the ryghtouse and that shall se the peace vpon Israell whan the lorde shall leade forth them with the euyll doers that hath yoked themselues with their lawes The lorde graunt vs ones to tast the prosperyte of Hierusalem Amen The .xv. Chapter NOt onlye for the common synnes of the worlde doth the lorde plage but most of all for vnthankefulnesse of all blaâ—â—phemyes the greatest For thaâ— spurneth agaynst knowlege and dyrectlye worketh agaynst the holye Ghost A double destruccyon or decaye both of sowle and bodye by the ryghtousnesse of God must nedes folowe the wylful contempte of hys veryte manifestlye shewed and openlye taught Yet ys the lorde so mercyfull that he willeth not the dampnacion of a synner Soche compassion hath he ouer oure manyfolde weakenesse that he premonysheth vs of his most terrible plages to call vs backe by feare yf loue will not do yt As here consequentlye in the first vysyon of this present reuelacyon to Iohan which foloweth after this sort in thys xv and .xvi. chapters The Text. 1 And I same another sygne in heauen greate and maruelouse 2. seuen Angels hauynge the seuen last plages 3. for in them ys fulfylled the wrathe of God 4. And I sawe as yt were a glassye see 5. myngled with fyre 6. and them that had gotten victorye of the Beast and of hys Image 7. and of his marke and of the nombre of his name 8. stande on the glassye see 9. hauynge the harpes of God 10. And they sange the songe of Moyses the seruauÌ„t of God 11. and the songe of the lambe saynge 12. Greate and maruelouse ar thy workes lord God almyghtye 13. iuste true are thy wayes thu kynge of sayntes 14. Who shall not feare o lorde glorifye thy name 15. For thu onlye art holye 16. and all Gentyles shall come aÌ„d worship before the. 17. for thy iudgementes are made manyfest ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I sawe sayth saynt Iohan by the secrete goodnesse of my lorde God yet an other token in heauen great and maruelouse straunge and wonderfull For in the churche or congregacyon of God are euermore vttred his wonderfull and depe iudgementes vnto them only whom his grace appoynteth as vnto Iohan. And this is the token in mysterye 2 Seuen angels had in their haÌ„des the seuen last plages Some exposytours haue taken these Angels for the ryght mynisters in the .vij. ages of the christen churche Some haue thought them to be the peruerse preachers and vngodly mynisters of all the sayd ages suffred of God strongelye to delude the vnbeleuers that he which hurteth shuld hurte styll and that he which is in fylthynesse shuld styll be fylthye Vnto euerye age correspondynge an Angell to declare the nature of those deceytfull hyrelynges and lyenge masters And this maketh them so to vnderstande the text They are here expreslye noted to be in heauen Amonge the congregacyons of God are the false prophetes and dissemblynge hypocrites euermore as the chaffe amonge the corne the tares amonge the wheate and the fylthye dregges amonge the pure wyne For that kyngedome is as a nette throwne into the see and gatherynge all maner of fyshes both good and badde In all ages hath the wycked generacyon increased to impugne the truthe and styflye to stande vp agaynst God and his Christ whych is non other after their myndes than to mynistre the .vij. last plages here For no poyson is to the sowle so pestylent nor yet venime so noyfull as is false doctrâ—ne No plage can be thought more deadlye nor vyrulent than to depryue vs of that faythe of that veryte aÌ„d of that lyfe which is in Christ Iesu or to brynge vs out of that waye which he hath appoynted And all this semeth no small lykelyhode of the iust vnderstandynge of the texte here Yet geueth Frances Lanâ—bert a farre better iudgement callynge them the set sentences or vnvariable decrees of God diffinynge hys iudgementes agaynst the wycked in this latter age of the worlde at their appoynted tymes to be vttered For all these thynges are ioyntlye to be consydered These Angels came not onlye from heauen which is the congregacyon as they haue mencyoned but also out of the celestyall temple of the tabernacle of testimonye which is the omnipoteÌ„t God and his Chryst as the .xxi. chapter here of declareth They are also clothed with pure whyght lynnen gyrded with golden gyrdels they haue golden vyals delyuered vnto them by one of the .iiij. Beastes and one of them commonèth with Iohan declarynge vnto him the iudgement aÌ„d fall of the great whore Which are no argumentes that they are here to be taken for yll preachers thowgh they here mynistre the last .vij. plages Therfor shall we iudge them here to be Gods appoynted purposes or eternallye decreed pleasurs agaynst the wylfull obstynates and indurate rebellyous to the ende of the worlde These are called the last plages bycause they fall in the last age of the worlde whom Esaye Hieremye Oseas and Mycheas calleth the last dayes Iohan the last howre and Paule the endes of the worlde Seuen are they named here in a vniuersal respect both of the tymes parsones places and peruerse doctrynes of the whole worlde And also because of the .vij. seales and the .vij. trompettes to whose iudgementes they Ioyntlye agre as in the next chapter folowinge wyll apere more largelye 3 For in them sayth the text is fulfylled the wrathe of God The indignacyon of the lorde is in them whollye declared For what hate can he shewe more vnto manne than to withdrawe from him his grace to leaue him to him self to suffre him in his owne blynde iudgementes to geue hym ouer to his owne fylthye lustes and to sende hym the operacyon of erroure to his double dampnacyon A verye fulfyllynge of Gods anger is it also to appoynt vs a false Prophete or deceyuable curate a wanton Prynce or vngodlye gouernoure These therfor with soche lyke are those plages in whom is depelye accomplyshed the dyspleasure of God And they are here named the last plages for after them shall non other be seane the latter daye fynyshynge and clearynge all 4 And I behelde sayth Saynt Iohan in the same sayd vysyon as it were a glassye see or a great flowynge water in symylytude of glasse all myngled wyth fyre Non other is this see but the precyouse veryte of the Lorde so clere as glasse and so pure as christall This see gushed out of the harde rocke stone that was clouen a sonder in the desart Whan he sent forth his sprete these waters floweâ— forth in habundaunce 5 Most effectuall and quycke is this see And therfor it is here noted as myngled with fyre whych signifyeth the holye ghost For neuer is the veryte wythout Gods sprete A ferce fyerye streme calleth Danyel this see All fyerye is thy worde lorde sayth Dauid also and therfor thy seruaunt loueth it This is the fouÌ„tayne of lyuynge water spryngynge vp into the lyfe euerlastynge Vnto this
water shuld all they resort that are thurstye therof to take refreshynge 6 Vpon this glassye see were they sene of Saynt Iohan that had obtayned victorye of the Beast of hys Image of his marke and of the nombre of his name By whom are ment those constaunt christianes whych hath for all ages firmelye affermed the truthe For non aduersyte declinynge from it Strongelye haue these sens the Apostles tyme resysted the aduersaries of God by his only worde perfystynge therin vnto the deathe as ded Steuen Iames and Antipas with soche other his faythfull witnesses Uictorye haue they gotten by faythe both of the Beast aÌ„d his Image both of the great Antychryst and his supporters of the Pope and of Mahomete wyth theyr maynteyners Emprours kynges and magistrates and of all them that vsurpe theyr tytle name seate auctoryte pompe or power 7 They haue blemyshed lykewyse by the sayd worde not onlye the marke of the Beast whych is a corrupted faythe but also the nombre of hys name whych is the denyall of God Them haue they to theyr rebuke vttered and to their confusion declared They haue proued their orders dampnable their doctrine deuyllyshe their religion hypocrisye and their spiritualte playne wyckednesse condempnynge them by the scripturs as vngodlye dyssemblers denyenge the lorde which bought them These are they whom the lorde tenderlye norryshed and gracyouslye brought forth vpon the refreshynge waters conuertynge their sowles to his godlye feare and loue 8 These stande euermore on the glassye see they sett sure fotynge vpon the rocke stone Unmoueablye they perseuer in the truthe neuer denyenge yt afore menne 9 And they haue in their handes the harpes of God whych are deuoure myndes geuen all vnto godlynesse aÌ„d reioysynge in spirituall thynges 10 Harmonyouslye they synge the tuneable songe of Moyses the faythfull seruaunt of God and the melodyouse swete songe of the lambe Iesus Christ. 11 Of both testamentes they make vtteraunce declarynge the wonderfull workes and terrible iudgementes out of the olde lawe and out of the gospell of gladnesse the most swete mercye of the lorde Wythout ceasynge open they the scripturs vnto other inwardlye reioysinge in spirituall hymnes and psalmes hauynge this euermore for the standynge tenoure of their songe 12 Inestimablye great is thy goodnesse and wonderfullye maruelouse are thy workes O Lorde God almyghtye 13 Iust are thy promyses and most perfightlye sure thy wayes thu gloriouse kynge of Sayntes and graciouse gyde of the godlye beleuers 14 Who shall not euermore feare the o mightye lorde who shall not alwayes in hart gloryfye thy blessed name 15 Thu alone art holye iust aÌ„d perfight for non is there good but thy self onlye Thu art owre onlye maker redemer aÌ„d coÌ„fortoure Non other haue we for owre God but the. 16 No doubt of it but the tyme will be that all kyndes of peple both Iewes and Gentyles faythfull and heythen shall seke vnto the and shall faythfullye in veryte and sprete worship before the acknowlegynge the for their onlye lorde God 17 Because thy wonderfull iudgementes that sumtyme were secrete are now to the worlde made openlye knowne aÌ„d manifest Though this songe be lyttle and small yet is therin contayned all veryte that both Moyses and Christ confesseth at large Moreouer what so euer the scripturs comprehendeth eyther of the great omnipoteÌ„cye of God or of his most wonderfull workes eyther of hys louinge mercye or of his benigne pytie towardes manne of his gloriouse name or myghtye power or that he is to be magnifyed and feared or how that the faythfull perteyneth only to his kingedome or how that all peple shall finallye be conuerted vnto hym All is compendiouslye in this brefe songe here contayned what though it be not so worde by worde expressed And as concernynge that ys here last spoken that his iudgementes are made manyfest it is to be vnderstanded of those faythfull creaturs whom he calleth clereth and iustyfyeth and of non other For vnto them onlye are his heauenlye veritâ—es knowne to whom he wytsaueth to open them Though the other outwardlye se the iudgements of God yet do they not inwardlye perceyue theÌ„ though they boast it neuer so moche For it is not geuen them so to do They must haue eyes and not se eares and not vnderstande The Text. 1 And after that I loked 2. beholde the teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of testymonye 3. was open in heauen 4. And the seuen angels 5. came out of the temple 6. which had the seuen plages 7. clothed in pure and bryght lynnen 8 and hauynge theyr brestes gyrded wyth golden gyrdels 9 And one of the foure Beastes gaue vnto the seueÌ„ Angels 10. vij goldeÌ„ vyalles 11. full of the wrathe of God whych lyueth for euermore 12. And the temple was full of smoke 13. for the glorye of God and for his power 14. And no man was able to entre into the temple 15. tyll the seuen plages of the seuen angels were fulfylled ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And a non after that sayth Saynâ— Iohan I loked yet more aduysedly And sodenly as it were the euerlastynge teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of wytnesse was open in heauen 2 A mysterye this is verye ernestlye to be marked as a thinge of great wayght The lorde almyghtye is this eternall teÌ„ple He is the temple not made wyth haÌ„des vncreated gloriouse and full of mageste comprehendynge in him all thinges and he within non agayne comprehended He is the lorde of all He measureth heauen wyth his spanne he ouer reacheth all the worlde with his .iij. fingers In hym we lyue we moue and haue owr beynge The tabernacle of wytnesse is the lambe Iesus Christ. He is that verye tabernacle of God that was here amonge menne bearinge that faythfull wytnesse which geueth wysdome to babes He is the propiciatorye or mercye seate wherin we are harde and forgeuen Neyther was thys tabernacle of thys maner buyldynge but moche more perfyght and greatter This holye tabernacle is within the aforesayd temple for Christ dwelleth in the father and the father in him 3 Open is this temple in heauen and the tabernacle seane whan God is knowen by true preachynge and Chrystes doctrine beleued For he came into the worlde and for that purpose was borne to beare wytnesse vnto the truthe whom the father wylled onlye to be harde concernynge faythe 4 This temple and tabernacle open or God and his worde ones knowne in thys latter age the seuen Angels cometh forth The eternall decrees of Gods secrete iudgementes apereth and are fulfylled in their tymes As Angels or massengers of God they haue in his eternyte their iust plages in their season appoynted to be exhybited 5 And therfor are they seyd to come out from the temple which is God Nothynge hath he purposed to the worlde but he hath decreed yt afore the worldes constitucyon For his purpose mynde and pleasure is as he is euerlastynge And as it falleth to the worlde by his assignement it becometh a massenger
