I haue chosen thée to eternall lyfe and promised thée inheritaunce thereof without thy deseruinges beware now least thou loose it by apostasie and least an other take it from thée by doing the fruites thereof 16 Desire my spirite to strengthen thée that thou mayest perseuere and stand fast For that faithful seruaunt and mightie souldier which continueth in that veritie to the ende will I set vp for a stronge pillar and sure butteras in the temple of my God which is the church or faithfull congregacion of my heauēly father prefigured by the temple of Salomon at Hierusalem 17 And so strongly will I buyld him vpon the harde rocke that hée shall stande alwayes and neuermore bée remoued No more shall hee be aforener nor a straunger but a cytizen with the saintes and of the houshold of God moste surely grounded vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes 18 And I shall wryte vpon him to his singular commoditie the name of my God and father almightie and the name of the beautiful citie of my God also called new Hierusalem renued in the spirit Euermore shal he be called a seruaunt of the Lord an Apostle or witnesse of God a lambe of Christes folde a shéepe of his pasture a braunch of his vyne a member of his church and impe of hys kingdome a citizen of heauen and an inheritour of euerlasting lyfe 19 And all this commeth not from beneth it riseth not of his good workes merites nor deseruings but it commeth out of heauē from my god It is only his goodnesse grace lyberalitie forgiuenesse pittie mercie 20 I will also garnish him beautifie him with my newe name Hée shall euermore for hys faythe 's sake be called the sonne of God and ryse at the latter day in full glorie incorruptible immortal and cleere in perpetuall peace and concord 21 He that hath by the gifte of God an eare let him consider wherefore he hath it and apply it to the right vse discréetly waying what the holye Ghosts mynde is to the christian congregations in these heauēly premonishments THE TEXT 1 And vnto the Angell of the congregation vvhich is in Laodicia vvrite 2. This saith Amen the faithful and true vvitnesse 3. the beginning of the creatures of God 4. I knovv thy vvorkes that thou art neyther cold nor hote 5. I vvould thou vvere colde or hote 6. But bicause thou arte betvveene both and neyther colde nor hote 7. I vvill spevve thee out of my mouthe 8. Bycause thou sayest thou arte rych and increased vvith goodes and hast neede of nothing and knovvest not hovv thou arte vvretched and myserable poore blynd and naked 10. I counsell thee to buye of mee gold tryed in the fyre 11. that thou mayst be rich and vvhyte raiment that thou maiest be clothed 12. that thy filthie nakednesse doe not appeare 13. Anoynt thine eyes vvith eye salue 14. that thou maist see THE PARAPHRASE 1 And now laste of all my deare friend Iohn sayeth the Lord Iesus forget not to admonish by the hande writing also the elder of the Christen congregation which is in Laodicia a notable Citie of the Asianes which pretendeth to be a iust people or a companie to whom fayth is rekened for righteousnesse and are nothing lesse In the sight of men they appeare good and their works séeme glorious yet are they before God no sincere Christians but dissemblyng hypocrites in déede 2 Cause them to knowe certainely that this is the charytable warnyng of him which coueteth all things to be well perfecte and good and is in verie déede a witnesse faithfull and true yea the eternaall veritie it self for that they shoulde giue the more creadite to his sayings 3 Moreouer hee is the oryginall beginning not only of the creatures for so much as hee was that worde by whome God created all thinges in the beginnyng but also of the creatures of God for so much as he becommyng fleshe in this latter age restored them agayne to the peace and fauour of God for y◠they should euermore séeke vnto hym in theyr néede as to the verie fountayne or well spring of all goodnesse 4 Thy workes are euidently open before me sayth that Lorde and I know them in their kynd I sée thou arte neyther cold nor hote Thou art neyther a full infydell nor a full beléeuer neyther a perfecte pagane nor a perfect Christian. Thou arte neyther constant in the faith nor yet all without faith Outwardly thou arte hote but within thou arte colde as yse Inwardly thou abhorrest the word of God yet doest thou not outwardly condemne it 5 I would thou were eyther colde or hote eyther a Christian or none at all eyther a perfect louer of the veritie or els a full hater of it and not a dissembling hypocrite as thou arte iudging