fleshe They are not ashamed to aduouch in their Decretals that it is better and a smaller offence to kepe a â—uÌ„dreth hoores than to marrie or contracte matrimonie after they haue vowed chastitie Oh beastes that ye are the spirite of Chastitie did neuer cause you to forbid holy matrimonie but it was the spirite of vncleannesse Asmodeus Beelsebub and that spirit whereof the Sodomites and them of Gomorra were driuen These foule spirites made you to do it to accomplishe the prophecies of S. Paule and of Daniell whiche amongest other wordes speaketh of Antechrist on this maner He shal â—xalt him selfe aboue all which is called God For the God of hys predecessors he shal make no count of He shal loue neither God nor woman but only his Maosim for he exalteth himself aboue all things The naturall duetie and affection whiche God hath graffed in man wyfe to loue and haue company comforte and healpe one of the other to increase and multyplie is the onely meane whych God hath prouided to preuent the decay of mankynde It is also a greate kinde of beneuolence and friendeshyp wherein the one parte of maÌ„s nature honoreth aswel for the likenesse as for the creatours sake the other in the feare of God whome they in the state of matrimonie not onely serue if it be well vsed but honour and worship Then the duâ—tie of a good husbande is according to Gods worde to labour and with the sweate of his browes to get his bread to care and prouide for hys familie for his wyfe and chyldren that shée neyther thorough pouertie hunger or other cause of wretchednesse haue no occasion to committe or do any thyng agaynst the rule of honestie and prescript commaundement of God A good wyfe agayne wyll be diligent and carefull for all things necessary and belonging to the house she shall be sober honest faithfull and busie This affection and kindenesse wherof we speake here procedeth out of the naturall loue gyuen vâ—to vs by nature and all men in generall are bounde to obserue it This naturall kyndenesse and diuine loue hath not this monstrous beast and beastly monster Antechrist nor his sodomitishe greasy ones They lurke onely in their dennes and wyth daintie dyshes and delitious meates fil their bellies and make merrâ—e they care for no bodie they beare neither honest loue nor heart or any good wil to woman neither for propagationâ— nor for the ordinance of God who is the author instituter of it They labour not to maintain their wife they seeke not to defeÌ„d any against dishonestie rauishment or shame they desire none for their owne but when they lust they take one nowe and an other to morowe and then sende hir packing to haue neither trouble cost nor charges of hir nor of the childe but like vnkyndely Cuckoes lay theyr egges into other folkes nestes Whether these things tende to the despysing disgracyng of women or not iudge you And surely the rather for that they not passing for the ordinaÌ„ce of God but reiecting it take one or other of their acquaintaunce after theyr owne minde forsooth to cast hir of like a broken pot and to take an other so often as they lust But what great euyl and inconuenience dothe procéede and followe here hence is to be séene in great Cities where these belly gods for the most part vse to haunt as at Rome and in other places where any Byshoprikes or canonistes or colledges be where ye may sée an infinite numbre of queanâ—s and painted CurtisaÌ„s which get their liuing by y â— lâ—tting of their flesh and body to these beastly vnnaturall kind of people to whom they beare neither heart nor good will for abusing them selues In that they haue to do with them they loose their honestie fame they marre and destroy both body and soule I leâ—ue the murtheryng and slayinâ— of chilâ—â—â—n whiche is no synne amongst them 〈◊〉 â—any other vnclean vnnaturall and 〈◊〉 abhominable filthy déedes vsuall amongst them in theyr priuie chaumbres and celles These bee the fruits of their promised sworné vnchast chastitie For what I pray you is chastitie or virginitie more before God than marriage no more than circumcision to vncircuÌ„cision one is neither better nor worse before god than y â— other coÌ„cerning the life of a christian man Christ Iesu requireth demauÌ„deth only of vs tru faith working thorough charitie so theÌ„ al they y â— lead their lyfe in the holy state of matrimonie accordyng to the word of God are reputed virgins as S. Paule testifieth The Lambe whyche taketh away the sinne of the world stands with them which y â— father hath giuen him vpon that strong mounte Syon Contrarywise the Dragon and the beast with all theyr adherents are set vpon the slyding sandes of the sea their kingdome their power their myght their lawes statutes and ordinaunces theyr frée will and wycked purpose their proude titles haue no sure foundation but are buylded only vppon tâ—e waueryng sandes of doubtefulnesse and falshode agaynst whiche when any tempeste or winde of Gods holy worde bloweth sodainly it is moued and ouerthrowen yea and these vile shauelyngs them selues are these sandes whâ—reon their captain the dragon staÌ„dethâ— they are the chair and dwellyng place of the diuel Thoroughe them as instrumentes and false prophetes he vsed to speake to commaunde and execute all hys deceiptfull and false hypocrisâ—es and idolatries It is then moste sure and certaine that this beast with all theyr beastlynesse can neuer abyde long For it followeth that the Beast was apprehended and taken and with hir the false Prophetes whyche did signes and wonders before them As heretofore Iames and Iambres the enchaunters of Egypt wente aboute to counterfaite the sigâ—es whiche Moyses and Aaron dydde in the presence of Pharao lykewyâ—e doe these false inchaunters peruert the truth in these oure days namely in that they shew greater wonders than any heretofore hath ben heard of That is that they as they affirme and violently holde can turne very bread into naturall fleshe and bloud and that so cunnyngly that it can not be once perceyued neyther in beholdyng féelyng or tastyng of it otherwyse than breade And more other as to redéeme soules out of Purgatorie by sacrifices and workes supererogations and other shamefull braggs wherwith he deceyued them that receyued the beastes marke and seale and worship his image These both namely the head and the bodie the beast and the false prophete were aliue caste into a lake of fire burning with Brimstone These shall surely thorough the power and ryghteous iudgement of God receyue theyr portion wyth the hypocrites and false Prophetes And the remnant which folow of what state and condition so euer they be were slayne with the sworde of him that sitteth vpon the horse which commeth out of his mouthe This sworde is as is before sayd his mightie and true word which hath within hym spirite and life Such then