vnyâ—ersall worlde makynge them dronken wyth the cuppe of all abhomynacyons 13 And all this shall they do to gather them togyther by their wycked counsels and to brynge them into one cruell consent of battaylynge agaynst Christ and his members to receyue the penalte therof in the great daye of the lorde almyghtye 14 Most busylye they gather them to battayle whan they moue them to persecute the iust beleuers wyth full vngodlye actes as now most of all in owrage whych God hath promysed in short space to reuenge Of this wyll more be spoken in the .xix. chapter folowynge Least anye manne knowynge the truthe shuld tangle his owne conscyence with their spirituall sorceryes for feare of princes lawes vnder the vayne hope of repentaunce in the ende of theyr lyues yt foloweth in playne sentence 15 Beholde sayth the lorde Iesus Christ or ernestlye take hede vnto it for I come daungerouslye vnloked for as commonlye doth the thefe to thy hyndraunce yf thu watche not in faythe but lyue in superstycyon Though thys not wythout reasonable cause maye be taken in a geueralte for the last iudgemeÌ„t daye yet is it here spoken partycularlye of euerye mannes departynge As a premonyshment he geueth this here of loue least anye manne shuld peryshe without warnynge 16 Blessed is he sayth that Lorde which watcheth in the true christen beleue and lyueth not in the vayne but in the sure hope of lyfe sealed with the iust promyses of God For all that he â—oth shall prospere and turne hym to great aduauntage in the conclusyon 17 Happye is he also that holdeth fast vnto him his garmentes or workes of Gods prescripcion whych are the frutes of the sprete or that hath done on the Lorde Iesus Christ gyrdynge him sure vnto him self by faythe 18 Least he be fownde a naked hypocrite without faythe veryte iustyce charyte wyth soche lyke or least the ryghtouse nombre at the latter daye se his filthinesse vncouered and reioyce at his condempnacion 19 He ys blessed whych at that daye shall be couered with the whight garment of the lambe not hauynge his sinnes imputed vnto him 20 To shewe the certente of the aforesayd battayle Saynt Iohan sayth thaâ— the deuil gathered together those wicked newlers into a serten place called in the Hebrâ—â—â—onge Armagedon The vncleane spretes that afore are named thre of â—heir dyuerse workinge in the Dragon Beast false propheâ—e are here brought into one as all of one lyenge sprete whoÌ„ Christ calleth the father deuill This one lyenge sprete which hath bene a murtherer from the begynnynge comprehendynge in him all vncleane spretes lyke as doth the Beast all Antichristes hath coÌ„byned together into â—n exeâ—rable zele of fatherlye tradicyons all vayne gloryouse and vngodlye mynded gouernours agaynst God and his Christ. And this hath not bene without the secrete permission of God willynge to proue his electes by stronge sufferynges that they myght receyue at his hande the rewarde of stronge victorye or of his habundaunt ryches 21 This place here called in the Hebrue Armagedon betokeneth in misterye an hyll of dylectable frutes interpreted of some for the hyll of the Gospell and is commonlye taken of the Hebrues for that is swete or of value And this without fayle is the churche which oft tymes in the scripturs ys called the plentuouse hyll of God the hyll of Gods howse the hyll of myrhe the hyll of olyâ—es the hyll of Syon Carmelus and â—thanus with soche other lyke In thys mounte euermore are they bent to battayle There slee they the innocent lambes of Christ. All their power malyce and tyrannie is there extremelie vttred at the Antichristes laboure and desyre which are excedynglye dronken in the bloud of holye martyrs which hath bene shedde vpon earthe from ryghtouse Abell vnto this daye But whan the almyghtye setteth kynges vpoÌ„ the earthe it shall be clere euen in the darkenesse that the hyll of Basan is Gods hyll The Text. 1 And the seuenth angell poured out hys vyall 2 into the ayre 3. And there came a great voyce out of heauen from the seate sayenge 4. It is done 5. And there folowed voyces thoÌ„derynges and lyghtenynges 6. and there was a great earthquake 7. soche as was not sens men were vpoÌ„ earthe 8. so mightye an earthquake and so great 9. And the great cytye was deuyded into thre partes 10. And the cytyes of the nacyons fell 11. And great Babylon came in remembraunce before God 12. to geue vnto her the cuppe of wyne of the fearcenesse of his wrathe 13. And euerye Ile fled awaye 14. and the mountaynes were not founde 15. And there fell a great hayle 16. as it had bene talentes 17. out of heauen 18. vpon the men 19. And the meÌ„ blasphemed God bycause of the plage of the â—ayle 20. for it was great and the plage therof was sore ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Finallye the seuenth Angell went forth vnder the seuenth seale openynge as God had eternally determined throwynge out the content of hys vyall into the ayre For the seuenth age of the christen churche by the verye set purpose of God are manye conuerted to the truthe and become with Paule the vessels of eleccion that afore were wyth Iudas the vessels of wrathe vnder the great aduersarye of God Neyther is it anye blemishe vnto them to be called here that they were afore vyals of wrathe consyderynge that Simon leprosus beynge ones healed of his leprosye was euer after called a leper In case lyke Paule after his conuersyon was not ashamed to report hym self both a Pharyse and also the sonne of a Pharyse 2 These by the myghtye determynacion of Gods stronge iudgement are sent into the ayre Most effectuallye are they lyghtened wyth the sprete of God and prouoked stiflye to stande vp agaynst the aereall powers regnynge in the fyckle fantasticall Antychrystes and hypocrytes condeÌ„pninge by Gods worde their vnyuersall doctrines and deuyllyshnesse These powers are no lesse than deuyls whoÌ„ Christ calleth fowles of the ayre Peter aÌ„ IohaÌ„ mannis aduersaryes saynt Paule the gouerners of the esâ— darkenesses in spyrytuall wyckednesse 3 Whils these thinges are in doynge out of heauen which is the vnyuersall congregacion yea from the verye trone of God which is the electe faythfull nombre for they are onlye the seate of God came a voyce of reioysinge saynge after this sort 4 It is done All thinges are fynyshed Chrystes glorye ones manyfestlye knowne â—ke worlde is at an ende The wycked hath done all their myscheffes and the nombre of owr bretherne is fulfylled Thus shall they preache a full delyueraunce of the captyues and the peceable yeare of the lorde Thys ys the sylence of an halfe howre space mencyoned afore in the .viij. chapter and the returne of this worlde vnto Chryst in the .xij. Chapter Not that there shall in those dayes be no enemies for the remnaunt shall styll remayne but that they shall not then openlye dare rage persecute and kyll the worlde beynge at
whore 6. and shall make her desolate naked 7. aÌ„d shall eate her fleshe 8. aÌ„d burne her with fyre 9. For God hath putte in their hartes to fâ—lfyll hys wyll 10. and to do wâ—th one consent 11. for to geue her kyngdom vnto the beast 12. vntyll the wordes of God be fulfylled 13. And the woman which thu sawest is the greate cytye 14. which reygneth ouer the Kinges of the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And after this longe communicacyoÌ„ sayth saynt Iohan the aforeseyd Angel sayd thus vnto me to make vp his tale with 2 The wauerynge waters which thu sawest here now of late in mysterye where as the Babylonyshe whore sitteth vpon the rose coloured Beast are in sygnyficacyon all maner of peples of the carnall nacyons and the superstycyouse folke of manye sondrye tonges 3 Not onlye in one place of the worlde rewleth this wanton relygyon of Antichrist but in euerye lande in euerye domynion in euerye cumpanye amonge all occupacyons and languages The folyshe multytude euerye where beynge blynded by their subtyle sorceryes neyther hauynge faythe nor yet the feare of God before their eyes as a ragynge flood the bankes broken downe â—oâ—â—eth headlynges into all blasphemie and deuyllyshnesse 4 More ouer the afore named .x. hornes sayth the Angell which thu by the will of God beholdest here in sprete vpon the seyd Beast of destruccyon are those verye persones which also shall hate the whore Her abhominacyons ones knowne by the Gospell preachinge they shall abhorre her lawes despyse her auctoryte and contempne her customes They shall defeate her of those landes and possessyons which now she vniustlye hoâ—deth 5 They that afore were her fryndes shall than be her mortall enemyes denyenge her both tribute obedyence and seruyce so leauynge her without all coâ—fort Not onlye are these the temporall gouernours as the kynge of Englande the kynge of Denmarke the Duke of saron the Landgraue of hesse and other Princes of Germanye with soche other as wyll here after folowe the same pryncyples but also the Metropolytanes and Byshoppes the Doctors and Prelates As are all redye Thomas CraÌ„mere the arche Byshop of CauÌ„terburye Hermannus de weda the archebyshopp of Coleyne Godryck the Byshop of Holye Barlowe the Byshop of Saynt Dauids Byrde the Byshop of Chestre Thuâ—â—leby byshop of Westmynstre 〈◊〉 tymer and Nicolas Sharton of late years Byshoppes of Worcester and Salysburye with soche other lyke as wyll here after folowe their trade Though they were afore the hornes of the Beast for defence of the whore yet are they now fallen from hym and more shall euerye daye to make her desolate of honoure aÌ„d naked of rentes and possessions 6 So shall they chace that Babylonyshe harlot Rome with their preachers that neyther shall they leaue her coloure nor yet bewtye Considre what IohaÌ„ Reuclin Martyne Luther Erasmus Occolampadius â—winglius Pomeran Buter Capito Melanchton Grineus Calninus Brencyus Frances LaÌ„bert Bullinger aÌ„d soche other hath done agaynst her alredye Lyke wyse here in Englande Bylneye Cyndale Frith Barnes Cromwell Couerdale Turner George Ioye Rose Rydleye Warde BecoÌ„ aÌ„d other els leauynge her neyther Rellyques nor Rodes Sectes nor Shrynes Abbeyes nor Pryoryes manye more coÌ„mynge after them of the same sort These shall make her so desolate that no maÌ„ne shall in processe of tyme regarde her They shall leaue her so naked that all the worlde shall abhorre her that shall loâ—â— vpon her Yea in the conclusyon they 〈…〉 her fleshe 7 Besydes the takynge awaye of her carnall profyghtes and pleasurs they shall confounde her flâ—shelye vnderstandinge of the scripturs and vtterlye consume the superfluouse obseruacyons of her whoryshe câ—remonyes 8 Finallye with fyre shal they burne her in brynginge vnto nought all her abhominable rewles customes kyndes of Idolatrye All these ones plucked awaye by the euydent worde of God no longar shall this harlot apere For no loÌ„gar contynueth the whore than the who redome ys in pryce Take awaye the rytes and Ceremonies the Iewels and ornamentes the Images and lyghtes the lordeshyppes and fatherhodes the aulters and Masses with the Byshoppes and Prestes and what is their holye whorâ—she churche any more Not onlye is this fleshe eatynge and burnynge declared now adayes in outwarde experymentes as in the rebellyouse Monkes and Prestes of Englande and in theÌ„ that arose there in the Northe specyallye in fryre forest and Margareâ—â— Chenye which were for their churche consumed lyke as were Baals chaplaynes at the broke of Cyson by Helyas but also misticallye in that is spokeÌ„ of here afore 9 For God hath sayth the Angell all blindenesse secluded put it into the hartes of those and soche other Godlye menne by the infusyon of his sprete to fulfyll hys decreed will so pleasure in this behalf as vtterlye to destroye the Popyshe relygyon or fylthye abhominacyons of Antichrist 10 He hath geuen yt them more ouer to do these thynges to hys glorye through the agrement of faythe that they haue in the vnyte of his Godlye truthe to the abolyshment of all Sectes false Prophetes and coniurers of Egypte 11 Fynallye by hys grace he hath moued them through knowlege of his worde to rendre vp her blasphemouse kyngedome whom sumtyme of ignoraunce they vsurped vnto the malygnaunt Beast agayne as the hornes of hys pestyleÌ„t heades After this sort ded good Latimer and Shaxton geue ouer their Bysshop-ryckes and so hath dyuerse other Godlye menne their promocyons and liuinges as manye more yet here after wyll do 12 For as they haue begonne so shall they contynue in demynyshynge the abhomynacyoÌ„s of this whoryshe churche tyll the wordes and promyses of God by hys Apostles and Prophetes which can neuer fayle be whollye fulfilled in effect and tyll hys last iudgement do fynyshe all But thus do not all they which haue done of the yoke of the Popes obedyence or blotted out hys name For the greatter nombre of them retayneth styll the blasphemouse obseruacyons and Ceremonies of hys Romyshe relygyon some makynge newe lawes of deathe for the establyshment of the same as ys in Englande the acte of the .vi. Artycles with dyuerse other more And for this remayneth here styll the Beast as receyuynge the rendred kyngedome of the whore In whome ys also comprehended the wycked reÌ„naunt that shall worke the last myschefe whome the lorde shall ende with hys seyd iudgement This Beast ys not without hys lyuelye Image styll workynge the same feates that hymself wrought afore though his head be greuouslye wounded in diuerse quarters of the worlde Neyther ys he without craftye Phesycyanes to mynystre lyfe to the same Who euer forswore the Pope more ernestlye thaÌ„ ded Stokyslaye and Sampson Gardyneâ— and Tunstall wylson and fryre wattes with soche other holye prelates Yet labour they tothe and nayle to haue Babylon styll Babylon Sodom Sodom Egypte Egypte But maruele not of the ordynauÌ„ce of the lorde which all at one tyme prouyded Moyses to gyde his peple and yet
tradicyons that bryngeth in the Iewishe ceremonies the gentyles supersticyons paganes customes aÌ„d heythen vsages yokynge menne with importable burdenes of false worshyppinges for theyr owne fylthye lucre and auauntage Not withstaÌ„dynge thus must they do styll by the sufferaunce of God tyll the .xlij. monethes be finyshed which ys not els but the tyme the tymes and the half tyme or the thowsande two hoÌ„dreth lx dayes in that God shall shorten the tyme for hys chosens sake Thus after saint â—anâ—e also before the lords coÌ„mynge ther must be a departynge The quere or chaunsel must be cast out thaâ— the manne of synne the sonne of perdicyon and the aduersarye exaltynge hym self aboue God maye be knowne in hys owne colours It maye not be motteÌ„ or allowed by Gods worde but reiected as that plante whych the heauenlye father hath not planted that the mysterye of inyquite maye be vttered and perceyued of theÌ„ which shal be saued It must be geuen to the gentiles or addict to their supersticyons with all lyenge powre sygnes and wonders in all deceyuable doctrine by the subtile workinge of SathaÌ„ They must also be permitted to do all mischef in vnryghtousnesse vpoÌ„ the cytezeus of God tyl he vtterlye consume theÌ„ with the mighty breathe of his mouthe The text 1 And I wyll geue power 2. vnto my two wytnesses 3. and they shall prophecye a thousande two hondred and threscore dayes 4. clothed in sacke clothe 5 These are two olyue trâ—es 6. and two candelstyckes 7. staÌ„dynge before the God of the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I wyll geue powre sayth the lorde vnto my two faithfull witnesses they shall prophecie a thousande two hoÌ„dreth and .lx. dayes ageynst those enemyes to the confort of my peple So that though my cyte by troden downe by their cruell lawes of persecutioÌ„ to deathe yet shall yt not be forsakeÌ„ And though my peple be ouerloaded with their heythen superstycyons and blasphemouse worshippinges yet shal they not be lost nor left all wythout socoure 2 They shal haue my .ii. wytnesses with them to solace theÌ„ in theyr trobles and to confort theÌ„ in ther cares Both Moyses and Christ both the lawe and the gospell both the prophetes the apostles shall stande vpon their syde aÌ„d be vpon ther part yea for so moche tyme as ther enemies shall vexe theÌ„ aÌ„d for so moche space as ther aduersaries shal troble theÌ„ Euen a thowsande two hondred and .lx. dayes whych maketh thre yeare and an half and is more then the .xlii. monethes by foure score dayes aÌ„d foure Which signifieth that the enemies shal not euer more kepe downe his worde but their dayes shall be shortened for his electes sake The scole doctours with their sophistrie hath fantasied the sayd two wytnesses to be Enoch aÌ„d Helias and that they shuld come then from paradyse terrestre for the same puprose because that Enoch was takeÌ„ awaye of God Helias was carried hence in a fyery charet neyther vnderstandinge what paradyse is nor yet knowynge what yt is to be taken froÌ„ heÌ„ce Paradyse is the swete rest of God appoynted vnto theÌ„ that depart hence in faythe The peculiar traÌ„slatioÌ„s of Enoch and Helias were not onlye for a confirmacyon or strengthenynge of the fayth of the fathers for their tymes but also that they shuld be figurs of Cristes ascencion And what godlye wyse man can geue more to the figure than to the veryte More were not they preuileged froÌ„ deathe thaÌ„ was Christ though God wolde not then haue yt so openly knowne to declare hys wonderful powre Unlyke is it that God shuld cal wytnesses from the dead not promisinge yt by his worde hauinge powre also from stones to rayse vp Abrahams children and to geue the sprete of Helias to whome he pleaseth lyke as he ded to Iohan Baptist and as he doth now to manye other more in our age as all the worlde maye se and heare These wytnesses are two for so moche as the trewthe of the lorde in the mowthe of two or thre godlye persones ought to stande 3 These two wytnesses or faythful procestours of the afore seyd two testamentes hath continewed with the peple of God sens the death of SteueÌ„ for the more part secretlye and vnknowne to the worlde But now they are come a brode by the appoyntment of God to the vtter confusion of the great aduersarye and manne of synne as Paule doth call hym And vnto them in thys sixt age of the churche the lord hath geuen the greate powre of hys lyuynge worde or the sprete of his inuincyble veryte in moche more ample wyse then afore tyme for the abatement of the seyd enemies or synagoge of perdycyon 4 Clothed they shall be in sack clothe sayth the lorde No pompe shall apere in their aparell no glorye of the worlde in their behauer Neyther shal they be accompanyed with a garde of ruffelinge rutters Neyther shal they with Annas and Caiphas syt vpon life and deathe Neyther shal they blesse in the strete with myter crosse and cope Neyther clayme the hyger seates in syde gownes shauen crownes and typpettes Neyther shal their be sacke fryres nor franciscanes monkes chanons nor hipocrites They shal not disfigure them selues to seme religiouse nor saye longe prayers to apere holye but in a sober conuersacion auoydynge superstuite they shal coÌ„staÌ„tlye witnesse the truthe of God to the vniuersall worlde to his glorye and their edification For sack clothe in the scripturs is a signe of sobryete sadnesse aÌ„d temperauÌ„ce as in helias and Iohan Baptist. 