euill good and good euill calling darkenesse light and light darknesse making sower swéete swéete sower allowing fables and lyes and contempning the wisdome of God None is so farre from the kingdome of heauen as is a false Christian. Much sooner is he conuerted to the trueth that is all colde or all without fayth then he that vnder the colour and pretense of Gods lawes mayntayneth errours and lyes 6 For so much therefore as I fynd thée betwéene both and neyther of both halfe colde halfe hote and neyther fully cold nor hot neither faithfully giuen to Gods worde nor all whole without it but a false glosing hypocrite 7 I will begin to vomet thée as a morsell out of season and spewe thée out of my mouth as a thing out of kynde Thou shalte not be disgested Neyther shall my worde allow thée nor my promisse admitte thée to rest with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of heauen But thou shalt be throwne foorth into exteriour darknesse where as shall be wéeping gnashing of téeth I will caste thée out detest thée and abhorre thée For much worse are they that abuse or dispyse the gift of God then they which neuer receyued it 8 Thou pratest very sore of thy ryches thy merytes good déedes and deseruings Thou boastest thy selfe much of thy increase in goodnesse by déeds of supererogation and workes more then néede Yea thou arte not ashamed to thinke thy selfe so greatly to abound in learnyng wisedome rightuousnesse and holinesse that all hath néede of thée and thou of none sellyng to the wretched Idiotes of the world thy masses thy dyryges thy fastings thy memories thy knéelings thy crouchings with other idle obseruations 9 But thou remembrest not that thou arte wretched of thy self wicked of thyne owne nature Thou considrest not y◠thou art myserable and sinfull in thy lyfe poore without vnderstāding knowledge feeble without the strength of Gods spirit blynd without iudgement and fayth and naked without veritie and all good Christen workes 10 I charitably therfore admonish thée to remember thy selfe I counsel thée also
from the vntowarde and wicked generation for their vnbeleuers sake yet will it be playn ynough to the faithfull beleuers instauntlye calling vpon him which hath the key of Dauid to open vnto them the dore of his infallible verities They shall be sure to finde there that shall richly delyght them and that will greatly replenishe the most wholesome desire of their â—oules concerning their necessary saluation in Christ. The more the figuratiue speech aboundeth heere the more let them conferre it with the other scriptures without all honyed colours of retoricke or of crafted philosophy specially with those which of their owne nature iointly agreeth to the same Nothing ought heere to be sought of curiositie but of loue towards God for defence of his most pure doctryne and for auoydance of the craftie snares of the viuel A perfect preparation is it to a coÌ„stant soule when the battayle is seene afore the ende thereof knowne and the remedies learned Heere are we admonished afore hande of two most daungerous euils neyther to agree to those tyrantes which battayleth with the Lambe in his elect members nor yet to obey those deceiptful bishops that in hipocrisie vsurpeth the churches tytles Of suche tirryble plagues of vengeaunce as were comming towardes the Israelites the Lorde euer warned them afore by his Prophets And none was there that escaped them so cleerely as they dyd whiche regarded those warninges watching euermore the conclusions of them Much lesse harme felte they of Antiochus Epiphanes that had redde Daniels prophecy afore and marked it then they which knewe it not when the Tyraunte came vpon them Through dyligent expecration in the fayth of Gods promises receyued iust Symeon and Anna the sauiour of the world in hys tender infancie Mencion maketh the holy Ghost heere of Gog and of Magog two tirryble fierce enymies to Christes congregation and sheweth afore hande their purposed mischieues Let vs not suppose it to be a fable that he so earnestly telleth vs. Neyther let vs thinke but this warning is of loue if we liste so to take it and accept it for a trueth Immedyately after the Apostles preaching was this prophecie giuen to the Christian church which hath bene alwayes a smal congregation least they shoulde vnbewares at the subtile suggestions of these two enimyes throwe asyde the sinceritie of Christes Gospell So gloryous are the pretenses of the Romysh Pope and Mahomete that they seeme vnto them whyche regarde not these warnings the verye Angelles of lyghte and theyr