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
haue Gods word Christ wylled all faythfull beléeuers to searche the Scriptures to vnderstand the prophecies and to perceiue the misteries of theÌ„ And for the performance of hys wyll therin he hath sent in this age this peculyer Angell beside the common preachers betokning those singuler lerned meÌ„ whoÌ„ now he hath endueâ— with most high knowledge Of their hands he mâ—ndeth vs to receiue the scriptures and not of the blasing star nor yet of the smoky Locustes Their faithfull sincere and godly interpretacions he willeth vs to take specially in bookes for so much as in person they can in no wyse be euery where present for that it is a booke heere named For by them in these dayes doeth he make open his sauing health and in the sight of all people declareth his rightuousnesse Let theÌ„ therefore whose hartes God moueth to instruct other in the wayes of the Lorde diligently peruse the labours of such whom he hath so plentuously replenished with his spirite But in thus dooing let them not to much depend vpoÌ„ no mans person but proue all things by the scriptures least they fall into errours as other hath done afore for so dooyng Uerye lightly is he deceiued that measureth the veritie by mans iudgements In the search therefore of godly mysteries not the wit nor the learning of the man is to be sought but rather the right meaning of God working in the man 3 This Angell standeth vpon the sea and vpon the lande As well is the true messenger of God for the weak as for the strong for the low as for the high for the poore as for the riche for the simple as for the learned for the sicke as for the whole for the foule as for the fayre Yea and rather for them than the other hauing his right foote vpon the water 4 And I sayeth S. Iohn obeying the voyce of the Lord or the heauenly mocion of his spirit went vnto the Angell and instantly desired hym to giue me that little swéete booke 5 None other is this booke theÌ„ the holy scripture whose openynge is a pure and right interpretation therof This he receiueth open at his hand which diligently readeth or heareth any sincere declaration of it by anye faithfull minister None other is this booke fitte for nor none other retayneth it in this age but meeke Iohns or men of a gentile spirit hauing the grace of God and obeying his heauenly voice For the wicked must euer be blinde Wisdom shall not enter into a froward soule nor dwel in the body that is giuen to sin Iohn went to the Aungell and receyued the booke for hée that will séeke shall fynde 6 For the Angel said vnto him Take it vnto thée eate it vp cleane The belly shall it make very bitter but it will be in the mouth so swéete as hony With good harte ought the scriptures to be receyued of all men in faith deuoured in a pure loue disgested In continual studie meditacion therof ought ech maÌ„ after his calling to perseuer the King in his raign the Iudge in his office the merchaunt in his occupying the labourer in hys worke the maryner vpon the sea and the bishop in his cure Nothing but idelnesse worketh the man which hath it not grafted within him though he both fast pray Uayne are all polycies actes constitucions and lawes wtout it For it is the life of our soules the lanterne of our féete the light of our passage and rule our workes 7 Bitter it is in the belly swéete in the mouth When the knowledge of trueth is is once receyued and surely setteled in the harte it engendreth a spiritie of indignation and a zeale of God very bitter agaynst all wickednesse It maketh vs with Ieremie to detest all vice and with Ezechiell to abhorre all sinne It prouoketh vs also with Moyses Helias Dauid and the Prophets gréeuously to complayne of the worldes abhominations with Christ his Apostles dolorously to lament the sore decaye of the wicked 8 Yet is nothing so swéet in the mouth as it is Nothing was to Paule so delicious when he once sauored it No nothing so pleasauÌ„t Neither colours of rhetorike paintings of poets wisedome of Philosophers nor holy tradicions of fathers coulde then delight him All were but darnal tares stubble chaffe filth rust dreames lyes and vnprofitable vanities Nothyng was in his mouth than but that delectable veritie that swéet Gospell of God That tooke hée with hym as the vessel of election in many an hard iorney and beare it foorth before the gentiles the kings the children of Israell yea for that to dye he thought it than aduauntage 9 And I tooke the little booke sayth sainct Iohn out of the Angels hande with méeknesse I receiued the scriptures of God I did eate it vp clean I dygested them in faith 10 And it was in my mouth so swéet as hony Oh how delicious saith Dauid are thy sayings vnto my throte More dulcet then honye are thy wordes Lord to my mouth 11 So soone as I had eaten it sayth Sainct Iohn so soone as I had incorporate it in my mynde rooted it in my soule my bellye was bitter my harte was gréeued much to sée the euils of the world my spirit was troubled to see the abusions of men and much I pittied the losse of their soules 12 Yet dyd not the Angell so leaue me but he said thus vnto me Thou must prophecie again amoÌ„g the people 13 As thou hast receyued thou must reÌ„der as thou hast bene taught thou must teach againe least thou hyding the treasure of thy Lord become an vnprofitable seruaunt 14 Thou must publish the trueth to the vnbeleuers thou must open it to people of dyuers nacions languages and finally manifest it to Kings of many regions that they sée theyr people instructed in the same As a truÌ„pet therefore exalt thy voyce shewe fréely the ioyfull message of saluatioÌ„ Refuse none that will come vnto it poore nor blynde halte nor lame CoÌ„sider that no man lighteth a candle to hyde it but to set it vp that men may see by it None other are fit to prophecie but they whiche haue deuoured the booke They must now declare the gospell in this latter age of the church by the appointment of the Lord. For necessarie it is that by the strength thereof all pryde of this worlde and blasphemie agaynst God bée distroyed ¶ In the nexte volume shall follow the reste The second part of the Image of both Churches after the most wonderfull and heauenly reuelation of Saint Iohn the Euangelist c. Compiled by Iohn Bale The same Disciple whom Iesus loued hath witnessed and written these things and vve knovve that hys testimonie is true Ioannes .xxj. ¶ A small Preface vnto the Christian Reader IN the first part or volume of thys
the bold rable of heretiks presuming against gods word to affirm vngodly things Under the fourth the head of a Beare in the gréedy multitude of holy hipocrites spirituall Antichristes which haue rauished vp the substaÌ„ce of this world vsurping the empire of the same For then begone the papacie with Mahomets mischief Under the â—ift the head of a Leopard in the diuersitie of pestilent sectes or execrable locustes of whome euerie one reioyceth in his owne colour and inuention For then dyd they sore increase Under the sixt the head of a best vnlyke to all other in the tyrannie of wicked gouernours blynded and perswaded by the priestes to slea Gods seruaunts for the vpholding of their stinking generation For then was and is yet done much murther vpon such as confesse the truth Under the seuenth or last seale opening shal he haue yet still the heade of a man in fleshly polices falshoode of the Pope and his prelates in the doctours and priestes till God vtterly shall distroy them with the breath of his mouth 4 The said dragoÌ„ had also x. horns or al subtil waies wherwith to impugn the féeble weake nature of man or to prouoke him euer more to rebell against gods commaundements 5 UpoÌ„ his vij heads he had vij crouÌ„es signifying therby that both he his meÌ„bers hath not only possessed the afore named vyces but also they haue ouer the world raigned in them and yet doe to this day In pride falshood malice craft crueltie wickednesse all other mischies triumph they yet 6 And his tayle drewe towardes hym the third part of the starres and inconclusion threwe them downe to the earth By worldly promocioÌ„s lucre fauour and other flatteryng fantasies hath he tangled many learned men and plucked them cleane from Christes true Churche and from the lyfe of the Gospell so prouokinge them wholy to geue themselues to the study of erronius doctrine and lying prophesies to seduce the wordly multytude and kepe them in perpetuall blindnesse 7 So that they are now cast into the earth They are become all carnall fylthy and vngodly in all theyr wisdome study and workes in all theyr counsels preachinges and teachynges Now are they the wicked Apostelles of Sathan no longer may they shine in the firmament THE TEXT 1 And the Dragon stoode before the womaÌ„ which vvas ready to be delyuered 2. for to deuoure her child as soone as it vvere borne 3. she brought forth a manchild 4. vvhich should rule all nacions vvith a rod of Iron 5 And her sonne vvas taken vp vnto God and to his seate .6 And the vvoman fled into the vvildernes .7 Where she had a place prepared of God 8. That they shoulde feede her there .9 A thousande tvvo hundred and threescore dayes The Paraphrase 1 Before the aforesayde trauailyng woman stoode this Dragon redy to deuoure her childe so soone as it were borne Euermore is the deuill waiting his pray where as the Gospell is sincerely taught least any thereby should become the children of God 2 He séeketh all crafts polyces ingins to take the word from the hart least they beléeuing it shuld be saued Thus sought he to deuoure christ after the letter appoynting Herode to slea him soone after his birth And when he sée that way wold not take yet left he not of till the Iewes had slayne hym Not thus yet satisfied he labored by the bishops to extinguish the faith of his resurrection least that shuld profit vnto lyfe Moreouer where as the Apostles and other godly men haue geuen Christ vnto other in maner as they receued him he hath left no cautels vnsought by his malignant members euer since to depriue Gods people thereof 3 Such a man child saieth S. Iohn brought this woman forth as with an yron rod should rule all nations Neuer is the true church idle but conceiueth christ at the gospel preching retaineth him in faith briÌ„geth him forth in teaching other the same No woman child is he impotent weake féeble but a manchilde bringing with him alwaies a stronge mighty inuincible spirit wher as he is vnfainedly receued For he is the mighty Lorde that is valiaunt in battaile 4 With the yron wand of his word inuincible shal he gouerne his méeke sprited flock that none other lawes shal they require with the same also shal he subdue all powers which are not of hym and driue them downe to the bottom of hell For by faith onely in him is the victory gotten ouer the world 5 This childe was also taken vp to God and vnto his throne Where as the deuill thought to deuoure hym and to wrap hym vp for euer vnder death he put hym beside his purpose Uictoryously he arose vp from death to lyfe he ascended vnto heauen and now sitteth vpon the right hande of God the father almightye And where as he is nowe there shall hys faithfull folowers and ministers be hereafter for that is his is also theirs birth lyfe death resurrection and ascention 6 The woman fled after this into the wyldernesse What els doth the iust people of God but flye the contagiousnes vanytie tumult fornication idolatry and filthynes of thys world séeking God in the solytarie harte and not in outwarde fantasies I got me away farre of sayeth Dauid and remayned in the deserte monkes nunnes channons and fryers hath fled into monasteris coueÌ„tes and houses but nothinge after this sort For in all voluptuous pleasures haue they there liued The vnfained solytary man after Hieremy continueth peaceably with himselfe and hath his hart aboue 7 In the sayde wildernesse had she a place prepared of God Which is none other but Gods protection defence and sauegard promysed in the scriptures That the Lorde shoulde pieserue vs as he dyd his chosen people of Israell when he went before them in a cloude vpon the day and in the night in a piller of fyre Dauid boasted himselfe that God was hys refuge and that he dwelled vnder the defence and shadow of the highest So longe as the Lorde is my gouernour sayth he I can want nothing He fedeth me he sustaineth me I doubt no daunger for he is wyth me His staffe stayeth me hys worde and promise is my whole comfort 8 And there will the Lorde féede hir sayeth S. Iohn for the space of a thousand two hundred and thréescore dayes None other are fed with the scriptures and promises of God which is the bread of children not to be geuen to dogs but they which flyeth into the desert from the dragon forsaking both heade and tayle both suggestions and lawes both customes and constitutions For all are deuillish None other escaped the plague of Sodome but they whiche fled cleane from thence Lots wyfe but looking back only towardes it agayne was turned into a salt stoane 9 The numbred dayes héere are none other but the afore written time of the two witnesses the tyme of Helias preachinge the time of Iohns preachinge the
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
ben one of theÌ„ my self And this is to this day a principal religion of the whorish Church called deuout pilgrymage or holy stations of prayer many greate pardons granted many false promises made to alure the people therevnto 9 But blessed be the Lord whose word in this age both admonished many as the Angell did Iohn and brought them also cleane from hir abhominatioÌ„s into a secret coÌ„sideration of the spirit vnknowen to the world there both to sée hir pride and also to vnderstand hir iudgement For it followeth in the text that the Angel coÌ„ueyed Iohn away into the wildernesse in the spirite 10 In mistery here the holye Ghost declared afore what the Lorde should worke in men hauing his grace at the latter dayes of the world Into the wildernesse flée they with Dauid which leauing the customed wayes of meÌ„ after the course of the scriptures séeke vp their Lord God in faith worshippyng him onely in spirite and in veritie THE TEXT 1 And I sawe a woman sit vpon 2. a rose coloured beast 3. full of names of blasphemy 4. vvhich had seuen heads and ten hornes 5. And the vvoman vvas arayed 6. in purple and rose eolour 7. decked vvith golde precious stone pearls 8. had a cup of golde in hyr hand 9. ful of abhominatioÌ„s 10. filthinesse of hir vvhordom 11. And in hir fotehead vvas a name vvritteÌ„ 12. A mistery 13. Great BabiloÌ„ the mother of vvhoredom abhominations of the earth 14. And I savv the vvife dronken vvith the bloud of saints vvith the bloude of the vvitnesses of Iesu. 15. And vvhen I savv hir 16. I vvondred vvith great meruayle The Pharaphrase 1 And I sawe saith Saint Iohn in mistery a woman for an whore at the first bloush semeth only a woman sitting vpon a rose coloured beast This beast is the great Antichrist that was spoken of afore or the beastly body of the diuil comprehending in him Popes Patriarkes Cardinalles Legaâ—es Bishops Doctours Abbotes Priors Pristes and Pardoners monks Chanons Friâ—rs Nuns so forth Temporall gouernours also as Emperors Kings Princes dukes Erles Lords Iustices Deputies Iudges Lawyers Maiers Bayliues Cunstables so forth leauing their owne dutied offyces as to minister rightly to serue their abhominacions 2 All rose coloured is this beast in token of tirannous murther blodshedding ouer those that will not agree to their diuillishnesse 3 Ful of blasphemous names is this beast also as your holines your grace your Lordeshippe your fatherhoode your mastership your reuereÌ„ce honor highnesse worship magnificence goodnesse Gods vicar spirituall syr ghostly father phisition of soules defender of faith head of the holy church and so foorth besides the names of theyr properties feates and pagents as procession bishopping anelyng purgatorie pylgrimage pardon masse mattens euensong placebo Candelmasse day Palm sunday Ash wednesday holy roode day S. Thomas day so forth 4 This beast had vij heads and ten hornes signifying his vniuersal crafts and suggestions to distroy the graces and giftes of the holy Ghost and also his falsely borrowed primacies tyrannous aucthorities to withstand the commaundements of God 5 Upon this beast sitteth a woman For what els auauÌ„ceth or beareth out this malignant muster in their copes crosses oyles myters robes relickes ceremonyes vygiles holy dayes blessings sensings and foolings but a waÌ„ton foolish and fantasticall religion a vayne glorious pompe and a shinyng pretence of holynesse in superstition callyng it theyr holy church Shée is sayd here to sit vpon this bloudy beast as to be stayed quieted and setled by them Marke what labours and paines that craftie and wyly Winchester taketh with Bonner Tonstall and other of his fashion as hyr own sworne souldyours to holde vp thys glorious whore in hyr olde estate of romishe religion Oh he grunteth and groneth he sweateth swelleth he fretteth and belleth he bloweth panteth calketh and canteth he sturreth neuer ceaseth to bring his matters to passe 6 In token that this hypocryticall church standeth in the murther of innocents this womaÌ„ is here gloriously apparelled in purple as giltie of theyr deathes which hath bene slayne and also in fresh scarlet as euermore fresh ready to coÌ„tinue in the same bloudshedding For if such tirrible slaughter wer not the true christiaÌ„ faith shuld increase to the great diminishmeÌ„t of hir glory 7 Shée is in lyke case florishingly decked with golde precious stone and pearles not onely in hyr manyfolde kynds of ornaments as in hyr copes corporasses chesibles tunicles stooles fannous and myters but also in mysterie of counterfeite godlinesse Many outward bragges maketh thys painted chuâ—ch of Christ of his Gospel and of his Apostles signified by the gold precious stone pearles which is but a glittering colour For nothing myndeth shée lesse than to followe them in conuersation of lyuing 8 Moreouer in hir hand which is hyr exteriour ministration shée hath a golden cup full of abhominations and filthinesse of hyr execrable whoredome This cup is the false religion that she dayly ministereth besides the chalice whoÌ„ hir marchaunts most dampnably abuseth And it contayneth all doctrine of diuils all beastly errours and lyes all deceiptfull power all glytteryng workes of hipocrites all crafty wisdoÌ„ of the flesh subtile practises of mans witte besides philosophy logick rhetorick and sophistry Yea all prodigious kynds of Idolatry fornicatioÌ„ sodometrie and wickednesse Outwardely it séemeth golde pretending the glory of God â—he holy name of Christ the sacred scryptures of the Byble perpetuall virginity of life and al are but counterfet colours shadows of hipocrisy in the outwarde letter and name 9 Ful of abhominacions is the drink of the excreable faith of that Romish religion receiued of other full of filthynes also for both retaineth the people therof innumerable kinds of Idol worsippinges vnder the title of Gods seruice and also their shauelinges of prodigeous beastlynes in lecherouse liuing vnder the colour of chastity Here were muche to be spoken of Sayncte Germayns euil sainct Sithes key sainct Uncombers otes maister Iohn shornes bote saint Gertrudes rattes saint Iobe for the pox saint Fyacre for ague saint apoline for toth ake sainct Graciane for lost thrift saint WalstoÌ„ for good haruest S. Cornelis for the foule euil al other saints els almost 10 Of the buggery boyes also among prelates pristes Gohstly fathers religious might much be sayde here were it not for infecting mens eies ears vnderstaÌ„dings For al these noiful nocuments are the holy frutes of the whordom of the holy whorish Chuche 11 In the forehead of this glittering whore which is hir outward shew is written a name expreslye declaring what she is By hir vngodly fruites is she knowen to the elect seruaÌ„ts of god hauing the light of the scriptures In their consiences appereth she none other than a pestiferous whore by the iudgements of the same 12 A very mistery is this shew to the infidels an hiddeÌ„ secret an vnknown