5 These wytnesses are two swete olyue trees shedynge forth the fatnesse of the scripturs aÌ„d dulcet sauer of the sprete God hath so blessed them that their lippes are full of grace He hath anoynted theÌ„ with the oyle of gladnesse aboue their fellawes of myrre bawme aloes they dilectably smelle Non other thynges vtter they but hys infallible veritees 6 They are also two shynynge candelstickes settynge forth the lyght or clerelye openynge the hyddeÌ„ misteries of the scripturs to the confort of the geÌ„tyles glory of the Israelites They are not the lyght it self but onlye instrumeÌ„tes ordayned to bere witnesse of the light For there is but one light for al. Onelye aâ—e they the vessels of eleccion as was paule to carrye that lyght the worlde ouer They stande in the presence of the God of the earthe or the lorde of all as menne of most hygh acceptacyon before hym rebye to do hys wyll and to fulfyll hys conmandemeÌ„t and pleasure hauynge the oyle of hys sprete and the lyght of hys eternall veryte The text 1 And if anye manne wyll hurte them 2. Fyre shall procede out of their mouthes 3. and consume their enemyes 4. And if anye man wyll hurte them thys wyse must he be kylled 5. These haue power to shut heauen 6. that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophecyenge 7. and haue power ouer waters to turne them to bloude 8. and to smyte
the earthe 9. with all maner plages as often as they wyll ¶ The Paraphrase i Yf anye manne wyll attempte to do them sâ—athe or presumptuouslye seketh by crafâ—ye colouâ—s subtle reasons and deceytfull argumentes vpon daungers doubtes doctorâ— olde customes and auctoryte of fathers to hyndre their office blemyshe their message and darken their lyghtâ— suche fyre shal procede out of their mouthes as shall consume theyr enemyes 2 The eternall worde of the lord that they shall declare which ys the consuminge fyre shall vtterlye destroye theÌ„ So that nothynge shall be seane of that they were afore Neyther cut showe nor corde coule nor graye cote bote nor blacke whode rother nor scaplar myter nor croser sandale nor frocke shauen crowne nor anoynting For all these are theyr enemies 3 CoÌ„sumed are they to ther saluacioÌ„ that with Matthew become of Publycanes trewe Apostles and with Paule of ferce persecuters charitable teachers Contrarye wyse are they consumed to theyr damnacyon whych beynge ouercomen by the manifest veryte wylfullye persist in their deuyllyshe errours with Antiochus and Pharao with the Scribes and Pharisees 4 For yt foloweth And yf anye manne wyll hurte them thys wyse must he be kylled Eyther must he be mortified froÌ„ the olde Adam and changed into a newe man in Christ or els by the seyd worde must he both be iudged and condemned for the vtter aduersarye of God with sathan hys auncient captayne So must he be kylled And no deathe will be founde lyke vnto that deathe come they ones to the felynge of yt though they account yt now verye lyght 5 For these wytnesses haue powre aâ— had Helias to shutt vp heauen that yt rayne not in the dayes of their prophecienge but yet non other wyse thaÌ„ by the afore seyd worde For the worde of God ys the verye keye of Dauid which openeth the kyngedome of God to theÌ„ that faythfullye beleueth aÌ„d that speareth yt vp also from theÌ„ which dwelleth in vnfaithfulnesse For it is sayd in the dayes of their prophecyenge This powre therfor is of the worde and not of the menne The worde speareth and openeth losoneth and byndeth saueth aÌ„d daÌ„pneth He that beleueth sayth Crist shall be saued he that beleueth not is iudged alredye No moyster of grace nor godly wysdome can lyght where sturdye frowardenesse is roted The dayes of their prophecyenge in figure is non other than the aforesayd tyme tymes and halfe tyme or the thre years and .vi. monethes of Helyas 6 In those dayes shall it not rayne vpoÌ„ the wycked they shall haue no grace to receyue the veryte In parables and figurs shall that be hydden from theÌ„ that shall be euident ynowe vnto the faythfull With eares shall they heare aÌ„d not vnderstande with eyes shall they se and not discerue So blynde wyll their hartes be For soche spake the prophetes in fygurs Christ in parables aÌ„d the Apostles in misteries The open truthe of this reuelacion shall not the wycked perceyue tyll they tast the plages therof Soche is the nature of Gods wisdom that thowgh it be not in gloriouse wordes fyne paputed termes nor in perswasible reasons of maÌ„nes wytte but in playne symple speakynge yet can it not be knowne of the worldly wise The swete dewe therof will not be receyued of theÌ„ in the aforesayd dayes of prophecie but he that is blynde shall be blynde styll 7 These wytnesses haue also powre ouer waters to turne them into bloude Whan they interprete and syncerely declare the pure berites of God which are those wholsome waters that restrayneth the daÌ„pnable drynesse of the sowle that refresheth the conscyence and clenseth the harte of the synner they can not chose but ernestlye condempne the peruerse iudgementes the couetouse lawes and hypocritishe workes of the vngodlye And then is all vncleane vnto them theÌ„ is all bloodye The gospell which was a stomblynge stone to the Iewes aÌ„d mad folyshenesse vnto the gentyles is also now vnto them nowrye newe lerninge sediciouse doctrine aÌ„d abhominable he resye Yea and they iudge them worthye to be burned that doth teache it Thus is it abhorred of them that shall perishe and neuerthelesse to theÌ„ that beleue it is the powre of God vnto saluacyon 8 Fynallye they haue powre to smyte the earthe with al maner of plages as ofte as they wyll Uerye caâ—the are they that regarde not Gods truthe as the lorde sayd vnto AdaÌ„ after hys offence Earth thu art and vnto earthe shalt thu returne Nothinge they esteme but that whych ys earthlye Nothinge they desyre but that is carnall The frowarde creature wyll in no case knowe that is of the sprete The lyght ys hatefull vnto sore eyes Uerr peynefull is brede to the mouthe that ys not whole A great mote was Crist to the Iewes as hys true preachers are vnto the blynde worlde yet to thys daye For they smyte the earthe 9 They towche their lyuynge they rebuke their falshede they condeÌ„pne theyr wyckednesse They reproue them of synne of ryghtousnesse and of iudgement They force not to tell theÌ„ of ther vnfaithfulnesse frawde and hypocrisye of their philosophers prelates and relygyouse No greatter â—lage ys yt to the vngodlye than to heare of theyr euyll doynges No greater peyne nor yet greatter ponnyshmeÌ„t than to haue their fawtes opened and their clonynge colours condemned That fretteth theÌ„ at the very harte Deathe must be sought out for soche preachers No wonder is yt though thys be here writteÌ„ for thys age of the churche For neuer were more ernest wytnesses then are now and more are lyke here after to folowe tyll the maÌ„ne of synne be fullye knowne and his kyngedome clerelye ouerthrowne The Text. 1 And whan they haue fynished theyr testimonie 2. the beast hat came out of the bottom lesse pytte 3. shall make warre agaynst them 4. and shall ouer come them 5. And theyr bodyes shall lye in the stretes of the great cyte 7. whych spirytuallye is called Sodome and Egypte 8. where our lorde is crucyfyed ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And whan they haue ones fynyshed theyr testimonye sayth the lorde the beast that came out of the bottomlesse pytte shal make warre ageynst them No soner shal the witnesses of Gods veryte in allages be taken from the worlde than he hath prefixed After noÌ„ other sort shall they be sent hence than he hath appoynted by hys eternall decre IohaÌ„ baptist was not enprysoned nor beheaded tyll he had done hys offyce Christ was not taken condemned and crucyfyed tyl hys howre was come Paule was not putt vnto deathe tyl he had fulfilled his course 2 The beast of the bottomlesse pytte ys the cruell craftye aÌ„d cursed generacion of Antychrist the pope with hys byshoppes prelates prestes and relygyouse in Europa Mahomete with hys dettynge dowsepers in Affrica and so forth in Asia and India all beastlye carnall and wycked in their doynges 3 These maketh warre ageynst Gods wytnesses whan they hate them curse them blaspheme them and persecute theÌ„ Whan they
to God Their malyce hath so blynded theÌ„ and the clowde of ignoraunce so darkened their knowlege that styll they blaspheme and most cruellye persecute 8 And in the same howre sayth saynt Iohan there happened a greate earthquake A terrible coÌ„tradiccion aryseth euer from the carnall Sinagoge froÌ„ amonge the earthlye mynded hipocrites whaÌ„ the verite is â—awght as it was afore tyme in Christ in his Apostles specyallye in Paule and now of late dayes in manye other poore preachers WhaÌ„ newe witnesses aryse then waxe they more madde fearce and felle then they were afore Then empreson they then ponnyshe they then make they actes and coÌ„maunde in peyne of deathe nomore to speake in that name Yet do they rather loose than wynne falle than ryse dysprofyght that profyght 9 For the tenth part of theyr cyte felle to the grownde Their buyldinge vpon sande wyll in no case endure That God hath not planted must vp by the rootes Their holye whoryshe churche whych is here called Sodome and Egypte is ruynouslye decayed Their monasteries of monkes their howses of fryres their colleges of Idle prestes with their nonnes chanons and chanteryes in manye places are downe Tythes are not as they haue bene nor trentals nor other deuocions Images are not sought nor pardons in confession The people inclineth to newe lernynge and goeth from their olde beleue of holye churche They that were monkes prestes and fryres are now become gospell teachers Soche as afore were dead standeth vpp now agaynst them boldelye This fallen part is here the tenth for it is the lordes by the lawe It is the same shepe that afore was lost now is brought to Christes folde These were called awaye from thens by the wytnesses the other stande yet styll aÌ„d are euery daye worse and worse 10 In the earthquake were slayne names of menne to the nombre of seuen thowsande An innumerable multytude hath bene sent out of the waye by these Antichrystes in theyr furye but yet nothynge haue they slayne but their names Onelye haue they hurte theyr bodyes vpon their sowles haue they had no powre nomore than had SathaÌ„ vpon the sowle of Iob. Yet haue not their names peryshed before God for of hym are they wrytten in the boke of lyfe In no case are the wycked of the godlye here putt vnto deathe thowgh some do so vnderstande it but rather of the wycked the godlye For they neuer retayle their wronges but rather praye for their enemyes 11 And the remnaunt or resydewe were feared sayth saynt Iohan and gaue glorye to God of heauen Of soche as were left in their earthquakes or terryble persecucions some remayned in presone Some were beggered some were eryled some fledde some lost their estimacion and fryndes and yet gaue prayse vnto God 12 In all their aduersitees they gloryfyed the name of their heauenlye father and Lorde Thus haue we here what is done alredye and what is yet to come vnder thys sixt trompet blowynge where vnder we are now whych all be longeth to the seconde woo 13 And these thynges ones accomplyshed the seconde woo wyll be past And then loke bye bye for the thirde woo for it wyll folowe anone after without fayle yea so sone as thys seconde woo is done 14. In the latter age of all shall thys thyrde woo reygne soche tyme as Gog and Magog most extremelye shall rage And the vniuersall iudgement shall fynyshe that woo as here after more euydentlye wyll opere But consyder that these woes are to the infydels The faythfull feareth them not but receyuynge the worde in a pure hart they brynge forth frute in pacyent sufferaunce ¶ The .xii. Chapter NOw foloweth in order the viâ— troÌ„pet blowing or the pure declaracion of Christes ioyfull tidinges for the last age of the churche vnder the .vij. scale openynge with the woÌ„ders maruels that their after enseweth The text 1 And the seueÌ„th angel blewe 2 and there were made great voyces in heaueÌ„ 3. saynge The kyngedomes of this worlde are our lordes and his Chrystes 4. and he shall raygne for euermore 5. And the .xxiiij. elders whych sate before God on their seates 6. fell vpon their faces and worshypped God saynge 7. We geue the thankes lorde God almyghtye whych art and wast and art to come 8. and For thu hast receyued thy great myght aÌ„d hast raygned 9. And the nacyons were angrye 10. and thy wrathe is to come 11. and the tyme of the dead that they shulde be iudged 12. and that thu shuldest geue rewarde vnto thy seruauntes the prophetes and sayntes 13. and to theÌ„ that feare thy name small and great 14. and shuldest destroye them whych destroye the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the seuenth angell blewe sayth Saynt Iohan The seuenth sort of syncere preachers shall vtter their message accordyng to the wyll of God they shall declare his pleasure as he hath appoynted them For thowgh it be spoken here as past and done for the certente of the thynge yet is it not fulfylled in effect The worde of God was wythout begynnynge and hys promes euerlastynge yet ys yt not all perfourmed in his creaturs but manye thynges are yet to come 2 After this blast of the angell were made greet voyces in heauen Manye the congregacyon or kyngedome of God his Gospell ones purelye publyshed by the preachers shall speaâ—e godlye thynges to the edyfycacyon of other The symple poore weakelynges idyotes and infantes shall vttre the hydden wysdome of God to the confusion of the great wyse menne and sage senyours of thys worlde Yea the liones in the strete the out castes of the worlde the forsaken people shall wonderfullye prayse the lorde 3 And these shall be their saynges whaÌ„ they shall se the Antichrystes confused and not able to speake agayne The kyngedomes of this worlde that were â—ouâ— tyme wycked cruell and vnfaythfull are now become the lordes hys Christes of his onlye grace and goodnesse Now fall they to the worde that afore thought it folyshnesse Now cleaue they to the truthe that sumtyme ded abhorre it Now haue they in hande the gospell that afore ded persecute it as sidiciouse lernynge and heresye 4 And in thys congregacyon shall he reygne euermore Continuallye is he with them that in faythe retayneth his veryte All this shall they vttre wyth no small reioyce For doubtlesse after the seuenth seale openynge and the gospell preachynge than a paceable tyme shall be and fygured it is by the half howre spoken of afore For it shall not continewe to the ende Longe maye not Christes churche be vnpersecuted But yet thys peace for the tyme shall not onlye be an inwarde peace in the conscyence as ys alwayes amonge the faythfull but an outwarde quiet also or a season wythout persecucyon abrode 5 And the .xxiiij. elders sayth saynt Iohan or the greatt nombre of sayntes departed which sitteth before God on their seates or resteth in hys swete peace in soche graces of the sprete as