churches most holy congregations being very diuels with their filthy dregges of darkenesse The Pope in his church hath ceremonyes without number None ende is there of their babling prayers their portases beads temples aulters songes houres belles Images Organes ornameÌ„ts Iewels lights oylings shauings religions disguisings dyuersitie of feasts coÌ„strained vowes fastings processions and pratlings that a man would think they wer proctours of Paradise On the other side Mahomet in his church is plentuous also in holy obseruations They washe them selues oft they frequent their temples they pray fiue tymes in the day they reuerently inclyne they lye prostrate vpon the grounde they feruently call to God they are temperate in feedyng not curious in theyr buyldynges they abstayne from wyne they abhorre Idolles they hate them that are proude and commende all sobernesse And these vertuys haue they to appeare most innocent liuers But vnto what ende thys holynesse leadeth the sequele heereof declareth Daniell â—aketh these two but one bycause they are both of one wicked spirite and reporteth his blasphemous mouthe to vtter presumptuous things Sainct Iohn sayeth also that the Dragon speaketh blasphemyes against God in them both Marke both their voyces and ye shall fynde these sayings most true The Pope maketh hys boast hee is the highe priest hee is of equall power with Peter he can not erre he is heade and spouse of the church and he is Christes immedyate vicar By this braulyng boaste hee maketh men to beleue he may constitute lawes kepe vnder the Gospell distribute kyngdoms sell promocions and benifices set vp a Purgatorie prouyde satisfactions make new bodyes to Christ redeme dead mens soules and remit sinne for money Mahomete braggeth also that he is the great prophet the promises Messias the Apostle of both testameÌ„ts abled both by the law the gospel that he hath his name froÌ„ the eternall throne of God He is well contented that Christ be an holy Prophet and a most worthie creature yea the word of God the soule of God and the spirit of God conceiued of the holy ghost and borne of Mary the virgin but he will in no case graunt hym to be the sonne of God nor that he dyed here for mans redempâ—ion Both these two mayntayners of mischief alloweth Moyses lawe the Psalter the Prophets and the Gospell yea they commende them auaunce them sing them reade them honour them and reuerently vse them in all their doyngs Yet will they haue their owne filthy lawes preferred aboue them the Pope his execrable decrees Mahomete his wicked Alchorane els will they murther men without measure Thus though they outwardly appeare very vertuous yet are they the malignaunt ministers of Sathan denying the Lord which hath redenied them By these may wee measure their inferiour marchandies hauing their lyuery and marke Of these hath our louing Lord premonyshed vs in this heauenly worke of his and graciously called vs away from their abhominations least we shoulde bee partakers of theyr sinnes and so receyue of their plagues If we vnthankfully neglect it the more dauÌ„ger is ours Let no man take the corrections of this booke to mallice But if hee chaunce in it as in a cleare glasse to perceiue him selfe spotted let him washe away the deformities for Gods worde spareth no mans iniquytie Read my whole Commentary els iudge me not In no wyse rebell I heere agaynst any princely power or aucthoritie giuen of God but agaynst Antichristes filthy tytles The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ bee euer more with thee good faythfull Reader and with all those good men that intierly hunger for his rightuousnesse Amen Thus endeth the Preface of the Image of both Churches out of Sainct Iohns Apocalips ¶ A briefe Paraphrase or compendious Elucidacion vpon the Apocalips or Reuelation of Sainct Iohn the Euangelist gathered out of the pure scriptures and sincere worde of God by Iohn Baâ—e an eâ—yle also in this lyfe for the testimonye of Iesu. The first Chapter The Texte 1 The Reuelation of Iesus Christ 2 vvhich God gaue vnto him 3. for to shevve vnto his seruauntes the thinges vvhich must shortlye come to passe 4. And heuenâ— and shevved by his Angell vnto his seruaunt Iohn 5. vvhich bare recorde of the vvorde of God and of the testimony of Iesus Christ and of all thynges that he savve 6. Happy is he that
