blasphemers there are and euer hath bene whiche wyll in no wise this Booke to be of equall authorytie with the other scriptures of christes testament But damnably wretched 〈◊〉 are they in the vaine imaginations of their sinful hâ—rts The most high Theologye and secret wisdome of God the eternall father is the blessed doctrine there of geuen vnto hys onely sonne in our humanytie and after that of him so coÌ„mited vnto Iohn by the holy ghost to be distributed taught by hym to the vniuersal christen coÌ„gregation which is a most sufficient argument of the authoritie therof what so euer mad Momus shall quarrell to the contrary Iames Faber Stapulensis in his preface prefixed to the woorkes of Dionise the Ariopagyt doubted neuer a deale to prefer this heauenly prophesie to all the other writings of the other Apostles confessing that in worthines it farre passed them all the due circumstances there of considered The more nigher saith he the light be to the sun the more strength it hath and the more clernesse it ministreth vnto men But Momus hath not yet done away the madde mistes of his monkery nor yet the darke dregges of his sophistry which both are great blemyshing vneo his eye sight The wisdom of Plato Homerus Cicero auaileth nothing in this Aristotle Uirgil if thei were aliue could herein do little or nothing In estimably more maketh the poore fishers learning to the vnderstanding of these misteryes theÌ„ the prowd painted eloquence or far set resoÌ„s of the philosophers The Lord geue vs grace from the barne of his most plentuous scriptures to fetche the fat feedyng of our feble hungry soules that we may by theÌ„ obtayne his strength into the lyfe euerlasting The third part of the Image of both chruches after the most wonderfull heauenly reuelacion of saint Iohn the Euangeliste Compiled by Ihhn Bale The xviij Chapter VNder the title of Babilon is here in this chapter folowing described the feareful iudgment of the malignant church with the ruinous fal of Antichrist and his kingdom prefigured afore in Esay and Hiremye THE TEXT 1 And after that I savve an other angell 2 Com dovvne froÌ„ heauen 3. hauing great povver 4. And the earth vvas lightned vvith his brightnes 5 And he cried mightely vvith a strong voyce saying 6. She is falen she is fallen 7 Euen greate Babilon 8. And is become the habitacion of Deuils 9. And the holde of al foule spirites 10. And a cage of all vnclene and hatefull birdes 11. For all nacions haue dronk of the vvine 12. of the vvrath of hyr vvhordom 13. And the kinges of the earthe haue commited fornicacioÌ„ vvith hyr 14. And hyr marchauntes are vvaxen ryche 15. of the abundance of hir pleasurs The Commentarie 1 After these manifolde visions sayeth S. Iohn was I yet ware of an other aungel or heauenly messenger of the Lord coÌ„myng downe from heauen whnch is the habitacle of God For from aboue al goodenesse coÌ„meth This Aungell betokeneth the faythfull preachers of our age and is all one wiih the Angel that had the seale of the liuing God in the vii Chapter wyth him that was clothed with a cloude in the x Chapter and with him thai procllamed the fal of Babylon in the .xiiii. chapter 2 In that he is sayd here to come downe from heauen is signified that they are sente 〈◊〉 God hauing great power with constaunt feruentnesse of spyrit strongelye to declare hys wil to the vtter destruction of the whore For like as the father hath lyf in hym selfe so hath his sonne Iesus and â—o hath in hym his Godlye ministers 3 His power is an euerlasting power retayninge both lyfe and death 4 With the brightnes not of this angell which was but a messeÌ„ger but of the power that was geuen vnto him was the vniuersal earth abundantlye lightned Full is all the world of the glory of God where as his word 〈…〉 his verity is once spred by yâ— true Godly prechers 5 In this strong power crâ—ed he mightâ—ly in this clere light was his earnest voice herd vttering this sentence to the world 6 She is falen clean down that was so proud she is turned ouer that was so glorious an whore yea euen the great BabiloÌ„ hyr self or blasphemous church of the Hipocrites 7 By the iudgement of God is â—he brought to vtter confusion Firste haâ— she a â—al by the death of Christ when the prince of this world was throweÌ„ forth Mark the distruction of Hierusalem wher the church of the Iews dyd cease the material temple of SalamoÌ„ and clearelye ouerthrowen not one stone vpon an other remayning Now shall she haue an other much worse by the playne â—â—nifestation of hys word to the comfort of all his elects And both are of one certenty though the one he paâ—te and the other yet to come Confer with this place the ouerthrowe of the monasteries in England Denmarke the free cities of Germany certaine other regions thinke that more sorowes are yet comming 8 These are the causes of hyr fall and occasions of hyr ruyne before the Lord. She is become the filthy habitacion of deuils much more than before hir first faâ—l for now they enter in by heaps yea seuen for â—n afore 9 Now is she the stinking hold of all vnclene spirites For ther haue al the kinds of Idolatry their earnest maintenance by hir spiritual occupiers the bishops priestes and religious There regneth Simony Sacrilege Usury fraud ambition mallice glotony auaryce pryde filthynes all mischiefes beysde 10 Now is she the corrupt cage of all vnclene fowles and â—atefull byrdes For in hyr dwelleth the aduouterous Cardinals the buggery bishops the prostibulous prelates and pristes the Gomorreane monks chanons friers and nonnes an
therefore I passe it ouer here Onely haue I rehearsed their names as I could doe yet many more to put â—ée in remembraunce that God hath alwayes had some in the world which hath not in all poynts coÌ„sented to their blasphemies though they haue not had the lyght of this trueth so open as wée haue it now Many godly Emperours and CouÌ„seilâ— general haue attemted this reformacion in the church but euermore haue they fouÌ„d vngodly princes against theÌ„ to houlde the Antichristes stil in their wickednes Yet doubt I not but Pharao with his hoast shall perishe in the sea and the proud Iewishe priestes in the cittie for theyr manyfolde blasphemyes at the tyme now appointed of the Lord. 5 For the sinnes of this whore or abhominacions without number of the false religion hyr stinkeing Idolatry and slaughter of InnoceÌ„ts are gone vp vnto heauen against hyr requiring the great vengeaÌ„ce of God The filthines of theÌ„ hath moued him to wrath and kinled his displesure towards hir putting hym in rememberaunce of his eternal decrée coÌ„cerning hir destructyon The greatnes of hir mischiefs hath touched heauen and hath axed with Sodome and Gomor the fearfull plages threatned hyr 6 And the merciful Lorde beholding the affliction of his people pittying their miserable thraldoÌ„ in the spiritual Egipt hath coÌ„sidered hir vngodly behauiour wayed hir wilfull wretchednesse and measured hir vnmerciful murther coÌ„maunding his appointed ministers to execute vpoÌ„ hir his iudgmentes without mercy 7 Rewarde hir nowe saith he in euery coÌ„dicioÌ„ as she hath rewarded you afore Measure agayne vnto hir lyke as she hath measured to you nowe that ye haue the iudgement seates Crye out vpon hir as she hath cried out vpon you Snare hir as she hath snared you Destroy hir as she hath destroyed you As she hath taken vengeaunce of you so take you vengeaunce againâ— of hir Lyke as she hath afflicted you Iudgeâ— you and condemned you by the lawes of meÌ„ so scurge you hir againe iudge hir an harlot and condemne hir to hell by the mightie worde of God 8 Sée that you giue hir two folde in punishment according to hir wicked deseruings Where as she hath taken from you no more but the life of the bodie take you away from hir againe the lyfe both of bodie and soule 9 Into the same bitter cuppe of sorowâ— that she hath filled vnto you in hir mallice powre you in double again to hir Where as she hath geuen you a temporal death giue hir the death euerlasting doubling vnto hir both the griefes and continuance of them 10 Yea consider how greatly she hath glorified hir selfe against God in blasphemous errours in pride in pleasures and in wanton liuing 11 And so muche let hir tast of moste terrible punishmentes sorowfull plages waylinges gnashinges of téeth An holy priesthod hath she pretended a regal dignitie hath she vsurped and both those powers moste shamefully hath she so abused therefore let hir haue the penalties dew vnto such presumption Take from hir hir plesauÌ„t Euphrates with the spoyles and profites wherein she hath inordinatlye delighted and throwe hir into mostâ— depe wretchednesse here besides that shal follow in an other worlde THE TEXTE 1 For she sayth in hir hart 2. I sitte beyng a queene 3. am no widovv 4. and shal see no sorovv 5. Therefor shal hir plages coâ— at on day 6. death and sorovv and honger 7. And she shal be brent with fyre 8. For stronâ— is the Lord God 9. vvhich shall iudge hyr The commentary 1 For hyghlye shée standeth in hyr owne conseit as yet boasting hyr selfe to be the great goodnesse of the earth 2 I sit here in wealth and pleasure saith she being a glorious quéene yea the holy church hir self hauing authoryty in heauen in earth and in hel with power to lose and bynd saue damne With me is it not as with them that are not of this world or haue no dwelling place here for all is at my wyll and pleasure 3 I am no desolate widow The powers of this world standeth by me The mighty princes and potentates defendeth me with the death of innocente peple Neuer was Nero Domicianus Traianus nor Marencius with other cruel tirrauntes more sure vpon my side in defence of supersticions than they are yet still to this houre 4 Therefore I can take no seathe nor yet féele of any sorrowe I shal be lady for euer Neuer shall my seate be remoued Neuer shall I fall nor any mâ—shappe light vpon me Such are the bold bragges of the papistes that Peters lytle shippe