sainct Iohn the Euangelist were these mysteries of the whole Trinitie reueled as I shewed afore such tyme as he was of the Emperour Domicianus exyled for his preaching into the yle of Pathmos at the cruell complayntes of the Idolatrous priestes and bishops of him so written sent out of the same exile into the congregations In one day were all these marueils seene and in the same written as witnesseth Haymo with dyuers other expositours and as seemeth agreeable to the text which is a great wonder in tokeÌ„ that the Lord as Dauid reporteth hym is a very swift writer which at the same time earnestly occupied the hand of the sayd Iohn Of suche a nature is the message of this boke with the other contentes therof that from no place is it sent more freely opened more cleerely nor tolde foorth more boldely than out of exyle And this should seeme to be the cause thereof In exyle was it first written as a little before is mencyoned In exyle are the powers thereof most earnestly proued of theÌ„ that hath faith As appeareth yet by Iustinus the martyr Militon the Asiane Hireneus Hipolytus Victorinus and other which were there of the first expositours in the primatiue church and in the ende suffered for it the death of their bodyes And though it were than the laste booke of the Byble and hath bene euer since fardest from knowledge least regarded of them all yet was it the first that receiued any mans expositioÌ„ as a booke thought most necessary to be knowne of the Christians Into the deserte sendeth the Lorde hys church when the filthy spirite by his spightful spiritualtie speweth out his execrable waters throwyng the thyrd parte of the starres into the earth with his tayle He giueth hyr two Egles wings to flye thither with which are the light precepts examples of Christ to declyne their mischieues For he both â—â—ed his selfe when occasions were giuen him and commaunded hys disciples to flee from citie to citie in time of their persecutions He prouideth hir there a resting place for iij. yeares and an halfe which are the dayes of Helyas Danyell and Iohn And all this is not that shee should there be ydle Flattery dwellyng at home and sucking there styll his mothers brestes may neuer tell out the truth he seeth so many dauÌ„gers on euery side as displeasur of frindes decaye of name losse of goodes offence of great men punishment of body ieopardy of lyfe wyth such other lyke The forsaken wretched sort hath the Lorde prouided alwayes to rebuke the worlde of sinne for want of true fayth of hipocrisie for want of perfect ryghtuousnesse of blyndnesse for lacke of Godly iudgement For nought is it not therfore that he hath exiled a certen number of beleuing brethren the realme of Englande of the which afflicted family my fayth is that I am one Where vpon I haue considered it no lesse then my bounde dutie vnder payne of damnation to admonyshe Christes flocke by thys present reuelation of theyr perills past and the dauÌ„gers to come for contempt of the Gospell whych now reygneth there aboue all in the clergy I am not the fyrst which hath attempted thys offyce or taken vpon mee thys odyous enterpryse full of rebukes and slaunders and that maketh mee the boulder Iustinus becomming of a prophane philosopher a perfect chrystian wrote an exposicion vpon this Apocalips and was slayne for the veritie in the yeare from Christs incarnatyon a. C. and liiii Melyton the Byshoppe of Sardis in Asia which was one of the vii congregatioÌ„s vnto whome Iohn wrote made also a booke of the same lyued about the same tyme in the yeare of our lord a .c.lx. Hyreneus a discyple of Polycarpe byshope of Smyrna which was also one of the sayde congregations left behinde hym a commentary vpon the same booke and suffred stronge martyrdome for the truth in the yeare of our lorde a c.lxxv Hypolytus a byshope in Aphrica a man of much godly wysdome and learning wrote vpon the same about the yeare of our lorde .cc. .xx. In lyke maner Uictorinus the byshop of Pictauis about the yeare of our lorde cc .lxx. Ticonius the Aphricane anno dom ccc xc Saynct Hierome to Anatholius Anno. Dom. cccc .x. And saynt Austin also Anno dom cccc .xx. with dyuerse other more Primasius byshoppe of Vâ—icina wrote .v. lytle bookes vpoÌ„ this Apocalyps vnto Castorius whereof this is the beginning Tuis vir illustris et religiose castori which volume I haue redde and he lyued in the yeare of our Lord cccc .xl. Aprigius byshop of PaceÌ„ in Spayne made a notable work vpon the same about the yeare of our lorde ccccc .xxx. So did Cassiodorus Apulus as Petrus Equilinus calleth him anno dom ccccc lxx called his booke complexiones in Apocalipsim So did Isidorus iunior the bishop of Hispalis in Spaine Anno Do. DC.xxx with all those that here foloweth Of whom I haue sene almost so many as haue there beginnings here registred Ex benedictinis monachis â—edas presbiter Anglus li. iii apocalipsis saneti Iohannis inqua Alcuinus monachus Anglus li. i. Haymo HirsueldeÌ„sis Germanus li. vii Legimus in ecclesiastica historia Strabus fuldensis Germanus lib. i. Sicut in secularibus literis Rabanus maurus Germanus li. i. Ambrosius Ansbertus Gallus li x. de illustratione afflatus Robertus Tuiciensis Germanus lib. xii Vt tu quoque venerabilis colo Ioachim Abbas Calaber li. viii Quia profunda libri huius Monachus quidam Cantuariensis li. i. Legitur Genesis .xxviii. Vidit Easterton monachus Anglus lib. i. Posuit castra sua in medio Ex Canonicis regularibus Richardus de sancto Victore Scotus libro primo Gaufredus Antisiodorensis Gallus lib. i. Ex Carthusianis monachis Henricus de Hassia Germanus lib. i Dionisius Rikel Germanus lib. i. Ecce puer meus electus Ex sacerdotibus prophaenis Ambrosius de septem tubis li. i. Tempus autem arbitror Berengarius Thuronensis Gallus lib. i. Gilbertus porreta Gallus li. i. Omnes qui piâ— volunt viuere Author a centum annis Anglus libro i. Ioannes Hus Bohemus li. i. Cum finierinâ— testimonium Paulus Burgensis Iudeus lib. i. Licet opinio expositorum Mathias Dorinck Germanus lib. i. Costasie doctor Anglus lib. i. Ecce de scripsieam tibi triplic Iacobus Stralen Germanus lib. i. Vidit Iacob in somno schalam Ex Carmelitanis Ioannes Baconthorpe Anglus lib. i. Apocalipsis Iesu Christi c. Ioannes Tytleshale Anglus li. i. Est autem Apocalipsis Grecus sermo Thomas de ylleya Anglus li. i. Apocalipsis reuelacio dicitur Ioannes Barath Hannonius lib. i. Ego Ioannes vidi ostium Ioannes de Vernone Gallus lib. i. Nicolaus de Alsacia Germanus lib. i. Ioannes
Bloxam Anglus lib. i. De apparicione septem sigillorum Ioannes Elyne Anglus li i. Secundum Isidorum ethimolo Ioannes Tilneye Anglus li. i. Septem ecclesijs in Asya Henricus Winchingham Anglus li. i. Apertum est templum Dei Ioannes Thorpe Anglus lib. i. Ioannes Egidius Gallus lib. i. Apocalip c. Ioanni Euangeliste Ioannes Haynton Anglus lib. i. Beatus qui legit verba Ex Augustinianis Augustinus de Auchona Italus lib. i. Iordanes Saxo Germanus lib primo Bertrandus parayte Tholosanus lib i. Augustinus de Roma Italus li primo Philippus de Mantua Italus li. primo Ioannes Capgraue Anglus li. primo Syluester Meoccius Venet. lib. i Promaiori intelligentia Ex dominycanis Iordanes Botergius Germenus li. i. Hugo Bar chinonensis Gaillus lib. i. Asser pinguis panis eius c. Albertus Magnus Germanus lib. i. Confiteor tibi pater Stephanus Bisuntinus Gallus lib. i. Nicolaus Gorham Gallus li. i. Bernardus de Trilia Narbonensis li. i. Paganus Bergomensis lumbardus li. i. Aluarus de Caturco Tholosanus lib. i. Fredericus de Venecijs Italus lib pri Ioannes Annius Viterbiensis li prim Hieronymus Sauanarola Italus lib. i Ex Franciscanis Alexander de Hales Anglus lib. primo Helias de Hanibalis Italus lib primo Petrus Ioannis Cathalanus li. primo Ioannes Walleys Anglus lib. primo Petrus Aureolus Tholosanus libro 1. Nicolaus Lyranus Germanus libro ij Oportet te iterum prophetare Astesanus Astensis Lumbardus li. i. Bernardinus Senensis Italus li. i. Beatus qui legit et audit Theodoricus Andree Tholosanus lib. i. Ioannes de Rupe scissa lib. i. Franciscus Titelmannus Germanus li. ii Superioribus diebus eruditis Ex neotericis Martinus Lutherus Germanus lib. i. Varias prophecias inuenimus in Sebastianus Meyer Bernensis li. i. De lib. Apocalipseos cum Georgius Aemilius Germanus lib. i. Mira quedam inest auiditas Franciscus Lambertus Gallus li. vii Israelitiâ— a Mose Dei lege Huldricus Zwinglius Heluecius lib. i. Ioannis Brencius Sueuus lib. i. Ioannes Caluinus Gallus li. i. Melchior Hofman Germanus lib. i. And many other more Of these Commentaries haue I taken both example to doe this thing and also couÌ„sell to vnderstande the text to none of them wholly addict but as I perceiued them alwayes agreinge to the Scriptures What chronographers historianes I haue herein folowed for the tymes and ages of the christian church besides the Scriptures it will euidently apeare to the reader in the margeÌ„t of this volume I know there will be great thonderings lyghtninges and earthquakes at the comminge foorth thereof for so is it here oft promised of the holy ghost The boystuous tyrauntes of Sodoma with theyr great Nemroth Wynchester and the execrable citizens of Gomorra with theyr shorne sinered captaines wyll sturre aboute them Much payne haue they of long tyme taken and many haue they cruelly burned as was seene of late yeares in Couentrie London in other places more to obscure the knowledge thereof Who can suppose theÌ„ that they wyll now sit styll theyr mischeues made so manifest Our worldly wyse brethren also which are neither hote nor colde wyll starcle a course at the matter I know somewhat is to be suffred at theyr handes also For they alwayes tarry theyr tymes wyll not wake the shrewed curre for hurting themselues Graciously hath the Lorde called them specially now of late but his voyce is nothing regarded His seruauntes haue they imprisoned tormented and slayne hauinge his veritie in muche more contempt then afore We loked for peace sayth Hieremye the Prophet and we fare not the better at all We wayted for a tyme of health and we fynde here nothing els but trouble And no marucile consideringe the beastes head that was wounded is now healed vp againe so workemanly as the .xiii. chapter here meÌ„cioneth The abhominable hipocrisie Idolatry pryde fylthinesse of those terrible termagauÌ„ts of antichrists holy household those two horned whoremouÌ„gers those coÌ„iurers of Egipt and lecherous locustes leapynge out of the smoke of the pitte bottomlesse which dayly deceyueth the ignoraunt multytude wyth theyr sorceryes and charmes must be shewed to the worlde to theyr vtter shame and confusion They knowe as dyd Balaam the sorcerer that ouer a gorgious glittering whore euery fleshely man is inordynatly wanton ferce greedy Folowinge hys wayes therefore they haue alwayes for lucres sake gloriously garnished theyr holy mother the madame of myschife and proude sinagoge of Sathan wyth golde siluer pearle precious stone veluets silkes miters copes crosses cruetes ceremonies sensinges blessinges bablinges brawlynges processions popetts and such other madde mastryes whereof the church that Christ left here behinde him knewe not one iote to prouoke the carnal idyotes to hir whoredome in the spyryte The Lorde hath longe suffered them of mercy and wythhoulden from theÌ„ his rightfull hande of theyr deserued vengeaunce yet wyll they not fall to repentaunce nor amende theyr dayly mischifes To tell them freely of theyr wycked workes by the scriptures I haue exyled my selfe for euer from myne owne natiue countrie kyndred fryndes acquaintaunce which are the great delyghtes of this lyfe am well contented for Iesus Chrystes sake and for the comforte of my brethren there to suffer pouertie penury abiection reprofe and all that shall come besides A commaundement the Lorde hath giuen in this booke vnto them whome hee hath called of mercye from their wretched beggeries to spare no rebukes but to powre out double vpon that bloudy â—awde malicious mother of theirs Neuer was this commaundement more effectually to be folowed then now hys holye worde of saluation so presently set at nought despised and persecuted of hir madde moodie mynisters Unto heauen are hir sinnes gone vp in these latter dayes as S. Iohn heere witnesseth requiring vengeaunce for the innocents bloud that shee hath so cruelly shed And the Lord hath remembred hir wickednesse accordyng to his promyse as partlye hath bene seene in this realme and in diuers other more I doubt not but within short space she shal be wholly turned ouer into the bottomlesse pit again with all hir heathenish ceremonies superstitions and sorceries and neuer return hetherwarde no more then the great mightie mylstone that is throwne into the seas bottom Christ so restored vnto his right spouse WoÌ„ders wil appeare coÌ„cerning this such other matters to him that shall diligently examine the scriptures historyes alleged in the margent For only minister I an occasion heere vnto them of a farther serch Nothing wil be hidden from him that asketh with meekenesse seeketh in fayth and in prayer desyreth the glory of the Lorde Euident will those secrete mysteries be vnto him whiche are priuely hidde vnto other vnder dark ambages and parables Though this heauenly treasure of health be vnder locke and keye of vnknowne similitudes and so bee shutte vp
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