title and supremacie ouer them â—or that onely belongeth vnto Sathan for the Diuell is sayeth Iob the onely chiefe head of the proude And power was giuen vnto them sayth our text for .xlij. monâ—ths to rule which are the thrée yeres and a halfe of Helias and one halfe tyme of Daniel and the thousande two hundreth and thrée score dayes of S. Iohn He openeth his mouth to blasphemie against God and his name and to blaspheme his holy Tabernacle and inhabiters of heauen The tabernacle of God is Christ Iesu in whom the fulnesse of the godhead abideth wholy and perfectly By the inhabiters of heauen is ment his true church whereout the Aungels are not excluded These inhabiters then are those whiche leade an heauenly lyfe in a true and vnfained faith séeking the things which are aboue and not on earth worshipping god the father in spirite and truthe abidyng stedfast and immoueable to the ende Many haue entred into this heauen but are not founde faythful and constant vnto the ende whiche is lamentable And to this beast or beastly Antechrist was giuen power to fight against the Sainctes They trouble and vexe continually with force and violence by their wicked and vngodly Decrées lawes and ordinances by their worldly aucthoritie and power the true witnesses and godly preachers of Christ instructed and taught euen as the Apostles were of God him self in the truth of his holy word eueÌ„ as the wicked Phariseis in the time of Christ and his Apostles did They persecute them by writs proclamations by banishments fire and sword as the cruell tirant Pharao and Antiochus did to shew manifestly that Christ is that stumbling stocke and the stone of offense whereat the world stumbled They search and seeke héere they hunt there neuer ceassing vntill they haue him fast in prison and forth-comming wherat they are not yet satisfied till such time as they haue procéeded openly before all men following theyr placcate thereby to fortifie men in theyr error against them And so vanquished as they boast to condemne theÌ„ although they are otherwyse before GOD. Then either they make him to recant or else if he abiâ—e constant in the faythe of Christ they put him to most cruel death either by fire or water And power was giuen vnto the Beaste ouer euery kinred tongue and nation For these wicked and abhominable Antechristes spare no man small nor great yong nor olde high nor low riche nor poore sicke nor whole learned nor vnlearned but that they must bow before them and become subiecte to their most wicked commaundements either by force or otherwise they must haue them at the least once a yeare at shrift before them to knowe their minde and intention whether they be Towne dwellers or Straungers Gouernours or common people No excuse will serue or take any place in this behalfe or else they must wyth Christ raigne at the Barre among Théeues And thys power they haue not onely in one place but in all places tongues and in euery Towne yea they must haue to doe amongst euery familie destroying the true and godly fayth of all men For all that dwell vpon earth shall worship the beast They must all consent to their great abhomination They muste blaspheme and offend God obserue and keepe their most filthy traditions and Romishe trashe They that dwell vpon earth are such as doe loue them selues more than God their owne affection more than Gods truthe putting theyr confidence comfort and hope in the only beggerly merites and vile deseruings of these beastly and abhominable Hipocrites and not vpon the swéete promises of God in his worde Whose names are not wrytten in the booke of the Lambe They which are not confessed of Christ nor accepted by his word and promisses They which wyth the righteous as members of one spirituall body and â—idden in him are not marked nor Registred whose part and portion is not in the land of the liuing that are not of the nuÌ„ber of those which the father hath giuen vnto Christ to be participant of one spirit with him They which are not ordeined predestinated nor written in his forknowledge neither of him before the foundations of the world elected chosen to be hys childreÌ„ immaculate in Christ. Al these I say must worship the Dragon The Lambe is Christ Iesu the which only taketh away the sinnes of the world in whom is only life for he is the life him selfe of them namely which beleue on him which was slaine from the beginning for all them which are created to saluation So that his only death resurrection and ascentioÌ„ through the promise of God is the saluation of theÌ„ all for they all haue tasted of one spirituall meat dronke of one spiritual stone Albeit he came a long season after them in the flesh he onely did tread downe the head of the Serpent Also he hath bene slaine from the beginning in his members as it is to be seene euidently in iust Abel Ieremy Iohn Baptist many more But those which are not written of the Lamb in the booke of life be sealed in the booke of death and kept as S. Peter saith with the Diuel and his angels to eternal death bicause of their vnbeliefe He that hath cares to heare let him heare sayeth the text He y t hath any wit let him giue place to y e admonition which followeth he that will be wise let him iudge according to the demonstration of these things After this sort doth the holy Ghost certifie hys faithfull warning them to consider that all which is written is wrytten to our learning and edification He that leadeth into captiuitieâ— shall goe into captiuitie Thys warning giueth the Lord let them take héede iâ— they lust for he wil that his iudgments be knowne They which doe afflict and vexe the faithfull in their bodies outwardly shal be vexed and punished in the spirit with inward darknesse and strickeÌ„ with blindnesse of the minde to abide the rather in the net of Sathan and sinne God wil leaue them in a reprobate sense and inordinate lust and suffer them to enter into great errors and diuelishnesse to belieue all manner of lies that they might be damned If any kil with the sword the pore and innocent for their faith must also be killed iudged and condemned throughe the sword of the spirite which is the worde of God The word which I haue spoken saith Christ shall condemne them at y e last day as he testified also in his Reuelation in the eleuenth Chapter If any will molest or trouble them the fire shall procéede forth of their mouth to consume their aduersaries Aâ—d I saw yet sayth S. Iohn an other Beast rising out of the earth hauing two hornes like the Lambe