may well be moued with the tempest of heretiques but neuer shall it be ouerthrowen thynking therby the whorish church shal euermore continue and neuer come to naught 5 They coÌ„sider not how stroÌ„g the Lamb is against whoÌ„ they dayly fight And therfore shall the terrible plages which God hath appointed hir to suffer heauily light vpon hir and all in one day 6 At once shall he powre vpon that wicked congregation death sorowe hunger lyke as he did fyre and brimstone vpon the sinfull cyties Perpetually shall they be depriued of the lyfe which is in Christ Iesu. Continuall wéeping and téeth gnashing shall they haue their worme neuer dying Still shal they inwardly famish and neuer with felicitie be satisfied 7 With vnquencheable fire shall this whore be brent with hyr whole generation of hypocrites prepared for the diuil and his Angels 8 Effectual and trwe is the sentence for mightye is the Lorde that shall iudge hir condemne hir by his word 9 Iust is he in his promise true in his sayings gloryous in his works holye terrible and fearefull in his iudgements against the wicked None shall be founde able at that day to restrayne the least part of his purposed vengeance neyther Mary throwyng in hir beades into saint Michaels balaunce Iohn Baptist with his Lamb Peter with his key nor yet Paule with his long sword Though Moyses and Samuell the chosen Prophetes of the Lorde yea with Noe Daniell and pacient Iob should stand before hym at that day yet should they not be haâ—d THE TEXT 1 And the kings of the earth shall be vvepe hyr 2. and vvayle ouer hyr 3. vvhich haue coÌ„mitted fornication 4. and lyued vvantonlye vvith hir 5. vvhan they shall see the smoke of hir burning 6. and shall stand a farre of 7. for feare of hir punishment saying 8. Alas alas that great citie 9. Babilon 10. that mightie citie 11. For at one houre commeth thy iudgement The Commentary 1 Moreouer the carnally mynded kings of the earth sayth the aforesayde Angell which hath for hyr pleasure abused their aucthoritie and power shall take hyr sodayne distruction in thys lyfe very heauily 2 Yea they shall moste sorrowfully bewayle them selues ouer hir as men very ill contented with that ordinance of God They shall be sorie in their heartes that his worde is become so stronge agaynst hyr that they can resist it with
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
smoke saieth sainct Iohn of hir abhominations very noyful vnto the eyes of God weÌ„t vp euermore into his sight prouoking him to eternall vengeaunce A smoke ascended in hys wrath saith Dauid and vpon the fyre procéeded from his mouth which kindled the coles of hir dampnation Thys fyre will be the tirrible sentence giueÌ„ vpon hir in his latter iudgement For neuer ceaseth this blasphemous bloudy church in requiring the vengeaunce of God 2 And the xxiiij Elders saith he by whom are signified the saincts departed as the Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs and other godly witnesses 3 And the iiij beasts also betokening the faithful multitude in the iiij quarters of the worlde yet liuing in this frayle nature fell downe before the face of the Lord. 4 In one godly spirite fayth zeale and feruent loue did both they in their tymes these in this our age submit them selues vnto God referryng alalwayes vnto him all that they euer had eyther in faith or workes as vnto the speciall giuer of them 5 These worshipped in their ages and yet doe to this day not things fantasied of men but the onely euerlastyng God that euermore hath sit vpon the eternall seate of his omnipotency 6 Continually saying Amen Or at his will be all things 7 Saying also Alleluya or euerlasting prayse be giuen to his name of the vniuersall Christian multitude for rightuously iudging the great whore to drinke the bloud that shée hath shed of the holy witnesses of Iesu or to sustain for euer the iust veÌ„geauÌ„ce therof 8 Consequently came there out an excéeding swéet voyce from the eternall throne of God which is Iesus Christ. This is that Gospell of glad tydings which he taught whan he was here liuing among vs being the bodily habitacle of his Godhead 9 This voyce euermore is mouing vs to the onely fayth obedience and feare of the eternall father comprehended in this clause following 10 In all your sayings and dooyngs saith that voyce commende alwayes that Lorde which is both my father both my God your God 11 Specially all you that are his faithfull seruaunts by earnestly louing and following his word 12 You also that vnfaynedly feare to transgresse his lawes and commaundements whither ye be great or smal high or lowe young or olde noble or vnnoble rich or poore strong or weak whole or sicke beautiful or deformed wyse or vnwyse learned or vnlearned none to be excluded froÌ„ his praise so that he be faithfull charitable pacient and godly For in no maner of nacion is any of him forsaken that faithfully feareth him and liueth according vnto rightuousnesse THE TEXT 1 And I heard the voyce of much people 2. euen as the voyce of many vvaters 3. and as the voice of stronge thunderynges 4. saying Alleluya 5. For God omnipotente raygneth 6. Let vs be glad and reioyce 7. and giue honour to him 8. For the maryage of the Lambe is come 9. and hys vvyfe made hyr selfe readye 10. And to hyr vvas grauÌ„ted that she should be araied vvith pure and goodly silke 11. As for the silke it is the rightuousnesse of saintes The Commentary 1 After this saith saint Iohn I herd in mistery the voyce of very much people or of an innumerable multitude of men 2 And it sounded vnto me euen as it had bene the flushing noyse of manye waters 3 And in a maner as the fearful souÌ„d of great thunderings For though the praise of God be all one in the faithful nacions yet is the vtterance thereof diuers like as the languages are also diuers Uery straunge and confuse are the speches one to an other wher they are not knoweÌ„ Tirrible also are they partly for that they comprehend such a magistie as is the glory of God and partly bycause they are for the vtter confusion of the wicked None other was this voyce than were the voyces afore nor to none other ende 4 For loke in what faith the Patryarkes and the fathers the prophetes and Apostles the holy Martyrs and preachers lauded God for victorie ouer theyr enimies in the same doth nowe the faythful multitude of all regions commend hym sayinge Alleluya or praise be euermore in your mouthes 5 For our Lord God almightye is become a victorious conquerour and nowe reygneth ouer all Not onely hath he ouercomen the diuel by the doughtye death of hys sonne but also hys proude kingdome of hipocrysie by the power of his mighty worde 6 Let vs be glad saith this voyce and highly reioyce in our harts for this heuenlye alteration profitable change 7 Let vs giue thankes to hys omnipotente name that withoute our deseruinges we are brought to so ioyfull a daye 8 For the glorious spousage of the Lambe Iesus Christ is come Nowe that this whore is ouerthrown shal he be ioyned to his vndefiled church which was afore dispersed by diuers afflictions and punishementes 9 His wife which is his congregation hath made hir selfe now ready to hir spouse Not with copes and crosses miters and reliques torches and holy water Not with chapels and chauntries hallowings and sensinges shauinges anointinges with such other beggerye No neyther with workes of supererogation merites of masses nor other dirtye deseruinges of our owne rightuousnes But with a pure christian faith with the true rightuousnes of god which she hath of christ 10 For it foloweth in the texte that to hir it was garnted by the singuler goodnes of God that she should be apparyled beautifully with pure whit silke or with most fine raines 11 None other are these faire pleasant and godly raines after the cleare diffinition of the holy ghost héere but the pure iustificatioÌ„s of the holy saints which haue bene since the beginning wherof they haue bene called rightuous Of their faith in Iesus Christ is this pure garment of innocency clernesse and righteousnesse Through faith was Abraham reputed for rightuous so was Abell Enoche Noe Isaac Iacob and Ioseph Moyses Iosue and Gedeon Samuel Dauid and Helias with the vniuersall number of the saints Prophetes and fathers So was Zacharias Simeon Ioseph Iohn Baptist Peter Iames Iohn and Paule Lazarus Lucas Agabus and Sâ—éeuen with all the Apostles martirs and other true beléeuers Through faith saith S. Paule haue the saints ouercoÌ„e kingdoms wroght rightuousnes obtained the promises stopped the mouthes of Lions quenched the vyolence of fyre wyth such like Sence the begynning of the world haue the true and faithfull prepared them selues vnto this heauenlye marriage in the resurrection of the rightuous shall it be perfectly solemnised celebrated and magnified such time as they shal appeare in full glory with Christ. In this latter time wyll the true christian church when all the worlde shall confesse his name in peace be of hir full perfect age and apte vnto this spousage Now shall she in méeknes of spirit appoynt hir selfe to méete hir bridgrome in the ayre for with a glad hart doeth she now here his voyce At that daye