them heard I saying 9. Blessing honour glory and power be vnto him that sitteth vpon the seate 10. And vnto the Lambe for euee more 11. And the fowre beastes said amen 12. And the .xiiii. elders fell vpon their faces 13. and vvorshipped hym that liueth for euer more The Paraphrase 1 Furthermore saith Saint Iohn I saw an infinit host of Angels beholding the face of the heauenly father 2 I heard also the voyce of a great number of them about the throne of God geuing laude and prayse vnto hym and about the beastes and auncient elders For they are not onely the immediate ministers of God but also the seruantes of those men which shall be the heyres of saluation Where â—â—ould they be els than but about them that feare the Lord to sée to them and preserue them in all their wayes lyke as he hath geuen them in commaundement 3 And the number of them was a thousande thousandes or a number beyond our estimation And they cryed with a loude voyce signifiyng in their sort no corporall noyse but for so much as they are but spirits but a vehement zeale of most perfect loue and reioyce for the glory of God the victory of Christ the redempcion delyuerance and helth of man It betokeneth also their excéedinge gladnesse in the openinge of the veritie and conuertion of the sinner 4 Worthy is the most méek Lamb sayd they which was cruelly done vnto death and by his death ouercame the worlde hell death and the deuill to take vpon hym the title of all power heritage wisdom streÌ„gth honour glory and blessing and to be called of all creatures most mightye most rich most wise most valiaunt most worshipfull most gloryous and most blessed conueniente names for the king ouer al. Yea finally to haue â—he vniuersall aucthorytie in heauen and in the earth to gouerne euery where and al to be subiect vnto hym 5 I hard also saith saint Iohn all the creatures that God euer created as the angeles in heauen the sunne the Moone the planites the starres the fyrmament the fyre the water the ayre 6 And all that was vppon the earth as man beast foule fish mountaines valleys welsprings floudes windes wethers times trées herbs fruits 7 And al that was vnder or within the earth as rootes wormes serpentes vermine 8 And all that was in the sea or that moued in the waters with all that are conteined in these eche one in his kinde saying 9 The euerlastinge God whiche sytteth vppon the eternall throne with power and maiestie be euermore blessed worshiptfull gloryous and almightie 10 And vnto the Lambe which is his onely sonne Iesus christ be blessing honour glorye and power from him for euermore And in this al creatures desireth no longer to be subdued vnto the vanitie of the wicked nor yet to serue the same But to be wholy deliuered from the bondage of corruption and in libertie to serue the children of God to the glorye of of hym that made them 11 To this the fowre beastes or al the true seruants of God here liuing answered Amen or so might it be in effect as ye haue desired 12 And the .xxiiij. elders as the patriarks the Prophetes the Apostles with other that hath passed this life fell downe flat vpon their faces they submitted them selues 13 They worshipped lauded and gloryfied him that lyueth for euer and euer one God in thrée persons the father the sonne and the holy ghost This signified the Angels and Sainctes euermore to be ioyous as any thinge is done in the creatures to the manyfest glory of God The sixt Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I sawe vvhen the Lambe opened one of the seales 2 and I heard one of the iiij beastes say as it were the noyse of thunder 3. Come and see 4. And I savve and behold there was a whyte horse 5 and he that sate on him had a bovve 6. and a crovvne vvas giuen vnto hym 7. and hee vvent forth coÌ„quering for to ouercome The Paraphrase 1 COnsequently sayeth sainct Iohn as I was beholdyng these wonders I sawe that the Lambe which is the sonne of God opened the first of the seuen seales declaring the first misterie of the booke These openings betokeneth not onely the manifestation of Gods trueth for seauen ages of the world but also for the .vij. seuerall times and after vij diuers sortes from Christes death to the latter end of the world The first seale was remoued and the mysterie there vnder contayned made open when the Apostles disciples of Christ abouÌ„daÌ„tly replenished with the holy Ghost did coÌ„stantly preach the gospel ouer the vniuersall world 2 And at the openyng of the sayde seale sayeth hée I hearde one of the beasts in shape lyke a Lion by whom are signified the strong witnesses of Gods veritie by constancie of fayth resembling Christ the verie Lyon of the stocke of Iuda whose voice was mightie and strong as it had bene the noyse of a thundering and vehemently it sayde vnto me 3 Come hither and sée drawe