the defence and shaddowe of the hyghest So longe as the lorde is my gouernour sayth he I can wante nothinge He fedeth me he sustayneth me I doubt no daunger for he ys with me Hys staffe stayeth one hys worde and promes ys my whole confort 8 And there wyl the lorde fede her sayth saynt Iohan for the space of a thousande two hondreth and .lx. dayes Non other are fende with the scripturs promises of God which ys the bread of children not to be geuen to dogges but they which fleeth into thys desert from the Dragon forsakynge both head and tayle both suggestions and lawes both customes and constytucions For all are deuyllyshe Non other escaped the plage of Sodome but they which fledde cleane from thens Lorâ—es wyse but lokynge backe onlye towardes yt agayne was turned into a salt stone 9 The nombred dayes here are non other but the afore wrytten tyme of the two witnesses the tyme of Helias preachinge the tyme of Iohans preachynge the tyme of Christes preachinge or the tyme of the gospell preachynge from Christes ascencyoÌ„ to the latter ende of the worlde That ys the verye tyme of the feadynge of hys churche And not open ys thys feadinge here but secrete in the wldernesse amonge a sorte vnknowne to the worlde hauynge the pouerte of sprete without shauynge anoyntinge or Hipocrytes apparell And not onlye hath the lorde thus noryshed hys peple in this spirituall respect but also in bodye Whan they haue bene greuouslye handled spoyled of their goodes impresoned and exyled gracyouslye hath he releued them and prouyded for them both solate and confort aâ— the haÌ„des of theÌ„ whom they neuer sawe afore So that the iust hath not felt hym selfe forsakeÌ„ nor his childreÌ„seking bread The Text. 1 And there was a great battayle in heauen 2. Michael aÌ„d his angels 3. fought with the Dragon aÌ„d the dragon fought and his angels 4. and preuayled not 5. neyther was theyr place founde anye more in heauen 6. And the great dragon that olde Serpent called the deuyll and sathanas 7. was caste out 8. which deceyued all the worlde 9. And he was caste in to the earthe and his angels were caste out wyth hym also ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And there happened at that tyme sayth saynt Iohan a great battayle in heauen In the churche is euermore variauÌ„ce and stryfe without ceasynge betwixt the sprete and the fleshe the good aÌ„d the badde the faithfull and the vnfaithfull Non other is this battayle but a verye contradiccion a dyuersite in faythe stodye opynion wyll aÌ„d worke about the lawes or commaundements of God aÌ„d also about the lawes and tradycyons of menne Thys battayle is wayghtye in cause multitude aÌ„d continuaunce The cause therof is Christ the gospell faythe rightousnesse mannes helthe Gods hygh honour aÌ„d soche other lyke on the one partye Vpon the other partye the cause is errour hipocrisie lyes ydolatrie auarice pryde cruelte fylthynesse with all soche other So great is the multitude that non is fownde out of its Non is there but are in this armye Eyther they are good or badde faythfull or vnfaythfull ryghtouse or vnrightouse The rightouse are of the hoste of Michael the vnrightouse are vpon the dragoÌ„s syde Continued haue this battayle froÌ„ the first beginninge and so shall styll to the latter ende Yea thowgh the dragon be bownde or tyed vp vnder the .vij. seale openynge that he rage not then as he hath done afore Yet shall the sprete of wyckednesse and a mynde to do mischef reygne inwardlye styll in his members for a Sathan can be but a Sathan and a deuyll a deuyll 2 Michael and his angels fought vale auntlye with the dragon Spyrituall are they which hath done on Christ after the mynde of Paule and spirituall is their armour Their gyrdinge is verite their brest plate rightousnesse their shilde a sure faythe their weapon the worde of God their helmet the hope of helthe and for stedefastnesse of their fete their showinge the gospell By interpretacion is Michael to saye who is as God or who is lyke vnto God And he betokeneth the constaunt ministers and syncere teachers of the gospell The angels of Michael are all they that in a sure faythe confesseth the eternall magnificence of God and that non is lyke vnto hym Contrarye wyse the dragons angels are the hipocrites lyeÌ„ge prophetes and erronyouse teachers 3 These fyght with the dragon and the dragon and hys angels with them For he that ys not with Christ ys agaynst hym With the ryghteouse ys Michael For mynystrynge spretes are the angels ordayned for the confort of them which shall be