vnto Idols THE TEXT 1 And I savv heauen open 2. And beholde a white horse 3. And he that sate vpon him 4. VVas called faithfull and true 5. And in rightuousnesse did he iudge 6. And make battell 7. His eyes vvere a flama of fyre 8. and on his head vvere many croâ—vnes 9. And he had a name vvritten 10. That no man knevv but him selfe 11. And he vvas clothed vvith a vesture dipt in bloud 12. And his name is called the vvord of God The Commentarye 1 After this sayeth Saint Iohn I saw heauen open Uery euident were the misteries of the Lorde vnto me I perceiued that through fayth méeknesse great knowledge men might haue of the secrets of God Open is heauen euermore when gods word is fréely taught And closed vp it is again when that is layd aparte 2 And behold a pure white horse appeared in this misterye whiche betokneth the true ministers or perfecte preachers of the Apostles doctrine as is mencioned afore in the sixt chapter hereof the godly nature of these is as is specified in Paule to carry the gloryous veritie of the Lorde the worlde ouer and to publishe it before the gouernours and peoples of the nations 3 He that sate vpon this white horse or assisted these preachers by his spyrite was the eternall sonne of God whiche hath euermore bene called in the scriptures faithful of hys promise and true of his worde Rightuous is Lorde saith Dauid in all his waies sure of his sayings perfect in all his workes 4 None other thing could he teache but the veritie which was the veryty it selfe nor yet they whiche had hys godly spirit 5 Accordinge to true equitie hath he iudged in vtterly condemning by his word the proude sinagog of sathan in exalting againe his owne méeke spirited church 6 First in his owne person as a mightie warriour did he battayle with the Diuell and by his death oâ—ercame him Now by his faithfull preachers doth he rightuouslye ouerturne his kingdome by vertue of the same graciously sending them forth in this latter age vnder the â—ipe of this white horse For horses of lustty courage are his faithfull seruantes after Abacuk Yea and whiter are they then eyther snow or milk by theyr true beléefe after Ieremy I sayth the Lord which am the word of rightuousnesse do valianaly battaile to saue you For none other purpose fighteth he but to the intent to preserue his elects 7 The eyes of this horseman were as the pure flame of fire effectuall mighty and cleare And these are not onely his godly vnderstanding knowledge wherby he perceiueth decerneth and iudgeth clearly al thinges but also the vniuersal graces of the holy ghost Upon one sure stone saith Zachary whoÌ„ Paule calleth Christ shall be seauen eyes which are the seauen spirits of god With these eyes lightneth he the herts of godly men and kindleth their mindes to the true loue of God Hys worde is a lanterne to their féete a light to their pathes Pure is his commandement geuing clearnesse to the sight Open thou mine eies lord saith Dauid then shal I wel perceiue the wonderfull misteries of thy doctrine 8 Upon his head saith S. Iohn were also many beautifull crownes like as were before in figure vpon the heade of Iosedech the high priest in token yâ— christ is the high king ouer al worlds regions and ages For he is the Lord of hostes the eternall king of glorye he was constitute a principall gouernour our Sion the holy hyl of the lord He geueth prosperitie to kings and hath their victori in his hands In him as in their head haue all his elect meÌ„bers their crowns Both with mercy shal he crowne them and also with longe kindenesse For Peter hath he laid vp a crowne of incorruptible glorye for Iohn a crown of lif for Paul a crown of rightuousnes so forth For the whole conflict victori and triumphe of the saints is of him alone 9 He had a special name written or eternally of god his father appointed whose excellent maiestie no creature vnderstanding was able of his owne industry to comprehende Omnipotent was this name maruelous honorable holy and terrible Adonay Emanuel a name of saluation a name aboue al names Yea the Lord was his name or the Lord our rightuous maker 10 No man knoweth this name saue he him selfe onely and they to whom he hath shewed it Neyther fleshe nor bloâ—d gentill nor Iewe hipocryte nor false christian hath rightlâ— knowdn it No though they haue said lord lord For none caÌ„ say ioyntly that Iesus is the lord but in the holi ghost which openeth al godly veritie In this name is registred the elect number of gods adoptiue childreÌ„ whoÌ„ the world doth not know for hys nor neuer wil do 11 And this lord was beutifully adorned with a vesture faire comely but it was al dipt in blood soÌ„ haue takeÌ„ this garmeÌ„t for his rightuousnes wherin hath appeared all auengementes ouer his enimies Som haue supposed it to be his churche all bloudy in his martires and constant witnesses But vpon their side am I which haue takeÌ„ it for his flesh for that did he on as a vesture So sore hath that vesture ben stryped and so gréeuoâ—slye-wounded that from the sole of the foote to the ouermost part of the head was no whole place in it This mighty capitayne is he which came from Edom and Bosra his clothes be sprinkled with red His apparell is all spotted much lyke vnto his raiment that treadeth in the wine presse For his mortall nature suffered most paynefull death Alone trâ—de he downe the wine presse in thâ—se dayes had no maÌ„ to help him Alone was he wounded for our offences alone were our punishmentes laid vpoÌ„ him with whose strips we ar now heled 12 And his name saith s. Iohn besids that is spoken afore is the eternal word of god He is called the word which was in the beginning which god which furnished the heuens aboue which ordered al thiÌ„gs beneth now last of al toke flesh restoring lightning quickning heling sauing all them that truly beleueth in him THE TEXT 1 And the warriours vvhich were in heaueÌ„ 2. follovved him 3. vpon vvhyte horses 4. clothed vvith vvhite and pure silke 5. and out of his mouth vvent a sharpe svverd 6. that vvith it he should smite the HeatheÌ„ 7. And he shal rule them vvith a rodde of yron 8. and hee trode the vvine fat of the fiercenesse 9. of the vvrath of almightie God 10. And hath on his vesture 11. and on his thigh a name vvritten 12. king of all kings 13. Lord of all Lords The commentary 1 The valiaunt warryours or constant ministers which were in heauen or in the holy housholde of faith dyd follow him in a comely order vpoÌ„ faire white horses 2 Accordyng to his scriptures dyd they lead their conuersation After the rules of hys godly discipline dyd they liue
They fashioned thē selues to the example that was shewed thē in the mount 3 None other are these horses then their corruptible bodyes prepared to battail They which are of Christ doth mortifie the vices and lustes of theyr flesh they tame their carnall affectiōs Like perfect men they brydle their bodies to the obedience of the spirite So to become the true seruantes of rightuousnesse and no more to do seruice vnto sin White are these horses for the pure word of the Lord which gouerneth thē No meruaile though these myghtie souldyers foloweth the Lord cōsidering he is so oft in the scriptures called the lord of hosts A like similitude dyd the seruant of Helizens the Prophet behold in a vision throug Gods permission in Dotham 4 This army of the Lord here were appareled preciously with pure white silk or fine raynes betokening the pure innocensy which they haue in Christe theyr general captain Not carnal is this armour but euermore spirituall after the doctrine of S. Paule Though we walke in the flesh saith he yet do we not fight after a fleshly maner For the weapons of our warre are not carnal things but things mighty in God Bewtifull fayre is my welbeloued saith the eternall Salomon for hys soule pleaseth his Lord and is loued agayn of him His fauour his mercy is vpon his holy ones he hath a louing respect vnto his chosen number A notable singe of victory in the faithfull are also these white horses vestures for afore they ar called iustificacions of the saintes 5 And out of his Godly mouth sayth the Text proceded forth a two edged swerd which is the fearce iudgement of his mighty word By this effectual swerd are the faithfull beleuers woūded vnto life and the vnbeleuers to the death of dampnacion For vnto some it is the sauour of life and vnto some againe the sauour of death vnto death By this swerd also shal the dead braūches be cut from the vine and the corrupted members from the whole body The gotes shal be deuided from the lambes and the euil from the rightuous Oh how sharp fierce and tirrible wil this sentence of the lords indignaciō be at that day Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre Yet shall it be vnto the faithful a perpetuall power victory triumphe ouer their enymies 6 Ouer besides all this goeth that swerd frō his eternal mouth to the intēt he should therw t correct their Heathē or reform◠thē of their heathinish life So that if they wil not at the wholsome admonishmēts of his word repent and amend their olde conuersacion that than they should be condemned by the same for their wilful contempt If men wil not turne saith Dauid he shall whet his swerde against them He wil sharpen it as the lightening and aquite his enymies their wickedmes 7 This mighty Lord shal rule them with a strong rodde of yron which is the inuincible veritie This is the rod of right order the septure of the kingdome and the wand of power whom the Lord sent frō Sion to haue sway among our enymies So strong is this septure that it wil not bowe No place wil it geue to the contrary parte If they will not therewith be ordred he shall breke them in peces as the potter doth his pot in such maner as they neuer shal recouer agayne 8 The winefat of the great fiercenesse and sore displeasur of almighty God shal he tred downe with power More greuously shal they be opressed at this latter comming by his set sētence thā they wer afore at Hierusalē by Uespasianus and Titus The vineyarde of the Lord of hostes was the house of Israell This brought he out of Egipt by strong hande Thereof looked hée to haue had grapes and it brought hym foorth bryers and thistles Their vines were as the wilde vines of Sodome Bitter were their grapes as the poyson of Dragons and as the cruel gaul of Adders Therfore will he break the hedge and throw downe the wal that it may be troden vnder foote 9 Great anguishe shall bée vpon the earth in his fury and wrath vpō that people in his anger They shall fall on the edge of the swerd and be dispersed Both here shall they haue griefe and also in the world to come 10 This victorious horse man hath vpon his white vesture besprinckeled with bloud which is his innocent māhood crucified 11 And vpō his