ascend in soule by the spirite and power of God and I will shewe vnto thée thinges wonderfull and such as must without fayle be fulfilled in euerie poynte hereafter by the vnuariable ordinaunce of God 4 And as it had bene in a thought I was sodenly by the Lordes power taken vp I was in the spirit in déed secluded frō all carnal imaginatiōs 5 And anon I was ware of a beautifull seat prepared in heauen which moued mee to consider that before the constitution of the world almightie God had appoynted by his spirite to raygne in his faithful church For I sawe that one sate vpon that seate as vpon the beautifull throne of his glorie No where els raigneth God but among his chosen people Hée dwelleth not in Temples made by hand he resteth not in houses of mās preparation Is the kingdom of God any where els thē within man Hath God any Temple that hee more fauoureth then mans faithfull harte 6 And he that gloriously sate vpon that comely seate was lyke by all similitude to a Iasper stone and resembled also a precious stone called a Sardine Betokening that his raign is durable strong his power firme and invariable his glorie cléere and precious and that he him selfe is as the red Iasper beautifull and orient and as the gréene Sardine freshe fayre and neuer fading that man shuld euer be desirous of him Whose will to consider is our felicitie and whose pleasure to folow is our perfectnesse 7 And there was a fayre raynbow about that glorious seate in sighte like a smaragde or an Amarald stone Which signifieth his perpetuall couenaunt of peace loue to all them that haue fayth which are so deare vnto him as is the apple of hys owne eye or as that thing which hee desyreth most And no lesse precious the sayde couenaunt is then the fresh Ameralde with his amorous hew and beautifull shewe of loue that wée should the rather couette it For nothing is more auydyously to be desyred then is the swéete peace of God 8 And about that excéedyng fayre seate or empyre of the Lorde were xxiiij other meane seates appointed which put me anon in remembraūce of charitie pacience stedfastnesse loue ioy peace temperance iustice knowledge of god méeknesse other fruites of fayth with innumerable giftes of the holie ghost wherein the seruauntes of God hath afore tyme and still doeth continually rest elders or notable auncient men sitting Which séemeth vnto me to be Abell and Noe Abraham Dauid Moyses and Helyas Ioseph Iohn Baptist the Prophets and Apostles the Preachers Martyrs with such other lyke To whom Christ promised in the regeneration to sitte with him vpon xij seates iudging the xij tribes of Israel These set numbers in the scripturs of xxiiij or of .xij. such lyke noteth certaintie in the promisse of God towards them which are in themselues without number 10 And the foresayd elders or men of rype discretion were cloathed in white rayment or apparell of innocencie according to the commaundement of the holye Ghost For their works were pure and cleane before God rysing only of fayth and were neuer defyled with the filthie traditions of men 11 They had also vpon their heads as myghtie rulers and gouernours crownes of fyne golde in token that they had héere the gouernance in his worde and shall hereafter be partakers with Christ in his heauēly kingdome and glorie 12 Great is the maiestie of the trone of God and the power muche For from his heauenly seate into the vniuersall world procéeded lightnings and thunderings and voyces which are the manyfolde and dyuers respectes of his worde For a fearfull lightenyng it is when it rebuketh throweth downe and condempneth the sinner It is a terrible thundering when it feareth threateneth and commaundeth thynges contrarie to the fleshe And it is a solacious voyce agayne when it rayseth reléeueth and quickeneth the desolace conscience with comfortable promises And full is all the scripture of these which commeth from Syon and the swéete worde of God whyche commeth from Hierusalem 13 And there were seuen lampes of flamyng fyre burnynge before the sayde trone of God which are the seuen spirites of God or the vniuersall giftes of the holie ghost prefigured in the scriptures by the seuen lightes of one Candelsticke the vij eyes of one stone and by vij hornes and eyes also of the lambe These shewe light euermore before Gods sight The church without them in no wyse can be the trone of God 14 And before the sayd seate there was as it had béene a sea of glasse a plentifull vnderstanding of the veritie fyrst giuen vnto Christ by the father and then vnto the church or cōgregation by the spirite of Christ. And this sea was lyke vnto a Christall cléere beautifull and pure without any corruption of humaine fantasies 15 In the middest of that heauenly seate in the circuite of the same were iiij beastes séene of diuers nature and shape not signifying the iiij greater Prophetes nor yet the iiij Euangelistes as no small number of doctors hath fantasied but rather the vniuersall number of all faithful beleeuers earnest setters foorth of the veritie in the foure quarters of the whole world And this may be gathered by the noyse of their wings in Ezechiel by their crying of sanctus sanctus sanctus by their shewing of mysteries of the opened seales of the booke as héereafter foloweth By whom are to be vnderstande the sincere openings of Gods word and the continuall praysing of his glorious name These beastes are in the middest of the seate or congregation of God when they teach them and exhorte them to persist in the trueth They are also in the circuite of the same when they diligently labour to defende them from the doctryne of diuils and errours of hypocrites 16 These beastes were full of faire eyes before and behinde Which is a cléere knowledge in the mysteryes of Gods word The sincere fauorers of Gods heauenly truth doth sée many wonderful things and know many secrete maruels not only concerning matters past but also of iudgements to come So many eyes haue they as they haue perceyued veryties For they once made spirituall by fayth discerne all things They are taught of God And the holy ghost doeth lead them into all trueth THE TEXT 1. And the first beast vvas lyke a Lyon 2. The second beast lyke a Calfe 3. and the third beast had a face lyke a man 4. and the fourth beast vvas lyke a flying Egle. 5. And the foure beasts had eche one of them sixe vvings 6. And round about vvithout and vvithin they vvere full of eyes 7. And they had no rest neyther day nor night saying Holy holy holy is the Lorde God almightie vvhich vvas and is is to come 8. And vvhen those beastes gaue glorye and honour and thankes to him that sate on
the seate vvhich lyueth for euer and euer 9. The xxiiij elders fell dovvne before him that sate on the trone vvorshipped him that lyueth for euer 10. and cast their crovvnes before the trone saying 11. Thou art vvorthie Lord to receyue glorie and honour and povver 12. For thou hast created all things and for thy vvilles sake they are and vvere created THE PARAPHRASE 1 These iiij beastes hath iiij diuers exteriour similitudes which are not els but the outward tokens testimonyes and signes of faith or the fruitfull workes thereof only procéeding For fayth is neuer without hir holesome fruites The first beast was in similitude lyke vnto a Lyon strong and mightie in power And that are they which hath layde asyde the olde man of sinne with his féeble faynte workes and conuerted them selues into the ghostly image of Christ which is the mightie stronge Lyon of the Trybe of Iuda for that they myght haue the victorie ouer sinne 2 The seconde beast was fashyoned lyke vnto a Calfe much vsed in the olde lawe to bée offered vp in sacryfice And suche are they which forsaking them selues and mortifying the corrupte lustes of theyr fleshe doeth walke in a newe Christian lyfe and offer vp them selues vnto God as a lyuing sacrifice readie to suffer all kyndes of persecution and death for his names sake 3 The third beast had a face in fauour lyke a man hauing reason wit and discrecion And those are they which through pollicie of fayth and prudencie in the spirit so wysely and discretely order them selues in that they goe aboute that nothyng is against the glorie of God but al things worketh for the best in them 4 The fourth beast was lyke vnto a flying Egle which buyldeth hir neast very highe in the harde rocke stone Which are those godly persōs that liuing héere in this mortall bodie by the counsell of the holy Ghost haue their conuersation in heauen They séeke for those thinges which are aboue where as Christ is sitting on the right hand of God In whom only as in the sure rocke they buylde all their whole hope and trust By these foure similitudes is the true congregation of God knowne from the painted sinagoge and coūterfaict church of Sathan glorifiyng hir selfe in vaine glorie pompe crueltie rape simonie lyes hatred sectes murther Idolatrie sedition and tirannie with other fruites of the flesh whose God is their bellie and theyr ende dampnation And though these iiij simylitudes be diuers yet doe they respect one congregation after Ezech. which euer more applyeth all .iiij. vnto one beast And euerie one of the sayd iiij beastes had .vj. winges about him 5 The winges whereby Gods people are raysed vp vnto him is fayth hope charitie iustice mercie veritie with such other vertues as euer more accompanyeth them By these are they lifted vp vnto heauenlye thinges By these auoyde they the common mischieues of the world By these obtayne they a plentuous quyetnesse in God abyding their sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christ. And wher as in Ezechiell the sayd winges appearing but iiij are here founde sixe we may gather this That the gospel now published the giftes of the holy ghost are more high plentifull and open vnder christ then afore time vnder Moyses 6 Round aboute them without and within the sayde beastes were ful of eyes The seruants of the Lord hath Godly wisdome and knowledge euery where inwardly to consider heauenly things durable sure and perfite and neuer to perish Outwardly agayne to iudge earthly things corruptible wretched and vaine and shortly to be ended 7 Neither day nor night could the sayde beastes cease from the praise of their Lord God saying Holy holy holy Or blessed art thou almightye father blessed art thou almightie sonne blessed art thou almighty holy ghost distinct thrée persons in trinity and in substaunce one Lorde God almighty which was withoute beginning and is of him selfe onely and shall be for euer euer euerlasting And what is this els but that the righteous feruently eprayinge geueth continnuall thankes vnto GOD reioysinge amonge them selues in psalmes in hymnes and in spiritusonges praysinge hym euermore in their harts 8 And when those .iiij. beastes or faithfull feruent sincere and pure beleuers héere beléeuing in the flesh gaue glory honour and thanks from the iiij quartes of the earth in professing the verity in teaching it vnto other and in liuinge accordinge to the same And that vnto hym which sate on the seat which is god almighty reigning ouer that congregation which lyueth for euer and euer and hath of his kyngdome none end 9 Anone stepped forth the .xxiiij. elders or the whole perfit and vniuersall number of them which hath rested in the Lorde and they with all méekenes fel down before him which sate on the throne They submitted themselues vnto him ackowleginge him for theyr onely Lorde They worshipped him also with dew reuerance gaue high thankes vnto him as vnto their eternal liuīg god 10 Yea finally they threwe downe their crowns before the throne of his eternal maiestie They cōfessed their owne good workes merites and deseruinges to be nothyng at all But their whole health wisdome knowledge vertue holines rightuousnes and redemption to be onely of his lyberall gift and vndeserued goodnesse 11 And as men most highly reioysing they cryed vnto him saying thus It is thou O Lord God most mightie creator that is alone worthie to receyue all glory all honour and all thankes for that hath bene wrought in heauen in earth and none other els but thou 12 For thou hast alone by thy vnsercheable wisedome created all things and brought them foorth out of nothing And for the onely pleasure of thy will they are now at this present tyme in substance and fashyon and were created of thée at the beginning not onely to be at thy commaūdemēt but also to be euermore thākefull vnto thée and to laude thée and prayse thée for euer The fift Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I sawe in the right hande of him that sate on the throne a booke 2 written with in and on the back syde 3. sealed with seuen seales 4. and I sawe a strong Angell preaching with a loude voyce 5. Who is worthie to open the booke and loose the seales thereof 6. And no man in heauen nor in earth neyther vnder the earth vvas able to open the booke neyther to looke thereon 7. And I wept much bycause no man was found worthie to open to read the booke neither to looke thereon 8. And one of the elders sayd vnto me Weepe not 9. Beholde the Lyon which is of the trybe of Iuda 10 the roote of Dauid hath obtayned to open the booke and to loose the seuen seales thereof 11. And I beheld and lo in the middest of the seat and of the iiij beastes and in the middest of the elders 12. stoode a Lambe as
figure what should be the estate of that time to assertaine his chosen friendes therof I saw saieth Saincte Iohn vnder the Aulter of God which is Christe vpon whom the whole sacrifice of our redempcion was offered 3 The soules or spirits of those constant beléeuers whiche through the violent handlynge of the afore sayde false prelats and Antichristes were cruelly put to death by diuers maner of tormeÌ„ts not only for the vndefiled word of god but also for the sincere testimonye of Iesu which they had by the gift of his only spirit Under this Aulter remaine all they which haue bin killed for that witnesse of truth In his faith they slept and still rest now in his hope In him now they liue for whom they once dyed Under his shadow they dwell Under his winges they flocke vnder hys couerte they cloyster He is their comforte kéeper and defender With hym are they now whose presence they euermore coueted 4 In that they cried with a lowde voice is signified that their innocent death fercely asketh and requireth the great indignation vengance and terrible iudgement of GOD vppon those tirauntes lyke as dyd the bloude of Abell vppon that murther Cayne 5 And this is their daylye crye O Lorde God almighty so holy thou art that thou hatest all euill so true and so iust that thou abhorrest al lies and peruerse doctrine so manifest is the filthy lyfe of the spirituall antichristes that thou séest it so euidente is their vnshamefast crueltie vpon thy seruantes that thou knowest it Yet doest thou leaue them vnpunished and suffer them vncorrected Howe long time wil it be ere thou iudge them to dampnation What yeares wilt thou take ere thou reuenge our bloud 6 Sure it is that thy lawes are holy and thy wordes are faithfull and true Why doest thou then permitte these proud homicides and spightfull murtherers to defyle them with their errours and blaspheme them with their lyes Kyllyng vp thy seruants without pittie for holdynge with them and reigning héere as Gods vpon earth in ambiciousnesse vayne glory pompe glotony and leâ—herye with other abhomynable vices Thus these beastly bellye Gods doth dayly dispise thée They treade downe thy testimonies and shed innocent Christen bloud in despight of thée 7 Looke once vpon them therefore according to thy promisse and sée thou rewarde them according to their wickednesse Thys reuengement doe we not aske for our scath but for the contempt of thy truethe Not for our harme but for the blasphemy of thy name 8 And longe white garmentes sayth Sainct Iohn very large and comely were geuen vnto euery one of them A full innocencye perfectnesse and cléerenesse was powred ouer them and abundantly spred vpon them Indued they were with an inestimable purenesse by Christe for whose veryties sake they dyed With him they are now in peace ioy and swéetnesse But whether they be in full glory afore God or no that wyll we not temerously define Sure we are that they be deliuered from all payne sorrow and care and that they clearely be assertayned so haue that glory complet both in body and soule at the latter day More swéete is their estate for the time yea more delycious and pleasaunt then all the delightes prosperytye and wealth that euer was yet in thys worlde 9 And as they were in this swéete solace much desirous of their bodyes delyueraunce from corruption they were requyrâ—d by these secrete heauenlye mocyon of Christe as we are in this life by the outwarde word 10 Paciently to pause for a while and quietously to rest for a season 11 Untill such time as the complet nuÌ„ber of their coÌ„stant fellowes and faithfull brethren 12 Yea and of all those poore creatures that shoulde be kylled by these vnsaciat blud suckers for his truthes sake like as they were afore shuld be fulfilled and wholy accomplished according to the eternall prediffinition of God And so much the rather to content themselues with their peaceable and quietous estate for their brethrens sake that it should not belonge ere their death were reuenged and they restored to a full tranquillitie For nothing in comparison are the sufferinges of this time to that glorye whiche shall be shewed vnto the chosen sort in that day Let no man think where as Christ hath willed those soules to rest that they sléepe in death for they rest in hym which is lyfe Out of hym they are not he is their Aulter he is theyr couert They lyue they decerne and in swéetenesse they abide the latter day and all vnder him Their white garment of innocencie they haue onely by him Worship him then and not them Pray and call vpon him and not vpon them For he is the onely meditour and generall aduocate to God the father so wel for them as for you Nothyng can they doe but by hym Their office is not to heare suters causes nor to goe to and fro but still to rest abyding the glad day of theyr deliuerance It is Christes onely office to receyue all complayntes to pleate them and to iudge them THE TEXT 1 And I beheld when he opened the sixâ— seale 2. lo there was a great earth quake 3. and the sunne was as black as a sack cloth made of heare 4. And the moone vvaxed euen as bloud 5. And the starres of heauen fell vnto the earth 6. euen as a figge tree casteth from hir hir figges vvhen it is shaken of a mightie wynde 7. And heauen vanyshed avvay as a scroull vvhen it is rolled togither 8. And all mountaynes and yles vvere moued out of their places 9. And the kings of the earth and the great men and the riche men 10. and the chiefe captaynes and the mightie men and euery bond man and euerie free man 11. hid themselues in dennes and in rockes of the hilles 12. and sayde to the hilles and rockes 13. Fall on vs 14. and hyde vs from the presence of hym that sitteth on the seate 15. and from the vvrathe of the Lambe 16. for the great day of hys vvrath is come 17. And vvhoÌ„ can endure it The Paraphrase 1 This know they well whome the lambe hath deliuered from their dark sinagoge to whom he hath in these dayes opened the sixte seale of the booke raysing vp the spirites of many to detect by his holy worde theyr shamefull abhominations Blessed be the name of that Lord which hath now so mercifully vysited hys poore people from aboue sending his word vnder the tipe or figure of this Lambe to open vnto them at this sixt time of darkenesse the vj. seale of the hydden misteries of the booke I looked yet farther sayeth sainct Iohn and as the Lambe Christ disclosed the sixte seale to manifest the cléernesse of his truth to shewe the estate of his church anon I behelde a merueylous earthquake arise Most liuely was this fulfilled such tyme as William Courteney the Archbishoppe