their honour profite more than the aduauncement of Gods truthe lette them not persuade them selues to bée worthy of his grace for they must worshyp the beast whose deadly wounde was healed hys olde and abolyshed Relygion polyshed and vernyshed vp a newe and hys woren Romyshe trashe pâ—tched and newly redressed embrace vpon payne of death To those hellishe dogges and infernall Cerberus must be rendred and giuen for a time more honour reuerence and worshyp than to GOD hym selfe Their wicked and moste fylthie traditions must now be more in our countrey sette by than the pure worde of God and the eternall veritie And why should it not be so Haue not they erected a new sinagoge and congregation wherein the wounded head of the beast is nowe altogether cured and made whole They haue amended botched and renued agayne their Idols to some they hauâ— made a newe nose hand arme or legge other some are paynted vp or coloured vernyshed and made a new so that they now more like mad men do carrie them rounde aboute the Citie in Procession honouryng the same images which they â—aue so newly arayed and decked wyth silke veluet golde pearles and precious stones beades gyrdles purses flowers greene bowes and all manner of swéete herbes with song and sundry musicall instrumentes torches candles offerings and all other kynde of seruice and knéelyng before them bare headed they worship serue and holde vp theyr handes to them They keepe and obserue nowe againe their diuelyshe feastyng solemne processions and church holy dayes They eate they drinke they laugh they quaffe and run after whoores they fight and pike quarels their stewes are furnished wyth whoores ruffians and bauds are nowe good vittaylers and are haunted fréely yea all manner of filthynesse iniquitie and wickednesse are coÌ„mitted with al greedinesse Briefly the kingdom of Sathan is in all things newly erected fortified and established the head of the beast wel annointed and redressed so loÌ„g as the popish church staÌ„deth so long must they obserue his comaundementes of his religion and maintaine and vpholde his customes so long shall the true seruauntes of God the good Christians be persecuted bannished blamed slaundered mocked and scornefully intreated cried out vpon taken imprisoned killed myserably slayne and burned in suche sort that their corpses are cast here and there abrode hanged on trées gâ—bets and bushes and no man will burie them But thys diuelysh generation and fleshly mynded and wycked people clappe their handes together in token of greate ioy they daunce and leape they make mery and are gladde they make great diners and sende presentes one to an other being wonderful wel disposed bicause they sée those that dyd rebuke them of their wycked conuersation and vngodly behauioures so irkesomly intreated they sing and make ballettes they compose in metre and sette forth bookes of greate slaunders blasphemies and lyes against GOD his Christe and his Churche whyche thyng surely dothe sufficientely proue the wickednesse of their hearts they rage and fume they are woode lykâ— bloud thyrstie Tyrantes they gnashe as fierce and cruell Lyons and they are very sorie that any shoulde escape theyr bloudy handes Thys may those testifie whiche haue hearde the Sermons of one B. Cornelis y â— Hisper at Bruges B. Iohn vanden Hagen at Gaunt and that worthie knaue that preached at S. Goule whiche for his behauiour was banyshed oute of the Haghe in Hollande as the rest of them were woorthie to bée But God be thanked that the Papistes of oure countrey can none otherwyse clense them selues than wyth suche â—oule and filthie dishe cloutes and fyght wyth such darts wherwyth they hurte them selues And it was permitted to hym to gyue a spirite vnto the image of the beast so that the image of the beast shoulde speake After thys sorte come they then hauyng receyued power of the diuell flatteryng to the Image to maynteyne their malycious wickednesse saying after thys manner Your maiestie is the most vertuous the most gratious the most valiant the most wisest the most puissant the most noble the most blessed and most learned of all Christian Princes and Potentates all other are but Asses yea nothing in comparisoÌ„ of your highnesse If it please your maiestie to coÌ„maund this or that or establish ordaine any thing in your realme and iurisdiction who is he that dare withstaÌ„d your maiestie yea if it were against the commaundementes of God twentie times it must be obserued and kept Upholde then the old Catholike religion of our mother the holy Church of Rome against these Heritickes so can ye not doe amisse God shall prosper you in all your affaires Command therfore throughout all your dominion and straightly charge them by law and Proclamation sending one vpon an other so straightly as it is possible to shew manifestly that you are the liuely Image of the Pope It is our duetie to make the Image of the beast to speake Therfore lift vp your voice speak out with a corage commaund and charge that against the word of God our old Decrées traditions and Ceremonies be obserued let them be published and cried abrode in your name and authoritie in euery streate and cause euery one of your subiects to keepe your placate vpon paine of death And albeit other Realmes or Princes blame or check you for that you gouerne not well and according to equitie make ye no account of them neither regard their sayings but go forward stil and obstinately persiste and stand to that which séemeth good in your owne eyes Giue ye straight charge that all be put to death that wil not worship the Image of the beast or how their knees before it and keepe all his ordinaunces Thus doing ye shal be our welbeloued sonne Let no man escape your haÌ„ds Let none of them liue but slay and kill them either by fire water sweard rope or any other torments spare no man neither olde nor yong rich nor poore great nor small man nor wife maried nor vnmaried yoÌ„g man nor maiden for they al speak against vs and oure Dragon wherby our kingdom should fal we should lose our best profits and suffer great damage and losse Cause also that all and euery one great and small riche and pore bond or free be marked on their right hand or on their forehead And aboue this that al Massemongers Monks Friers and Priestes be shauen their fingers greased and then holding vp theyr right haÌ„d which they are not ashamed to call it the second baptisme promise and swear by othe to obey and reuerence the Pope and the Romish Church and there to vowe chastitie Moreouer that Emperoures Kings and Princes Archbishops Bishops and Doctors scholes and all estates receiue also a token by oth which they sweare to him that they shall take nothing in hande which is agaynst the Pope and his Decrees lawes and ordinaunces his Seat and priueledges yea that all men receiue this marke in the forehead For he that