the fifte brought he the worlde into a damnable peace of Idolatrye and supersticyoÌ„ And for the sixt seynge he can not yet preuayle he maketh open warre vpon the remnaunt of her sede 14 Now doth hys Synagoge of Prelates Prestes Hypocrites and tyrauntes make wycked lawes agaynst them Now do they persecute them for kepynge the commandementes of God in marryage in receyuinge meates with thankes geuynge and in not goynge out to seke Christ here and there in their Masses and mutterynges in their outwarde colours and shaddowes 15 Now put they them to deathe which haue the Testimonye of Iesus Christ preachynge hym for an onlye teacher necessarye for an onlye mediatoure and aduocate for an onlye sauer and redemer for our onlye ryghtousnesse wysdome and helthe For their warre ys onlye agaynst them that kepe Gods commaundementes and that haue the wytnesse of Iesu Neyther ys yt agaynst bawdes nor whores agaynst murtherers nor theues agaynst Idolatours nor Hypocrites sorcerers nor Sodomytes aduowterers nor glottons Idyotes nor lyars Idle prestes nor vagabondes scysmatykes nor traytours Non of these seke they out Non of these accuse they as their sessyons but the onlye readers of thâ— gospell and poore fauorers of Gods truthe 16 Vpon the â—re sande stande they euer more with their graÌ„de captayne to fyght thys battayle NoÌ„ other lawes haue they to grownde themselues vpon but their owne tradycyons and â—customes with soche fantastycall actes as they daylye make or procure to be made of Princes for their owne wycked purpose And as their lawes are beggerlye and weake so is their vsurped auctoryte so are their proude tytles so are their myters their anoyntinges and pompouse funccyons All are sande duste and rotten powder before God not grounded vpon hys worde All are vnprofytable chaffe Yea their selues are a grounde vnfrutefull sandye and vnsure fytt for the dragon to staÌ„de vpon to fyght agaynst Christes members For they are the verye seate of Sathan and hys contynuall dwellynge place And that he can not do by hymselfe he bringeth euermore to passe by them Innumerable also are their deuyllyshe practyses their wyles aÌ„d their subtiltees to vpholde their master as aâ—â— the sandes of the see The .xiij. Chaptre By the monstruouse owgelye and most odyouse Beast rysynge out of the see with .vij. heades and .v hornes ys mente the vnyuersall or whole Antichrist compreheÌ„dinge in hym all the wyckednesse furye falshede frowardnesse deceyt lyes craftes slayghtes subtyâ—tees â—ipocresyet tyrannye myscheffes pryde aÌ„d all other deuyllyshenesse of all hys malycyouse members which hath bene sens the begynnynge The excedynge presumpcyon of them that hateth the blessed lorde sayed Dauid aryseth daye by daye Contynuallye thyne enemies growe alwayes they increace and euermore they prospere in thys worlde Not from the stedefast or sure grounde which are the lordes peple aryseth this beast but out of the waueryâ—ge see or from the fyckle felyshyppe and moueable multitude of the vngodlye For the wycked sort after Esaye are the ragynge see that can not rest whose water fometh with the myre and grauel No peace ys amoÌ„ge the vngodly sayth the lorde no vnyte no charyte nor mutuall christeÌ„ loue It pleased therfor the holye ghost to prouoke Iohan after hys secrete vysyon to describe thys myghtye Antichrist thus in hys ryght colours accordinge to that he had seane to the fore warnynge of Christes peple The Text. 1. ANd I sawe a Beast ryse out of the see 2. hauynge seuen heades and ten hornes 3. and vpon hys hornesten crownes 4. and vpoÌ„ hys head the names of blasphemye 5. And the Beast whych I sawe was lyke a Catte of the mountayne 6. and hys fete were as the fete of a Beare 7. and hys mouthe as the mouthe of a lyoÌ„ 8. And the dragon gaue hym 9 hys power 10. and hys seate 11. and great autoryte ¶ The Paraphrase 1 I behelde sayth Saynt Iohan an execrable Beast verye odyouse and hatefull to loke vpon rysynge out of the rauenouse roarynge see For the wycked auaunceth themselues as the grene baye tree in vngodlynesse and the Synagoge of proude Hipocrytes ryseth vp aloft settynge vp their cristes as doth the fatte Cedar trees of libanus All beastlye are they as was Elymas the sorcerer full of fylthynesse gyle and falshede yea the verye whelpes of the deuyll subuertynge the wayes of God Non other ys this Beast here described than was the pale horse in the forth age the cruell multytude of locustes in the fift age and the horses of incomparable wodenesse for the sixt 2 SeaueÌ„ heades and .x. hornes had thys cruell beast not vnlyke therin to the aforesayd rede dragon or Serpent For â–ª loke what pestyleÌ„t suggestyons in errours and lyes and what deceyuable power in sygnes and wonders hath regned in the deuyll for all ages the same also hath regned in the wycked members of hys Besty all bodye in the furyous byshoppes lawers doctours prestes Hypocrytes and false magistrates for their heades are their vnyuersall craftes and their hornes their tyrannouse auctorytees vsurped primacyes or malygnauÌ„t magistrates Thy stroÌ„ge myghty power lorde sayth Dauid hath broken the dragons heades in the ragynge waters Thu hast smytteÌ„ in peces the heades of the greateleâ—â—athan Inhaunce not yowr hornes so hygh ye styffnecked Antichristes for the hornes of the vngodly wyll the lorde plucke downe and exalte the hornes of the ryghtous in the howse of Dauid hys seruaunt More are the hornes here in nombre than are the heades For greatter ys the power than ys the suggestyon the vsurped auctoryte than the crafte the Mageste than the erroure and moche more myscheff maye worke 3 Thys Beast had vpon hys .x. hornes .x. crownes sygnyfyenge hys vyctorye domynyon and prymacye ouer the vnyuersall worlde and that he through the wyckednesse of the peple ys the vnworthy captayne and prince therof In thys onlye poynt â—yffereth the Dragon from the Beast the deuyll from hys members or sathan from hys carnall Synagoge He had .vij. crownes vpon hys .vij. heades They haue .x. crownes here vpon their x. hornes For that he hath but in symple suggestyon they haue in double power of coaccyon Where as he doth but dallyenglye persuade they maye enforce and coÌ„pell Where as he doth but easelye moue they maye by rygorouse auctoryte constrayne Whan he hath propowned aÌ„ erroure they maie by their power establyshe yt for an infallyble truthe and make of yt a necessarye artycle of the christen beleue as they haue done of purgatorye pardons confessyoÌ„ sayntes worshyppynge latten seruyce hearynge and soche lyke WhaÌ„ he hath ones made a lye as he ys the father of all lyes they maye auctoryse yt for an vnwritteÌ„ veryte lyke as they haue done manye Moche more myscheff maye they do beynge hys spyrytuall instrumenteâ— than he can do alone as largelye apereth by their workes Neuer coude Sathan haue putt Christ vnto deathe had he not entred into Iudas and so betrayed hym had he not entred into the
Bysshoppes and lawers and so condempned hym Neuer had the Apostles nor all other godlye preachers sens their tyme bene sent out of the waye had not those mytred Mahometes ' and prestes wrought styll their olde feates 4 Vpon thys be astes head was writteÌ„ the names of blasphemye agaynst the lorde and hys Christ. Which are non other thaÌ„ the proude glitterynge tytles wherwith they garnyshe their vsurped auctoryte to make yt seme gloriouse to the worlde hauynge within theÌ„ contayned the great mysterye of inyquite What other els ys pope Cardynall Patriarke legaâ—e Metropolytane primate Archebysshoppe Dyocelane Prothonotarye ArchedeakoÌ„ Offycyall Chaunceller Commissarye Deane PrebeÌ„de Person vycar my lorde Abbott master doctor and soche lyke but verye names of blasphemie â–ª For offyces they are not appoynted by the holye Ghost nor yet ones meÌ„cyoned in the scripturs What other ys yt but abhominacioÌ„ the pope to wryte hymselfe the most holye father the generall vycar of Christ the supreme head of the Chrisâ—en churche and the onlye dystrybuter of the treasurs of God The bysshoppes and prestes also to call them selues their churches brydegromes sytters in Gods stede forgeuers of synne and our ladyes chaste knyghtes Non other are they so abusynge their flocke in leauynge the iust office of syncere preachynge vnder soche vayne tytles after the mynde of Zacharye but verye shamefull Idols in dede Their decrees decretals ConstytucioÌ„s Canons Rewles Statutes prouyncyall and synodall tradycyons lawes fatherlye customes and vsages not grounded vpon Gods commandementes are verye deuylyshnesse and Hipocresye blasphemynge the name of God For whye to haue the name of blasphemye vpon their heades is non other than vnder a gloryouse tytle to maynteyne that thinge whych ys blasphemouse gloryfyenge themselues in the same The vngodlye sayth Dauid with mockes hath dysdayned the lorde and with open mouthe hath vttred wyckednesse agaynst God 5 And the stranÌ„ge fashoned beast sayth Saynt Iohan whom I sawe in thys vysyon was lyke in similitude to a catte of the mountayne full of manye coloured spottes in token of inconstancye varyete and fycklenesse 6 Hys fete were as the fete of a beare ferce rough and yll fauored in sygnyficacyon of cruelte stubbernesse and vnclennesse 7 And hys mouthe semed as the mouthe of a lyon declarynge hym to be full of pryde rauyne aÌ„d excesse To soche beastes as here are mencyoned compareth Danyel vnder hidden misterye serten myghtye kingedomes of the worlde As to the lyonesse which here ys called a lyon for the more cruelte now vsed than was in those dayes the proude kyngedomes of the Assyryanes and Caldeanes To the Beare the cruell kyngedomes of the Medes and Parthyanes And vnto the Catte of the mountayne the vnstedefast kyngedome of the Grekes Of pryde spoyle and roborye are the Assyrianes and Caldeanes condempned by Esaye Nahum and Abacuch the Prophetes The Medes and Parthianes helde captyue the peple of God as wytnesseth Hester Paralipomenon and Esaye The Grekes most spyghtfullye were bent agaynst them vnder the cruell kynge Antiochus as in the Machabees ys euydent No abhominacion nor mysterie of inyquyte as Paule calleth yt was euer founde in these kyngedomes but now reygneth manyfolde in the detestable Papacye or monstruouse kyngedome of Antichrist as all the worlde maye se. No where was euer more pryde vanyte and cruelnesse Ydolatry whoredome and fylthynesse hypocresye falshede and fycklenesse extorcyon vayneglorye and couetousnesse sorcerye superstycion and vnfaythfulnesse More than all the vnfaythfull kyngedomes vnder heaueÌ„ haue thys sodomyticall spyritualte defyled with their wytcherye the hoâ—ye temple of God whych is the Christen churche They haue most shame fullye abused gods chosen peple which are the vessels ordayned to hys glorye They haue holden hys fre seruantes most myserablye captyue vnder their wycked decrees and tradycions The cruelte of Pharao Antiochus and Cayphas compared to their tyraÌ„ny ys but as yt were a playe dallyaunce or shaddowe In them ys all letherye and vnclennesse all ragynge lustes and wantonnesse all fleshly abuses and beastlynesse no naturall order obserued Nothinge in a maner are the cruell constytucions made ageynst the Iewes by the suggestyon of Aman and by Antiochus to their wycked lawes and ordynaunces For they were onlye ageynst the bodye theirs are ageynst mennes sowles So that the papysty call kyngedome of antichrist are to be sonne both the lyon the Beare and the Catte of the mountayne they not onlye partycypatynge with all vnfaythfull regyons but also doublynge with them in all abhomynacyons vnder the skye The mouthe they haue of a lyoÌ„ roaryng out euermore blasphemies curses and bytternesse The feaâ—e of a Beare sygnyfieth their rauenous affeccyons ronninge vnto all pernyciouse euyls â—erye swyft also to the shedynge of bloude cencyon 11 And finallye as concernynge auctoryte lyke as Christ beynge manne toke power of God to do soche myracles as non els coulde do so ded he of the deuyll beynge his wreched bodye to worke proâ—igyouse maruels and wonders in hipocrisye amonge the vnfaythfull multitude by the secrete sufferaunce of God So that in all peruertynge power supremyte and auctoryte he foloweth his father Sathan yea in euerye poynt For lyke as he depryued simple Iob a manne that feared God of his substaunce catell chyldren aÌ„d seruauntes and vexed him in his fleshe with most greuouse botches so doth this gredye leuiathan this malyciouse murtherer the manne of synne and bodye of the deuyll with his deuourynge locustes robbe the poore peple of their sweare labours trauayle and necessarye lyuinge sparynge neyther sycke nor socoâ—rlesse poore wydowe nor fatherlesse no goods gotten by thefâ—e mannesslawter extorcyon brybâ—rye pollage Idolatrye bawdrye and all other vngodlynesse commynge to them amysse in their priuate confessyons And that is most to be lamented they defyle â—heir sowles wyth all supersticions false beleue and deuylishnesse leauynge their consciences all doubtfull desperate and confortelesse Finallye to conclude lyke as in the bodye of Christ dwelleth the whole fulnesse of the godhede corporallye so dwelleth there in this bodye of Sathan the whole fulnesse of falsehede crafte subtylte malyce with power to worke all maner of myschef effectuallye reallye substanciallye and corporallye The Text. 1 And I sawe one of his heades as it were wounded to deathe 2. and his deadlye wounde was healed 3. aÌ„d all the worlde wondered at the beast 4. And they worshipped the Dragon which gaue power vnto the Beast 5. and they worshypped the Beast 6. sayenge 7. Who is lyke vnto the Beast 8. Who is able to warre with hym ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And one of his heades sayth Saynt Iohan semed vnto me as it had bene wounded vnto deathe And it was not so in dede for his deadlye wounde was healed agayne Euydent it is that in Iohans tyme Rome the mother of all who redome had subiect vnto her the .vij. clymates or vniuersall partes of the worlde with all their powers gouernours kynges possessions pompes false worshyppinges and soche lyke Whome some writers suppose mete to be taken