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
chosen sake Thus after S. Paul also before the Lordes cōming There must be a departing The quier or chauncell must be cast out that the man of sin the sun of perdition the aduersary exaltinge hymself aboue God may be known in his colours It may not be motē or alowed by gods word but reiected as that plant which the heauenly father hath not planted that the mistery of iniqutye may be vttered and perceiued of thē which shal be saued It must be geuen to the gentiles or addict to their supersticions with al lying power signes and wonders in all deceiuable doctrine by the subtile working of sathan They must also be permitted to do al mischif in vnrightuousnes vpō the citizens of God til he vtterly consūe thē with the mighty breath of his mouth THE TEXT 1 And I wyll geue power 2. Vnto my two witnesses 3. And they shall prophecie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes 4. Clothed in sack clothe 5. These are two oliue Trees 6. And two Candlestickes 7. Standing before the God of the earth The Paraphrase 1 And I will geue powre saith the Lorde vnto my faithfull witnesses and they shall prophesye a thousande two hundred and lx dayes against those enimies to the comforte of my people So that though my citie be troden downe by their cruel lawes of persecution to death yet shall it not be forsaken And though my people be ouer loaded with their heathen supersticions and blasphemous worshippinges yet shall they not be lost nor left all wtout succour 2 They shal haue my two witnesses with thē to solace thē in their troubles to comfort them in their cares Both Moyses and Christ both the law and the Gospell both the Prophets and the Apostles shal stande vppon theyr side and be vpon their parte yea for so much time as their enimies shall vexe them and for so much space as their aduersaries sholl trouble them Euen a thousand two hundred and thréeskore dayes which maketh thrée yeares and an halfe and is more thē the two and fourty monthes by iiii skore dayes and fowre Which signifieth that the enimies shal not euermore kepe down his word but their daies shall be shortned for his electe sake The schoole Doctours with their sophestry hath fantasied the sayd two witnesses to be Enoch and Helyas and that they should come then frō Paradice terrestre for the same purpose because that Enoch was taken away of God and Helias was carried hence in a fyery Charet neither vnderstanding what Paradice is nor yet knowing what it is to be taken from hence Paradice is the swéete rest of God appoynted vnto them that departe hence in faith The peculier translations of Enoch and Helias were not only for a confirmation or strenthning of the faith of the fathers for their times but also that they shuld be figuers of Christes assention And what godly wise man can geue more to the figuer than to the verytie More were not they priuiledged frō death then was Christe though God wold not then haue it so openly knowen to declare his wonderfull power Unlike is it that god should cal witnesses frō the dead not promising it by his word hauing power also frō stones to raise vp Abrahās children and to geue the spirit of Helias to whō he pleaseth like as he dyd to Iohn Baptist as he doth now to many other more in our age as al the world may sée and heare These witnesses are two for so much as the truth of the Lorde in the mouth of two or thrée godly persons ought to stand 3 These two witnesses or faithfuli protestours of the aforsayde two testaments hath continued with the people of god since the death of Stéeuē for the more part secretly vnknowne to the world But now they are come abroade by the appointment of God to the vtter confusion of the great aduersary and man of sin as Paule doth call hym And vnto them in this sixt age of the church the Lord hath geuen the great power of his liuinge worde or the spirit of his inuincible verytie in much more ample wise then aforetime for the abatement of the sayd enimies or synagoge of perdition 4 Clothed they shall be in sackcloth sayth the Lord No pomp shal appeare in their apparrell no glorye of the world in their behauiour Neither shall they be accompanied with a garde of ruffelynge rutters Neyther shall they with Annas and Caiphas sit vpon life and death Neither shal they blesse in the streate with miter crosse and cope Neither claim the higher seates in side gownes shauen crownes and tippetes Neyther shall their be sack Fryers nor Franciscans monks Chanons nor Hypocrits They shall not disfigure themselues to séeme religious nor say long prayers to appere holy but in a sober conuersacion auoyding superfluitie they shall constantly witnesse the trueth of god to the vniuersall world to his glory and their edification For sackcloth in the scriptures is a signe of sobrietie sadnesse and temperaunce as in Helias and Iohn Baptist. 5 These witnesses are two swéete oliue trées shedding forth the fatnes of the scriptures and dulset sanour of the spirit God hath so blessed them that their lyps are full of grace He hath annoynted them with the oyle of gladnesse aboue their felowes of Myrre Bawme and Aloes they delectably smell None other thinges vtter thei but his infallible verities 6 They are also two shininge Candlesticks setting forth the light or clearly opening of the hidden misteries of the scriptures to the comfort of the gētiles glory of the Israelits They are not the light it self but only instrumēts ordeined to beare witnes of the light For there is but one light for al. Only are they the vessels of electiō as was Paule to carrie that lyght the world ouer 7 They stand in the presence of the God of the earth or the Lorde of all as men of moste high acceptacion before him readie to doe his will and to fulfill his commaundement and pleasure hauyng the oyle of hys spirite and the light of his eternall veritie THE TEXT 1 And if any man vvill hurt them 2. Fyre shall proceed out of their mouthes 3. cōsume their enimies 4. And if any man vvill hurte them this vvise must he bee killed 5. These haue povver to shut heauen 6 that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophesying 7. and haue povver ouer vvaters to turn them to bloud 8. and to smyte the earth 9. vvith all maner plagues as often as they vvill The Paraphrase 1 If any man will attempte to doe them scathe or presumptuouslie séeketh by craftie colours subtile reasōs and deceiptful arguments vpō daungers doubtes doctours old customes and aucthoritie of fathers to hynder their office blemishe their message and darken their light such fyre shall procéede out of their mouthes as shal consume their enimies 2 The eternall word of the Lorde that they shall declare which is the consuming fyre
without ending 8 For thou hast taken vpon thée thy great might Now haste thou shewed thy wonderful power Euer hast thou raygned among thy people but neuer so graciously so plentuouslye and so gloryouslye for our behoue 9 The Heathen euermore were angry when thy truth appered Mad were the wicked Antichristes when thy glory shyned and their pride deminished They freted for anger they swelled for woodnesse yea they slew thy seruauntes and burned vp thy people 10 But now is thy wrath towards them Now wil thy anger break out now wyll thy vengaunce appeare Now shall thy terrible iudgement without mercy be declared froÌ„ heaueÌ„ vpon all vngodlinesse of those cruell enimyes that withhelde thy trueth in vnrightuousnesse 11 Now shortly ensueth the time of the dead wherein they shall bée iudged some to ioye some to heauinesse some to glorie some to payne 12 Now approcheth the glad season wherein thou haste appoynted to reward the true seruauntes the Prophets the faithfull beléeuers made Saynctes by the onely death of thy sonne and all them that yet feareth thy name with eternall felicitie 13 None wilt thou seclude from this thy liberall goodnesse for no weakenesse nor pouertie But so well the small as the great the lowe as the high the poore as the rich the sicke as the whole the vnlearned as learned shall tast of thy inestimable cléernesse 14 Onely shalte thou distroye them that distroyed the earth compellyng both it and all that therein is not to serue thée their heauenly creator but their owne stinking desires lustes and corrupt affections thy glorie not once estéemed nor regarded Héerein may we coniecture that thâ— seuenth seale once opened and the vij trumpet blowen the last iudgemeÌ„t day is not farre of Blessed is he that watcheth for the Lordes comming THE TEXT 1 And the temple of God was opened in heaueÌ„ 2. and there was seene in his temple the Arke of his Testament 3. And there followed lightnings and voyces and thunderinges and earthquake 4. and muche hayle The Paraphrase 1 And the Temple of God sayeth S. Iohn was opened in heauen Euident will the godly and spirituall estate of the true christian church séeme in those dayes the Gospell sincerely preached In faith shal meÌ„ séeke their liuing father not in dead Images nor other corruptible things In spyrite and veritie shall they worship him and not in dumme ceremonyes nor outward shadowes Speared is Gods temple wheÌ„ his true worshipping is hid And opened it is agayne when that is clearly séene Till Christes comming in the fleshe nothing thereof appeared With the key of Dauid opened he the misteries therof Wherby thorow fayth the conuersation of many is now hath bene euer since in heauen 2 This temple thus open anon the Arke of Gods holy Testament was séene therin Christ sheweth him self in his owne colours when the Gospell is truly receyued which is that Arke wherin all the riches of Gods couenauntes and the precious treasure of his promyse is reposed to maÌ„s behoue And specially those by whom we are reconciled and saued By hym are we onely brought to Gods fauor again and graciously redéemed Yea all the sort of vs haue receiued of hys aboundant ouerflowyng fulnesse The sight of this Ark in this temple is none other theÌ„ a cléere knowledge of him in his congregation So ofte are his misteryes euydent as thys temple is opened So many tymes are they knowne as his word is truly taught 3 And no smal fruit is to be thought to come thereof For there followeâ— lightnings voyces thunderings and earthquakes Diuers respectes hath the veritie of God accordyng to dyuers audieÌ„ces In maner of lightning it moueth some making of earth heauen and of sinners godly people A sound or a noyse onely it is to some men not regarding the fruites therof To some it is an occasion of anger spight and madnesse to some of open blasphemie against the holie ghost For what els doeth the clergy maliciously withstanding it but wilfully worke against knowledge And what doth the vndiscréete laite blinded by them but babble they wot not what 4 And a great hayle also folowed which betokeneth the vehement and sharpe iudgements of God towardes such enimies of his veritie The most terrible tempests of his Ire abydeth them The Lord shall break into the lande sayeth the Prophet Esay lyke a sore tempest of haile that breaketh downe strong holdes or castles And the proude crowne of the drunken Ephraemites shall be troden vnder foote Not only is the last age appointed to these thunderings and earthquakes but they began also so soone as Christ appeared in the fleshe No sooner was the young babe borne but Herode for madnesse soughte to slea him in his verie infancie The Pharises Scribes the bishops priestes and Lawyers swelled at hys preaching neuer left till they had slaine him And this rule with the prelates and hipocrites hath continued euer since stil shall doe til the latter day Onely is there and shall be a moderation that some time it is not so extreme as at some For if it were alwayes alike there shuld none be left THE TEXT 1 And there appeared a great wonder in heauen 2. A woman clothed vvith the Sun 3. and the Moone vnder hyr feete 4. and 〈◊〉 on hir head a crovvne of xij starres 5. And shee vvas vvith chylde 6. and cryed trauelyng in byrth 7. And payned readie to be deliuered The Paraphrase 1 And there appeared saith Sainct Iohn a great token in heauen For no wonder is this token héere to bée taken as in other places of the scripture but for a type or figure contayning vnder misterie great things A woman was séene clothed with the sonne yea of Iohn For to Gods onely electes is the veritie shewed to auauntage Not Marie Christes mother is this womaÌ„ thogh many hath so fantasied in their commentaryes But it is the true christian churche of whome Marye is a moste notable member 3 This woman the church as SalomoÌ„s canticles specifie is fair louely pleasaunt sweet holsome delectable vndefiled as the Mâ—ne excelent in clearnesse as the sunne and glorious as an armie of men with theyr banners and stremers This woman is bewtifully decked with the shining sunne of rightuousnesse None is of hir that hath not don on Iesus Christ being renued in their hartes by faith They are not hir childreÌ„ that persecute gods word no more thaÌ„ was Annas and Caiphas Ioannes and Alexander 4 This woman séemed to haue the moone vnder hir féete To the church or congregation of God are all other creatures subiecte All moouable things hath the Lorde subdued vnto hir Shée is the right heire and inheritor of theÌ„ through Christ they with hir to be deliuered from the bondage of corruption and to serue in libertie 4 Upon hir head was also a crowne of twelue starres which betokeneth not onely the twelue Apostles declaring the glorie of Christes kingdome immediatly after his death
time of Christes preaching or the time of the gospell preaching from Christes assencion to the latter ende of the world That is the very time of the féeding of his Church And not open is this féeding here but in secret in the wildernes among a sort vnknowne to the worlde hauinge the pouertie of the spirit without shaâ—ing anoynting or hypocrits apparrell And not onely hath the Lorde thus nourished hys people in this spirituall respecte but also in body When they haue bene greuously handled spoyled of their goodes imprisoned and exiled graciously hath he reléeued them and prouided for them both solace and comeforte at the handes of them whom they neuer saw afore So that the iust hath not felt himselfe forsaken nor his children séeking bread THE TEXT 1 And there was a great battayle in heauen 2. Michaell and his Angels 3 Fought with the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels 4. And preuayled not 5. Nether was their place found any more in heauen 6. And the great Dragon that olde serpent called the deuill and Sathanas 7. was cast out 8. Whiche deceiued all the worlde 9. And he vvas caste into the earth and his Angelles were cast out vvith hym also The Paraphrase 1 And there happened at that time sayeth sainct Iohn a great battayle in Heauen In the Churche is euermore variaunce and strife wtout ceasinge betwixt the spirite and the flesh the good and the bad the faithfull and the vnfaithfull None other is this battayle but a very contradiction a diuersity in fayth study opinion wyll and worke aboute the lawes or commaundements of God and also about the lawes and tradycions of men This battaile is waightie in cause multitude and continuance The cause thereof is Christe the Gospell faith rightuousnesse mans health Gods high honour and such other lyke on the one partie Upon the other party the cause is errour hipocrisie lyes Idolatrye auarice pryde cruelty fylthynesse with al such other So great is the multitude that none is founde out of it None is there but are in this army Eyther they are good or bad faithfull or vnfaithfull rightuous or vnrightuous The rightuous are of the host of Michaell the vnrightuous are vppon the dragons side Continued hath this battayle from the firste beginninge and so shall styll to the latter ende Yea though the dragon be bound or tyed vp vnder the seauenth seale opening that he rage not then as he hath done afore Yet shall the spirit of wickednes and a mind to do mischief raigne inwardly styl in his members for Sathan can be but a Sathan and a Diuill a Diuill 2 Michaell and his Angels fought valyauntly with the dragon Spirituall are they whiche hath done on Christ after the minde of Paule and spirituall is their armoure Theyr gyrding is verytie their brest plate rightuousnesse their shielde a sure faith their wepon the word of God their helmet the hope of health and for stedfastnesse of their féete their shooinge the gospel By interpretation is Michaell to say who is as God or who is like vnto god And he betokneth the constant minister sincere teachers of the Gospell The Angels of Michael are al they that in a sure faith coÌ„fesseth the eternall magnificeÌ„ce of God and that none is lyke vnto hym Contrarywise the Dragons Angels are the hipocrits lying prophets and erronius teachers 3 These fight with the Dragon and the Dragon and his Angelles with them For he that is not with Christe is against hym With the rituous is Michael For ministring spirits are the Angels ordained for the coÌ„fort of theÌ„ which shall be saued And coÌ„maunded they are to wait vpoÌ„ the faithfull to preserue