tender thigh whom some call his churche some his scriptures as flesh of his fleshe or spirite of his spirite this name of magnificence written 12 In both of them is it manifestlye expressed that he is both king of kinges and also Lorde of Lordes the great guide of right gouernours and that monarke of godly magistrates By kings is his generation discribed of Mathew in the posteritie of Dauid and of Luke by faithfull fathers vnto Adam which had the first promise of health Both doth the godly actes of his natural māhood and also the holy spirite whom he left here to the comfort of all true beléeuers declare that he is the eternall attourney of God his Apostles true seruaunts affyrming the same And these are his garmente and thigh By hys death is our nakednesse couered which are his misticall members Of his spirite is our strength which are the generation séeking the Lord of Iacob 13 Both hath he giuen hym of God the high seat of Dauid his father and also the vniuersall power in heauen and in earth as he by whom all things were first created For his power is an euerlasting power and his kingdome such as shall neuer perishe And all this is comprehended in that he is called the sonne of the highest and in that he alone hath immortalitie inhabyting the light that no man can attayne to whom be honour and euerlasting empire Amen In this vesture and thigh are his titles written as to hys onely behou e that no man shuld of presumption vsurpe them neither by supremite nor vycarage his church and posteritie acknowledging the same euermore THE TEXT 1 And I savve an Angell 2. stande in the sunne 3. and he cryed vvith a loude voyce 4. saying to all soules that flye by the middest vnder the heauen 5. Come and gather your selues togither 6. vnto the supper of the great God 7. that ye may eate the fleshe of kynges 8. of high captaine 9. the flesh of mightie men 10. and the flesh of horses 11. and of them that sit on them 12. and the flesh of all free men bondmen 13. both of small and great The Commentary 1 After this reuelation I sawe saith sainct Iohn a beautifull Angell betokening not onely the Apostles but all other faithfull ministers in the word els hauing the Apostles spirite 2 In the sunne stedfastly stoode thys Angell which signifieth Christ that cleare sunne of rightuousnesse the bright morning star in the middest of the cloude the expresse Image of God substance of his
vision of the serpent I behelde saith S. Iohn seates prepared without number I saw the harts of faithfull beléeuers which are the seats of wisdoÌ„e after Stlomon bewtifully garnished with vertues by the preaching of thou Apostles other godly techers Uery peaceable quietus were these seats For thogh they had in the worlde on euery syde tribulation yet had they their contciences quieted in Christ. They considered themselues partakers of the heauenly calling and reioyced in hope of the glory of gods children 2 Upon these seates sate they which are afore called that people whome Sathan should no more deceine They setled them selues in the wisdome the god loueth They grouÌ„ded theyr dwelling with discreation in his vnderstanding and knowledge Fast dyd they cleaue to his louinge worde And for none aduersitie woulde they moue theyr foote from the hard rock whiche is Christ. Thus sate his people in the beautifull seates of peace after Esay in the tabernacles of trust and in a most plentuous rest the deceuers and mockers put aparte 3 And as they were thus quieted the iudgemente or true vnderstandyng of the Lordes verytie was giuen vnto them Their sences were opened and great knowledge had they in the scriptures The figures and prophesies that were hyd to other were manifeste and open vnto them The Dark vale was remoued from Moyses face and the light of the laws appeared They coulde then decerne good from euill light from darknesse and swéete from sower The yoke was then taken from them no longer were they subiecte to straungers Dead men perceiued the secrets of the Booke The eyes of the blinde might sée without mist of darknesse They whiche afore tyme were of an erronious spirite had than the ryght vnderstanding and were learned in the lawe In their inward partes was the knowledge thereof planted of the Lord and the truth written in theyr hartes he becomming their God they his people Bycause we should not seperate the dead from the quicke or the departed from the liuing and so iudge them dyuers coÌ„sidering they both are of one God and liue by one spirite being of one hope and calling The holy ghost doeth here couple them togither as shéepe of one pasture féeding all of one spirituall meate and drinkyng of one spirituall rock accompanying theÌ„ and as members of one misticall body of Christ in thys present reuelation 4 I also sayeth saint Iohn behelde in this secrets mysterie of the spirite the innocent soules of godly men and women that were beheaded of cruell tyrauntes for the faithfull testimony of Iesu and the constante assercyon of the true word of the Lord God I perceyued by the scriptures that his true harted witnesses remained not in deth with the wicked but passed throughâ— with the rightuous from the death vnto lyfe had the lyfe euerlasting They are not forgotten wyth the vngodly but they nowe followe the lambe and dwell where as he dwellethe Else would Paule neuer so ernestlye haue desired to be dissolued froÌ„ this fleshe and so to be wyth Christ. 5 Not onely is this here spoken of them that wer beheadded and of none other else thoughte it séemeth so in the letter but of all them that hath dyed for the veritie For than should Esaye Ieremye Ezechiell Amos Micheas Zacharye Steuen and Iames the lesse with all those that hath bene burned strangled quartred drowned stoned crucyfied spytted racked â—layed boyled stycked shot throughe wyth arrowes and that hath suffrid all other terrible tormentes be rekened to be none of that number Beheaddyng is here taken for depriuacion of lyfe lyke as the heade is in scripture taken sometyme for the soule sometyme for the whole man 6 For standing by Christes veritie confessinge hym God and man dyd they loose their liues which was in the end no losse vnto them but a profitable winning For vnto such remaineth the crowne of lyfe the delyghtes of Paradise and a seate wyth god 7 These worshipped not the beastlye Antichrist the verye body of Sathan They bowed not downe nor yet gaue them selues to such wycked tradicions as that carnall generacion made for their beasty bellyes sake 8 Neyther reuerenced they thys prodigious Image or such vngodly princes and magistrates as their trewe offyce set a parte dyd counterfet hym in crueltie and diuelishnesse But they rightlye considered with the faithfull Machabées and apostles that in such case it was much better to obey God than men 9 Neither had they in their lyfe time taken the printe of his filthie seale vpon their foreheades professinge in their inwarde consciences those diabolicall rules 10 Nor yet on their handes agréeyng to vse them in the outward conuersacion of their bodyes No yoke woulde they drawe with the infidels thinking that Christ coulde haue no agréement with Beliall For through faith they perceyued as he that is of the spirite discerneth all things that though they séemed glorious in the face of the world yet were they before God abhominable sacriledge DiligeÌ„tly they searched the scriptures and beleued not all spirites but first proued them whither they were of God or naye By that knewe they that the homage of soule ought to be giuen to none other than to one liuing God alone and that none other preceptes of liuing were to bée followed of them than Christ their sauiour had taught All other traditions of meÌ„ tooke they for strauÌ„ge doctrine for crafti colors of diuilish deceitfulnes 11 Therfore whaÌ„ they were thought of the wicked to be dead they liued in all swéetnes of the spirit in desire of his latter commyng which shall bée to theyr double glory 12 And they reygned with Christ the pastour high bishop of their soules not onely here were as they suffred wyth hym for a thousand yeres space but also aboue where as he sitteth on the right hand of gods maiestie seat thousand wythout end Than raigneth the godly numbre most of all whan they seme to the wicked least of all to reigne as whan they suffer persecution and death for Christ. For after none other sort reigneth hys churche here thaÌ„ he reigned afore them whose tryumphe was greatest vpon the crosse 13 The thousand yeares of the reigne of the godly stretcheth here no farder than the thousande years of the fall of the vngodly Christes yeares also deducted which is the head of his congregation For as the one kyngdome decreased the other alwayes increased very fewe Christian martyrs are constaunt witnesses perceiued froÌ„ thence forth For as it appeareth by the historye many were abiured and recaÌ„ted which was not séene in the former age and all in a maner a small number of the poore except vtterly renouÌ„ced the veritye for the cruell behauior of the Antichristes In these ii sortes afore rehersed of them that sate vpon the seates and of them that were beheadded for the testymony of Iesu is it to be marked that all were not martyrs whome God alowed for his in the prymatiue churche but that