nought but flying vanitie So I knowing the worldes vnstedfastnesse Sith onely God surmountes the forcâ— of tyme In God alone do stay my confidence ON hill a frame an hundred cubites hie I sawe an hundred pillers eke about All of fine Diamant decking the front And fashiond were they all in Dorike wiâ—e Of bricke ne yet of marble was the wall But shining Christall which from top to base Out of deepe vaute threw forth a thousand rayes Vpon an hundred steps of purest golde Golde was the parget and the sielyng eke Did shine all scaly with fine golden plates The floore was laspis and of Emeraude O worldes vainenesse A sodein earthquake loe Shaking the hill euen from the bottome deepe Threwe downe this building to the lowest stone THen did appeare to me a sharped spire Of diamant ten feete eche way in square Iustly proportionde vp vnto his height So hie as mought an Archer reache with sight Vpon the top therof was set a pot Made of the mettall that we honour most And in this golden vessâ—ll couched were The ashes of a mightie Emperour Vpon foure corners of the base there lay To beare the frame foure great Lions of goldeâ— A worthie tombe for such a worthie corps Alas nought in this worlde but griefe endures A sodaine tempest from the heauen I saw With flushe stroke downe this noble monument I Saw raisde vp on pillers of Iuorie Whereof the bases were of richest golde The chapters Alabaster Christall frises The double front of a triumphall arke On eche side portraide was a victorie With golden wings in habite of a Nymph And set on hie vpon triumphing chaire The auncient glorie of the Romane lordes The worke did shewe it selfe not wrought by man But rather made by his owne skilfull hande That forgeth thunder dartes for Ioue his sire Let me no more see faire thing vnder heauen Sith I haue seene so faire a thing as this With sodaine falling broken all to dust THen I behelde the faire Dodonian tree Vpon seuen hilles throw forth his gladsome shadâ— And Conquerâ—rs bedeâ—ked with his leaues Along the bankes of the Italian streame There many auncient Trophees were erect Many a spoile and many goodly signes To shewe the greatnâ—sse of the stately raceâ— That erst descended from the Troian bloâ—d Rauisht I was to see so rare a thing When barbarous villaines in disordred heape Outraged the honour of these noble bowes I hearde the tronke to grone vnder the wedge And since I saw the roote in hie disdaine Sende forth againe a twinne of forked trees I Saw the birdâ— that dares beholde the Sunne With feeble flight venture to mount to heauen By more and more she gan to trust hir wings Still folowing th' example of hir damme I saw hir rise and with a larger flight Surmount the toppes euen of the hiest hilles And pierce the cloudes and with hir wings to reache The place where is the temple of the Gods There was she lost and sodenly I saw Where tombling through the aire in lompe of fire All flaming downe she fell vpon the plaine I saw hir bodie turned all to dust And saw the foule that shunnes the cherefull light Out of hir ashes as a worme arise THen all astonned with this nightly ghost I saw an hideous body big and strong Long was his beard and side did hang his hairâ— A grisly forehed and Saturnelike face Leaning against the belly of a pot He shed a water whose outgushing streame Ran flowing all along the creekie shâ—are Where once the Troyan Duke with Turnus fought And at his fâ—ete a bitch Wolâ—e did giue sucke To two yong babes In his right hand he bare The tree of peace in left the conquering Palmeâ— His head was garnisht with the Laurel bow Then sodenly the Palmâ— and Oliue fell And faire greene Laurel witherd vp and didâ— HAâ—d by a riuers side a wailing Nimphâ— Folding hir armes with thousand sighs to heaueÌ„ Did tune hir plaint to falling riuers sound Renting hir faire visage and golden haire Where is quod she this whilome honored face Where is thy glory and the auncient praise Where all worldes hap was reposed When erst of Gods and man I worshipt was Alas suffisde it not that ciuile bate Made me the spoile and bootie of the world But this new Hydra mete to be assailde Euen by an hundred such as Hercules With seuen springing heds of monstrous crimes So many Neroes and Caligulaâ—s Must still bring â—orth to rule this croked shore VPon a hill I saw a kindled flame Mounting like waues with triple point to heauen Which of incense of precious Ceder tree With Balmâ—like odor did perfume the aire A bird all white well fetherd on hir winges Hereout did slie vp to the throne of Gods And singing with most plesant melodiâ— She climbed vp to heauen in the smoke Of this faire fire the faire diâ—persed rayes Threw forth abrode a thousand shining leames When sodain dropping of a golden shoure Gan quench the glystering flame O greuous chaunge That which erstwhile so pleasaunt scent did â—elde Of Sulphure now did breathe corrupted smel I Saw a fresh spring rise out of a rocke Clere as Christall against the Sunny beames The bottome yellow like the shâ—ning land That golden Pactol driues vpon the plaine It seemed that arte and nature striued to ioyne There in one place all pleasures of the eye There was to heare a noise alluring slepe Of many accordes more swete than Mermaids song The seates and benches shone as Iuorie An hundred Nymphes sate side by side about When from nie hilles a naked rout of Faunes With hideous cry assembled on the place Which with their feete vncleane the water fouled Threw down the seats droue the Nimphs to flightâ— AT length euen at the time when Morpheuâ— Most truely doth appeare vnto our eyes Wearie to see th'inconstance of the heauens I saw the great Typhaeus sister come Hir head full brauely with a morian armed In maiestie she seemde to matche the Gods And on the shore harde by a violent streame She raisde a Trophee ouer all the worlde An hundred vanquisht kings gronde at hir feete Their armes in shamefull wise bounde at their backes While I was with so dreadfull sight afrayde I saw the heauens warre against hir tho And seing hir striken fall with clap of thunder With so great noyse I start in sodaine wonder I Saw an vgly beast come from the sea That seuen heads ten crounes ten hornes did beareâ— Hauing theron the vile blaspheming name The cruell Leopard she resembled much Feete of a beare a Lions throte she had The mightie Dragon gaue to hir his power One of hir heads yet there I did espie Still freshly bleeding of a grieuous wounde One cride aloude What one is like quod he This honoured Dragon or may him withstande And then came from the sea a sauage beast With Dragons speche and shewde his force by fireâ— With wondrous signes to make all wights adore The