and thre score dayes of Iohan. Not onlye for thys age of the churche but also for all other ages and by other heades also hath the mouthe of thys Beast vttered great thinges in blasphemy lyes in Hypocresye and wonders vnder a deceytfull power But as concernynge thys latter healed head of the Beast the tyme therof wyll be short as here after shall apâ—re in the .xvij. chapter 4 He opened hys mouthe sayth the text in reproues agaynst God speakynge yll of hys name of hys tabernacle of theÌ„ that dwell in heaueÌ„ Thys is in a maner all one with that was spoken afore in the .xi. chapter of the temple the auâ—ter and of them that worshyp in the temple saue onlye that hys name ys here for hys temple In token that whan hys temple ys blasphemed whych ys hys coÌ„gregacyon hys name ys blasphemed by the same so ys hys tabernacle Iesus in whom bodelye dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhede so are also they that dwell â—n heaueÌ„ wherbye ys meÌ„t the true churche from whom the angels are not secluded beynge their fellawe seruauntes These dwellerrs be they that haue their conuersacyon in heauen vnder an vndefyled faythe that seke those thynges which are aboue and not vpon earthe that worshyp the father in sprete and veryte and that perseuereth true christyanes to the ende Manye entreth thys heauen of the lorde but all contynueth not in yt to the ende of their lyues the more ys the pyte 5 Power was also geuen vnto this beastlye Antichrist to make battayle with the sayntes and to ouercome them Contynuallye do they with vyolence vexe by their cerâ—all polycyes auctoryte and lawes the syncere wytnesses or preachers of the lorde sanctyfyed of hym through faythe in his holye worde as were hys Apostles lyke as ded the malycyouse clergye of the Iewes-Yea they ded resist them with their more than tyrannouse proclamacyons commissyons and commandemeÌ„tes wyth cruell Pharao AmaÌ„ and Antiochus to proue Christ in them the sygne of contradyccyon stone of reproche They seke here they honte there and neuer leaue ragynge tyll they haue closed them vp in presons 6 Yet are they not so contented tyll they haue ouercomen them in the syghe of the blynde worlde though not before God Eyther shall they be compelled shamefullye to recante or yf they persyst in the veryte to suffer most peynefull deathe By one waye or other they must be ouercomeÌ„ to holde the peple in erroure The Gardyner of wynchester was not ashamed now of late as I harde yt credyblye reported to saye vnto one that was accused of hys malygnaunt multitude whan he was no longar able to withstaÌ„de the manifâ—st truthe Master Seyton we knowe ye are lerned and plentuouslye knowe ye are lerned and plentuouslye endued with knowlege in the scripturs yet thynke not that ye shall ouercome vs. No no sett your hart at rest loke neuer to haue yt sayed that ye haue ouercomen the byshoppes for yt shall not be so In dede yt is truthe For neyther Christ nor hys Apostles ded euer yet ouercome yow Their vyctorye ouer yow ys not in thys worlde your kyngedome beynge here But be certen and sure of yt ye shall be ouercomen to your moche more rebuke at the latter daye whan all wronges and iniuryes shall be reuenged which is not farre of Your lordelye estymacyon which maye not be hyndred here wyll apere there not verye precyouse Yet do ye well to holde vp a proude pecockes head as longe as ye maye Lose not an ynche of your hyght hardelye but with your gogle eyes loke vp lyke a manne with a garde at your tayle lyke a sort of tormentours in a playe And with your lyenge iudgementes ouercome these beggerlye vagabondes and burne them also rather thaÌ„ fayle to fulfill the measure of your holye fathers 7 And autoryte was geuen to thys Beast vpon euerye kyndred peple tonge and nacyon For non these Antichristes spare neyther hygh nor lowe ryche nor poore sycke nor hole lerned nor vnlerned But a iurisdiccyon they must haue ouer theÌ„ though yt be vsurped Ones in the yeare must they haue them in confession to knowe which waye they are bente That salue haue they gotten in ageyne to heale vp their wounded head Be he naryâ—e or be he straunger be he a rewler or be he coÌ„moner he must obeye them no remedye or els stande forthe at the sessyons with Christ amonge theues Not in one regyon or where as one maner of language ys vsed haue they thys auctorite but in euerye lande in euerye shere in euerye towne and in euerye famylye must they haue to do corruptynge euerye mannes faythe 8 For all that dwelle vpon earthe must worshyp thys Beast They must agree to the great thynges no remedye They must blaspheme God as they do But blessed be the lorde noÌ„ doth that in their hartes but they onlye that dwell vpon the earthe that haue their felycyte here that seketh the prosperyte of thys worlde and regardeth non other lyfe than therin is The lambes of Christes folde geueth hede to hys voyce they regarde hys calle they folowe hys worde they walke in hys lyght They seke for no holynesse but onlye in hym neyther in water nor bread ashes nor palmes robes nor relyckes masses nor anoyntinges He ys their onlye sufficient wisdome ryghtousnesse holynesse aÌ„d redemptioÌ„ His worde ys their lyuinge water the fode of their sowles the lanterne that shall gyde them and the lyfe that wyll not fayle them Non other doctryne do they couete nor yet other preceptes of lyuynge Though they be here in the earthye yet dwelle they not vpoÌ„ yt No contynuynge cyte haue they here but they seke vnto an other of moche more bewtye and pleasure not buylded of menne And for that they are redye rather to render by their lyues than to renouÌ„ce the veryâ—e Onlye they which dwelle here doth worshyp the Beast louinge theÌ„selues better than God and their fleshe better than hys truthe hauynge their whole trust in the mangye merites and dyrtye deseruynges of these beastlye Hipocrites and no thynge at all in his swete promyses 9 And therfor are not their names written of the laÌ„be in the boke of lyfe which lambe was slayne from the begynnynge of the worlde Christ hath not allowed them by hys worde and promes With the ryghtouse are they not regestred as members of one mystycall bodye in hym In the similitude of hys deathe are they not grafted vnto hym as the braunches vnto the vyne to be partyners of hys resurreccyon Their porcyon ys not in the lande of the lyuynge with hym They are non of those whom the father hath geuen hym to partycipate with hym in one sprete Predestynate they are not vnto lyfe by hym nor so written vp in the foreknowlege of God Chosen they were not of the lorde before the worldes constitucyoÌ„ to be hys vndefyled childreÌ„ in Crist. 10 He ys the meke lambe that was slayne He alone taketh
awaye the synnes of the worlde In hym onlye ys the lyfe for he is the lyfe yt selfe Yet ys he the lyfe of noÌ„ other but of those that onlye beleue in hym 11 In that he was kylled from the worldes begynnynge is sygnifyed that he dyed for all them which were create to be saued and that hys onlye deathe ys all their helthe rayse and remedye by the promes of God For all they haue eaten of one spyrytuall meate and dronke of one spyrytuall rocke though yt came in the fleshe longe after them He onlye trode downe the head of the Serpent SeÌ„s the begynnynge hath he bene slayne in hys members also as manyfesâ— yt ys â—n ryghtouse Abell Hyeremy Iohan Baptist soche other lyke They that are not wrytten of the lambe in the boke of lyfe for the chyldren of God are regestred in the boke of deathe for the chyldreÌ„ of perdycyoÌ„ reserued to eternall deathe for their infydelyte with the deuyll and hys angels 12 He that hath an eare sayth the text lete hym take good hede He that hath an vnderstaÌ„dynge lete hym be admonyshed by that which foloweth here Or he that hath receyued the wysdome of the sprete lete hym iudge hereof accordinge vnto yt Thus doth the holye Ghost aduertyse the faythfull to consider that what so euer thinges are written they are written vnto owr lerninge 13 He that leadeth into captiuite shall go into captiuite And he that kylleth with a swerde must with a swerde be slayne This warninge geueth the lord take it if they list For he will haue his right iudgements knowne He that vexeth or afflicteth the iust beleuers in bodye by outwarde ponnishmeÌ„ts he shall be afflicted in the sprete with an inwarde darkenesse or blindenesse of the sowle that he maye be the more captiue to synne and to Sathan God will delyuer him vp into a lewde minde and will geue him stronge delusion to beleue al maner of lyes that he might be dampned 14 He that killeth the poore innoceÌ„t for his faythe with the proÌ„swerde or sleeth him with anye other torment with the swerde of the sprete which is the lordes worde shall he be both iudged and condempned The worde that I haue spokeÌ„ sayth Christ shall iudge them at the latter daye And this is in maner all one with that was sayed in the .xi. chapter afore If anye manne will hurte theÌ„ fyre shall procede out of their mouthes and consume their enemies 15 Neuerthelesse to the christiane is persecucion necessarye For here in this life is the pacience of the sayntes proued aÌ„d their faithe required Here was AbrahaÌ„ tempted and Iob sore vexed and both they were founde Gode true faythfull seruauntes Here were the Apostles contempned reioysinge that they were fouÌ„de worthye for Christes sake to suffer rebuke The rightouse the lorde trieth as golde in the fornace He chasteneth euerye seruaunt that he loueth and scourgeth euerye sonne that he receyueth Onlye is it faythe that all the euyls of this worlde by pacience ouercoÌ„meth and so obtayneth the victorye The frute which riseth to eternall lyfe is peaceable sufferaunce in faythe And that must be here in this lyfe where as we are vnperfight to make vs perfight The Text. 1 And I behelde an other beaste 2. comynge vp out of the earthe 3. And he had two hornes lyke a lambe 4. and he spake as ded the Dragon 5. And he dyd all that the fyrst Beast coulde do 6. in his presence 7. And he caused the earthe theÌ„ which dwell therin 8. to worship the first Beast whose deadlye wounde was healed 9. And he ded great woÌ„ders 10. so that he made fyre come downe from heauen 11. in the syght of men 12. And deceyued theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe by the meanes of those sygnes which he had power to do in the syght of the Beaste 13. sayenge to theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe that they shulde maâ—e an Image 14. vnto the Beaste which had the wounde of a swerde and dyd lyue ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I behelde sayth saynt Iohan in thys secrete reuelacyon of my lorde an other Beast arysynge out of the earthe A figure ys thys of all false Prophetes aÌ„d vngodlye preachers Beastlye are they euermore vayne carnall and corrupt in their stodyes abhominable in the practâ—synges of their wicked hartes not sehinge God but their bellyes not Christes glorye but their owne pryde and vayne glorye 2 From the earthe they aryse all geuen to earthlye wysdome The onlye affectes of thys worlde doth moue theÌ„ to teache aÌ„d no good zele of the truthe Eyther are they tyckled with ambytion prycked with auaryce or els sturred with malyce to inueye These are the commoÌ„ affectes of the wycked Thys goynge vp haue they froÌ„ wyckednesse to wyckednesse shall haue still tyll the lorde destroye theÌ„ lyke as haue the iust beleuers froÌ„ vertâ— to vertu in the sprete tyll soche tyme as they see hym face vnto face in the euerlastynge Syon From the worldes begynnynge hath this Beast rysen vp in Cayn the first murtherer in the fleshelye chyldren of menne in Cham the shamelesse chylde of Noe in Ismael and Esau in Iannes and Iambres in Balaham and Baals prophetes in the Beniamytes and Bels chaplaynes in Phassur and Semeins in Iudas Annas and Cayphas in Barichu and Diotrephes And now sens their tyme most of all in Mahumetes doctours and the Popes queresters Yea styll they are aloft in their beastlye beggerye and wyll be tyll their mysschef be fynyshed Who seeth not now adayes that hath lyght in the sprete the malygnyte Hypocresye hawâ—e crafte and deceyt in serteÌ„ false Prophetes at Paules crosse in London and in other places els 3 This Beast had .ij. hornes lyke the laÌ„be at 〈◊〉 blushe but all counterfett and false in verye dede for he spake as ded the Dragon The hornes of Christ are hys hygh kyngedome in the worde Onlye aryseth hys churche by faythe in the glad tydynges and promysys of God That worde ys the scepture of Christes power and the rodde of ryght order where as he regneth Non other straunge scepturs are there neyther tradycyoÌ„s nor customes Seuen hornes had Christ for in hym was the fulnesse of the veryte This Beast hath but two and yet they are but false and couÌ„terfeâ—t They seme to be Christes ad are not These are the corrupted letter of the .ij. testameÌ„tes falselye interpreted and for a carnall purpose alleged And therfor yt ys but apparent Hypocrityshe and deceytfull yea cleane repugnaunt to the lordes meanynge not hauynge the iudgement of hys sprete Thys letter without the holye Ghost is deathe and nothynge perteyneth vnto Christ. He ys the veryte and lyfe this ys but a fable or fyccyon Hys worde ys sprete and lyfe thys is but a brasse pot sowndynge or a latten candelstick tynkelynge fantastycall aÌ„d â—aynt sophistycall slayghtye Though these seme lyke Christes yet are they non of hys but the verye hornes of the Beast For