the Princes of the earth 8 Whose excéeding number saith saynct Iohn is as the drye sande that hath bene bast vp wyth the sea which can in no wyse be numbred In thys full well maye it be â—onsidred what a small thynge Christes flocke was in comparison of these souldiours of Gog and Magog after sathans going forth for the tyme of their battayle Innumerable were the sectes of the Pope with those that they brought to that false fayth and obedience And so were the Prophetes of Mahomete with the peruerted mulytude Theyr power was great for the tyme and their malice vengeable yet were they as sande drye and vnfruitefull 9 They rose vp in pryde ryches and ryalty and alwaies went ouer where as they sée the earth made playne and smoth and that in euery lande compasse Their generall iourney was all the worlde ouer towardes them that were poore in spirite or whose lâ—stes were mortified from the worldeâ— Consider them for an example whom they haue cruelly burned and slaine where as they perceiued their croked custoÌ„es throwen doune and the streight rule of Gods worde faythfullye receyued there persecuted they moste â—ierâ—â—sy there weâ—ed they furious and mayde sparing neyther swerde fyre gybbet nor other torment such heretykes as woulde not beleue as holy church commaunded Thys hath bene theyr order for the tyme of Sathans lybertie And this haue they taken for an hygh poynt of Christan religion For thys is that houre that Christ prophecyed of wherein men shold think to do vnto god gret good seruice whaÌ„ thei put one of his vnto deth 11 Thus haue they wyth all prodigious tyranny compassed the derely beloued Citie of God or the holy coÌ„gregaton for whom Christ dyed vtterly to ouerthrowe it By all maner of craftes and diuelyshe circumuentioÌ„s haue they gone about at that tyme as they woulde doe yet styll to destroye that samll remnaunte or church of the Lord builded without materiall stone morter yâ— swéete spouse of his with out spot or wrincle Not onely sought they in the enterprise to bring to naught the particular coÌ„gregatioÌ„s but for as much as lay in theÌ„ the vniuersal church of god thaÌ„ liuing Blessed be our lorde god though it hath ben since the loosing of sathaÌ„ but a pore wretched neglected thing of no reputatioÌ„ before the world yet hath it bene alwayes before hym a beloued Cytie and hath defended it so mightely that nothing hath peryshed of it No not one heire of theyr heades What the Turke wyth Mahomets host hath done for hys parte in Egipt Gréece Palestyne Hierusalem Bulgary in the borders of Italy Spayne at the Rhodes in the kingdom of HuÌ„garye Ludouirus the king there rufully slaine nowe last of all against the citie of UyeÌ„ I thinke it is knoweÌ„ vnto all meÌ„ We may se by that is here writteÌ„ of these two enimies Gog Magog the daily experiments confirming the same that they are farre aboue vs in number and power being as the saÌ„des in the sea Most vainely are we occupied if we assertaine our selues to haue the victorye ouer them by any other way than the Lorde hath appoynted Let vs pray therefore vnto the Lorde for grace and than amende our liues and the plage shall cease Onely hath he promysed to destroy them all wyth the breath of his mouth and wyth no bodely armoure nor strength of men as here after foloweth Let vs in the meane tyme giue our selues vnto feruent prayer to compassion of our brethern to dedes of charytie pitty to abstinence from synne and to the forsaking of our owne desires For sure we are that he shall shorten their dayes of mischiefe for his electes sake 12 In the processe folowing must we take for the tyme past the tyme to come for the clere declaration of the mistery considering euer more the vsage of the scriptures for tymes Whan these enimies Gog and Magog shal be at the hyghest in their vengeable enterprises agaynst the elect Citie or peaceable congregation of Christ a consumyng fyre sayth Saint Iohn which is the eternal worde of the Lorde shall come downe fréelye out of heauen from the mouth of the great omnipotent God 13 As a fearefull lyghtninge shall it fall vpoÌ„ theÌ„ and as terrible fyre shall it deuoure them lyke as the materyall fyre did eate vp Sodome and Gomorre rebellions in the desert the enimyes that sought Helias The fyre that is kindled in the wrath of God shall burne vnto the bottome of hel coÌ„sume vp those terrible termagauntes 14 That worde of the lordes indignation shall with great violeÌ„ce throwe the diuel that wiâ—y serpeÌ„t which deceiued gog Mogog with their innumerable souldyours into a foule stynking lake or boyling pit of wylde fyre brimstoÌ„ 15 Upon the wicked saith Dauid shall the lorde rayne snars Wyld fyre brimstone with tirrible storme teÌ„peste shall they haue to rewarde for theyr etarnall punishment Herein are to be marked considered both the intollerable greuousnesse of the paines also the euerlasting continuaunce of them 16 In the same place of intollerable torment were the beastly generatioÌ„s of Antechrist al their scholemaisters of hipocrites doctrine Or eternallye of god were they therevnto appointed as the vngodly communaltie wyth theyr capitaine and as the bodye and members with their wicked heade for all readie is it done by his worde but thaÌ„ shall it folow in effect wheras they shal be as the Lord hath appoynted most sharpely afflicted with vnspeakeable tormentes both day and night without pause or ceasing for euer and euer without ende 17 Neuer shall their fyre be quenched sayth Esaie noâ— yet theyr gnawinge worme be taken from them For all maner of griefes wherwith God vexed the wicked may this fyre here be taken after the scriptures For as witnesseth saint Augustine in his xx booke and xii chapter De ciuitate Dei not onely is this punishmeÌ„t to be referred to the latter iudgement but alo to the extermination of Antichristes hâ—st by the worde of God the worlde ouer Be the Gospell once purely taught amoÌ„g men it will condemne all that they haue done vpon their owne presumption without the grounde of Gods veritie be it ceremony or Sacramente priesthode or sacryfice reseruinge the deceiuers to his most fearefull iudgement THE TEXT 1 And I savve a great vvhite seate 2. him that satte on it 3. from vvhose face fled avvay both the earth heaueÌ„ 4. theyr places was no more founde 5. And I sawe the dead both great and small 6. stand before God 7. And the bookes were opened 8. And an other boke vvas opened 9 vvhych is the booke of lyfe 10. And the dead vvere iudged of those thinges 11. vvhyche vvere vvrytten in the bookes according to theyr deedes 12. And the sea gaue vp hir dead 13. vvhych vvere in hir 14. And death 15. and hell delyuered vp the dead 16. vvhiche vvere in them 17. and they vvere iudged euery man
according to hys deades 18. And death 19 and hell vvere cast 20. into the lake of fyre 21. This is the second death 22. And vvhosoeuer vvas not found vvritteÌ„ in the booke of lyfe 23. vvas caste into the lake of fyre The commentary 1 A none after this I behelde saith Saynt Iohan in secrete mysterye an imperiall throne or seat of estate faire splendaunte and bewtyfull None other is this than the iudgement seate of the Lorde 2 Great it is for the Maiestie and power of hym that shall syt therevpoÌ„ is of inestimable magnificence greatnesse Fayre and whyte both for the celestyall cléerenesse that shall at that houre apere with hym and also for the purenesse equitie and ryght of his vniuersal iudgementes 3 From the aspect of whose fearefull countenaunce shall both the earth beneath and the other elemeÌ„tes aboue flée awaye All the creatures of his creacion shall wyth reuerence tremble quake at his mighty aperaunce The SuÌ„ne shall thaÌ„ be darkened the Mone shall not giue hir lyght The Starres shall fall downe from aboue the powers of heauen shal be moued The elementes shall melte wyth heate and the whole earth shall teare in péeces lyke a ragge 4 A terryble fyre shall go before the iudge to burne vp hys enimyes on euery syde The places of them that lyued here supersticiously and voluptuously shall no more after that be founde Neuer shall they resort agayne hither to theyr olde wantoÌ„ pleasurs Of their bewtyfull Cyties shall not one stone be lefte vpon an other Their proude paynted Synagoges as duste in the wynde shal be scattred away from the earth Neither shall the skye nor yet the ground beneth be as it was but both they shal be renewed chaunged They shal be deliuered from corruption and so appere both a newe heauen and a newe earth according to the expectation of the creatures 5 Immediatly after that sayth saint Iohn the iudge thus sitting vpoÌ„ the scaâ—e of his eternall Maiestie I sawe styll in mysterye after the blast of the truÌ„pet that all they which were deade arose out of the earth And that both hygh and lowe great and small good and badde King and begger prelate and plough man tirant and perscecuted innocent Yea the sucking babe the died in the cradell so well as the aged maÌ„ 6 All they séemed vnto me to stande before their generall iudge Iesus Christ to whome the euerlasting father had giuen ouer his whole iudgementes which there appeared as hée was in dede a verie omnipotent god All we shall appere sayth Paule before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery one of vs maye receyue according to that he hath done be it good or ill 7 And the bookes of reckennings which are the seuerall consciences of men were open before the iudge That afore was hidde will thaÌ„ be manyfest and that was secret wyll than come to light be disclosed Euident it wil be vnto him who hath fulfilled the commaunded works of mercy who hath left them vndone their owne constences bearing witnesse to the same For what can be hid from him which seeth both the inwarde reynes and the secret thoughtes of the harte In this generall rekening yet shall prayse with the eternall rewarde redowne vnto them from the mercyfull Lorde whose walking here hath bene accordinge vnto fayth There shall they be reproued to haue bene pitiful to the poore hongry thursty nedy naked sicke in prison 8 After this was an other booke opeÌ„ed of a farre diuerse nature froÌ„ the other bokes for it was the swéet boke of lyfe wherin be regestred al that were predestinate to be saued froÌ„ the worlds beginning And this boke is the eternal predestinatioÌ„ of God 9 Before the worlds fouÌ„datioÌ„ saith s. Paule the lord predestinate vs into the addoptioÌ„ of his childreÌ„ through Iesus Christe Of this booke made Moyses mencion whan he said Eyther pardon thys people or els race me out of thy booke which thou haste written And Christ also to his seuentie disciples Be glad sayth he that your names