and defend theÌ„ The wicked sort haue the Diuil and his chaplaines to fight for them the rightuous haue Michael and his Angels The wicked fighteth with errours lyes the rightuous with the only verity of God 4 As vengeable as fierce as they are yet preuaile they not neither is their place found any more in heaueÌ„ Faith hath the victory by the promise of god though the blinde world séeth it not OuercomeÌ„ ar the wicked wheÌ„ their enterprises taketh not clene ouerthrowne wheÌ„ theyr beggery is conteÌ„ned And neuer is the full victory gotten no more theÌ„ it was in christ til the tabernacle of this body be laid aside At that day is the crown gotteÌ„ whom the Lord hath layde vp for the rightuous And lyke as there is dayly fighting so is therin some daily victory Dayly ar the angels of darknes ouerthrown daily are they cast out of heaueÌ„ which is the true church Daily are they coÌ„demned by the worde of God iudged for rebels against the holy ghost whose sin is neuer forgeuen 5 No place haue they any more with the chosen no electioÌ„ nor acceptation afore god The more light they haue had the more they haue tasted of the truth now forsaking it rebelling against it with the diuill the farther they are froÌ„ god the more nigh vnto daÌ„nation Neuer beléeued he truely that so had receiued the word Let none think to be saued vnlesse he perseuereth to the ende 6 And the great Dragon or capâ—tayne of all the vnfaithfull sorte that olde croked Serpent which deceiued Adam is called the diuill or malycious accuser yea and also Sathan the most cruell aduersarye with all hys clyentes and spirituall adherentes are certayne and sure to be cast out 7 With the rightuous they shall haue no porcion for all their gloryous tytles With the godly shall not their names be registred for all their holy vnccions But with the prince of this worlde they shall be throwne foorth 8 For he by them and they by him hath deceiued all the world in lying tokens and wonders and in the operation of errours to the vtter dampnation of all them that consenteth to their wickednesse 9 And he was cast into the earth his Angels also were caste out with him which is not els but that they are reserued to eternall damnation For seruing the creature rather than the Lorde that made all God hath forsaken them and geuen them ouer to theyr owne shamefull lustes All grace and goodnesse hath he taken from them and in all darknesse hath he left them Nothinge is now behinde but hell fyre prepared for the diuill and hys Angelles The church thus fyrste bringinge forth Christ among the Iewes and so by their cruelty driuen out into the wild deserte of the Gentiles hath bene there fedde of God in percecution euer since and shall be styll tyll the tearme come out of the aforesayde thousande two hundreth and thrée score dayes whose end is in the Lords handes THE TEXT 1 And I heard a lowde voyce whiche said 2. In heauen is now made saluation and strength 3. And the kingdome become our Gods 4. And the power his Christes 5. For he is cast dovvne which accused them before God day and night 6. And they ouercame him by
the bloud of the Lambe 7 And by the worde of their testimonie 8. And they loued not their liues vnto the death 9 Therefore reioice ye heauens and ye that dvvell in them 10. Wo to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea 11. For the diuill is come dovvne vnto you 12. Whiche hath great vvrath 13. Because he knovveth that he hath but a short time The Paraphrase 1 And I hard a mighty great voice saith sainct Iohn which is the whole agremeÌ„t of all the sacred scriptures And the voice sayd thus vnto me 2 Now is there in heauen saluation in the church is the helth of soule now that the idolatry with other abhominatioÌ„s is thrown forth and she cleane deliuered from their beggery Now appereth the power of the Lord that his Gospell is truely preached 3 Now is it become our Gods kingdome that theyr doctrine is not of men 4 Now hath it the whole strength of his anointed Al Christs labours merits and deseruinges his natiuitie passion resurrection and ascencion is now hir owne good Christes victory is theirs his crown his scepter his seate and kingdome is theirs Yea the possession of his fathers right hand is theirs 5 For the enimy of our brethren is throwne downe which cruelly accused them before god day and night The aduersarye Sathen which quarelled before the Lorde against pacient Iob and vexed hym sore in his substaunce and flesh neuer ceasinge to this day to trouble the rightuous with Antichristes and Tyrauntes is now ouercome by the victory of faith and his power greatly deminished in his members Now is the kingdome of God increased much people beiÌ„g vnfainedli coÌ„uerted vnto christ 6 Conquered him they haue by no Power of theyr owne neyther merits nor works but through the inestimable strength whiche is in the bloud of the immaculate lamb Iesus Christ throgh the inuiÌ„cible word of his verity which they to the world haue testified 7 In the witnesse thereof haue they constantly suffered through faith in them haue they with him obtayned victorye ouer the worlde sinne hell death and the diuill Not theyr owne bodyes haue they spared to wyn thys conquest 8 But much more haue they loued Christ and his trueth than theÌ„selues accounting it auantage to geue their liues for hym 9 Therefore reioyce ye heauens and al you that in them in doth dwel Ye Angels aboue ordeined for mans comforte ye sainctes departed from the miseries of this worlde ye faithfull beléeuers remanyng in this life and ye feruente fauourers of the Lordes verytie be glade that your brethren hath gotten the victory of the diuill and his Angels to the glory of Christ. 10 But wo vnto the wretched inhabitaÌ„ts of the earth of the sea No small danger is towards theÌ„ that hath heard the voice of the Lord stil yet wil folow the course of this world no light peril haÌ„geth ouer their heads that are incoÌ„staÌ„t fickle wauerin giuing back with euery blast for the pleasure of theyr flesh 11 Take héede of it therefore for vnto you that are suche the diuill is come downe with his subtil suggestions and craftes with his wyly cauteles and ingines Among you doeth he remayne watchyng to haue hys pray as he did among the children of Israell when they were become vnfaithfull 12 Tares will he sow to distroy the good séed for his wrath is great to sée him selfe thus deiected his hate is excéeding beholding his kingdom decayed Among you must he wreak his anger for he can not harme the faithfull Thorowe his enuye came death first into the world If ye will escape his snares looke ye giue no place vnto him but in fayth resist him manfully 13 He waxeth now mad fretteth with him selfe He myndeth to make hauoke and to doe much mischief bicause he knoweth that his tyme is short No longe season shall he haue from hencefoorth to deceiue The latter day he perceiueth not to be farre of wherin great torments abydeth both hym and his And that maketh him so woode That maketh hym so insaciably desirous to noye not caring what spyght he worketh against God And no wicked will leaueth he vnsought to perfourme his cruell intent Woe vnto them therefore that in these dayes taketh no héede Woe vnto them that stumbreth in wanton pleasures when most daunger is and the diuill moste busie not attending to the call warnyng of God THE TEXT 1 And when the Dragon saw that he was cast vnto the earth 2. hee pursued the woman which brought forth the man child 3. And to the woman were giuen ij winges of a great Egle 4. that shee might flye into the wildernesse 5. into hir place where shee is norished for a tyme tymes and halfe a time 6. from the presence of the Serpent 7. And the Dragon cast out of his mouth vvater after the vvoman as it had bene a ryuer 8. that he might cause hir to be caught of the flood 9. And the earth holpe the vvoman 10. and â—he earth opened hir mouth 11. and svvalovved vp the ryuer vvhich the dragon cast out of his mouth 12. And the dragoÌ„ vvas vvroth vvith the vvoman 13. and vvent and made vvar vvith the remnauÌ„t of hir seed 14. vvhich kepe the commaundements of God 15. and haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ 16. and he stoode on the sea sande The Paraphrase 1 And when the Dragon or most furious serpent the diuil the head maister of pride father of lyes saw that he was throwen downe vnto the earth by the valiaunt hoast of God Or such tyme as he perceyueth the Idolatrie superstition pompe hypocrisie and other abhominable filthinesse distroied by the word of God in his malignauÌ„t Sinagoge of proud painted prelates 2 Then persecuteth he the poore woman which brought foorth the man chylde Then vexeth he the true congregation that teacheth none other but Christ and confesseth none other sauiour health and redéemer Them doeth he torment and punishe by hys mytred Mahounds and his shaueÌ„ Sodomytes subduyng vnto them for that purpose the power of Kynges and might of magistrates Then sitteth Annas in consistorie Cayphas in sessions vpon lyfe and death TheÌ„ bringeth the woman hir childe foorth in payne By the martirdom or death of godly witnesses is Christ deliuered left here behind in the harts of many 3 And vnto the woman were giuen two winges of a great Egle or the two testaments of God contayning the Prophecie Gospel with the loue of God and our neighbour And these mightie winges were giuen hyr that shée might flye with them into the wildernesse Euermore wheÌ„ dauÌ„gerous persecution is the meÌ„bers of Christes congregation which are left here behynde hath aucthoritie of the old lawe to flée from it with Iacob Moyses Dauid and Helias of the new lawe also with Christ and his Apostles If they pursue you in one citie saith the Lord flée you into an other Not onely to saue your bodies but to fructifie
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
the number of one seuenth be an infinit nuÌ„ber ther much more of many seuenthes 4 And I harde a voyce froÌ„ heauen saith S. Iohn which is all one with the aforesaid Sion is the vniuersal coÌ„gregacion of Christ all cleare froÌ„â— supersticions of men For from Sion commith the lawe of the Lord after Esay and the word of God from Ierusalem 5 This worde is as the noise of many waters whan it is in the mouthes of many diuers peoples of diuers nacions laÌ„guages one not vnderstanding an other yet knowing it eche people among them selues 6 Uery like is it also to a great thuÌ„der cracke mighty fearful and terrible to the fleshe Uery harde is thy word Lord sayde Christes disciples who is able to abide it 7 And the voice that I hard sayth Iohn was much after the noyse that the harpers make wheÌ„ they play vpoÌ„ their harps Ful of agremeÌ„t are the holi scriptures yea ful of swéet hermony concord more precious are the verities of the Lord than is golde and their melody more swéet than hony 8 With theÌ„ reioysed Dauid before the arke of the Lorde In them tooke Paule a stomake and coÌ„founded the Iewes at Damascus 9 And swéetly they vttered with their voyces a song that séemed all newe before the seat of the Lord before the foure beastes before the auncient elders This song is the word of the Lorde all new both to the good and to the il The faythfull it renueth in the spirit of their mynds prouoking them to do on a new man in Christ. The hartes of the vnfaithfull is so hardened that they in disdayn and spight doth call it new learning as did the ignoraÌ„t multitude at Caparnaum and the worldly wise men of Athens 10 Before the seate of the Lord was this song vttered which is the godly disposed multitude For like as the hart of an hipocrite is the very seate of sathan so is the harte of a faithfull man the seate of god and habytacle of the holy ghost 11 Before the iiii beasts was it opened also by this number of godly teachers which beasts ar the priuat coÌ„gregatioÌ„s of the Lord remaining here yet in the flesh in the iiii quarters of the world 12 Finally before the elders was it songe also For none other doctrine is it nor Gospell of glad tidinges than hath bin since the beginning nor than hath bene thankfully receiued of our old auncitors Patriarkes the Prophets the Apostles the faithful fathers 13 And no man could learne the new song but the aforesaide hundred and xliiij thousand which were redéemed from the earth Oh mighty wonderful yea tirrible sentence of the Lorde None that take them selues for the people of God can be accepted afore hym for the true féede of Abraham nor for the iust ministers of his worde vnlesse they be tokened afore with the holy spirit of his promise and so predestinate to the lyfe euerlasting 14 None can sincerely do that godly office to the profit of other vnlesse he be wholly taken from all fleshlye and worldly affects No man caÌ„ come vnto me saith Christ vnlesse it bée giuen him of my father 15 The wilfull Iewes beleued not bicause they were not the shéepe of his marke Neither is it of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of the onely mercy of the Lord. Necessarie is it therfore that his spirit draweth moueth inclineth the hart Els caÌ„ not the soÌ„g be swéet neither in him the singeth nor yet in the herer The notes of this new soÌ„g are gods heueÌ„ly verities registred in the faithfull hartes 16 And they that dyd signe them to the prayse of the Lord were not defiled with women With no straunge doctrines nor yet prophane worshippings is theyr faith coÌ„taminate that vnfainedly haue don on Iesus Christ. Not the spousage of their soules haue they broken by no filthy traditions of men Onely haue they with Dauyd sought the testimonyes of God and thought none lyke vnto them Onely dyd they cleaue to hys precyous lawes estéeming all other but chaffe and very whoredome in the spirite 17 Therfore are they vyrgines maryed vnto Christ in faith as were the Corinthians by Paules preachinge whoÌ„ he wished to coÌ„tinue a chast virgin vnto Christ. Neuer is the maydenhead of the soule lost till erronious doctrine be receiued froÌ„ the messengers of Antichrist the Bishops Hipocrites 18 The virgins or vncorrupted beleuers doth folow the lambe whersoeuer he becoÌ„meth They go after Christ the beleuing his word doth fashion their liues vnto it Like as they folow Antichrist the fashion their workes to his doctrine They walk in his steps that forsake theÌ„ selues with him that beareth the crosse of persecutioÌ„s with him or the suffreth deth for the truth with him And not they that séeke them selues lyuing héere in all pompe voluptuousnesse and Tiranny From this place fetch the blinde papists a great argument for their wiuelesse castity that none foloweth christ but they in this muster bicause they are vnmaried Neyther may AbrahaÌ„ Moises nor Dauid Zachary Peter nor Philip walk in this number bicause they had wyues So perillous a thing it is to haue a wife It is greate meruayle they admit Mary Christs mother to it bicause she had a husband Oh ignoraÌ„t asses very beastly Idiotes I think you follow Iudas which had neyther wyfe nor childe vnlesse he had theÌ„ sitting by other meÌ„s fyers as many of you haue yet at this same day What is vyrginitie before god more thaÌ„ is mariage No more thaÌ„ is circumcision in comparison to vncircumcision And that is nothing No more maketh the one thaÌ„ the other to a Christian life Only is it â—aith effectually working by loue that the Lord requireth of vs. Only respected he the faith of Mary and not hyr virginity They which liue in matrimony after the word of god ar accepted afore hiÌ„ for virgins so are named of S. Paule An other cauillatioÌ„ they haue that none which hath offeÌ„ded afore can be of this number But they consider not what is spokeÌ„ here afore that they wer redemed from the earth that the spirit of the lord hath purified their hartes throughe faith Neither haue they grace to remember the Christes innocency is reckened for an whole perfecte rightuousnesse vnto them that beléeue in him but they must bring in such trifles as are their owne beggerly merites 19 And therefore it followeth also These faithfull beléeuers saith sainct Iohn were redéemed froÌ„ men being the first fruites to God to the lambe By none other were they redemed than by Christ. For of all the elect nuÌ„ber he is the only rightuousnesse wisdom holinesse redemption From the corrupt blinde froward multitude hath he called them taken them and cleared them And of deformed sinners hath he made theÌ„ faire of vile pure of wretched gloryous of blinde perfectly séeing of lyars true sayers of obstinate gentle of yll good and
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
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
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