nigh and be taught beléeue and thou shalt vnderstand 4 And anon I saw euidently that there was a white horse which signifieth the Apostles and first disciples of Christ for why the scripture doeth so call theÌ„ These horses were white they were made pure rightuous and cleane by Iesus Christ and bare him by their preaching the worlde ouer Such a whyte horse to the glorie of God was Paule whan he beare the name of Christ before the Gentiles the Kings and the children of Israell 5 He that sate vpoÌ„ this white horse which was Christ him selfe had in his hande a bowe which figured the hartes of the foresayd Apostles and disciples out of whom he fiercely seÌ„t foorth the arrowes of his word into his chosen people Their hearts were in his hand for that his verities myght the more effectually passe foorth and the more surely lyght vppon hys elects For without his spirit nothing could they doe 6 From God the father vnto hym was giuen a crown of magnificence honour worthinesse and victorie in his resurrection and ascention 7 And when he had stomaked them by the holy Ghost to shoote foorth hys word without feare he weÌ„t forward with them by his grace conqueryng in them the prince of this worlde in processe of tyme by their doctryne so to ouercome him and all his wycked armie Were the Antichristes neuer so madde torment they neuer so sore slea they neuer so fast Christ wil ouercome them Let them inhibit his trueth and forbid his Gospell take spoyle imprison exyle murther haÌ„g head drowne burne yet wil Christ haue the victorie ouer them though it otherwyse séeme to the fleshly children of darknesse In many couÌ„treis Cities and townes hath Gods word bene taught where as it is now forbidden vnder the payne of death Is Christ therefore the weaker which chose the weake to confounde the strong
the glorie of God the great men more séeking their owne pleasures then the common wealth of the people the ryche men oppressing the poore 10 The Captaynes deceyuing the commons the strong men ouerthrowing the weake euerie bond seruauÌ„t dooing vntrue seruice and euery frée master vngodly occupying his faculty 11 Hath hidde them selues in dennes of the sayd rocks hilles When they haue done all mischief and wrought all wickednesse tyranny manslaughter rape adultery lechery extorcion Idolatry sacrylege with all other abhominacions can doe no more theÌ„ run they to those hipocrites theÌ„ séeke they vp those Antichristes Ther must they be coÌ„fessed there must they hide their sinnes They must be couered with hys dyrty merites with his holy whordome And to be prayed for that monastery must be builded that prebeÌ„dary or chauntery must bee founded There must be Masses dyrges ther must be anuaries bead meÌ„ He must be buried in S. Frauncis gray coate and he in our Ladies holy habite He must haue S. Dominikes hoode and he sainct Augustines girdle 12 And thus they cry to those earthly hils and rocks to those filthy dunge heapes or dennes of wylde beastes with a fearfull desperate conscience 13 Fall vpon vs with such stuffe as ye haue Couer vs with your works more than néed Pray pray pray sing sing sing say say say ring ring ring Giue vs of your oyle for our lampes are out Helpe vs with your latyne Psalmes Reléeue vs with your lippe labour though all be but dunge and earth Comforte vs with Placebo Helpe vs with Requiem eternam Powre out your Trentall masses spew out your CommendacioÌ„s Sing vs out of that hotte fierie Purgatorie before we come there 14 Hyde vs from the fearefull presence of him that sitteth on the thorne whom we neuer knew to be a merciful father in all our romish meditaâ—ns and the scriptures we abhorred that so would haue taught vs. 15 Conuey vs clean from the wrath of the vngentle Lambe whose doctryne we neuer fauoured nor whose goodnesse we neuer yet trusted 16 For the great day of his wrath is come So certayne we are of hys terrible iudgement as it were now in doing So sure we be to féele him a rightuous iudge as we are sure he liueth 17 And who can bée able to endure it who can abide it doing so muche crueltie rape murther briberie with all other abhominacions as we haue done leauing wicked lawes behynde vs still to continue the same Well with you we haue left our whole rockening ye know our déeds Answere you for vs then for we dare not bée séene If your idle merites helpe vs not we looke for no grace at his haÌ„d If your soules be not for ours at that day we perish for euer and euer For we haue not reléeued him a hungred a thirst harbourlesse naked sick and imprysoned in hys poore bretheren confessing his