are written in heauen Moreouer Iosue called this the booke of the ryghtuous and Iohn here the boke with seuen claspes This sheweh the holy ghost here vnto vs much after the custome dayly vsed among vs. For of the most notable men and women our maner is bothe longe to remember the names and also to speake of them as occasion giueth So equall is thys eternall iudge that no personage respecteth he in iudgment neither of Emperours nor Pope Kinge nor Byshope Lorde nor prieste But as he is ryghtuous of himselfe so iudgeth he rightuously 10 For they that were dead sayeth saynt Iohan or that had ledde their lyues here without fayth and the spirite of Christ were iudged of hym there according to the thinges which were regestred in the bokes of their coÌ„scieÌ„ces 11 That is to say according to the fylthy workes wherof their desperat coÌ„ciences accused them Onely are the wicked to be takeÌ„ here for the dead For the rightuous shall thaÌ„ haue nothinge wherof their coÌ„scieÌ„ce may accuse them Neyther shall the euill doers as witnesseth Dauid be of couÌ„sell with theÌ„ at the day They hauing the lyfe euerlasting shall not than be iudged though they than appere but shall sit with Christ in iudgement and reioyce in the condempnation of the vngodly blasphemers The rewarde of their vnfaythfulnesse shall thaÌ„ be powred vpon theÌ„ to their perpetuall care At that daye shall none bée absent but all shal be séene eyther to honour or els to reprofe 12 Neyther shall the depth of the sea nor the darkenesse of death nor yet hell that is bottomelesse bée able to hide any froÌ„ the face of this iudge For the sea sayth saynt Iohn that is myghty and greate shall at that daye delyuer vp cleane hir deade or those whome the Lorde suffered hyr to swallowe in for their outragious sinnes 13 Lyke as were the giauntes in the floude of Noe the great host of Pharao in the red sea and such other more 14 So shall gréedy death doe also which after many strange sortes hath consumed the enimies of God As for an example Cain by a chaunce vnsought Nadah and Abyn by fyre Achan by standing Holofernes Saull by the swerde Naball by excesse of wyne Iesabell by treading of horses Daniels accusers by the lyons Menelaus by breaking his necke Iudas by hanging himselfe Herod by wormes the children of Israell by swerd fyre serpentes and soden death and such other lyke 15 Hell whych is insaciable shall in lyke case render vp the innumerable swarme of the dead whom he wyth open mouth hath swallowed in quicke for their abhominations 16 Of whose number were Chore Dathan and Abiron with their affinitye the Cytyes of Sodome and Gomorre the vncircumcised gyauntes the ryche rourer and the ryche glotton in Luke Symon Magus wyth dyuerse other Hell hath gaped meruelouslye wyde sayeth Esaye and hath rauenouslye deuoured the hygh mynded
any more 22 In hir moreouer shall be no more death for it shall be destroyed for euer No more shal mennes consciences dispayre here But haue ioye in the holy ghost No more shal they die through sinne but lyue vnto God by fayth And there shall no more the rose coloured whore be dronken in the bloud of martyrs Hir tyrauntes shal be closed vp in the stinking lake of fyre from the slaughter of them they than becomming immortall and impossible Moreouer thaÌ„ this he that beléeueth in christ shal neuer die nor yet come into iudgement but passe cleane froÌ„ death vnto lyfe 23 Neyther shall there be any sorow nor crying any more For all maner of displeasure of the bodye as pouertye sicknesse losses emnytie vexacions and yll reportes are here paciently borne of the faythfull And ther shal be founde nothynge to minister any suche occasions Here is neyther age doubted nor yet persecution feared in them that reckeneth death aduantage hauinge in desire wyth Paule to be hence and wyth Christ. Nor yet shal be there where all is in ioye and peace durable for euer 24 Neyther shall there be felt any more payne Such hath bene the constauncye of the martirs here that litle haue the tormentes greued them Eleazarus paciently suffered all punyshmente Steuen reyosed to sée heauen open Andrewe woulde in no case be delyuered from deathe Laurentius offred his brent fleshe to be eaten The burnynge coles were so sweete vnto Tiburcius as the fragraunt roses So desyrous were the terryble tormeÌ„ts vnto Uincent as a moste pleasaunt banket Angelus desired the people in Sicilia to esteme the tyraunt hys frynde What the exceding constauncy was of Iohn Husse and Hieronime of Prage dyuers Chronycles mencyoneth And in our tyme George Baynham in the fyre dyd neuer complayne Ihon Frith neuer shewed him self once greued in countenaunce Barnes neuer moued as hys enymyes doth report Peter Franke in Colchester sang ioyfully to the Lorde The thrée young men of Southfolk reioysed at the death with such other many And how farre they shal be from paines after this the great daye of the Lorde shall declare 25 For the olde thynges are paste sayth the text All that afore was tedious heauy and fearefull to the flesh is nowe become easie light and pleasaunt through that they haue learned of Christ. His word refresheth them in spirit and is a swéet rest vnto their soules And in the regeneration shall hunger thirst werinesse labour heat colde rayne winde thunder earthquakes with all other discommodities be taken cleane from them Neyther shal they haue ther néede of meat nor drinke foode nor rayment beddes nor buildings féeldes nor medowes welspringes nor riuers gardens nor vineyardes The Text. 1 And he that sate vppon the seate sayde 2. Behold I make all thinges nevve 3. And he sayde vnto me 4 Wryte 5. for these vvordes are faythfull and true 6. And he sayde vnto me 7. it is done 8. I am Alpha and Omega 9. the beginning and the ende 10. I will giue to him that is a thirst 11. of the vvel of the vvater of lyfe free 12. He that ouercoÌ„meth shall inherite all thynges 13. I vvill be his God and he shall be my sonne 14 but the fearefull 15. vnbeleuing 16. the abhominable 17. murtherers 18. and vvhoremongers 19. and sorcerets 20. and Idolatrs 21. all lyars 22. shall haue their part in the lake 23. that burneth With fire and brimston 24. vvhich ys the seconde beath The commentary 1 And the omnypotent Lorde whych sate vpon the eternall throne concluded thus with me Hys holy spirite of promise assertayned my spyryte by hys heauenly word that all these thynges should be true 2 Behoulde sayth he I wyll make all thynges freshe and newe Heauen earthe the Sea and the vnyuersall Cytye of peace I wyll delyuer from all corrupcyon I make all pure cleane holy immortall vncorrupt impassible clere heauenly spirituall and glorious Neuer more shall they bee as they were afore whan they were yet olde Neuer shall be more eating nor drinking wyuing nor â—anketing traueling nor sléeping â—or other such doeinges pertayninge to the corruptible lyfe The rightuous shall than shyne as the red fyre sparkes So bright as the sunne shall they be in the kingdome of theyr father 3 Thus hath the Lorde here midsts meruielously described vnto Iohn and by hym vnto vs the misticall Sabboth of his people here the eternal Saboth after this lyfe oÌ„maÌ„ding him to 〈◊〉 it as foloweth Much to fro hath bene amoÌ„g the 〈◊〉 doctours is 〈◊〉 to thâ—â— day whether the saued multiâ—â—â—â— shall reygne here vpon earth 〈◊〉 Christ or aboue in heauen afteâ— the iudgement dayâ— Which is easy to be perceiâ—ed if the scriptures hée truâ—â— conferred Therefore serâ—h dâ—lygently the scriptures for they hearâ— witnesse of all truth Christ hath in Math. the they shal be thaÌ„ as the Angels are nowâ— in heauen whose office is hath to be hâ—re â— there And so muche 〈…〉 the they shal be as thaÌ„ all one 〈◊〉 wâ—ll shall the earth be new as the heauens And nedes it must be to some purpose Neuer woulde Esay Peteâ— haue said the rightuousâ—sse should dwelt in theÌ„ if they shuld not occupy theÌ„ both It is said here also the the new Hierusalem shall come downe froÌ„ heaueÌ„ But not so that it shall not vp againe For Christes electes shal be whereas he is Whan they shal be vpoÌ„ the earth no let nor impedimeÌ„t shal they haue to be also in heaueÌ„ both they being one 〈…〉 agyltie perfectioÌ„ shall be thaÌ„ in their bodies as is now in the glorified body of Christ or in the spirituall nature of the angels Which are nowhere now theâ— And whether they be here or ther alwaies they sée God â— are 〈…〉 absent from him Manye scriptures myght be brought in to declare thâ—â— matâ—er more at large but it wold 〈◊〉 much tyme. What mutuall feloship heauenly amyte glorious pastyme will be betwixt them the angels at that day it fare passeth al capacities to diffine I couÌ„sail 〈◊〉 to be curious in the serch of high misteris â—s this here is one without the feare of God least he ouercoÌ„meÌ„ of their exceding 〈◊〉 whoredom with many kinges by many false worshippinges This for hir méekenesse is commended of God the other proudely boasteth hir 〈◊〉 through holy tradicions merites and deseruinges to bâ—â— a riche quâ—ene With many such other 4 And the Lorde sayth saint Iohn which worketh all thinges by his onely word and commaundement 〈◊〉 thus vnto me Emprente first in thy hart that I haue here sheweâ— theâ— than leaue it in writing to the 〈◊〉 of those that than folow theâ— 5 And if thou wyll kâ—owe a reason why thou shalt thus doe take this 〈◊〉 sentence with thee I assure the so 〈◊〉 as I am God yâ— the wordes which I haue shewed in this present ReuelatioÌ„ are effectually most faithfull and ruste In no manner of
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