saued And commanded they are to wayte vpoÌ„ the faythfull to preserue and defende them The wycked sort haue the deuyll hys chaplaynes to fyght for them the ryghtouse haue Michael and hys angels The wycked fyghteth with errours aÌ„d lyes the ryghteouse with the onlye veryte of God 4. As vengeable and as ferce as they are yet preuayle they not neyther ys theyr place fownde anye more in heauen Faythe hath the vyctorye by the promyse of God though the blynde worlde seyth it not Ouercomen are the wycked whaÌ„ their enterpryses taketh not and cleane ouerthrowne whaÌ„ their beggerye ys contempned And neuer ys the full vyctorye gotteÌ„ no more than yt was in Christ tyll the tabernacle of thys bodye be layed a syde At that daye ys the crowne gotten whom the lorde hath layed vp for the ryghtouse And lyke as there ys daylye fyghtynge so ys there in some daylye vyctorye Dayly are the angels of darkenesse ouerthrowne daylye are they cast out of heaueÌ„ whych ys the true churche Daylye are they coÌ„deÌ„pned by the worde of God iudged for rebels agaynst the holye Ghost whose synne ys neuer forgeuen 5 No place haue they anye more with the chosen no eleccyon nor acceptacyon afore God The more light they haue had the more they haue tasted of the truthe now forsakinge yt rebellyng against yt with the deuill the farder they are froÌ„ God the more nygh vnto daÌ„pnacyon Neuer beleued he trulye that so had receyued the worde Lett noÌ„ thynke to be saued vnlesse he perseuereth to the ende 6 And the great DragoÌ„ or captayne of all the vnfaythfull sort that olde croked SerpeÌ„t whych deceyued AdaÌ„ ys called the deuyll or malycyouse accuser yea also Sathan the most cruell aduersarye with all hys elyentes spirituall adherentes are certayne sure to be cast out 7 With the ryghtouse shall they haue no porcyon for all their gloriouse tytles With the godlye shall not their names be regestred for all their holye vnccyoÌ„s But with the prince of this worlde they shall be throwne forth 8 For he by them they by hym hath deceyued all the worlde in lyenge tokeÌ„s woÌ„ders in the operacyoÌ„ of errours to the vtter daÌ„pnacyon of all theÌ„ that coÌ„senteth to theyr wyckednesse 9 And he was cast into the earthe his aÌ„gels also
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
age be ernestlye spreted and not feare the tormentes of the enemyes in Christes cause 4 For from hence forthe the sprete sayth that they rest from their labours In a wonderfull quyetnesse dwell they by the verye sentence of the holye ghost and shall neuer more fele of anye woo God hath cleane wyped awaye all teares from their eyes all sorâ—wes aÌ„d peynes from their bodyes the first daungers beynge past Happye are they therfor and most godlye fortunate that are slayne for Christ because they wyll not worshyp the Beast and his Image nor corrupt their faythe with their wycked lawes but in a pure Christen beleue departeth from hence to the lorde Theyr porcyon is in the lande of the lyuynge and their lotte amonge the holye ones 5 For certenâ—ye their workes doth folowe them The promiseâ—â—â—warde of God for constantlye standynge by the veryte for the frutes of their christen pacience and for other exercyses of theyr faythe is euermore to their glorye present with them Not as deserued of theÌ„ but of Christ in whose faythe they wrought here and for the promes sake that they shuld be Gods heyres togyther wyth Chryst. The lyuelye worde also which they ernestlye receyued here and so roted in their faythe wyll neuer suffre them to peryshe nor to be hurt of the â—conde deathe The Text. 1 And I loked and beholde 2. a whyte cloude 3. and vpon the cloude one sittynge lyke vnto the sonne of manne 4. hauynge on hys head a golden crowne 5. and in hys hande a sharpe syckle ¶ The paraphrase 1 I loked yet further sayth Saynt Iohan and euydentlye before me apered a whyght cloude which betokeneth the true mynisters of Gods worde Whom the holye ghost calleth cloudes by Esaye Dauid Peter and Iudas For from theÌ„ falleth vpon the peple the swete droppes of hys verytees 2 Whyght they are as mylke for their faythe in the worde And for their Christen conuersacyon not blotted with Hypocresye of mennes corrupted customes 3 Vpon this cloude was one syttynge lyke vnto the sonne of manne which ys verelye Christ in hys gloryfyed manhode For euermore ys he amonge hys trewe preachers geuynge them soche vtteraunce and wisdome as all their enemyes are not able to withstande Alwayes walketh he amonge the .vij. candelstyckes which are hys congregacyons as we had afore 4 He had vpoÌ„ hys head a goldeÌ„ crowne in token of hys eternall and vncorrupt kyngedome in hys hande a sharpe syckle which ys the sharpe iudgemeÌ„t or ryghtuousnesse of hys worde for ther with shall he reape hys latter harnest Accordynge to hys worde and promes shall he iudge good and euyll 5 Thys syckle receyued he of hys euerlastynge father soche tyme as he gaue ouer vnto hym hys vnyuersall iudgemeÌ„tes By the order of thys vysyon shuld the preachers seme in the last age of the churche moche to admonyshe the peple of the latter daye with the commynge of Christ agayne to iudge both the quicke the dead as ys in their crede or beleue The Text. 