they vpholde Antichristes kyngedome and not hys a worldlye glorye and not hys for hys kingedome ys not of thys worlde No longar are they hys wordes hys lawes nor hys testimonyes thaÌ„ they maynteyne hys ryght honoure No newlye practysed worshyppynges alloweth he for hys but vtterlye abhorreth theÌ„ all as thynges rawe aÌ„d vnsauerye 4 And therfor yt foloweth that thys Beast spake as ded the Dragon The doctrynes and teachynges of these false Apostles and deceytfull masters are lyes in Hipocresye and the verye doctryne of deuyls vnder tytle of the veryte repugnaunt to the same Not vnlyke to that the Serpent sayd vnto the woman ye shall not dye yf ye eate of the forbidden frute but ye shall be surely as Goddes knowinge both good euyll They do as ded Sathan in the desart Alwayes they perswade vs eyther of stones to make bread or els to throwe our selues downe warde or els to worshyp the deuyll That is to change the good creaturs of God from their ryght vse as trees into Idols sylkes veluettes clothe golde and syluer into superstyciouse ornamentes chast Marryage into stynkynge whoredome and Sodomye with soche lyke To declyne from the dewtyes coÌ„maunded of God to their Idle obseruacyoÌ„s so makynge hys commaundementes of non effect for the bayne tradycyons of menne And fynallye to fall vnto forbidden worshyppynges or abhomynacyons of Idolatrye of whome they are full And for these they haue with Sathan also their mangled scripturâ— to laye for theÌ„ to proue that the helpe of dead sayntes ys necessarye their masses merytes workes more than nede expedyent the fyre of purgatorye a fearefull thynge with the deuyll and all of soche fantasyes These are the prelates of Antichristes churche the iâ— horned monsters or great bellyed Byshoppes ryghtelye described here of the holye ghost in this two horned beast These beastlye bushardes are not ashamed both to saye and to wrytte that in their myters they beare the fygure of both testamentes whose veryte they impugne with â—oâ—he and nayle Verye trulye they saye that they carrye the fygure for in dede yt ys but a shaddowe they bere Not to gloryfye God but their owne beastlye bodyes with golde pearle stone lyke Mahowndeâ— in a playe for hys truthe they most cruellye persecute These are the verye false Prophetes the instrumeÌ„tes of Sathan the deceyuers wolues wagelynges Iudasses dreamers lyers Idols aduersaryes adders whelpes foxes destroyenge the lordes vyneyarde deceytfull workemenne desperate shepeherdes blynde watchemenne dumme dogges deuyls incarnate wycked sede vnsaciate beastes whose God ys their bealy glory their confusyoÌ„ To all these to manye other soche doth the Holye Ghost compare them for that they haue with their errours and lyes turned the swetnesse of the scripturs into bytternesse scarselye leauynge one place therof vndefyled with their fylthye dregges 5 Thys Beast sayth Saynt Iohan ded all thynges that the first Beast coulde do euen be fore hys owne face The same lyenge power to deceyue in Hypocresye hath thys beastlye brode that the great Antichrist hath the same wylye craftes and the same beastlye kyndes of Idolatrye and so doth vse theÌ„ The same abhominacyons maynteyne they the worlde ouer that the pope maynteyneth at Rome and Mahomete in barbarye of Turkeye Yea the same supersticyons aÌ„d sorceryes the same execrable tradycions beggeryes The same ceremonies haue they that he hath the same vnccioÌ„s the same orders and the same Masses The same idle obseruacions with vnknowne cloynynge clatteringe and wawlinge are styl vsed in Englande lyke as they were vsed afore with no lesse blasphemy to God 6 To do soche thinges in the first Beastes presence is to do them where his power and auctorite is raygnynge or where as is the seate of Sathan which is euerye place that admitteth straunge worshippinge 7 Both the earthe and them that dwell in the earthe coÌ„pell they to worship this first Beast Not onlye enforce they theÌ„ to wycked Idolatrye that neuer wolde knowe the truthe but also manye of those which hath great knowlege in the same Oh how manye are in Englande and in other regions also that in these dayes worketh agaynst faythe knowlege and the holye ghost admittinge the prestes abhominacioÌ„s Rather had they to dwell styll in the earthlye beggerye with the blasphemye of God thaÌ„ eyther to be out of fauer or to loose ther offices to haue their goodes hindred or to hasarde their lyues so swete are these waÌ„ton worldlye pleasurs Rather had they to peryshe with the sonnes of Helâ— and Samuel for abusynge the ordinaunces of the lorde and with Core Dathan aÌ„d abiron for rebellinge agaynst them to synke vnto hell than with Christ to take peynes in pouerte But let not them thynke to be worthye of Christ that better loueth their owne carnall commodyte than his heauenlye veryte 8 Well the Beast must they worshyp whose wounde is made whole His olde rustye rewles newe bournished and his olde Romishe ragges new patched by a newlye confermed auctorite must they enbrase in peyne of deathe The lambe shall not yet be suffred to apere Styll for a tyme must these terrible teâ—magauÌ„tes haue more worship thaÌ„ God their tradicioÌ„s preferred to his most pure worde And whye shuld it not be so haue they not now a newe refourmed churche in whom the Beastes wounded head is newlye restored So longe as it is lyke the popes churche it must folowe his rewles and cleaue to his ordynaunces It shall not folowe Christ in faythe and in doctryne tyll it apere lyke that churche which he left here behynde him whan he ascended And that is not lyke to be yet 9 First must there be wrought great wonders Fyre must be compelled to come downe from heauen in theÌ„ syght of menne by this twohorned Beast The discyples of Antichrist with their byfurked ordinaries must violentlye pluckâ— from the true christen churche whose regne is not of this worlde the eternall worde of the lorde 10 Then must they take from them the consumyge fyre that Christ sent downe into the earthe of meÌ„nes hartes to drye vp all malyce and synne Yea they must depriue them of the clouen fyerye tonges which the holye ghost poured vpon the Apostles to the confort of all the worlde The treasure that Christ hath left here to socoure vs they must hyde vnder the grounde and the candle that he lyght vs to se ouer the howse coÌ„uaye vnderneth the bushell 11 And these wonders shall they worke in the presence of menne All redye haue they taken in Englande from the Bybels the annotacions tables and prefaces to perfourme this their dampnable enterpryse They haue streyghtlye forbydden the readynge therof for tyme of their Romyshe seruyce Some haue they burned and some put to sylence and all in the face of the peple Yea they reysed the maydes of Ippâ—swhyâ—e aÌ„d of kente to worke wonders maruelâ— and now of late the folyshe Northâ—n menne to fyght for their churche What practyses they haue
the beastes wounded head but also in other serten regyons But for so moche as yt ys most lyuelye done there and thys boke written in that language I haue onlye brought forth here examples therof in that purpose The .xiiii. Chapter IN thys present chapter declareth the lorde vnto Iohan and vnto hys faythfull seruauntes by him the degre estate and condycyon of hys true beleuynge churche now after he hath afore lyuelye described the bestyall churche of Antichrist and of hys horned spyritualte by the afore named .ii. moÌ„struouse Beastes And thys ys that hys louers shuld knowe what they be which are of hys howsholde aÌ„d what an helper they haue of hym in the middes of their aduersitees to the confort of their sowles And though they be here a monge those ragynge tyrauntes in terryble agonyes and peynes persecucions and trobles he ys neuer absent from them nor wyll not be tyll he hath rewarded them with vnspekeable Ioyes The Text. 1 And I loked and lo a lambe stode in the mounte Syon 2 aÌ„d with him an C. and .xliiij. thousande 3. hauynge his fathers name writteÌ„ in their foreheades 4. And I herde a voyce froÌ„ heauen 5. as the sounde of manye waters 6. and as the voyce of a great thundre 7. And the voyce that I herde was 8. as the harpers that playe vpon theyr harpers 9. And they sange as it were a newe songe 10. before the seate 11. and before the foure Beastes 12. and the Elders 13. And no maÌ„ coulde lerne that songe 14. but the hundreth and xliiij thousande 15. which were redemed froÌ„ the earthe 16. These are they which were not defyled with womeÌ„ 17. for they are virgynes 18. These folowe the lambe whither so euer he goeth 19. These were redemed from menne 20. beynge the first frutes vnto God and to the lambe 21. and in their mouthes was founde no gyle 22. for they are without spotte before the trone of God ¶ The Paraphrase 1 I â—oked saith saynt Iohan on the other syde and in a thought as it were I behelde that a lambe stode vpon mounte Syon Euen the lambe of God Iesus Christ that alone toke awaye the synnes of the worlde Alone doth he gouerne his faythfull churche as the onlye aÌ„d immediate head therof hauynge non other to assist him in that office For who is the kynge ouer Syon but he Who shall reduce Israel agayne to his folde but he Onlye is he with his congregacyon to ayde them with his worde to bolden them with his sprete to streÌ„gâ—then them with his grace 2 And with him were present an hondreth and .xliiij. thousande hauynge his fathers name written in their fore heades So manye as haue in hart receyued his worde and in faythe digested his veâ—e are the verye chyldren of Abraham and are marked vpp for the sonnes of God by the seale of the holye Ghost 3 For power haue they geueÌ„ theÌ„ to be Gods chyldreÌ„ that beleue in hys name And thys is yt to haue hys name written in their fore heades For their faythe declareth them Gods sonnes Lete thys set Nombre be non impediment to the reader to be taken here for the vnyuersall multitude of the faythfull as well of the Gentiles as of the Iewes that beleueth though yt otherwyse apereth in the .viii. chapter of thys boke For so well ys the Gentile that hath faythe a perfyght Israelyte as ys the Christen Iewe. Yea moche rather was Zacheus for hys faythe iudged Abrahams chylde than was Symon for fulfyllynge the workes of the lawe For God ys not parcyall What so euer he be that feareth hym and worketh ryghtousnesse ys accepted with hym And so ys yt ment here And therfor ys not the differeÌ„ce written here as in the other place but all ys Ioyned in one to coÌ„preheÌ„de all vnder one And as touchynge the equall certente in Nombre both here and there Lyke as yt ys therâ— certeynlye knowne vnto God euen so ys yt here though yt be vnto vs both innumerable and vncertayne Not as concernynge the Nombre yt self but the common vnderstandinge therof in the scripturs For yf the Nombre of one seuenth be an infinite Nombre there moche more of many seuenthes 4 And I harde a voyce from heauen sayth Saynt Iohan which ys all one with the aforeseyd Syon and ys the vnyuersall congregacyon of Christ all clere from the superstycyons af menne For from Syon cometh the lawe of the lorde after Esaye and the worde of God from Ierusalem 5 Thys worde ys as the noyse of manye waters whan yt ys in the mouthes of manye dyuerse peples of dyuerse natyons and languages one not vnderstandynge an other and yet knowynge yt yche peple amonge themselues 6 Verye lyke ys yt also to a great thoÌ„der cracke myghtye feare full and terrible to the fleshe Very harde ys thy worde lorde sayd Christes disciples who is able to abyde yt 7 And the voyce that I harde saith IohaÌ„ was moche after the noyse that the harpers make whan they playe vpon their harpes Full of agrement are the holye scripturs yea full of swete hermonye and concorde More precyouse are the verytes of the lorde than ys golde and their melodye more swete than honye 8 With them reioysed Dauid before the arke of the lorde In theÌ„ toke Paule a stomake and confounded the Iewes at Damasâ—us 9 And swetelye they vttred with their voyces a songe that semed all newe before the seate of the lorde before the .iiii. Beastes and before the auncyeÌ„t elders This songe is the worde of the lorde all newe both to the good aÌ„d to the yll The faythfull it reneweth in the sprete of their myndes prouokynge them to do on a newe maÌ„ne in Christ. The hartes of the vnfaythfull it so hardeneth that they in disdayne and spyght doth call it newe lernynge as ded the ignoraunt multitude at Capernaum and the worldly wyse menne of Athenes 10 Before the seate of the lorde was this songe vttred which is the godlye disposed multitude For lyke as the harte of an hipocrite is the verye seate of sathan so is the hart of a faythfull manne the seate of God and habitacle of the holye Ghost 11 Before the .iiii. Beastes was it opened also by this nomber of godlye teachers Which Beastes are the pryuate congregacions of the lorde remayninge here yet in the fleshe in the .iiii. quarters of the worlde â—â— Finallye before the elders was it songe also For non other doctrine is it nor Gospell of glad tydinges than hath bene sens the begynnynge nor thaÌ„ hath bene thankefullye receyued of owr olde auncetours the Patriarkes the Prophetes the Apostles and the faythfull fathers 13 And no manne coulde lerne that newe songe but the aforesayd hondred aÌ„d xliiii thousande which were redemed from the earthe On mightye wonderfull yea and terrible sentence of the lorde Non that take them selues for the peple of God caÌ„ be accepted afore him for the true sede of AbrahaÌ„ nor for the iust
which is the great Antichrist And his Image which are those gouernours that taketh vpon them his blasphemouse titles names auctoryte or defence If anye manne also receyue his marke in his fore head beleuynge their lawes to be a chrysten doctrine or haue the prynâ—e of hys seale vpon his ryght hande which is to fashion his outwarde workes after the same The same manne shall drynke of the wyne of Gods wrathe whych are the dregges of the pure wyne powred in the cuppe of his hygh dyspleasure He shall tast of the euerlastynge dampnacyon that is reserued in the latter curse or fearefull sentence of their most terryble iudge To worshyp the Beast aÌ„d his Image is to accept them in conscyence and in the outwarde obedience with full consent of the hart For that they blasphemouslyâ— pretende without gods auctoryte As the Pope for Gods vycar or forgeuer of synnes Mahomete for the great Prophete of the lorde the â—ewlers of the earthe for the popes elder or yonger sonnes for most christen kynges and defenders of the faythe of that holye churche 4 To receyue the Beastes marke in their fore heades and handes is both to agre to soche decrees tradycyons lawes constitucyons actes and proclamacyons as they vnder those tytles haue made onlye for their owne couetousnesse and pompe and neyther for the glorye of God nor yet for the right mayntenaunce of the chrysten common welthe as I haue declared afore And also to be sworne to the same to subscrybe to it to geue counsell or ayde to it to maynteyne it by lernynge to mynister in it to execute vnder it to accuse poÌ„nyshe and put to deathe for yt or to thynke yt lawfull and godlye with soche lyke 5 These marked worshippers shall tast of the cuppe of Gods indygnacyon of calamyte sorowe and wrechednesse in the dayes of their fall here and after the last iudgement of vnspekeable peynes and most greuouse tormentes in euerlastynge fyre prepared for the deuyll aÌ„d his angels 6 The dregges that the lorde hath poured out sayth Dauid shall the wycked of the earthe drynke Cleane contrarye are these Angels to the horned mynysters of Antychryst For they maynteyne the Popes errours these the onlye verytees of Chryst. They laboure for the glorye of theyr Pope these seketh the onlye honoure of God They praâ—e that their holye churche shall coÌ„tinewe these saye it shal downe with shame They requyre worshyp to the Beast and his Image these will report it blasphemouse and the rewarde therof dampnacyon Marke in these .ij. sortes the preachers of owr tyme and iudge which are of God Agaynst both beastes in Chrystes quarell shall these Angels contende Agaynst the Pope and his bishoppes Mahomete and his doctours wyll these godlye mynisters replye whoÌ„ the lorde hath sent in thys latter age for that purpose condeÌ„pnynge by the scripturs their auctoryte iurisdiccion and power declarynge also the plages that wyll fall vpon them for wytholdynge the truthe of God in vnryghtousnesse 7 For these Antichristes and their worshippers with so manye as beareth their token shall be ponnished in fyre and brymstone before the holye Angels and before the lambe Fyre shall be kyndled sayth Moyses in the anger of the lorde and shall burne vnto the bottome of hell Vpon the vngodlye sayth Dauid shall he rayne snares Fyre brymstone storme and tempest shall be ther porcyon to drynke The vehemeÌ„t indignacion and myghtye iudgement of God shall lyght vpon them as vpon Sodome and Egypt and shall both deuoure them and consume them 8 And this shall be in the syght of Angels Which are not onlye the spretes of heauen but also the churche of the faythfull Yea the ryghtouse shall reioyse whan he â—â—yth the destruccion and shall washe his handes in the bloude of the wycked 9 In the presens of the lambe shall it be also For he is euermore with his flocke and shall be vnto the ende of the worlde wherin he shall sytte and conâ—dempne them The Text. 1 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore 2. And they haue no rest daye nor nyght 3. which worship the Beaste and hys Image 4. aÌ„d who so euer receyueth the prynt of his name 5. Here is the pacycyence of Sayntes 6. Here are they that kepe the commaundementes 7. and the faythe of Iesu. ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore as the flame of a fornace wyth most horryble stynke for a perpetuall sygne of their ponnyshment lyke as it ded from Sodome and Gomor whaÌ„ the lorde ouerthrewe theÌ„ 2 So that they haue no rest neyther day nor nyght so manye as worship the Beast and his Image receyuynge the print of his name 3 Both in this lyfe are they crucyatâ— with a troblouse and doubtfull conscience and also after this lyfe with vnspekeable peynes For neyther shall theyr worme dye nor yet their fyre be quenched all fleshe abhorrynge them 4 Thus shall they be wyth the Beast tormented which haue the sprete of the beast For lyke as all the faithfull which hath bene from the begynninge belongeth to one mistycal bodye in Christ aÌ„d shall be preserued by hym so doth the wicked perteyne to one mystycall Antichryst hauynge all one sprete with him and so shall with him perishe 5 Here is the pacience of the Sayntes In this lyfe are their trobles No pleasure is for theÌ„ in this worlde but hate rebukes slaunders lyes persecucioÌ„s deathe of their bodyes Their lyfe vpon earthe is coÌ„tinual affliccioÌ„ but gloryouse is the frute of their labours Manyfolde are the mysfortunes of the rightouse but the lorde cleareth them of all 6 Here are they vexed that kepe the commaundemeÌ„tes the faythe of Iesu. Here are they had in derisioÌ„ that behaue theÌ„ selues as the ministers of God in moche pacience affliccions nede anguyshe laboure strypes imprisoÌ„meÌ„t soche lyke 7 Here are they chastened of the lorde with many sore stormes that they shuld not be dampned with this worlde Moche haue they here to suffre of enemyes that onlye cleaueth to the worde of God in lyfe and doctrine The Text. 1 And I herde a voyce froÌ„ heaueÌ„ sayeÌ„ge vnto me 2. write 3. Blessed are the dead which hereafter dye in the lorde 4. eueÌ„ so sayth the sprete that they maye rest froÌ„ their labours 5. but their workes shall folowe them ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I harde a voyce from heaueÌ„ sayth Saynt Iohan saynge vnto me 2 Wryte with thy penne or marke surelye this senteÌ„ce folowinge for theÌ„ that here suffreth in the truthes quarell 3 Blessed are the dead or they which are alredye departed and that also shall here after depart in the lorde This voyce from heauen are the infallyble scripturs assertanynge the faythe of Iohan of the swete rest of the Sayntes in the handes of God And that their ende is not without honoure as the vayne sort supposeth but they are counted amonge the dere chyldren of God Let them therfor that suffer in this
strongelye to delude the vnbeleuers 2 These lyghted vpon the swete waters by whom are ment the sacred scripturs refreshinge the drye sowles Who so euer drynketh sayth Christ of the waters that I geue he shall neuer be more a thirst 3 Of these waters haue they defyled both the ryuers and welspringes with bloud Both the lawe and Gospell the fygure and veryte the commaundemeÌ„t and promes the doctryne of Prophetes and Apostles haue they corrupted with their false interpretacyons and gloses with frowarde dryftesand opynyons with vayne tradycyons and worshyppynges and with carnall wysdome aÌ„d murtherynges Of thys sort were Eutâ—ces and Artius with soche other lyke as in the .viij. chapter afore 4 And I harde sayth Saint Iohan an Angell betokenynge those syncere wytnesses to whom God had opened for that age his secrete iudgemeÌ„tes And thys Angell sayd 5 Omnipotent creator and lorde which art not onlye of thy self at thys present instaunt but wart also essencyallye in thy self without begynnynge 6 Thu heauenlye lorde art faythfull in thy wordes and holye in thy workes 7 For as yt apereth before our eyes the decrees and fore iudgementes that thu madest afore are now fulfylled in effecte 8 For the relygyouse mourtherers that of cruelnesse caused the bloud of thy holye â–ª Sayntes and Prophetes Apostles and Preachers to be shedde haue now by thy iust appoyntment verye bloud to drynke as they are most worthye 9 For sleynge of them whose massage they contempned they had their iust plage Not oÌ„lye became they vayne in their thoughtes their folyshe hartes darkened not vnlyke to them that hath eares aÌ„dheare not eyes and se not but also there remayned vnto them after this lyfe a perpetuall vengeaunce without mercye for their cruell oppressyons as a due rewarde of their errour 10 Yet an other Angell harde I sayth Saynt IohaÌ„ eueÌ„ out of the aulter whych ys Christ. Thys Angell sygnyfyeth those wytnesses that suÌ„tyme confessed the truthe here and now resteth from their labours in the lorde These though they be departed afferme that the other hath seyd afore In token that now beynge departed they forget not that truthe which they afore confessed lyuynge styl yet in the same He that holdeth my worde sayth Christ shall neuer tast of deathe 11 And this ys their saynge in mysterie or wordes comprehendinge their secrete confessyon 12 Euen so lorde God almyghtye As the lyuynge beleuers sayth of the by mouthe so saye we now in the sprete 13 That thy decreed iudgemeÌ„tes are euer more true and thy maruelouse workynges ryghtouse The first ys called in some translacyons the Angell of waters the other here reported to come from the aulter to sygnyfye both sortes The Text. 1 And the fourth Angell poured out hys vyall 2. on the sunne 3. And power was geuen vnto hym to vexe men with heate of fyre 4. And the men raged in great heate and spake euyll of the name of God 5. which had power ouer those plages 6. and they repented not to geue hym glorye ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Consequentlye by the appoyntment of God the fort Angel in the forth Seale openynge poured out his vyall of Gods wrathe on the sunne As the lorde had eternallye prefixed in the forth age of the Christen churche For the whole worldes pannyshmeÌ„t was Christ sore blemyshed which ys the clere sunne of ryghtousnesse Sore ded the dissemblynge Antichristes in those dayes darken the true glorye of God with their many folde sectes of Hipocresye The pope had for hys part an innumerable swarme of shorne smered Sodomytes and Mahomete a fowle flocke of frantyck fabyllers which with their newlye paynted relygyons and prodygyouse obseruacyons made first all the worlde to wonder and than to worshyp Belâ—al for Christ takynge darkenesse for lyght and synne for ryghtousnesse 2 These beynge verye aduersaryes vnto Christ toke vpon them hys auctoryte and seate the one boastynge hymself for hys generall vycar in earthe the other for the great Prophete of the lorde and so were receyued of the excecate worlde Nedes wolde they seme to be the suÌ„ne beynge the verye shaddowes of deathe 3 Permytted was this heersackye sunne to vexe meÌ„ne with heate of fyre Syttynge in the temple of God which ys with in manne with soche wycked lawes as they made vnder the name of God and of Christ they terribly vexed tormented and cruciated the weake consciences of menne leauynge them coÌ„moÌ„lye in most peynefull desperacyon 4 So that the menne raged in greate heate speakynge euyll of the name of God which had power ouer those plages At their abhominable perswasions was Christ of them not taken for a mercyfull sauer and gentyll â–ª redemer but for a frowarde chorle vntractable tyrauÌ„t vnlesse he were mollyfyed by the merytes and callynges vpon of other that coude not be had without money 5 Power hath the lorde ouer plages to holde them or remoue them By hys ryghtfull iudgement at hys onlye pleasure he hardeneth As the potter maye he breke them or make them vessels of dyshonour 6 In no wyse ded this peruerted multytude repent their wycked blasphemyes to geue hym glorye for all their confessioÌ„s Masse hearynges pylgrymages and satisfaccyons without nombre For they were not accordynge to his prescripcyon 7 After non other sort wyll he be pleased and glorifyed than he hath by hys scripturs appoynted Nothynge lesse are their fantasyes than true repentaunce The Text. 1 And the fifte Angell poured out his vyall 2. vpon the seate of the Beaste 3. and his kyngedome waxed darke 4. And they gnewe their tonges for sorowe 5. and blasphemed the God of heauen for sorowe and payne of their sores 6. and repented not of their dedes ¶ The Paraphrase 1 In order succedeth by the dyuyne ordinaunce the fiâ—t Angell vnder the fift seale openynge pourynge out hys vyall of Gods indignacyon vpon the seate of the Beast After non other sort than the lorde had afore predyffyned for mannes vnfaythfulnesse sake was the proude beastlye kyngodome of the Papacye and the execrable regne of Mahomete replenyshed with all filthye abhomynacyoÌ„s vnder the sunne For in the other age afore they ded but crepe into the hartes of meÌ„ne through the glytterynges of hypocresye and dissimulate sanctyte 2 But here haue they obtayned the power seate and auctoryte of the Beast and so gotten vnto them the myghtye Monarchyes of the vnyuersall worlde Here regned they without checke in all vayne glorye hawtynesse malyce pryde murther Hipocresye superstycyon Idolatrye and blasphemye of Gods name 3 And therfor their kyngedomes as all one in deuylllyshenesse became all darke without the lyght of Gods veryte full of the stynkinge smoke of the bottomlesse pytte Than went the locustes abrode aÌ„d fylled the worlde with ygnoraunce and blyndenesse 4 Euerye where gnewe they their toÌ„ges for verye sorowe In detractynge the veryte moche grefe they suffred in their desperate hartes their wormes not dyenge nor their fyre quenched the scorpyons of the earthe stynginge them also 5 Spyghtfullye
so the a vniuersall quyet 5 Yet shall there happen in those dayes voyces thonderynges and lyghtenynges Voyces of swete blessynges aÌ„d dylectable promyses to the faythfull congregacyon Thonderynges of terrour to the vnfaythfull multytude commaundynge thynges contrarye to the fleshe And fearefull lyghtenynges of condempnacyon to the reprobate hypocrytes and desperate obstinates 9 And all from one worde of the lorde or one Gospell preachynge in dyuerse respectes no small earthquake folowynge vpon the same What commocyons heuye complayntes fearefull tremblynges sorowes cryes grefes syghynges waylynges grudgynges gruntynges gronynges wepynges and haÌ„des wryngynge wyll be amonge the earthlye mynded Antichristes and hypocrites byshoppes prestes prelates holye water mongers and parryshe clarkes lawers whores caruers paynters and waxe sellers whan their whoâ—ishe churche shall be turned ouer by the iudgement of the sayd worde yt is easye to coniecture 7 Soche a one wyll this earthquake be sayth the text so myghtye and so stronge as neuer was yet sens menne war vpon the earthe or sens that earthlye generacyon first beganne Than shall be cleane taken awaye the carnall churche of Antychryst or the smered Sinagoge of shaâ—elynges Neyther shall the Pope wyth hys dysgysed rable anye more be seane here nor yet Mahâ—mete with his monstruouse muster 8 In soche wyse shall their lawes secdes and ceremonyes be destroyed in those dayes that no manne shall be fownde so bolde as ones to allowe one of theÌ„ openlye Than shall the glorye of christes name shyne the worlde ouer he makynge of his enemyes hys fâ—te stole 9 More ouer in this terrible earthquake the great spyrytuall cyte called Sodome aÌ„d Egypt or the holye whoryshe mother the churche shall be disseuered into in partes of the which .ij. shall styll be wycked the thirde conuerted vnto godlynesse Two partes shall be dispersed sayth Zacharye the thirde shall remayne to the lorde Of them which haue and shall go out of mynsters and monasteryes collegys and couentes churches and cloysters patryshes and nonneryes one sort shall inwardlye be geuen to Antichristes superstycyousnesse and Hipocresye An other sort vpon dyuerse fleshelye consideracyons shall faynedlye fall to the Gospell The thirde sort onlye of loue towardes God and zele of helthe in their neybers shall vnfaynedlye cleaue to the Scripturs Thus shall the vngodlye sort be coupled styll with the Godlye in euerye lande and prouynce and be the moche greatter noÌ„bre Yet shall they for that tyme attempt nothinge agaynst them the trewthe so strongelye regnynge Neuer thelesse yet ys yt not to be thought that they shall than haue nothinge to suffre consyderynge that it is a kyngedome of sufferaunce Christ to head of that congregacyon suffred oned incommodyte or other alwayes so longe as he was here lyuynge It shall therfor behoue theÌ„ which are his misticall meÌ„bers alwayes to suffre For the seruaunt is no better than his lorde nor the souldiour thaÌ„ his head captayne And to make his good the lorde sayth in Zacharye The same third part wyll I leade through fyre and pourge yt as syluer or golde in the fornace Than shal euerye godlye creature folowe Christ in bearynge hys crosse They shall mortyfye their fleshlye members sâ—â—ynge all fornicacyon fylthynesse Idolatre couetousnesse pryde anger and malyce They shall helpe suffer and forbeare one an other hauynge pytefull compassion vpon the weake sycke and nedye No dewtye besemynge a chrystyane shall they leaue vndone 10 Therfor this great or generall cyte thus deuyded all other particuler or nacyonall cytees must also fall The blasphemouse Pantheon of Rome ones peryshinge all other churches of the vnfaythfull must nedes folowe sone after in their course For the fouÌ„d acyon taken a waye the buyldynge can not endure So that from thens forth shall be no popyshe sectes no supersticiouse ceremonyes no heythnyshe obseruacions nor open Idolatrye in all the worlde But whan the remnaunt of the wycked shall attempt a freshe to rayse vp agayne soche abhomynacions the lorde shall soâ—enlye wythout warnynge fall vpon them with his most fearefull and terryble last iudgement 11 Great Babylon the aforesayd mother of all whoredom and fylthynesse shall than come in remembraunce before God He shall than consyder her abhomynable blasphemye her pryde cruelte murther and synnes wythout nombre wayenge them in right balaunce accordynge vnto iustyce 12 He shall also rewarde her to drynke the fearce cuppe of his wrathe or wyne of his great indignacyon which is the perpetuall deathe of sowle The verye dregges of his Ire shall she tast yea vnspekeable sorowes and peynes without ende For non other is it to come in remembraunce before hym at that daye but to be condempned and receyue ponnyshment accordynge to her dedes 13 ThaÌ„ shal leuerye Ile which is a place of refuge within the see flee awaye and not tarye The mountaynes that are wonte to geue socour vnto theÌ„ that be on the lande shall not at that daye be fownde No confort shall she than haue nor sure helpe anye where 14 No remedye wyll be at that daye to flee from the fearefull face of the iudge Than will neyther merytes nor yeâ— sowle Masses helpe neyther blessynges nor knelynges sacrifices nor seÌ„synges wawlynges nor ryngynges bussinges nor synginges but will she nyll she nedes must she abyde hys heuye and terrible sentence 15 And there fell great hayle sayth the text as yt had bene wayghtye talentes Alwayes must yt be remembred that coÌ„moÌ„lye the tyme past ys vsed in this prophecye for the tyme to come for the teâ—tente of the thynges here spoken This hayle ys non other than the heuye tempest or plage of the seyd fearefull and terryble iudgementes of the lorde which shall on that woofull daye fall sodenlye â—s a thycke hayle vpoÌ„ the miserable multytude of them that boasted themselues to be the holye churche and vpon their wycked folowers compared here vnto Babylon 16 This plage ys here also for non other cause lykened vnto talentes buâ—â—â—r that yt ys in wayght and measure to be mynystred vnto them by the preordynacyon of God So moche peyne and sorowe ys due vnto that whoryshe generacyon as she hath glorifyed herself in fylthye delyghtes and so manye ponnyshmentes to be rewarded her Yea double must she haue accordinge to her workes 17 Out of heauen shall this vehement hayle fall from the fearefull sentence of the lorde Iesus Christ which shall than sit as a iudge in the middes of his faythfull congregacyon they sittynge with hym as the bodye with the head in condempnacyon of the wycked 18 And vpon the menne shall yt lyght For the great whore or the cyte called here Babylon is in this place to be takeÌ„ for that yt comprehendeth euen for menne in whom also are included womeÌ„ by the common vsage of the Scripturs 19 These menne shall spyghtfullye blaspheme God because of the hayle plage or terrour of their tormentes They shall crye out of hym wysshinge that he had no soche powre so to torment them 20 For