For as our Sauiour Christ sayth It is easier for a Camell to goe through the eye of a nedle than for a riche man to enter into the kingdome of god Riches and authoritie engender labour and paine and make a man like vnto a Squirell which running to and fro in cage â—urneth ofteÌ„times his whéele but howsoeuer he toyleth trauaileth it auayleth him nothyng Also it maketh a man muche lyke vnto one named Ixion who was made faste to a whéele turning continually because he was amorous of Iuno a goddesse as Poets do faine of realmes highnesse powers which Ixion when he saw a cloude somewhat like Iuno tooke it for hir but hée being deceyued embraced nothing else but vapour smoke Which fable also noteth vnto vs the vanitie vnprofitablenesse and wretchednesse of the ambitious couetous men which worship the shadow in stede of the true thyng and in the place of good and sure things choose changeable and vncertaine The same Ixion was he which engendred the Centaures halfe men halfe horsses after him named Ixionides Here is also to be considered that the couetouâ— ambitious persons are of the same coÌ„dition which being past al reason turne their humaine nature into mere beastlynesse and like vnbroken and wyld colts â—trike out on euery side hurtyng and vppressing almost euery body Aristotle describing an happie and blessed man would not he shoulde be riche to be suche a one Riches are Sophistries of goodes wherewith that great Sophister the diuel doth deceiue the sâ—â—ple silly soule For euen as a Sophister séemeth through his scieÌ„ce to be wise and is not in dede euen so riches haue a semblant of bountie and vertue where in dede they are farthest from all S. Augustine hath a goodly saying very apt to the purpose He is wicked saith he whiche estéemeth riches to be good Great rentes or reuenues dignities and good fortune keepe men companie onely their life time but at the houre of deth yea and oftentymes before they leaue and forsake their possessours and louers Fortune is worthy to be named Plagaria and is called so of the learned after one named Plagarius which brought vnto seruitude and thraldome suche as were fré◠before Likewise fortune and riches maketh men very slaues misers cowards full of cares and mistrustfulnesse yea she maketh some to be lyke vnto y e Dog that will suffer none to haue part of the bonâ— which he picketh at Some other become thorough riches like vnto the Dragon which kept the Golden apples of the Orchard of Hesperide wherof he himself had no commoditie nâ—yther suffred any other to enioy any part of it Tertullian sayeth that riches resemble and are muche like vnto the Apples of Sodome and Gomorre which séemed goodly and faire to the eye but being once touched fell and straightway turned into dust ashes This worldely prosperitie and estimation abasheth not onely the simple and silly soules but euâ—n casteth downe and subdueth many learned and wise men They are thornes that hynder the good seede of Gods worde to growe and fructifie The chyldren of Israell forsooke GOD for Goldes sake and fel a worshipping of the golden calfe which being consumed by fire was made to be a drinke and euer since golde hath ben as it were in contempt very méete for the fire as Tertullian dothe affirme And what couetousnesse and ambition hath broughte to passe since the Apostles time shall somewhat be spoken of in his place Riches sayeth Abacuck the Prophete are thick and filthie mire It is dong wherin wormes c. And Crates the Phisopher vnderstanding what greate enormities and inconueniences follow of couetousnesse and desâ—re of money sayeth O thou hurtfull and damnable couetousnesse auoide from me I shal drowne thée least thou ouerwhelme me Martiall testifieth that it is not possible to be riche like Croesus and religious like Numa I made a good prosperous voyage sayd the Philosopher Zeno when I had lost al. Riches are copwebs smoake hurtfull to the eye which soone alter vanish come to nothing They that would be rich fall into dyuers and sundry tentations and snares of the diuell and other foolishe and noysome desires and lustes which drown men into perdition for couetousnesse is the roote of all euil The Foole dispraiseth things that be as though they were not againe other that be not in déede he desireth as if they were Damascene sayeth Things that be are euerlasting and vnchangeable but thyngs that are not be worldly and transitorie Earthy transitorie things are like vnto a cloude painted on a wall whiche séemeth to be some thing where as it is nothyng as a foole foloweth the shadow of a caÌ„dle thynking it to be some body euen so doth the carnall and voluptuous man folow and pursue the earthly trashe in stede of heauenly treasures These men I say are lyke vnto the frantike man whereof Horace maketh mention which supposed to haue séene a trim play where he hearde goodly songs and pleasant melodies and thought him selfe to haue bene in all kinde of voluptuousnesse and althoughe it was nothing but his fansie yet it was pleasaunt vnto hym but this man beyng thorough the diligence of friends delyuered of his phrenesie restâ—red to his health founde him selfe frustrate of that which he in his disease persuaded him selfâ— to haue had Euen so it goth with the worldely man whome Christ aunswereth saying Thou foole this night thy soule shall be taken away froÌ„ thee then whose shal those things be which thou haste prouided Euen so it is with those that lay vp tresure for them selues here and be not riche in God As if one should say with the Prophete Dauid The riche of this world are riche in their own conceits but wheÌ„ they shal perceiue it as it is in déede after they are gone out of this world they shal finde them selues wholly destitute and naked of all As for great estates dignities and authorities in coÌ„mon weales Plutarke reherseth that the most famous Oratour Demosthenes was wont to admonish yong meÌ„ which resorted vnto him that they shoulde not hunte after promotion dignitie or greate office saying vnto them in this maner If there were two wayes layd before thee wherof the one shoulde lye vnto deathe and the other vnto promotion and admynistration of a Common wealthe and it were knowen what troubles paines and grieâ—es iealousies suspitions enuie publyke and pryuie hate backbytinges and Sclaunders noyse and Dyssentions are inclosed there men woulde rather choose the waye vnto Death than the other Wherefore Sainct Augustine sayth He whiche séeketh after promotion or authoritie is separated from God not bycause of the diuersitie of the degrées or estates but of the desire which procéedeth of ambition They take paynes to aduaunce themselues temporally but forgoe a gayne perpetuall The Gyauntes as it is sayde bâ—yng