docttrine of Christes .xii. Apostles But I am contented with that is sayd afore being more agréeable to the text 10 Such leaues had this wholsome trée as were for the health of the people good necessary and medicinable Such profitable wordes and promyses hath Christ as are spirite and lyfe power of saluation and euerlastinge health These leaues of hys can in no wyse wyther away and whatsoeuer he doth by them it shall wonderfullly prosper He sent forth hys wholsome woorde sayth Dauid and so healed them He delyuered them from all euyls wherewyth they were oppressed As these wordes are sincerely taught the benefightes of our redempcion are brought into remembraunce So is the conscience quyeted and the harte made glad So reioyseth the soule giueth perpetuall thankes vnto God the father Soo are the Gentyles throughlye made whole acknowledgynge Christe for theyr onely sauyour and redéemer 11 Thus after Czechyell are these fruites good to eate and theyr leaues profitable for medicynes As the leaues are the beauty of a trée and preserueth the fruite so is the true preachinge of the Lordes veritie the comelynesse of hys church and preseruacion of the same And not the oylynges shauynges and disguysynges nor yet the Lordeshippes myters and masses A lyght thynge is the worde of god written or spoken as is the leafe also of a trée But if his spirite worketh in it than is it a thyng moste precious effecttuall and stronge compared of Christ to a mustarde séede which grâ—weth into a greate trée Aboue all thinges sayth Zorobabel the veritie is most stronge For that is the Lords eternall will which neuer shal be altred The text 1 And there shal be no more curse 2. but the seate of God and the Lambe shal be in it 3. and hys seruauntes shall serue hym 4 And they shall see hys face 5. his name shal be in their foreheades 6. And there shall be no nyght there 7. and they neede no candell 8. neyther lyght of the Sunne 9. For the Lorde God giueth them lyght 10. and they shall reygne for euermore The Commentary 1 And as concerning the afore named cytie or worthy congregation of the Lorde the curse that the earth had in the worke of Adam shall clerely be taken from it Neuer more froÌ„ henceforth shall therein be any thinge that God is not pleased with For Christ hath redemed hir from the curse of the lawe sustaining thereof the penaltie to make hir innocent So that nowe there is no dampnation to them whych are in Christ Iesu folowing the doctrine of the spirite if painfull aduersitie losse of goodes detriment of fame syckenesse persecution of body or any other troublous crosse happeneth it is euermore for the best to them that are faythfull Perfectlye shall these be taken awaye wyth all the corrupte fruites of Adam in the regeneration whan to theyr glorye both heauen and earth shal be blessed all that is cursed throwen into the lake of euerlasting fyre 2 And for a more sure token that thys will be true the hygh seate of God the eternall father and of the Lambe Iesus Christ wyth the holy Ghost one Lorde almighty in thrée personages shal be contynually there in In the house of Iacob shall hée reygne euermore and of hys kingdoÌ„e shall be none ende Amonge them will he fixe hys dwelling place here which loueth hym and obserueth his coÌ„maundementes and there will he not be seperated from them but be still their eternall God 3 Moreouer as hys true seruauntes here shall they worship hym in spirite and in veritie and so serue hym in a sincere fayth perfourming such Godly workes as he hath prescribed vnto theÌ„ and not such as mens fantasyes hath dreamed They shall so mortyfie their olde man destroying the body of sinne that no longer shall he obeye the concupiscence nor become a captyue seruauÌ„t vnto wickednesse here But nowe delyuered from sinne they shall doe on a newe man which is rightly fashyoned of God and so become his seruauÌ„tes in rightuousnesse And in the world to come they shall serue him according to the knowledge that they shall haue than which now is incomprehensible and vnspeakeable 4 Hauinge the spirite of Christ they shall here sée hys face of saluation in the myrroure of fayth whych is to haue knowledge of hys Godhede And after thys lyfe they shall beholde him in glory lyke as he is in dede much more perfectly than dyd Iacob which sawe hym face to face Moreouer soo shall these hys seruauntes respect his vsage that whatsoeuer they doe here in worde or in dede they shall doe it with all godly feare lowlynesse and reuerence alwayes thinkyng hym to beholde their dedes 5 They shall also perceyue hys gloryous name to be writteÌ„ in their foreheades or regestred in their fayth féelyng the swéetnesse thereof to their saluatioÌ„ Besides yâ— not onely shall they coÌ„fesse God with their mouth but also in their outward coÌ„uersacioÌ„ shal they dayly apere as hys faythfull seruauntes and children And as concernyng the gloryous day by that name than shall one knowe an other to be a frée cytizen of heauen Consyder sayth Saynt Iohn howe louyngly the Father doeth vse vs. Not onely here doo we beare the name of hys chyldren but also there shall we be sure to bée his sonnes in déede 6 No maner of night or darcknesse of humayne doctryne shall appere anye more in that cytie But hauing Christ and his veritie all vnprofitable doubtes fantasies errours lyes and false myracles shall these citizens detest here And after this lyfe are no suche matters to be loked for all things theÌ„ being clere and perfect Though they some time were darkenesse yet are they now lyght in the Lorde and will walke styll therein as the children therof tyll they come to the God of Gods in the euerlasting Syon 7 There shall they haue néede of no candell or of wisdome borowed of meÌ„ 8 Nor yet of the matteryall sun which mynistreth light to the day by whom is ment the high sience of philosophers coÌ„ceiued of the creaturs aboue wtout faith Those foreÌ„ lightes may his ministeres wel vse but truely his church nedeth theÌ„ not hauing much better than they are of christ of his Aposils Uery dark lights are they wher his bright beaÌ„es once apereth which is the clere sunne of rightuousnes Abhominable lyes errours did he proue the high learning of the bishops lawyers as he doth yet their decrées lawes their schoole diuinitie and sentences their ordinarie questions and quodlibetes 9 All these stinking mistes set apart the mercifull Lorde aboue which is the omnypotent God giueth them a light sufficient His eternall sonne is vnto them suche a cleare shyning cresset as no great blast can extinguishe nor cloude with darke shadowe blemishe Of most tender mercy sent hée that day spring from aboue to dyrecte their féete here in the way of his peace 10 And after thys laborous pilgrymage in the sabboth of perpetual
hym doe euill styll 5. and he whych is filthy let him be filthy stil. 6 he that is rightuous let him be more rightuous 7. he that is holy let hym be more holy 8 And beholde I come shortly 9 and my revvarde vvyth me 10. to giue euery man according as his dedes shal be 11 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ende 12. the fyrst and the last The Commentary 1 Consequently the Angell saith S. Iohn which was Iesus Christe had these same sayings vnto me that here foloweth 2 Seale not sayth he the godly words contayned in the prophecy of this booke Close theÌ„ not vp froÌ„ the sight of other Hide them not from those which are desirous of knowledge For profitable they are to the congregation of God and most highly necessary to them that shal be saued For both shewe they throughly the dampnation of the wicked with remedies to auoyde it and also the saluacion of the rightuous with meanes to obtayne it 3 And thys is the cause why thou shalte not close them vp The tyme is at hande The fulfyllyng of theÌ„ wyll shortelye apeare and euideÌ„tly declare what they are in dede In the meane season shall manye of theyr mystieryes bée open vnto them that are taught of God though the vnfaithfull sort knoweth nothyng what they meane They that haue Christes spirite can in no necessary poynte be ignoraunt The cause why manye writers hath erred in expounding this reuelation hath bene the ignoraunce of other scriptures the pleasing of prelates for dignitie and lucre and moste of all the horrible blyndnesse of soule which long hath continued in the world among the fleshly Hypocrites 4 And as concerning those beastlye belly gods let them wallow in theyr mischiefes He that is euil amoÌ„g them or frowarde and obstinate against the veritie of God let him worke euil vpon euill abhomination vpon abhomynation and murther vpon murther til he bring vpon him self the vengeauÌ„ce of all innocent bloud which hath bene shead vpon earth to his more dampnation without remedy 5 Moreouer he that is filthy in hys conuersation be it in the spirite or otherwyse I will take my grace from him for the vtter contempt of my word and he shall be still from thence forth more execrable and filthy He shall doâ— wickednesse vpon wickednesse Idolatry vpon Idolatry and whoredom vpon whoredome Yea where as he was before but an Idolatour in hymselfe he shall become after that an Idolatour also in other by prouokyng theÌ„ to the same to hys double dampnatioÌ„ And wheras he shuld paraduenture in the world haue bene but a single whoremonger he shal be there an holy spirituall anoynted shauen shorne priestly and mitered whoremonger abusing euery mans wyfe doughter and seruaunt And to make vp all to the diuell become a consecrate Sodomyte offering hymselfe vp in dead sacrifices vnto Belphegor for feare of breakynge hys vnuirgynall vowe Farther than all thys he shall enter into such blindnesse of the spirite that he wyll thynke verely to doe God an hygh pleasure whan he murthereth vp without mercy hys innocent people which wyll not obey theyr execrable lawes blessinges absolutioÌ„s and other sorceries for conscience sake Consider in this the terrible and fearefull hand of the Lorde towardes them that withholde hys truth in vnrightuousnesse specially whaÌ„ he hath giueÌ„ theÌ„ ouer left theÌ„ to themselues For they worke their owne dampnation whan they thinke nothing lesse 6 Contrarywyse consider hys excéeding great mercy towardes them that are godly whom he dyuersly afflicteth in hys lyfe least they shoulde peryshe wyth the wycked My pleasure is it sayth he here that