beleue his word which are the déere members of hys mitticall body No blasphemies false myracles lyes nor obprobryous slaunders rebukes spare they to blemish thy opinion to the worlde besides the most cruell kyndes of death The captaine of this wicked army is that tirrible beast whom Danyell also beheld in a vysiō with yron téeth deuouring and with nayles of brasse distroying and stamping the residue vnder hys féete 7 This horrible beast saith S. Iohn this filthy body of Antichrist comprehending all the great aduersaries of the Lord was taken sodainly 8 And with hym the false Prophet or beast rysing out of the earth betokening his false preachers 9 Which wrought vayne myracles before him as did Iannes Iambres the sorcerers of Egipt before Pharao in counterfaiting Moyses and Aaron Yea by their trāsubstauntiaciōs they can take from bread the substaūce the accydents still remayning They can hold the shadow whan the body is gone besides that they can doe in Purgatorie and hell by theyr sacrifices of satisfaction 10 With such deceitful myracles and lying signes shall those be deceyued by them that hath by a false beleue receiued into theyr cōsciences the vnwholsome mark of the beast or such a corrupt fayth as shall cause their damnacion 11 And they in lyke case shal be seduced by thē that hath worshipped the beastly Image of that great Antichriste or inclyned to any worldly potentate in the vpholdinge of hys false religion So sealed Cayphas the hartes of the wauerynge multytude of the Iewes wyth that markynge yron of Sathan that they coulde be but hys ministers In no case coulde they saue Iesus but Barrabas the murtherer Though they receiued him ioyfully not long afore into the citie with Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini yet could they at that time but crye Crucifige Crucifige eum No they had powre to doe none other but to crucifie him in déede whiche is to worship the beastes Image or to folow the wicked intēt of that beastly generation as their faithfull clyants doth yet still to this day 12 Both these twayne saith the text the head and the body the beast with hys false prophete were cast quicke by the mighty iudgment of god into a déepe lake of most terrible fyre boylynge with stinkinge brimstone For vnbewares shall destruction light vpon that cursed generatiō according to the faithfull request of Dauid and sodenly shal they fall into their owne mischiefe 13 Without warning shall the great day of the Lordes indignation light vpon them and bring thē to nought for euer Hastely shall death attache thē for their wickednesse sake and quicke shall they droppe into hel with Chore Dathan and Abyron As a waightye stone or leade shall they sinke to the bottome and the pit shal swallowe them vp for their exceding rebellion For like as they stode vp against Moyses Aaron so hath this beastely generatiō against God and his Christ. Therfore are they here specifyed after a moste strange terrible sort to be throwen foorth For thrée causes may it be that they are called here quick One is in that their stinking remnaunt shall at that dreadfull daye bée a liue after the doctrine of Paule An other in that they haue wilfully vpon a set mallyce resisted the knowen verytie detortinge it to their owne propre lust If I had not sayth Christ done among them such workes as neuer man did they should be fautelesse But they haue certienly knowen thē yet haue they hated both me and my father The Paganes not beleuing are iudged all ready and go to hell dead where as they knowing the will of their Lorde and not doeing it shall after an other sort be plaged Fyre shall they haue with heate and brimstone with stinke The thirde is in that they shall haue palpable darkenesse with weping and gnashinge of téethe their worme neither dying nor yet their fyre going out And lyke as the Diuell was throwne forth at the death of Christ and soone after that the prelates and Pharises of the Iewes as the head with the body so shall at that tyme Antichrist with his church the Pope with his clergy and Mahomete with his sectes as the head with the body also 14 The residue sayth saynt Iohan as Kinges captaynes strong weake high lowe greate and small were slaine with the sharpe two edged sword of hym that yet to this houre sytteth vpō the horse which is Christ Iesus in the gloryfied nature of his manhode 15 This mighty sworde proceded out of his reuerende mouth For it is the stronge worde of him that lyueth for euer and hath in it both sprit and life Necessary it is for thē that hath bene eyther seduced by their crafts or coacted by their threateninges to be towched with his sword For he that is not therby slayne from sinne the world shall not ryse vp to the lyfe which is in Christ. Hée that is not with hym dead from the ordinaunces of menne but styll is ledde with tradicions can not be clere from the cursse nor yet be the heyre of promise Therfore must they be slayne dead with this sword eyther to repentaunce amendement of life or else by the harde iudgements of the same to eternall dampnation 16 Which waye so euer it be all the aforesayd foules or peoples whome God hath raysed from this worlds affections shall be fulfylled with their fleshe Whether they be saued or dāpned they wil most highly reioyse cōsidringe it is the pleasure of GOD. Both wayes shall they be satisfied I◠they be saued than must they be glad for that their number is so muche the more increased and for the their selues hath escaped lyke daunger If they bée dampned than must they reioyce also to se the right iustice of God For the rightuous shall make mirth beholding the vengeaunce and shall washe their handes in the bloud of the wicked all fleshe abhorring to loke vpon them The xx Chapter THe laste enterprise of Sathan the common aduersary of mā doth this chapter folowing declare fetching an originall from the béeginning of Christes spiritull kingdōe to conclude with the whole for our necessarie instruction As a briefe rehearsall of all that is in a maner spoken afore was this vnto Iohn leaste hée shoulde of obliuiousnesse forget as mannes nature is forgetful these wōderfull misteries and singuler premonishments of the Lorde most expediēt to be knowen of his church That she might by them s◠aforehande the wily craftes of the diuell and his members and to beware of them Besids that to take courage patiently to suffer their cruell persecucions For a thing oft rehersed departeth not so soone the memory as that is but once tolde Which caused this Euangelist not onely here in this place but also in his Gospell first Epistle ofte to repeate the sayinges least he shoulde seme fayntely to passe them ouer and bycause the reader shoulde the more earnestly marke them THE TEXT 1 And I savve an Angell
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
that we nowe haue of the sea shall cease in that day of the Lorde whan we shall beholde hym face to face No longer shall it be subdued vnto vanitie no more than the other creatures but clerely depured from fylthy corruption No more shall it be the same to sée to being frō thens forth so claer◠as cristall though it styll be the same in substaunce 6 Heauen earth the sea wyth all other creatures in mistery thus renewed I Iohan the sonne of Zebede the same dysciple whom Christ loued being here in exyle for hys worde testimony perceyued in the saue mystery by the singular gyfte of the spirite the the selfe holy cytie or congregation of the Lorde whych is worthely called the new Hierusalem of peace descended downe out of heauen from hir omnipotēt creator God eternall 7 Holy is this cyty For both is she here the vndefiled spouse of the lambe and shal be hereafter more perfectly in the regeneracion Here admytteth she nothing in faithe that is prohpane and carnal but cleaneth to his only worde There shal she folowe his steppes in a much more pure estate clearly delyuered from all that is ill 8 Here is she newe in that she hath here by his godly spririte done of the olde man wyth hys fylthy workes And ther shal she also be new through hys gifte by throwinge awaye the bodye of sinne wyth death and corrupcion 9 Hierusalem is she called both here and there or peceable city of the Lord in that all hir cytizens are here of one faith and ther shal be of one glorious vnity and concorde Here are hir dwellers citizens with the saintes the househould seruants of god Ther shall they be both hys chyldren and heires togyther wyth Christ. 10 From God came she downe and out of heauen fyrste of all Neyther out of flesh nor bloud hath spronge hir Christen beléeue but frō the gracyous openinge of the father which is in heauē That Hierusalem saith Paul which is frée our mother is from aboue She is that Cytie whose builder and maker is God With none other lawes is she gouerned but with hys eternall testament and Gospell of peace With the constitutions of men hath she nothing to doe be they neuer so holy and precious For alone she dependeth on God and hys spirite 11 Of hym is she prepared through the gyft of fayth She is clensed with the fountayne of water in the worde of lyfe to séeme a glorious congregation without blemysh or wrincle From hir sinnes is she purely washed in his bloud 12 And so garnyshed as a beutifull bryde to hir husbande with loue ioye peace paciēce méekenesse long suffering other glorious fruites of the spirit Upon thy right hand Lorde sayth Dauid standeth a quene in a garmēt of most fyne golde compassed with diuersitie But euery man shall not se this hir apparell for it wil be rather a rayment of the harte than of the outwarde body Figured was this decking of hir at large in the wonderfull adourning of the temple and tabernacle of God in the dayes of Moyses and Salomon whose mysticall meting also he describeth in his cantycles How maruelous this newe Hierusalē wyll be in the regeneration whan shée meteth hir spouse in the ayre and how glorious hir countinaunce wyth him it lyeth not in vs to declare in all poyntes considering that neyther eye hath séene nor eare harde neyther can the hearte coniecture what God hath there prepared for them that loue hym but of this are we sure that wyth the glorye of him she shal be replenished Here is hir estate vnperfect and there perfect here mortall there immortal here sower ther sweet here harde there pleasaunt here paynfull there dilectable here Godly there inestimable glorious 13 And as Iohn had séene these wonderfull thinges and mused much vpō them a great voyce came vnto hym from the seate of God declaring the mistery thereof I hard sayth he in the middest of this last reuelation as I was in doubt what it ment a mightie voyce from the throne of my euerlasting Lorde saying thus vnto mée 14 Beholde Ihon beholde marke it both for thyne owne erudicion and also for the instruction of others The holy tabernacle or restyng place of the euerlastinge God of heauen is wyth men in the worlde beneth Not onely in that the eternall sonne of the Lorde toke vpon him the shape of a man callyng it the temple of hys body but also in that the soule of euery faythfull man is become the habitacle of the holy ghost He that loueth me sayth Christ obserueth my word In hym will both I and my father prouide vs a resting place He that is in loue abideth in god and God dwelleth in hym 15 This voice might Iohn well heare from the mouth of God in Esechiell I will make sayth he ther a perpetuall couenaunt wyth man to dwell with hym euermore My tabernacle shal be amonge them So that I wyll be their God and they shal be my people 16 For why it foloweth here in this voyce that he hath determined of fauourable loue mercy to dwell with them assisting them here in thys lyfe by hys spirite and in the lyfe to come shall he satysfye them by his eternall presence For here doe we sée hym in a similytude farre of there shall wee beholde hym lyke as he is in dede and shall eternally reioyce therein 17 Here are they his people through fayth for Israell is his heritage There shall they be his familiar housholde through loue and he their Lord for euer Here shall they be his chyldren and he theyr eternall father Ther shall they be his heyers Christ being the right heyer for them all 18 Thus God his owne selfe of hys inestimable goodnesse being presētly with them shall here by his grace and therby inestymable benefites shewe him selfe in all poyntes to be theyr moste mercyfull and louing God Here doth he strongly assist thē agaynst all temptations of enimyes There shall be endue them wyth full perfection and clerenesse 19 So shall he be theyr god that neither here nor yet ther shal they knowledge any other but hym alone Hée shall so comfort them here by his spirite and ther by his glorious presēce that neyther shall they here forsake hym nor there be deuyded from hym 20 And thys euerlasting god shall so wype away all teares from their eyes here that no vexacion shall make thē sorowfull nor yet aduersitie pensyue But all maner of slaunders and persecutions shall they take for most suffren consolations for his names sake For if he be wyth them who can preuaile against them 21 And after that day can no wepings be whereas shal be full ioye with immortalitie both of soule and body Beholde sayth the Lorde in Esayes prophecye I shall make a ioyfull Hierusalem yea and my selfe will reioyce there with them From thence forth shall neyther waylyng nor weping be harde in hir
they comprehended whych hauynge the wisdom of the spirite inflameth other wyth it prouokinge them thereby to the loue of god their neyghbour Thus did Moyses and Esay Barnabas and Paule in whome the glorye of the Lorde apeared plentiously 13 The eight was of a Berall which is of a pale grene coloure betokening those faithfull persones whych of christiaÌ„ compassion hath dolorously lamented the fall of theyr brethren Of this godly natur was Steuen which prayed for them that stoned him to death So was afore hys tyme Samuell whych mourned for Saul whan hée sée hym cast out of the Lordes fauour 14 The nynth was of a Topaze whych hath in hym the colours of all other stones And thys signifyeth theÌ„ whych are with all vertues adourned Lyke as was Daniell the man of desires and Iohn the Euangelist which wrote thys present prophecy whom Christ much loued The clere workes of these and such other wolde hée to shyne vnto men that by them the father might be glorifyed 15 The tenth was of a Chrisoprasos whose condicion is to shyne lyke gold and yet he is gréene in sight Suche are they whych hauing godly wysdoÌ„e vttereth it accordinge to the tallent geuen them of the Lorde thereby renewing the dull spirites of other vnto heauenly things Among this sort may Ezechiell be numbred which saw many wonderful visions so may SimeoÌ„ and Anna in the Gospell 16 The eleueÌ„th was of a Iacinct which is in coloure lyke vnto water spred ouer with bright sonne beames And this betokeneth those that are baren from the â—cience and learninge of this worlde and yet haue knowledge from aboue Uery Idiots appeare they in the sight of men and yet are they taughte of God to disclose most wonderfull secrets Of this sort were Oseas Iohel and Amos wihch was but a poore shepard with the other inferiour prophets And so were Andrew Philip Thomas with the other Apostles and Disciples 17 The twelft was an Amatist purple violet rose coloured And this betokneth them that are feruent méeke and constaunt in the Lords truth and that hath bene alwaies ready to shed their bloud for it Such were the vnbrethren in the Machabées with their most faithfull mother So was also Iames the more and Antipas the faithfull witnesse with other disciples martirs None can shewe a more token of loue than he which giueth vp his lyfe for his friends This sort dyd Christe proclaime altogether blessed sayde that the kingdom of heauen was their own Thus signifieth these xii foundatioÌ„s that the godly ministers of Christes congregation haue builded vpon him according to the diuers graces which god hath geuen theÌ„ some gold some siluer some precious stones But they that haue brought vnto this building tiÌ„ber hay or stubble which are customes tradicions dum ceremonies or els worldly honors riches voluptuous plesures are not in this heauenly number admitted Figured are these foundatioÌ„s in the precious stones which were in the brest flap of Aron that hye priest in the preious decking of the king of Tirus necessary shal it be for him that will more largely know the natural properties of theÌ„ to resort vnto Plinius in the xxxvii Booke of his naturall historye or vnto Bartilmew de proprietatibus reruÌ„ for the vnderstanding of misteries vnto S. Hierom vpon the liiii chap. of Esay or vnto Beda Haymo Costasy BacoÌ„â—horpe Elyne Tilney such other as hath written great works vpon the apocalips Ynough is it for vs to shew you after the minde of S. Augustin these stones to signifie the diuers graces of the holy ghost For all these thinges doth one spirit of the Lord work deuiding seueral gifts vnto euery maÌ„ at his pleasure which ar not wtout their preciousnes beuty excelleÌ„t glory as will appere in the glorius day of the childreÌ„ of god The Text. 1 And the tvvelue gates vvere xii pearles 2. And euery gate vvas of one pearle 3. And the streat of the citie vvas pure golde 4. As a thorough shining glasse 5. And I savv no temple therein 6 For the Lorde God almightie and the Lamb is the temple of it 7. And the citie hath no neede of the sunne neither of the moone to lighten it 8. For the brightnesse of God doth lighten it 9 And the Lamb is the light of it 10. And the people vvhich are laued shall vvalk in the light of it 11. And the kings of the earth shall bring their glory vnto it 12. And the gates of it shall not be shut by day 13 For there shall be no night there 14. And ther shal enter into it none vnclean thing 15. Neither vvhatsoeuer vvorketh abhominatioÌ„ or maketh lies 16 but thei which are vvritten in the Lambes Booke of life The Commentary 1 Consequently saith the Angel vnto Iohn the xii gates or openinges into this citie were twelue fayre pearls For dilectable and precious is the doctrine of the gospell whereby men doe enter into the kingdome of God on euery side or in euery quarter age of the world 2 And euery gate by him selfe was of one pearle like as were the foundations of one precious stone euermore in their kindes In token that the verytie of Christ is whole perfect vnbroken in it selfe lyke as is his cote without seame A speciall commodyty is it in cities to haue their gates stroÌ„g and bewtifull And so is it in the kingdome of God that they which open vnto rightuousnesse be more feruent in the truth and of a more sincere life thaÌ„ the residue For they shoulde be both the salte of the earth and lighte of the world Though these gates be many yet haue they but one entraunce for eche one of them is but of one pearle But one mediatour is there betwene God and man which is Iesus Christ None maye come vnto the father but by hym onely Alone is he the dore the waye the verytie lyghte life 3 And as concerning the cytie within the great strete thereof was as of pure golde so fyne fayre and cleare all the bryght shining glasse that maye be séene through without any maner of impediment or dymnesse Thys strete is the large commynalty or the sayntes whom the father of heauen by his power made of froward stones the perfect children of AbrahaÌ„ whan he couched them here togyther in the verity of one christian fayth shall here after ioyne in such perfectioÌ„ of loue as possible can not be dissolued 4 Precious are they here through fayth in Christes bloud and there shal they be pure both in loue and lyfe incorruptible Oure reioyse sayth saint Paule is not in carnall wisdome but in the greate grace of God in singlenesse of hart in a sincere fayth Your glorye are we euen as you are ours also in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ. 5 In this glorious citye sawe I no temple builded saith Iohn for the Lord God almighty which is the eternall father and