enuie dissimulation falshoode and inconstancie vaine glorie iniquitie sorcerie superstition and impietie than doth in this one dominion of Antechrist He alone hath more contaminated Gods holy Temple than all the infidels together that euer were they haue most shamefullye intreated and iudged the very electe people of God which are the vessels of his glory They haue most miserably and narowly kept vnder and as it were in prison the true Ministerâ— of God by their Decrées and traditions The seueritie and rudenesse of Pharao Antioche and Caiphas is nothing in the comparison of theirs for in them is all kind of beastlinesse vncleanlinesse wantonnesse concupiscence and carnall securitie No reason or humanitie hath any place amongst them they are more lyke beasts than men The rigorous Proclamations against the Iewes at the request of wicked Ammon and of Antioche are nothing to speake of to the ordinaunces and statutes of the Antechrists for those were only against the body but theirs are against the soule and conscience of man also After this sort doth the PopedoÌ„ which is the dominioÌ„ of Antechrist bear the Image of the Leopard of the Bear of the LioÌ„ bicause it is not only partaker of al y e wickednesses with othâ—r realmes but it excéedeth and surmounteth al other viâ— times double in all kinde of iniquitie idolatrie abhominations y t euer were coÌ„mitted vnder heauen They haue the mouth of a Lyon always blasphemyng cursing and banning Their feete lyke a beare signifiyng their insatiabâ—e couetousnesse runnyng headlong to euery kinde of mischiefe very ready to sheade bloud as leopards are they polluted and spotted with dyuers and sundry inconstant mindes institutions obseruings neuer stedfast or constant but in al thinges chaungeable and foolishe for suche as receiue not Gods truthe are worthily forsaken of God Therfore God shall sende them strong delusions that they shoulâ— beleeue lies that all they might be damned which beleue not the truth but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnesse The Dâ—agon sayth S. Iohn which is Sathan the Diuellâ— gaue to the beast or cursed generation of Antechrist his beastly membres his whole power his seate of blasphemie and his great authoritie To giue them his power is nothyng else than to make them perfect and skilfull by all maner of crafte subtiltie and dissimulation cunnyngly to seduce the simple silly soules and so forth to confirme and stablysh them in al kinde of wickednesse and falshods To gyue vnâ—o hym his seate is to leaue him heâ—e a glorious kingdome full of vain glory â—isâ—imulation other wickednesse To giue him hiâ— great authoritie is to worke by false miracles signes and wonders and by false and â—rrâ—nious doâ—â—rine to allure the pâ—â—ple and to draw the vnbâ—leuing infidels the rather to the pâ—t of perditioÌ„ and euerlasting torments On this maner is that greate Antechrist a king with Sathan â—uer all the children of pride and darknesse He occupieth and possesseth â—alsly with Lucifer the seat and â—oume of God taking vpon hym euen to search and créepe into mens consciences For he bâ—steth him self to stand in Gods stede to deceiue thâ—m that â—well on the earth to reigne and to beare rule ouer them for so much as they hauing a blind guide are lâ—d into the ditche of all errour and false doctrine the very way vnto euerlasting peâ—dition Touchyng the seat euen as Christe our Lorde with his Father raigning eternally sitteth in heauen vpon the seate of his Maiestie in eternall glory felicitie eueÌ„ so sitteth â—ntechrist the Pope of Rome I meanâ— with his â—ather the Deuil full of pride and blasphemie in the seat of coÌ„demnation in eternal darknesse ignomie and shame CoÌ„cerning his power euen as Christ receiued his power of God his father euen so hath he recâ—iued his authoritie of his father the Deuil Euen as Christ is full of mercy truthe euen so is this Antechrist ful of enuie and hate vntruthes and lies and al other mischiefs of whose abhominations errors the vnbeleuing and infidel hath tasted As the holy ghost and the sprite of Christ openeth the misteries of the truth in his elect euen so on the other side hath the spirit of erroure since the death and reuelation of Christ darkned truth and set forth the secretes of his malice in the ennimies of Christ. CoÌ„cerning his aucthority as christ being man receiued his aucthority of god to doe such miracles as no man else could do Euen so doth this Antichrist by the Deuill and Gods permission amongs the infidels and vnbeleuers So that he in all power and aucthoritie vniustly vsurped foloweth yea passeth his father the deuil For as he robbed the godly man Iob and spoiled him of all his substance goods children seruaunts and cattel and tormeÌ„ted him in his body with â—oils and Botches euen so doth this rauenous and greadye Leuiathan and cruell murtherer vexe consume and oppresse the poore people by his spoiling Grashoppers defrauding the poore of their sweat and bloud of theyr paines trauaile necessitie and liuing no not sparing the féeble and sicke neyther widow nor fatherlesse No kind of good be it neuer so vniustly gotten being brought to them in shriuing of some one burdened in conscience but that they are coÌ„tented to receiue it and that by the way of restitution Yet neuerthelesse do they which is worst of all lead mennes mindes to dissimulatioÌ„ false belief and other diuelishnesse doubtfull desperate and comfortlesse Finally euen as in the body of Christ dwelleth fulnesse of the whole Deitie Euen so in this body of Sathan dwelleth the whole masse of impietie subtilitie fraud and malice with power to worke all maner of mischiefe mightely substantially and corporally And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death with the sword of his mouth that is through the anouncing and preaching of the Gospell Which thing is come to passe since the time of Iohn Hus in Boheme after that in Germanie and is since God be praised daily more and more that the head of the Beast is wounded in places where gods word is preached As in England Fraunce Scotland Poland and else where as euery one may wel perceiue except he will needes be blinde For it is euident to al men that in most places Buls and Pardones of the Pope are little set by hys power and might troden vnder féete hys name blotted out his Purgatory Masses Pilgrimages Idols and other like trumperies cried out vpon If this be not a deadly wound on the head of the beast I think it to haue none at all If this be not a manifest token of his fall to come there is none to be looked for But his deadly woundes were healed Although the Gospel hath ben preched in sundry and diuers places and the popes abhominations cast vpside downe yet remaineth in some places their false priesthood vows not to mary Sodomish chastitie auricular