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2 cryaÌ„ge with a lowde voyce to hym that satte on the cloude 3. Thrust in thy sycle reape 4. for the tyme is come to reape 5. For the corne of the earthe is rype 6. And he that satte on the cloude 7. thrust in hys syckle on the earth 8 and the earthe was reaped ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angell sayth saynt Iohan came out of the temple which ys the congregacyon of faythe consecrated as an holye temple vnto God in the bloude of the vndefyled lambe Iesus This Angell betokeneth those iust meÌ„ne that with Symeon and anna the doughter of Phanuell in this latter age are desyâ—rouse of the glorye of God and of the fynall redempcyon of man from bodelye corrupcyon 2 These shall crye with a loude voyce with a feruent sprete shall they call vnto Christ which sitteth vpon the cloude 3 And this shall be their sainge Thrust in the syckle and reape Sende forth thy 〈◊〉 worde And lyke as yt hath created all thynges so lete yt now trye and iudge all thinges 4 For the tyme ys at hande to reape For we are those vpon whome the endes of the worlde are come 5 And doubtlesse the corne of the earthe yâ— rype the worlde is at the best that yt will do As it hath bene euer so ys yt styll all togyther sort vpon myscheff Lete thy worde therfor fynyshe all as yt hath beganne all With the breathe of thy mouthe 〈◊〉 the great Antichrist 〈…〉 of synne the sonne of perdycyon and the aduersarye that hath exalted hymself aboue God Poure out thy indygnacion vpon the kyngedomes that will neyther knowe the worshyp the nor alone call vpon thy name Thu hast called thy haruest the ende of the worlde lete it now fynyshe all in dede Diuyde the chaffe from the corne the wicked sort from the ryghtouse Gather the wheate into thy garner and burne the chaffe in vnquencheable fyre 6 And he that satte on the cloude thurst in hys syckle on the earthe and anon the earthe was reaped 7 He hath sent hys myghtye worde so quycke in operacyon as fyre Which shall not onlye consume the wicked generacyon of the Beast but also reserue them to eternall dampnacyon 8 The earthe shall be cleared of theÌ„ as of all other fylthye corrupcions and hell replenyshed with them to their perpetuall care The Text. 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2. which ys in heauen 3. hauynge also a sharpe syckle ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And an other angell sayth saynt Iohan came out of the temple which ys in heauen or from the great nombre of Angels hauynge also a sharpe syckle in his hande 2 This Angell betokeneth those heaueÌ„lye spretes that the lorde shall seÌ„de forth to gather togyther hys chosen from the iiij wyndes whan hys token shall apere in heaueÌ„ These are the reapers of the lordes haruest These are they that shall go forthe to gather all nacyons and to separate the gottes froÌ„ the laÌ„bes the yl from the good and shall cast them into a furnace of fyre where as shallbe waylinge and gnashinge of tethe 3 And therfor ys their syckle here named sharpe Non other is their syckle but this appointed office Non other ys their haruest but thys gatherynge togyther But these massengers shall not forthe tyll they haue commandement And therfor sayth Saynt IohaÌ„ consequeÌ„tlye ¶ The Text. 1 And an other Angell came out from the aulter 2. which had power ouer fyre 3. and cryed with a lowde crye vnto hym that had the sharpe syckle and sayde 4. Thrust in thy sharpe syckle 5. and gather the clusters of the earthe 6. for her grapes are rype 7. And the aÌ„gell thrust in hys syckle on the earthe 8. aÌ„d cutte downe the grapes of the vyneyarde of the earthe 9. and cast them into the great wynefatte of the wrathe of God 10. And the wynefatte was trodeÌ„ with out
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
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