the lambe Iesus Christe which is his eternall sonne is the holy full and perfect temple therof None outwarde priesthoode ceremonye nor sacrifyce for fiue coÌ„maundeth Christes doctrine to his congregation The golden measure of his word which diffyneth and iudgeth all thinges necessary therevnto appointeth no such matter For in no teÌ„ples made with stone dwelleth God which wil be all in all Only is required of them a sacrifice from the soule which is the very temple of God In his onely name shoulde the faithful sort ther offer vp themselues And therefore Christ appoynted Uespasian and Titus to turne ouer the great temple of Hierusalem and vtterly to destroy that priesthoode because we should put no trust in suche thinges nor yet be addict or bound to places A damnable inuencion is it of Antichrist that the suffragans halloweth the sinagogs to bringe them into al kinds of superstition They constitute also a feastfull daye to the honour and worshipe therof called the dedication which is most abhominable wickednesse Truthe it is that after the Apostles time ther were places appointod where as the congregacion met together once in the weake for the hearinge of Gods word and for the holy communion and that was called the oratorie or house of praier But that house was not exercysed nor coniured crossed nor smered blessed nor be sprinkled wyth water Neyther was there at that time anye aulter set vp in it anointed with oyle creme to offer any newe sacrifice vpon Consider also that the appoinmente of this bare house withoute aulter or images was lefte to mans ordinaunce without any exprest commaundement of Christ that it should be thought of no reputacion For in spirite and veritie wyll god only be worshiped And for this cause after that Christ had dryuen the byers and sellers out of the temple he commended none other temple vnto vs but his body which he raysed vp in the daye of his resurection to our behoue 6 God therfore is our temple and his Christ. In them ought we to do sacryfice and in none other In their faith should our workes labours studies be grounded only if we couet them to profit vs. Iohn for his time could sée none other temple but this The Lord of his tender mercye graunt vs to be Iohns in this behalfe Iohn beheld also at the Angels demonstration that this Citie had neither néede of Sunne nor Moone to minister light vnto it as the olde Hierusalem had Neither hath Christes congregation néede of mans naturall reason nor yet of hys worldly wisdom coniectures nor practises subtilties nor wiles polices nor witts inuencions nor traditions No neither of their philosophy nor sophystrie the decrées nor sentences of the great Lawyers Schoolemen which all is but darknesse and blindnesse 8 For the brightnesse of God sheweth theÌ„ light sufficient His shining verytie his pure gospell and his vndefiled lawes cleareth their vnderstandings A lanterne to their féete is hys heauenly word Only doth that clerenesse suffise them whiche faith offereth vnto them 9 Onely are they contented with the light they haue of the Lambe which is the bright Sunne of rightuousnes He is the Lamp the Candle and the flaming Cresset of this citie None other admonisher haue they néede of none other counseller nor teacher Accursed holde they him that bringeth any other doctrine than his though he were an Angell from heauen For he is the only light of the world the brightnesse euerlasting the vndefiled myrrour of the maiestie of God and the Image of his infinite goodnesse Whoso euer foloweth him can in no wise walke in the darknesse The dayes wyll come saith the Lorde in Hieremy that a man shall not néede to teach his neighbour or brother for they shal know me froÌ„ the highest to the lowest I shall plante my lawe in their inwarde partes and write it in theyr hartes 10 And the people of al maner of regions which are predestinate of God to be saued shall walke in the clearnesse of the light None other wisdome helth rightuousnesse and redemption shall they seke than they finde in him Neither shal they care for Mary nor Ihon rodes nor reliques hedes nor holy water masses nor merites For so shall he shyne vpon them and his glorie apere in them that the cloudes of Antichrist and his false prophits shal take no place So liuely shall the rightuous waxe in that faith of saluacion that they shall become not only the children of clernesse but also very lyghtes in the Lorde 11 Morouer vnto this heauenly light shall the myghty kynges of the earth bringe their glory magnifycence and honour as did the wise men of the East which offred rewardes vnto Chryste They shal be conuerted from their erroures to a sincer beleue in the Lord as were in the Apostles tyme Abagarus Egippus and Gundoforus And since their dayes the mighty Emperour great ConstaÌ„tine Iouinian Theodosius and diuerse other Yea some were so feruent in that faith that gladly they suffred death for it Of whose numher were here in Englande saint Edmound Oswalde Ethelbert Edwyne and Fremonde with a greate sorte more in other Christian regions All kinges saith Deuid shall worshipe him and all paganes shal do him seruyce Amonge these are not they to be rekâ—ned which leauing their kingdomes hath made them selues monks and friers or hath founded masses and monastaries to be praied for For they neuer brought theire glorye to thys light No more haue they done which hath enriched the cleargye gluttinge them with possessioÌ„s and setting them vp in a glitteryng pompe But rather haue they sought darknesse than light blyndenesse than to be taught of god Some haue thought them selues in our age clearly coÌ„uerted to thys lyght But ryghtly hath their iniquitie lyed vnto them For nothynge haue they done lesse than broughte vnto Chryste theyr glorye Truthe it is that they haue discharged them selues of the Pope and to some of hys sects They haue plucked downe shrynes and Images that receaued offeringes and dayly worshippings with a fewe superstitions besides but still bringing vp whelps of the same false generation both bishops prists Stil haue they to this day the same wicked rits and ceremonies that they had afore And when thei should bring ani thing to a right christian order according to Christes first institution they cannot away with it Great is the vengeance terrible heuy and fearefull the iudgement that abideth them 12 And as concerning the great gates of this Citie which are the true vnderstandings of the Lordes verities they shall not be shut vp by day Hidden shall they not be to them the walke in this light All that Christ hath receiued of his heauenly father leaueth he manyfest and plaine vnto his faithfull leuers Not only openeth he their feble vnderstandings but also sendeth them his spirit to deduce them into al godly knowledge 13 For in that citie shal be no night No doctrine of darknesse nor fylthye mist of
mens imaginations can haue place where Christe is euer residente and his verytie manifest The nighte of infidelytie is cleane gone from theÌ„ which hath obtained the euerlastinge day The cloudes of filthy errours abideth not where the true sunne hath alwaies dominion The stronge powers of hel shall not be able to preuaile where as faith is perfect and sure So goeth the Lorde before his true Israelits in this piller of fire that the night is vnto them all one with the day That is vnto other darknesse in parables is vnto them the clere light and the euidentlye knowne misteries of Gods kingdome In the common translation that is dayly read in the Temple it foloweth that they shall bring the glory and honour of the heithen into the same citie which is not founde in the Gréeke And by this is it signyfyed that the apostles and other godly preachers sins their time conuerting the gentles haue not only brought into the christian Churche by theyr preachings many of theyr phylosophers whose glory hath bene their wisdome and learning but also theyr princely potentates whose honour consisted in power possessions magnificence Of this sort was the chamberlaine of Quéene CaÌ„dace to whom Philip declared the prophecie So was Cornelius the noble Centurion which was instructed and baptised of Peter So were also Dionisius the Areopagite Apollo of Alexandria and Aquila the Italiane with diuers other whom Paul conuerted in his progresse And after theyr dayes were of this company Iustinus the martyr Quadratus Aristides Tertullyane Origyne Cyryll Basyle Iohn Crysostome Augustyne Hieronimie with an infinite number els So was Lucius the firste Christian King of this region Philippus the Emperour with many other great gouernours which both builded almes houses for the poore and made other godly prouision els This is the precious spoile they brought out of Egypt and the fruite they haue planted in the Lords vyneyard As Esaye prophesied they enioyed the streÌ„gth of the paganes and tryumphed in theyr glory but not in their superfluous toyes and vanities as doo the Papistes 14 For into this citie saith the text or congregation which is from within vnknowen to the world shal nothing enter that is vncleane or that after any sort defyleth No rightuousnesse of men which is afore God but as the cloth stayned with meÌ„strue No tradicions merytes nor masses apere they neuer so holye For all that is done besides the prescriptes of his worde is plaine abhomination and filthinesse None that is gelded or â—oacted to chastitie by papisticall vowes None that is borne of a coÌ„cubyne or that maketh a new supersticious professioÌ„ No misbegotten Moabytes and Ammonites betokening all sectes of perdicion are allowed of the Lorde vnto this congregacion Onely are they accepted for Citizens thereof which are renewed in faith by the spirit of Iesus Christ. 15 Whatsoeuer it be that worketh abhominacion in vncommaunded worshippings or maketh lyes in Hipocrisie is clerely sequestred froÌ„ this vndefiled citie The constrayned virginitie of priestes which hath made so many Sodomytes Confession vnder a stole that hath bredde so many false traytors and théeues The two horned order of Bishops that hath hatched so many proud gluttoÌ„s and murtherers The anoynted priesthoode the hath so many Idolatours The vnholy profession of monkes that hath brought forth so many stinking hypocrits with suche other sedes of the diuell hath héere no place at al. For nether whormongers nor yet Idoâ—l worshipers nor buggerers nor Gomoreans nor extorcioners nor couetuouse brybers nor dronkardes nor blasphemers of the Lordes word nor cruel destroyers of innocentes can in any wise inherit the kingdome of God 16 But they onely shal possesse that which are writen in the Lambs booke of lyfe or that were predestinate ther vnto in Christ before the worlds constitution to be holy and vnspotted in his sight These are they whoÌ„ he hath a perpetuall remembrance whom he hath ordained of goodnes choseÌ„ of mercy called by the Gospell iustified thorough faith glorified in the perfourmaunce of hys commaundemeÌ„ts that they shoulde be lyke fashioned to the shape of hys sonne Though these of frailnesse offende many tymes as the fleshe can doe none other yet denye they not the verytie they abhorre not the scriptures But after they haue fallen they repent froÌ„ the hart they séeke the remedyes they hate their owne déedes they call vnto Christ they lament their chaunce they honger and thyrst continually for the rightuousnesse of God and such other like Now as concerninge thys citye in the regeneration or Sabboth to come all will be golde precious stone and pearle Theyr glorye wyll bée perfect their knowledge whole and theyr iudgement in the spirite full All wyll be there square euen and right nothinge shal be croked rough and frowarde All wil be newe and precious no maner of deformitie appearing in the creaturs The bewtie of the citie will bée wonderfull the lyght inestimable the dwelling most quietous and pleasaunt There shall we clerely beholde howe myghtie maruelous hygh bewtyfull glorious perfect stronge victoryous delectable and swéet our redemer Iesus Chryst is wyth hys father and holy Ghost Here haue wée but a small taste thereof but there shall we bée fully replenyshed there wyth The xxii Chapiter Styll doth thys Chapiter folowynge whych is the laste of thys Reuelacyon prosecute the spirituall and heauenly commodities of thys Cytie concluding wyth most excellent admonicions and Godly warninges The text 1 And hee shevved me a pure ryuer 2. of vvater of lyfe 3. cleare as crystall 4. proceedynge out of the seate of God and of the lambe 5 in the myddest of the streate of it 6. and of eyther syde of the tyuer 7. vvas theyr vvoode of lyfe 8. vvhych bare tvvelue maner of fruites 9. and gaue fruite euerye moneth 10. and the leaues of the vvoode serued 11. to heale people vvith all The Commentary 1 And the Angell saith S. Iohan or gracious purpose of the Lord which coÌ„moned with me al this time to bring me yet into a farder knowledge of his misteries shewed vnto me a most pure and commodious ryuer whych was the wholesome water of lyfe None other can I suppose thys ryuer to be by the serche of the scriptures but the flowing veritie the worde of saluacion or the effectuall doctryne of Christs holy spirit That is the swéet floud of Eden which pleasauÌ„tly floweth through Paradyse visiteth the .iiii. quarters of the worlde This is the wholsome dilectable water which daily coÌ„forteth preserueth the spirituall Hierusalem from all contagious maladies This ruÌ„ning flood with his ryuers on euery syde reioyseth the cytie of god which is the habitation of the highest 2 All full of quyckenesse is it springing into the lyfe euerlasting Here is it the spirituall coÌ„fort of gods children ther shall it be the enestimable glory of the sainctes To whoÌ„ shal we go lord saith Peter but vnto thée For onely haste thou the wordes of eternall lyfe 3 So cleare is