conâ—ession or at the least the fashion of it and other more superstitions For the beast seketh al meanes to recouer yea hath brought to passe that the eyes of many learned ministers and pastors waxe dimme and as it were asléepe so that they do not narowely searche or diligently trie euery matter by the onely touchstone of Gods holy word but weigh them rather by deceiuable custome and take their course to the fathers and their good intents Although they are sure and throuâ—hly persuaded the Pope to be very Antechrist that these names are put out of their bookes yet are these ceremonies before of no value or at the least indifferent nowe of necessitie to be obserued and kepte as godly rites honorable and singular ornaments Although they say the Masse to be of no value in Latin yet in their own language to be a sacrifice propiciatorie other haue a greate trust and confidence in saying Dimitte nobis or any other like thing not vnderstanded Some will vpholde and maintaine the free wyl in man Other some wyll not bee Papistes but are well halfe yea and worse than Papistes Also the wounded head of the beast is healed and redressed in some places by force and power of worldly princes the whiche muste fight for the Pope and in suche tyme and place as it seâ—meth him good slaying kyllyng and burnyng all such as he commauÌ„deth destroying their owne realmes murtheryng and banishing their good and true subiects bicause they séeke the honoure of GOD and to serue hym arighte These Princes bée as it were bewitched and drawne by a subtill kinde of flattery in calling them ignominiously most christen princes defendours of the vniuersall and catholike fayth meanyng the Romish decrées And after thys sorte is healed and cured the wounde of the Beast by the meanes of these oyntmentes and Chirurgians And the whole worlde sayeth S. Iohn did wonder at the beast c. The foolish people worldly and carnall minded not vnderstanding the wysedome of the holy ghost imbracyng all those glorious and ioylye sightes as godly meritorious and spirituall matters and wondryng at them worshypped exalted and made muche of it yea aboue the things ordeined and instituted of GOD. whose blyndenesse is growne to suche grossenesse that they wyll not nor can forsake theyr olde and more than outragious kynde of worshippyng whiche is rather custome than religion For wheÌ„ they haue any hope that theyr wicked custome shal continue they clap their handes and crie oute â—or ioye with Baals priestes Gaudeamus And they worship the Dragon who gaue power to the beast that is to say they reioyce in their mindes hoping that their kingdome shall abide and stande chiefly when they sée his head againe whole and sounde that is their gouernour the godly prechers burned the Instructers of the people slayne or banished persecuted and put to silence as it hath ben practised in our natiue couÌ„trey of low Germanie All those that worshyp the Dragon worship the beast also for as those whiche honour Christ honor hys father also in lyke maner all those whiche adore Antechrist that is to say consent and holde of his traditions masses and ordinaunces all those I saye worship the diuel of whom they haue receyued all his wickednesses Who is like vnto the beast namely in out ward shew of holynesse or obseruation of false rites and Ceremonies Who is able to warre against him say they consyderyng that worldly princes are readie to defend his quarrell and take his parte The papists goe about by all meanes possible be it by crafte or subtiltie by force or violence to maintain their adulterous fained disguised churche in hir diseased estate power and holy shewe no kinde of wickednesse craftinesse or policie leaue they vnassayed or vnattempted to make them to bée regarded of the people for holy and spiritual men of gret power worthinesse and estimation It foloweth in our text And there was giuen vnto him a mouthe to vtter great and blasphemous things When Gods truth was reueled vnto them they thaÌ„ked him not but became vain in their imaginations and therefore God gaue them ouer to vncleane lustes of their owne hearts blinded with vnbeliefe and peruerted minds so y t wheÌ„ they thought to be very wise becam then stark fooles Now vtter they in their counsells consistories sermons blasphemies agaynst God and his Christ. They make the people by straight lawes to cleaue to them and all their Romishe and beggerly ceremonies and vile borrowed trumperies be it neuer so great a grief to them The holy and sacred scriptures may not once be red neither may it be had in the mother tong For the Scripture say they must be expouÌ„ded as pleaseth them according as they think good for their own aduantage And how trow ye could thys wound of y e beast else wel be healed for the infallible word of God which be the Scriptures hath giuen him this wound They wyll not that Christe be our alone and sufficient Sauior without our owne merits deseruings The Lords supper whiche in holy Scripture is called the Communion of the body and bloude of Iesus Christ must be wyth them a new crucifiyng of hys bodie Wherin as in a play or Comedie one creature alone playeth fiue or sixe personages or players partes namely of Iudas Anna Cayphas Herode Pylate and the Iewes Weâ—lorke is called of them vncleane notwithstandyng it was instituted as a good and vndefiled ordinaunce of God him selfe no papisticaâ— vowes of Monkes and Friers may be broken although it be sufficiently proued to be most wicked and diuelish and hath ingendred a thousande Sodomites Again that without the blind mumbling and laying on of the priests hande synnes can not be forgyuen as they say for in déede by this one vowe their kyngdome is maintained And more other abhominations are vttered by his mouth yâ—t dayly be of which to make it shorter and not to trouble the reader ouermuch I wyll leaue rehearsing of them yet muste I néedes touche by the waye the great blasphemie whiche they commit in saying that the entryng into the holy Church coÌ„sisteth onely by the meanes of their greasing shauyng excluding herewithall all other of what estate or condition soeuer they be calling them lay meÌ„ and vnder the pretence of this false title they take vppon them to bée sauiours of mens soules affirmyng their Masses to be sacrifices propiciatorie for the quicke and the dead iustifiyng helping and comfortyng and ex opere operato sauing and redéemyng man And ouer their abhominable and stinkyng troupe of Antechristes they create make Emperours and kings chiefe gouerners only to be maintained and defended by them in their malicious wickednesse Kings princes are ordeined of God to be heades and rulers in ciuile and pollitike matters but God forbid that a godly and vertuous Prince whom they disdayn and are rebellious disobedient vnto should be called their head and claymâ— a