the tempest ys great and the suâ—â—feraunce therof excedynge paynefull As the lorde ys myghtye so are hys iudgeâ—mentes whan they fall VehemeÌ„t ferce and stronge ys the lorde sayth Esaye 〈◊〉 ys the tempest of hayle breakynge ou◠〈◊〉 euerye syde and bearinge downe stroÌ„ge holdes The .xvij. Chapter OFt hath occasyons be geueÌ„ me in this boke to speake of great Babylon and of the execâ—able Beast but here is place offred to describe theÌ„ more at large The Text. 1 And there came one of the seuen Angels which had the seueÌ„ vyalles 2. and talked with me 3. sayenge vnto me 4. Come I will shewe the. the iudgement 5. of the great whore 6. that sytteth vpon manye waters 7. with whom the kynges of the earthe haue commytted whoredome 8. and the inhabyters of the earthe are dronken with the wyne of her fornicacion 9. And he caryed me awaye 10. into the wildernesse in the sprete ¶ The Paraphrase 1 After this came sayth Saynt Iohan one of the .vij. Angels or vnuaryable decrees of the lordes eternall iudgemeÌ„tes which had the .vij. vyals of his wrathe as afore hath bene declared 2 And this Angell or sett purpose of God as an heaueÌ„lye massenger talked with me in mysterye 3 Of fauorable goodnesse in secrete maner he assertayned me therbye of this woÌ„derfull iudgement here folowinge to be fulfilled at the latter ende of the worlde And thus yt sayd vnto me 4. Come hyther frynde Iohan I wyll shewe the in secretenesse the terryble iudgement of the great whore or couÌ„terfett churche of Hipocrites as God hath appoynted yt Nedes must thys whore bâ— Rome for that which ys here after spoken that she ys the great cyte which reâ—neth ouer the kynges of the earthe Euident yt is both by the scripturs and cronycles that in Iohans dayes Rome had her domynyon ouer all the whole worlde And beynge infected with the abhominacyons of all landes ryghtlye ys she called Babylon or cyte of confusion not onlye in this reuelacyon but aâ—so in the first Epistle of Peter And lyke as in the scripturs oft tymes vnder the name of Ierusalem ys ment the whole kingedome of Iuda so vnder the name of Rome here maye be vnderstanded the vniuersall worlde with all their abhominacyons aÌ„d deuylyshenesses their Idolatries withchecraftes sectes supeâ—stycyons papacyes presthodes relygyons shauinges anoyntings blessinges sensings processions and the deuyll and all of soche beggeries For all peples seÌ„s Christes ascencyon hath this Rome infected with her pestylent poysons gathered from all Idolatrouse nacyons soche tyme as she helde ouer theÌ„ the monarchyall suppremyte And lyke as Babylon had the Israelytes captyue vnder a bodylye trybute so hath this Rome had the Christianes both in their bodyes aÌ„d sowles At the writynge of this Propheâ—ye felt Iohan of their cruelte beynge exyled into Pathmos an Ile of Lycya for the faythfull testymonye of Iesu. And so ded I poore creature with my poore wyfe and children at the gatheringe of this present Commentarye fleynge into Germanye for the same 5 No maruele though she be here called a great whore For no where were euer yet seane so manye Idolle wurshyppynges so many vayne obseruacyons so manye superslycyouse sectes so manye errours in Hipocresye so manye false Prophetes and so manye prodygyouse kyndes of fylthynesse no not in Sodome yt self nor yet in miserable Egypt 6 This Babylonyshe whore or disgised Synagoge of shorelynges sitteth vpon manye waters or peples that are fantasticall fyckle or folyshe For noÌ„ are in coÌ„science subiect vnto her that are constaÌ„tlye grounded in the sure doctryne of faythe Onlye alloweth her tradycyons the wauerynge witted multytude the slypper and vnstedefast noÌ„bre obeynge theÌ„ in their hartes of feare and not of loue so throwynge themselues into a most coÌ„fuse Chaos or vawte of doubtfull doâ—rage 7 With this stynkynge strompett haue the myghtye potentates of the vnyuersall earthe the Emprours Kynges Princes and other notable gouernours commytted most shamefull whoredome in the sprete by manye strauÌ„ge worship pynges agreynge amonge themselues to her wyckedlye decreed lawes and customes To longe shuld we stande here in this place yf we shuld describe them all seuerallye in their colours at large as they be 8 Through the craftye legardemayne of the Prestes on the one syde and the cruell constytucyoÌ„s of Princes on the other syde the dwellers of the earthe or worldlye mynded multytude are dronken with the wyne of her fornycacyon spyrituall or practysed worshypyynges besydes the prescripte rewles of Gods worde Not onlye they which haue bene couetouse carnall lewde and wretched hath folowed their abhomynacyoÌ„s but also an innumerable sort of the electe nombre hath beleued their lyes and errours Yea they haue bene so dased with their dottages and so tangled with their customes that as menne losynge their wittes without all godlye remembraunce reason wysdome dyscressyon vnderstandynge iudgement and grace the lawes of God layed a part the coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts neglected and the scripturs despised they haue noâ— onlye kneled crossed kyssed set vp lygâ—tes and holden vp their handes before rotten postes but also called them theiâ— fathers in heaueÌ„ Yea I axe God mercyâ— a thousande tymes I haue bene one oâ— them myself And this ys to thys daye â— principall religyoÌ„ of that whoryshe chuâ—â—che called deuowte pilgrymage or hoâ—lye stacyons of prayer manye great paâ—â—dons graunted and manye false promyâ—ses made to allure the peple thervntoâ— 9 But blessed be the lorde whose woâ—â—de in this age both admonyshed manyâ— as the Angell ded Iohan and broughâ— them also cleane from her abhominacyâ—ons into a secrete consideracyon of thâ— sprete vnknowne to the worlde therâ— both to se her pryde and also to vnderâ—stande her iudgemeÌ„t For yt foloweth iâ— the text that the angell coÌ„uayed Iohan awaye into the wildernesse in the spretâ—â— 10 In mysterye here the holye ghost dâ—â—clared afore what the lorde shuld workâ— in meÌ„ne hauynge hys grace at the latteâ— dayes of the worlde Into the wylderneâ—â—se flee they with Dauid which leauyâ—â—ge the customed wayes of menne afteâ— the course of the scripturs seke vp theiâ— lorde God in faythe worshyppinge hym onlye in sprete and in veryte The Text. And I sawe a woman sitt vpon 2. a rose coloured Beast 3. full of names of blasphemye 4. which had seuen heads and ten hornes 5. And the woman was â—rayed 6. in purple and rose coloure 7. and decked with golde precyouse stone and pearles 8. and had a cuppe of golde in her hande 9. full of abhominacions 10. and fylthynesse of her whoredome 11. And in her fore heade was a name written 12. A mysterye 13. Greate Babylon the mother of whoredome and abhomynacyons of the earthe 14. And I sawe the wyfe dronken with the bloude of Sayntes and with the bloude of the wytnesses of Iesu. 15. And whan I sawe her 16. I woÌ„dred with great maruayle ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I sawe sayth Saynt Iohan in mysterye a woman for an whore at the first blushe semeth onlye a
the cytye 11. and bloude came out of the fatte 12. eueÌ„ vnto the horse brydles 13. by the space of a thousande and sixe hundred fourlonges ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angell came out from the aulter which had power ouer fyre This ys the lorde Iesus Christ whom Malachias calleth the Angell of the couenaunt that was longed for He ys the aulter of the ryghtouse and by hym are they a swete sacrifice vnto God Els coude they be but verye abhominacyon Tyll the iudgement daye shall he be an aulter of meanes makynge to God the father for vs. But that daye ones come no longer shall he be an aulter or an aduocate but go cleane from yt He shall than become a iudge ouer all the worlde rewardynge euerye one accordynge to their workes Hitherto hath he mekelisytten vppon the cloude and not cutte with his syckle He hath had in hys hande the iudgement and not iudged 2 But now hath he power ouer fyre By fyre which ys vnder hys obedyence as are all other creaturs els shall he at that daye iudge the vnyuersall worlde And more sharpe vehement quycke ferce myghtye and terryble shall hys seÌ„tence be to the wycked thaÌ„ ys any fearefull flaminge or coÌ„sumynge wilde fyre 3 For with a lowde voyce shall he crye vnto him that hath the sharpe syckle An ernest charge and commandement shall he geue at that daye to the ministers of his yre for to cast them into exteryoure darkenesse after thys sort here vttred in mysterye 4 Thrust in thy sharpe syckle aÌ„d gather the clusters of the earthlye vyneyarde for the grapes therof are râ—pe 5 Execute the vengeaunce committed vnto yow and rote out this ranke ryâ—â—ouse generacyon of the rauenouse Epicures 6 For now are their myscheues at the full Now are they most curyous in their facyons and fedynges most couetouse in their compassynges most vayne in their stodyes and most cruell in their doynges For with them shall yt be sayth Christ as yt was in the dayes of Noe and Loth. They shall buylde and banket ruffle and ryot bye and sell and plante for their pleasurs And sodenlye as a snare shall that terrible daye lyght vpon them vnbewares as ded deathe on the couetouse iourer 7 And the Angell sayth Iohan thrust in hys syckle on the earthe he cutte downe the grapes of the vineyard of the earth and so ded cast them into the greate wyne fatt of the wrathe of God 8 Accordynge to their commission they shall plage the earthlye mynded for here ys the tyme past for the tyme coÌ„mynge vsed for the certente of yt Wyth soden deathe shall they perce theÌ„ in this worlde that contempnynge Christes doctryne hath folowed the course therof in all concupiscence 9 And fynallye they shall throwe them into the lake of myserye the pyt wythout water â—nto the stynkynge â—regges of helâ—e where as fyre and brymstone shall be rewarded to drynke For the vyneyarde of the earthe ys the carnall Synagoge of Hypocrites â— and the grapes therof are the gloryouse glottons and franke fâ—dde porkelynges of that gredye gulfe euen the enemyes of Christes crosse whose God ys their bellye whose glorye is their confusion and whose ende ys their dampnacyon for they are earthlye mynded This wyne fatte of the wrathe of God ys non other than hys greate bengeaunce to be poured vpon the vnfaythfull Or els helle prepared for the deuyll and hys angels Greate not onlye for the innumerable multytude that yt hath and shall receyue but also in that yt is insacyable 10 And this wyntfatt was troddeÌ„ without the cyte Nothynge perteyneth yt to that cyte of whom famouse thynges are spoken which ys the congregacyon of God nor yet to the good creaturs of God No not vnto thys worlde which shall at that daye be tryed and pourged by fyre But vnder the earthe shall yt be and farre without thys worlde secluded from the face of heauen in fylthye and vnspekeable darkenesse 11 For bloud wyll come out of thys fatte eueÌ„ vnto the horse brydles Wherin is expressed not onlye the terrour of the place but also of the peynes ther in contayned For bloud shedynge and murther are thynges verye horrible fearefull to beholde contayninge in theÌ„ depriuacyon of lyfe which ys most terrible of all The habundaunce therof betokeneth the greatnesse of the grefe in the sufferaunce of them The treadinge downe also sygnyfieth that no rayse towardes anye relefe is to be loked for of them that be there Vnto them which at that daye shall be in the cyte wyl he that sytteth in the trone make al thynges newe All dolour affliccyon so rowe peyne penurye wrathe condeÌ„pnacyon and deathe shall be past with them Onlye shall they be trodden downe in this wynefatt of Gods wrathe that lyued here lyke beastes without reason and that wandred here lyke horses and mules in their owne filthye lustes 12 All shall be ponnyshed there that was here vnbridled vnordred and vngouerned after the worde pleasure of God And therfor yt ys here sayd vnto the horse brydles Euerye manne shall receyue in bodye accordynge to that he hath done whether yt be Good or euyll They that haue wrought the storke of God in faythe shall reape accordynge vnto yt The brydles also betokeneth the measure of gods iudgemeÌ„t not as concernynge the tyme which â—s euerlastynge but concernynge the peyne ryghtlye measured accordynge to the in aquite For the lorde hath sett his iudgementes ouer the wicked in wayght and measure the stripes agreynge in quantyte to the excesse of synne so moche torment to haue as their reioyse hath bene in wyckednesse 13 The space of these terrible tormeÌ„tes or ponnyshmeÌ„tes of hell ys a thousande and .vi. hondred furlonges A furlonge of the Grekes ys called the â—onne of hercules and yt ys in lenghte an hondred and .xxv. passes or steppes And commonlye they vsed accordinge to that lenghte to measure their playenge places Of whome Paule maketh mencyon to the Corinthyanes beynge Grekes by them that roÌ„neth in a course and that proueth mastryes In thys thousande and .vi. hoÌ„dred furlonges here ys comprehended the whole and vnyuersall course of the wycked for the .iiii. quarters of the worlde The nombre of an hondred ys euermore an whole complete and perfyght nombre And .iiii. hondred .iiii. tymes noÌ„bred ys .xvi. hondred which maketh this nombre of a thousande and .vi. hondred the nombre of .iiii. respectinge alwayes the .iiii. climates of the worlde which are the common habitacions of sinners In them course they in all wanton kyndes of lyuinge In them worke they their mastryes of all vngodlye obseruacyons and false worshyppinges walkinge in the large or open waye which leadeth vnto deathe Accordynge to the nonbre measure of this course hath God here measured the place and ponnyshment Not withstandinge neuer ys he without mercye Maruelouse he ys in hys workes and iudgementes which are vnsercheable Blessed ys he that shal haue his part in the cyte or congregacyon of