quiet shall hée lyghten them throughlye with his most glorious presence and with him shall they raigne for euer and euer in full felicitie and glory cōtinuing In this life beginneth the kingdome through fayth but there shall it be perfourmed in the perfecte sight of the godhead The proude raigne of tyrauntes is here but for a time the lesse it is to be feared The méeke raign of the rightuous continueth for euer the more it is to be sought for and desired The fruites that are here very harde and sower vnto them shall there bée inestimable swéete gentile beautiful perfecte and pleasaunt hauing theyr full rypenesse No neede shall it be thā to run by sea and lande for the wysedome power and glory of Christ for in that day shal they be with euery one present Here haue they but little pretie beames of the light very small drops of the water and a smel of the fruites a farre of Likelihoodes figures mysteries haue they only now of the beatitude to come But there shall they be sure to haue them in full sight tast and sauer and plentuously to be satisfied with them Scarse is it here in cōparison to that it shal be there as one droppe of water to the whole sea or as an hādful of sād is to the whole earth The texte 1 And he sayd vnto me 2. These sayings are faithfull and true 3. And the Lorde God 4. of the holy Prophets 5. sen◠his Angell to shev◠vnto his seruaunts 6. the things which shortly must be fulfilled 7. Beholde I come shortly 8. Happy is he that kepeth the saying 9. of the prophecie of this booke The Commentary 1 In the conclusion of these most wōderfull reuelations saith sainct Iohn the Angell that communed with mée all this time which was the very spirite of Christ sayde thus vnto me hys poore exyled seruaunt 2 It shall become no man to dispise these wordes nor to reiecte these sayings whome thou hast here séene and harde since the first beginning of thys reuelation For they are most faythfull and true sure and perfect shall without faile at their appoynted times in euery iote be fulfylled for the true churches commoditie and profit This is here spoken for the conseruation of the hygh mysteries of thys booke least any false Antichrist hereafter as many such hath bene in déede should cōdempne them depraue them and as of none aucthoritie reporte them As the most deare treasures of God therfore doth the holy Ghost here wrappe them vp togither to preserue them vnder hys power setteth vnto them the seale of hys owne witnesse that they should euermore be taken for his After this sort did the Prophets vse their prophecies concluding alwayes thus sayeth the Lorde of hostes So did the Lord his selfe whan he sayde Uerely verely I say vnto you we speake that we knowe My doctrine is not myne but his that sent mée Of my selfe I speak not the words that I vtter The father dwellyng in mée perfourmeth the workes I am not come of my self but he that sent me is true with suche other lyke Paule doth also name him selfe the Apostle of Iesus Christ. Not I commaunde this sayth he but the Lorde The gospell that I preache haue I learned of no man but by the shewing of Iesus Christ. The Lorde that is blessed for euer knoweth that I lye not and such like So is the ende of this booke as was the begynnyng sealed with many wonderfull strong sentences of the Lorde as his whole mynde perfect will and purposed decree concernyng hys church héere in earth 3 And the same Lorde God eternall sayeth Christ vnto Iohn which hath diuersly afore tyme spoken in the holy Prophets and fathers hath now laste of all sent the Angel of his euerlasting couenaunt by him to vtter the secrets of his mynde by whom he created the world Him hath he hither dyrected in these latter dayes of the world to shewe cléerely vnto his true seruauntes of whom thou arte in these dayes princypall those wonderfull things in mysterie which must within shorte space effectually come to passe and be fulfilled in déede As the manyfolde persecutions of his churche the prosperous raigne of the beast and his shorlings with the glorious rayse of the one and dampnable fall of the other That whan troublous crosses doe come they may be the more ioyfully taken cōsidering the tyme of them short the rewarde of their sufferaunce euerlasting 4 For none other cause is God héere called the Lord God of the Prophets but that they haue through his spirite truly beleued in him the same spirit declared his mynde and pleasure 5 In the beginning of this reuelation was this Angell sent vnto Iohn alone here is he sent also vnto his other seruauntes in token that the Lord in Iohn respecteth his congregation 6 The things that must shortly follow are his iudgements in rewarding the rightuous and condempning the reprobates For a thousande yeares are but as a day before him as the tyme that is in a maner past Let euery man take héede sayeth the Lorde leaste I come vpon him vnlooked for Let them watch in fayth and pray in spirite and veritie hauing theyr weddyng garmēts with the oyle of Christian loue in their lampes 7 For beholde whan I shall come eyther to the particular ende of anye man or to the latter iugdement I wil come sodainlye neyther the day nor yet the houre of my comming knowne afore least men as they are ill of nature should dryue of till that daye to liue according to faith Of this admonition may the faythfull sorte be glad being here in aduersitie consideryng their deliueraunce is at hande theyr crowne of immortalitie not farre of 8 Happy is that man whatsoeuer he be high or lowe rich or poore learned or vnlearned that obserueth in his cōuersation and lyfe the godly sayings contayned in the prophecie of thys present booke 9 Yea blessed is he that so receyueth the premonishments thereof that neyther false prophet can deceyue him nor yet any cruell Antichrist with terrour dryue him from the righte vnderstanding and followyng of Christes pure doctrine For neyther to dogges nor swine are they here lefte to be neglected or disdayned but vnto his faythful seruauntes to be reuerently followed and had in remembraunce The text 1 I am Iohn 2. which sawe these thinges 3. and haerde them 4. And vvhan I had hearde and seene them 5. I fell dovvne to vvorshippe before the feete of the Angell 6. vvhich shevved me these thinges 7. And he sayde vnto me 8. See thou doe it not 9. For I am thy fellovv seruaunt 10. and the felovv seruaunt of thy brethen the Prophetes 11. and of them vvhich keepe the sayinges of this booke 12. Worship God The Commentary 1 Consequently bicause ye shall not suppose this matter lyght sayth sainct Iohn as many thinketh that whiche hath not the testimony of men besides the aucthoritie of God I
for hys shousholde seruauntes enioying the swéet coÌ„modyties mencioned in thys booke as pertayning to hys peculyar people 8 Lyke as are the bewtyfull trée of lyfe wyth his manyfolde fruites and leaues of wholsomnesse the swéet running ryuer of the lyuing waters and the holy citye sufficiently discribed afore with such other els None that contendeth for a mastry saith Paule shal be crowned vnlesse hée contende lawfully Arrius toke away from the tenth of Iohn this setence I the father are one Photinus added this clause to the gospell as a voyce froÌ„ the father I giue vnto Iesu his original of Mary And both their inteÌ„tes were to destroy our faith concerning christs godhede lyke as the papystes doth also our iustificacyon in hys bloude vnlesse we haue theyr lowsie masses merites A lyke adiuratioÌ„ to this hath Hireneus in the ende of his octonarie requiring al them that shal coppy out that booke to doo it truly as they will aunswers it béefore god their rightuous iudge In like case doth saint Hierome before the abreuiacioÌ„s of Eusebius chronicle coÌ„mauÌ„d that in anye wyse the veritie therof be dilygently reserued So doth also Cyrillus the Gréeke in the preface of his prophecy vnto Ioachim Abbas desiring the writings therof in no case to be corrupted of il writers which diuers other 9 In confirmatioÌ„ of the I haue sayd afore saith S. Iohn the eternall son of god which hath ratified these former things with his mighty word saith here also as one subscribing to it 10 Yea it is so or els thus Like as thou hast said Iohn shal these blasphemers here after finde it the presumeth eyther to adde or to deminish froÌ„ these scriptures for any carnall purpose 11 And to perform the promyse of thyne I wyll not long tarry I come by by to reward the wicked which swift dampnatioÌ„ for not beleuing the truth For nowe are the last dayes the endes of the worlde yea the very laste houre Ready is the Lord sayth saint Peter to iudge the quicke and dead and the ende of all things is at hande 12 Sainct Iohn hearing this of hys mercifull Lorde and sauiour lifte vp his heade and handes towardes heauen as one desirous of the perfourmaunce of Gods appoynted will and of the full deliuerance of the faythfull he sayde Amen Or be it fulfilled in effect For that is the thing which my soule dayly desireth and inwardly coueteth to the full manifestation of thy glorious kingdome 13 Consequently in the voyce of the whole congregation cryeth Iohn as did Symeon the iust Yea euen so might it be as thou hast here promised that thou mightest come out of hande 14 Oh come most merciful redemer gracious Lord Iesu Christ to iudge the vniuersall worlde Come come or hie thée hether apace to seperate the wheate from the chaffe and the lambes from the Goates so bringing them into thy eternall tabernacle Wo is mée that my banishmeÌ„t endureth so long I dwelling in the tabernacles of the sorowfull My soule hath a thurstie desire for God the fountaine of lyfe Oh whan shall I come and beholde hys face Lyke are we to those faythfull seruaunts which wayte for the return of their Lorde from the wedding very ready to open at his knocking 15 The grace of our mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ sayth saynct Iohn wherby commeth saluation to them that truly beléeueth bée with you all so many as are of that godlye expectation and desire 16 Or the fauour mercy and acceptation of God the father through his blessed death euermore preserue you in the vnitie of his godly spirite that yée may hereafter in this holye citie bée partakers of his gloryous heritage in the worlde to come 17 Let all them say Amen vnto this which myndeth the glory of the Lorde vnfaynedly So be it A conclusion of the vvhole vvorke HEre hast thou good christian reader to thy soules consolation from the eternall Trinitie the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost three distincte persons in one euerlasting godhead the vniuersall estate of the church from Christes ascencion to the ende of the world in wonderfull mysteries discrybed directed vnto thee of him by the most holy Apostle and Euangelist Saint Iohn Wherein it is fully by all due circumstances manifested of the sayde holy Ghost what the innocent Christian church is with all hir iustifications blessings to the singular comforte of the Lords true electes and what the proude Synagoge of Antichrist is with hyr filthy superstitions and plagues to their fore warning also This is specially done here of the sayde holy ghost that no true beleuer should professe him selfe a citizen of this wretched world with Cain Nemroth other reprobate vessels at the execrable doctrine of men but at the pure voyce of God with Abell and Abraham to seeke for that heaueÌ„ly heritage which is purchased for them in Christes bloud Marke heere the condition of Iohn being in most paynefull exile for he in misterie through all this booke representeth euery godly beleuer By this shall ye well knowe in this reuelation the one church from the other for the one is mayntayned by the onely preaching of Gods pure worde the other by all kyndes of Iewishe ceremonyes and heathenish superstitions And by this they also differ that Christ wold haue all of loue Antichrist of tyrannous constraint as euidently appeareth in Mahomete and the Pope For that only cause are many necessary thynges here written in mysterie that they should bee hid from the worldly wyse Hypocrites and that the iust or Gods meeke spirited seruauÌ„ts should aske them of their Lorde in fayth and prayer In the which dayly prayer is that most worthy minister of God Kyng Henry the eight afore all other to thée remembred which hath so sore wounded the beast that he may before his departure or Prynce Edwarde after him throw all his supersticions into the bottomlesse lake agayne froÌ„ whence they haue commen to the comforte of his people The grace and peace dyrected from God the Father his Son Iesus Christ with the holy Ghost in the beginning of this reuelatyon be vnto all them which vnfaynedly loue hys veritie Amen ¶ Printed at London by Thomas East Apoc. 22. 1. Cor. 6. Rom. 12 Apoc. 1. Apoc. 22. Apoc. 4. 1. Iohn 5. Mat. 16. Apoc. 14. Hebr. 7. Apoc. 1. Iohn 7. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 18. Apoc. 15. Ephe. 5. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 17. Apoc. 2. VVhy this booke is called the Image of both churches Apoc. 11. Apoc. 18. 2. Pet. 3. 2. Timo. 3. Eccle. 2. 1. Pet 5. Ephe. 6. A brief sum is this boke of the whol scriptures Luc. 24. Esay 9. Apoc. 21. Ephe. 4. Iohn 16. Hebr. 2. Apoc. 18. Col. 1. Apoc. 4. Apoc 12. Apoc. 21. Ephe. 3. August Apoc. 21. Hier. 50. Iohn 5. Mat. 7. Mat. 13. Rom. 15. Luce. 10. Iohn 21. Apoc. 1. Iohn 12. Apoc. 22. Gilbertus porreâ—a Mat. 25. Lucc 11 Mat. 5. Mark 4. Iacobus faber super Dionisium VVhat
wande of sixt cubits long and a spanne which was geuen vnto Ezechiell nor very far different froÌ„ the measuring lyne in Zacharie And what is this els but that the administratioÌ„ of Gods heauenly verytie is secretly of hym committed vnto them which hath afore receiued it and in faith digested it that they should therewith rightly measure disterne iudge all things None other is it to prophesi again in this sixt age but thus is to mete the TeÌ„ple the aulter the worshippers therin and to proue them in length bredth heigth and depth THE TEXT ANd than was geuen me a reede a Lyke vnto a rod. 3. And it was sayde vnto me 4. Arise and mete the Temple of God 5. And the Aulter 6. And them that vvorship therein 7. And the Quire vvhich is vvithin the Temple cast out 8. And mete it not 9. For it is geuen vnto the Gentiles 10. And the holy citie shall they tread vnder foote xlii monthes The Paraphrase 1 And there was geuen me sayeth sainct Iohn a Réede Both receiued I the wisdome of God and also a mouth to vtter it So that my tongue became the pen of a redy writer For so much as I abhorred iniquitie the Lorde anointed me inwardlye with thâ— oyle of gladnesse gaue me stomack to vtter his word 2 The réede which god deliuered me was lyke vnto a rod. For his worde is the rod of right order and the scepture of his kingdome With this rod sprede he out the heauens and layde foorth the firste foundation of the earth This rod of his power hath the Lord now graciously sent vs out of Sion by meÌ„ hauing his special grace as by Iohn to haue dominion héere in the midst of his enimies 3 For vnto Iohn it was sayd for this age Arise from vaine studi from cares of the body from consideration of earthly causes 4 And mete the holy Temple of God whiche is his congregation or Church Proue all beléeues whether they be right or no. Examine their works whether they spring of Gods coÌ„maundements or of mens tradicions And in so dooing try by the scriptures the corne from the chaffe Marke out the people of God from the synagoge of sathan and delay not to nourish them with the swéete fruits of the spirit 5 Measure the Aulter also which is Iesus Christ vpon whom the full sacrifice of redemption was offered For many false Christes are abrode in the worlde to seduce the people The Pope bosteth hymself for Gods owne vicar Machomet calleth himself the great Prophet of the Lord. And both they to subdue the Gospell hath set vp new lawes The Pope his detestable decrées and Mahomet his abhominable Alchoran Both they haue wrought such wounders and suche signes in supersticion as might deduce into erroure if God were not merciful the very elect persons The monkes saith that Christe is in the desert the pristes saith he is in the box but admonish my people that in no case they beléeue it The Chanons saith he is here the Fryers saieth he is there but counsell my flock that they goe not forth For God dwelleth in nothinge that is made with hand In the faithfull harte is Christe onely founde There remaineth he That is his dwellinge place 6 Therfore now last of al measure them also that worshippe in the Temple Consider them onely to be his people which séeke hym in spirit and in verytie and that worship not in outward shadowes nor in the elements of this world nor yet with obseruation of dayes and times They are not his sonnes that for the leuen of Pharises which is the doctrine of Hipocrits forsaketh the bread of children which is his liuing word They are not his Lambes but vile gotes that rather attendeth to the voice of straungers than to the true shepheard Christ. 7 And therfore the quier which is within the Temple caste oute The prelates priestes and religions which are not of the common sort seclude from Christ from his Church and from the company of true worshippers Throw foorth the bond woman and hir sonne the Rome church with the hir children and Mahomet with his rable For the bonde shall not inherit with the frée 8 Measure not out that chaunsell of charmers that college of Balams brethren those marked Madianits and cursed Ismaelits Alow theÌ„ not by the scriptures coÌ„mende not their counterfaict rightuousnes Admit them not for the members of CHRIST but iudge them to be the synagog of sathan And speare them out of the kingdome of God with the key of Dauid For they are those swine that treade pearles vnder their féete those cruell dogs that turne agayne to deuoure men Medle not with that quier haue not to doe with that wicked generation 9 For it is geuen vnto the Gentiles Wholy are those Antichristes addict to the superstitious rytes of the Heathen in their sacrifices their ceremonies their obseruations their holy dayes their vigils fastings prayings knéelings and all other vsages contrarye to the admonishment of Christe That they should in no wise enter into the waies of the Gentiles Wherfore God hath detested them with his own mouth and cleane geuen them ouer vnto their owne fylthy lusts Mow reigne they al in their owne wisdom thinking euermore their owne fleshly fantasies best wholly they are become gentiles 10 And the holy citie of whom glorious thinges are spoken they shall tread vnder foote the space of xlij moneths Not the earthly Hierusalem is this citie builded of men and made holy by the outward obseruacions and ceremonies of the Iewes as many expositours hath fantasied For of that like as Christ prophecied is not left one stoane standing vpon an other But this citie is the sure bulding of God grouÌ„ded vpon the strong foundation of the Apostles and prophets euen vpon the hard rocke stone Iesus Christ. This is the pleasant possession the wholsome houshold the sure hold and the delectable viniarde of the Lorde of hostes This is the liuing generation of them which feareth loueth and seketh their Lord God in faith spirite and verytie and not in outward shadowes These are the children of promis the true ofspring of AbrahaÌ„ the chosen house of Israell and the kingdome of the holy ghost Pure cleane and holy hath Christe made this citie by none other thinge but the onely shedding of his precious bloud 11 This citie tread they vnder foote that kéepeth downe the truth of the gospel that persecuteth sleath gods peple for it the defeateth his worde for their owne traditions that bringeth in the Iewish ceremonies the Gentiles supersticions pagans customes hetheÌ„ vsages yoking men with impâ—rtable burtheÌ„s of false worshippings for their owne filthy 〈◊〉 aduauntage Notwtstandinge thus must they do still by the sufferance of God tyll the lxij monthes be finished whiche is not els but the time the times the half time or the thousand two hundred lx daies in that God shal shorten the time for his