Signifying and representing all manner of false Prophets vngodly teachers which are in their intents purpose wholy and altogither beastly idle carnall and corrupted They are also abhominable in the imagitions of their malitious harts not seking god but their belly not y e honor of christ but their own aduancemeÌ„t vain glory They rise out of the earth enclined giuen wholly to earthly worldly wisdom The desire and lust which they haue to raign in this world maketh theÌ„ to preach not for any loue or zeale which they bear to truth The desire of money couetousnesse thrusteth them in Thei go forward in al kind of wickednesse shall continue til the Lord destroy theÌ„ euen as the godly goeth on in vertue godlinesse til y â— time that they shall sée â—od face to face in that euerlasting Sion This beast was a murtherer from the beginning first of all in Cain and consequently in the carnal children of this world Namely in Cham the first vnshamefast sonne of Noe in Ismael Esau in Iames and Iambres in Balaam and al the false prophets of Baal in Annas and Caiphas in Baricha and Diotrephe and is now a dayes risen again in Friers Monkes Chanons Priests and Chanters as euery one haue he neuer so little a sparcle of light in him may easily sée and perceiue especially in their cathedral church where they haue their â—ull course Thys beast had .ij. horns like the Lamb but couÌ„terfaited altogither fals For she spake like thâ— Dragon The horns of Christ are hie great wherout only springeth the sweete comfortes of the promises of God giuen to his Church congregation and people Gods word is right and the Scepter of the auâ—thority of Christ and the rod of his righteous ordinaunces that wheresoeuer this worde ruleth there are none other straÌ„ge scepters institutions or customes The Lambe of God vpon the Mount Sion signifying Christ Iesus hath seuen hornes for in him consisteth the fulnesse of al truth This beast hath but iâ— hornes and those counterfaited and false They haue well a shew to be Christes hornes but of a truth they are not These then do signifie the corruptyng and falsifiyng the meaning both of the old and new Testament expounded and wrested to a worldly and carnal vnderstanding Wherout it is too apparant and manifest that it is but a false shew ful of dissimulation and altogither contrary to the Lordes meaning not discearning the true meaning of the holy Ghost This letter without the spirite of God is death and nothing agreable vnto Christ neither hath any regarde vnto him He is the truthe and life this is very lies and death His word is spirite and life theirs is but sounding Erasse or tinkling Cimbal fantasticall â—ained Sophistical and crafty although they séeme to haue a likenesse to Christ yet are they to none more vnlike They are onely the hornes of the beast to maintain the kingdome of Antechrist and not of Christe for Christes â—yngdome is not of thys worlde They chaunge the true vsage of the good creatures of God making Idols of trees adornyng and deckyng stockes and stones with golde siluer silke veluet and other iewelles turning the holy estate of Matrimonie into shamefull whoordome and to all kinde of vnchafte liuyng to make vs to wander from that seruice which God hath commaunded vs to their false moste abhominable superstitions so to abolishe and make of nâ—ne effect Gods commauÌ„dement and to establish their wicked traditions to bring leade men at length to detestable idolatrie wherof they are ful and to worship things forbidden And for the maintenaÌ„ce of their estate they haue wyth the ayde and helpe of Sathan their chief captaine wrested chopped and chaunged the scriptures to proue the adoratioÌ„ of the departed Saintes to be necessarie their masse meritorious and their workes of supererogation profitable their purgatorie to bee a fearefull and horrible thyng and other innumerable These beastly asses and belly God byshops are not ashamed to saye that by the â—yter whyche they doe weare is represented the olde and newe Testamente whiche to be true they defende wyth toothe and nayle They confesse as it is in deâ—de that they do weare but the figure of the thyng for it is but a shadowe in déede and an outwarde shewe not to the glorie of â—od but their owne ambition profite and coÌ„moditie séeking an occasion to persecute the very truthe They are of a truthe the false Prophetes the very limmes of Sathan deceyuers Wolues hie mynded inconstant shakyng wyth all manner of wyndes traitours and very folowers of Iudas dreamers liers idolaters enimies and aduersaries of truthe and veritie serpents and generation of vipers Foxes destroying the vineyarde of the Lorde deceiptful workers â—aintyng pastors blynde watchmen dumbe dogs diuels incarnated wycked or euill routes insatiable beastes whose belly is theyr god and their end perpetuall confusion and shame All these and many more names the holy Ghoste doth attribute vnto them bycause they myngle the swéetenesse of the word of God with the bitter worme wood of their Traditions so that almost the whole worlde is defiled with the dregs of their inuentions This beast did all that the first beastâ— coulde do before him This beastly generation hath the selfe same lying power to deceiue the pâ—ople and vnder the shew of holynesse to continue and vpholde thoroughout all the worlâ—e the same abhohominations as that greate Antâ—christe hath done euery where Namely vnder the Pope in Euâ—ope and in Asia and in Affrike vnder Mahomet Fynally there hath Sathan his chayre wheâ—e any sâ—range worsâ—yppyng or false seruyng of God is admitted And he caused the earthe and them that dwell therin to worship the beast They make not those onely to commit idolatrie that are ignorant and blinde but force suche as haue knowledge and vnderstandyng Oh how many are at this instant in Brabant Flandeâ—s and the low countrey and else where whiche agaynst their belefe conscience and the holy ghost maintain allowe and permit the maniâ—est â—abylonicall abhomination communicating the venemous dregges of the barbarous cup of these Baals priestes They had rather to tarrie ignominiously in this beggerly trashe and filthie ceremonies than to be depriued of this worldly friâ—ndshyp to forsake father mother childreÌ„ estate office and liuing banished persecuted or aduenture their liues and if néede so require to loose it for the truthe so delectable and swéete these worldely pleasures are vnto them They rather with Samuels sonnes wyll perishe transgressing the ordinances of GOD and with Dathan Chore Abiron be swallowed vp and sinke into Hel amongst the wicked than to suffer wyth Christe any trouble contempte reproche pouertie or other calamitie Suche I say as séeke and loue the commoditie and ease of their owne fleshe