the man whych is faythfull rightuous and good shall increase euer more therein and so coÌ„tynually be ryghtuous I shall so temper their hartes that hath loue to my truth that they shall loue it more and more Yea I shall so therin strengthen them that for no persecution of tyrauÌ„tes shall they forsake it 7 So will I order the matter amoÌ„g my electes that he which is holy pure and perfect leading a lyfe accordinge to my worde he shall perseuer in iâ— styll and be perfect vnto the ende that he maye inioye the crowne thereof Neyther shall seducing hypocrite nor yet peruertinge Antichrist wyth all their subtile charmes and ginnes bée able to bringe them out of that way whych leadeth vnto lyfe By this we may se that the veritie preached christ is vnto som a falling vnto some againe a rysing vp Unto som is his godly doctryne a swéet sauour vnto lyfe vnto some an ill sauour vnto death The gospell is folyshnesse to them that shal peryshe but vnto them that beléeue it is such a power of god as bringeth saluation with it The faithful by hearing it waxeth more godly The vndyscrete hypocrites contemneth the grace thereof So that the one sort is thereby made better and increased in vertue the other is made worse and foloweth all mischiefes In him that hath fayth shall all other graces of the spirite habounde and in him that hath it not shall no gift of vertue aryse to hys â—owles profit 8 Let meÌ„ take hede if they wil giue dilygent watch atteÌ„daunce for truly saith the Lorde I will come sodenly and vâ—bewars vpon the vnfaithful none other warningâ— giuen but this such other in the scripturs take theÌ„ if they lust 9 Necessary it is the euery man walke according to hys vocacyon both prince and preacher Lorde and commoner merchande and artificer For when I shall resort be certayne and sure of it my iust rewarde shall come wyth me whych is both lyfe and death 10 Let no maÌ„ reckeÌ„ otherwise to finde me thaÌ„ a most rightuous iudge rendering vnto euery one at the day according as his workes shal apeare as his déedes shal require of rightuousnes Neither shal sufferages nor church buylding pigrimage nor masse riÌ„gin holy orders nor yet assoiling stande in any sted at the day only shal they finde mercy whych hath bene mercifull all other perishing without mercy No man shal there be rewarded for workes of meÌ„s preseciption be they neuer so holy but for that whych hath rysen of fayth in Gods worde onely Neither shall they haue that of deseruinges as worke preachers hath taught but onely of grace fauour for Christes bloud sake For vnprofitable seruauntes are wâ—e of our selues whan we haue done all that hath bene commaunded vs No better is our whole ryghtuousnesse whan it is at the hyghest than is the cloth that is stayned wyth menstrue nor more pleasaunt vnto God were it not for hym Let no man thynke to be saued through deseruing no more than he is iustified of deseruing Onely is it the mercyfull fauour and frée goodnesse of hym without our mangye merytes that shall saue vs. Not our good workes sayth saynt Augustyne but hys owne méere gyftes doth the Lorde crowne in vs. 11 This hath the Lord put here in the ende as a briefe
hypocrites tyrauntes and cruell maiestrates no more perceiue at that day then they now decerne those poore creatures whom they spightfully persecute and kyll to be the true Churche of CHRIST When Helias thought no more true beléeuers but hym selfe left alyue almighty God shewed him of vij thousand more whom he knew not If he were then ignoraunt muche more these fowre Angels of darknesse which now sleyeth vp God seruants as the Iewes dyd Christ. Not for nothing hath god geuen so much knowledge in the Hebrue tongue The Iewes muste be sealed with the worde of veritie They must haue the sure signe of faith They must know and confesse Christ whom god afore promised by the Prophetes that twelue thousand of euery tribe may be sealed vnto saluation For that time must the Antichrists cease Their false interpretations of scripture their wicked traditions their doctrine of deuilles their lies in hypocresie their errours their stinking chastitie whom God and his angels abhorreth and the deuill most highly alloweth with all their other filthynesse they must lay aside Where as afore time they haue immagined other waies of the health and rightuousnesse then by Christe as by infinit sectes of perdition Idol worshiping pardons and other abhominations wtout number they must now be compelled against their wil to resigne them not onely by the manifest truthe but also by those which as yet are enemies both to them and also to the sayde veritie I can not sée it but it worketh euen now as it did in the primatiue churche When the Hethen perceiued the Apostles and Disciples expulsed out of Iewry for the Gospell preachinge for the hate they had to the Iewes they gladly receiued them which was vnto their saluacion though they thought nothinge lesse Not vnlyke is it in this age but that the true prechers and learned men compelled also by tiraunts to decline to the Saracens and Turkes may in lyke maner be accepted of them in spight of the Romishe deuill and his Church and so conuerte them to the true Christen faith whiche they before abhorred Such fauour may they finde amonge them nowe as did Ioseph Daniel Hester Mardocheus Zorababel Nehemias Esâ—ras Tobias and other amonge the infidels then And lyke as the Iewish sinagoge did at that tyme wholly perish for reiecting Gods word and neuer could recouer since so may that false counterfayte churche of Antychrist come to distruction for contempnynge the same and neuer ryse vp agayne Muche is it to be feared yf they stoppe GODS woorde as they haue begunne least that plague fall on them that lyghted vppon the IEWES at the Siege of Hierusalem by the TURKE nowe or by some other worse then he For though they suffer the Byble to be abroade in the mother tongue in BRABAND HOLLANDE FLAUNDERS FRAUNCE SPAYNE ITALYE and other places yet are they styll as they were Angelles of darkenesse Tyrauntes Persecuters Antichristes and Hypocrites forbiddinge the ryght course of it And not withstandinge their violence yet breaketh it foorth so that innumerable people are dayly sealed vnto GOD. THE TEXT 1 After this I behelde and loe a great multitude vvhiche no man coulde number 2. Of all nacions and people and tongues 3. Stoode before the seate 4. And before the Lambe clothed vvith longe vvhite garmentes 5. And palmes in their handes 6. And cryed vvith aloude voyce saying 7. Saluation be ascribed to hym that sytteth vppon the seate of our GOD 8. And vnto the Lambe 9 And all the Aungelles stoode in the compasse of the Seate 10 And of the Elders and of the fovvre Beastes 11 And fell before the Seate on their faces 12. And vvorshipped GOD sayinge Amen 13 Blessynge and glorye and vvisedome and thankes and honoure and povver and might be vnto our God for euermore Amen The Paraphrase 1 After this saith sainct Iohn I behelde an exceeding multitude of the Gentiles or Heathen marked into the felowship of Christe whom no man was able to number 2 These were of all nacions of the earth of al peoples of the world and of all languages vnder heauen Gréekes Latines Hebrues Caldeans Parthyans Medes Elamites Capadocians Asianes Phrigian Egiptianes Arabianes Syrians Affricanes and Indians 3 They stoode all before the imperyall seate of God It was giuen them by the holy ghost to sée him in faith reigning in hys true church and to take hym for theyr mercyfull Lorde and father 4 They stoode also in the presence of the poore Lambe beutifully cloathed with long whyte garmentes They beléeued Christ to be theyr only sauiour and redéemer and were moste highly accepted before hym for that beléeues sake They lyued purely according to his worde did all things of a sincere conscience taking him for their only health and comfort By hym onely they trusted to haue their sinnes forgiuen wherfore they were by him iustified and restored to perfect innocencie 5 Palmes had they in their handes large and beutifull in token of victorie ouer sinne hell death the diuill which they haue through Christ. 6 And they cryed all with a loude voyce In an earnest fayth they made this strong protestacion saying 7 No merite health nor goodnesse be attributed vnto vs nor yet vnto any creature in heauen nor in earth for vs. But all our whole saluacion lyfe and deliuerance be onely ascrybed vnto hym that sitteth vpon the throne of our God reigning by hys spirite not in the false counterfayte church but in the true christian congregacion 8 And vnto the swéete Lambe Iesus Christ which alone dyed for the same For health is onely the Lordes so is the eternall blessyng and neyther of our works nor yet of our good déeds for the best of them are defiled 9 And all the Angelles or ministers of heauen compassed the throne according to their offyce They assisted the true faithfull church which is the seate of God 10 The xxiiij elders they compassed also so dyd they the .iiij. beastes For ministers they are to the saincts departed and seruaunts to them that be yet aliue 11 They fell downe flatte on theyr faces before the throne They méekely acknowledged them selues the creatures of God and seruaunts to hys congregacion 12 And they worshipped not yâ— seate but God which sate on the seat Most highly they magnified him and praysed him for restoring their lost number saying So be it euermore as we shall now desire 13 Euerlastyng prayse and glory perpetuall wisedome and thankes continuall honour and poure wyth might which can not be measured be referred vnto our eternall God of all his creatures for euer and euer yea for all that he hath wrought in them Amen THE TEXT 1 And one of the elders answered saying vnto me 2. What are these which are arayed in long white garmeÌ„ts wheÌ„ce came they 3 and I said vnto hiÌ„ 4. Lord thou vvottest 5. And he sayd vnto me 6 these are they vvhich out of
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