name and veritie But rather wée haue abhorred reuiled blaspheamed spoyled imprisoned shamed and persecuted hym vnto death in them deuysing moste terrible torments for them Thus is there among the wicked sort princes and other where as the word of God is published not only a doubt of their ruinous fall or decay but also a fearfull expectation of the terrible iudgements of God for coÌ„tempt of the same The .vij. Chapter THE TEXT 1 And after that savve I foure Angels 2. stande on the foure corners of the earthe 3. holding the foure wyndes of the earth 4. that the windes shoulde not blowe on the earth 5. neyther on the sea 6. neyther on any tree 7. And I savv another Angell 8. ascend from the rysing of the sunne 9. vvhich had thâ— seale of the lyuing God 10. And he cryed vvith a loude voyce 11. to the foure Angels to vvhoÌ„ povver vvas giuen to hurt the earth and the sea 12. saying Hurte not the earth neyther the sea neither the trees 13. till vvee haue sealed the seruauÌ„ts of our God in their foreheades The Paraphrase MOre manifestly yet are descrybed héereafter still vnder the mysterie of the sixte seale openynge the Hypocrytes Antychrystes Tyrantes and cruell magistrates forbidding the truth and condempning the word of God After this sayeth Sainct Iohn I saw fowre Aungels of darknesse suffered but not sent of God These are the aforesayde hypocrites with their false doctrine the Antichristes with their pestilent decrées and traditions the cruell princes with their tirannous lawes and the vngodly Maiestrates with their ignoraunce and blindnesse 2 These stande vpon the fowre corners of the earth they reigne in the fowre quarters of the worlde with lyes in hypocrysie errorus in superstition with tyrrany in power and crueltie in executinge humayne lawes 3 They witholde the fowre windes of the earth The doctrine of the spyrite which GOD hath sent to be blowen the worlde ouer they withstande resist stop vexe and euermore persecute 4 least it should blow vppon the earth which is the garden of God dryuinge away from thence all filth and corrupcion 5 Or on the sea which is the waueryng conscience bringing men to a quietous holde and sure stay in the Lord. 6 Or vpon any trée that is growing héere which are men whom GOD hath planted on earth to fructifie in Christ to the comfort of other Wind can be héere no fickle vanitie as the winde of this worlde is for so much as it commeth from aboue These furious Angels care not what crueltie they exercise to driue away this heaueÌ„ly blast They lay about them like Termagauntes they inhibit sequestre banish emprison sley hang head burne and drown the poore preachers of the verytie the vessels of the election and organes of the holy Ghost and their fiercenesse hath none ende Their power in darkenesse prospereth vpon earth and shal do till they haue fulfilled the whole measuere of their wicked fathers and made vp the number of Gods chosen flock vnder the aulter 7 And whiles these execrable angels were yet stopping this winde or lettinge the frée passage of the Gospell preaching I behelde sayeth Sainct Iohn another Angel of a diuers nature from them for he was the true messenger of God betokeninge the Prophets Apostles and all iust preachers 8 He came forth from the rising of the sunne or as one taught of God in the syncere doctrine of Christe he hath stepped forwarde to publish the same ascending vpward from the low spirit of méeknes to do the godly office 9 He had the seale of the lyuing God in his hande which is the effectuall word of trueth in his mouth to execute it The true ministers of Gods verity haue power to mark his faithfull seruants vnto saluation Their tongs arâ— the writing pens of the holy ghost by whoÌ„ the word of god is registred in the harts of them the beléeue For faith is the very signe whereby Gods seruantes
are knowne to be the children of adoption or of the inherytaunce promised by grace 10 And the sayde Angell cryed with a lowde voyce he bouldlye and with an earnest spirit vttered the verytie fearing no worldy displeasure This voyce against the vnbeléeuing Antichristes was neuer more earnest than now in our time as wel in wrightings as in preachinges And further hath it gone by bookes wrytten then by wordes spoken and much more people conuerted 11 An earnest message from God was thys voyce to the sayde fowre Angels of hys wrath which were by his sufferaunce permitted cruelly to handle and to hurte hys people to their saluation and their owne damnation which people dwelled as well vpon the sea as vpon the land as well in the close Ilandes as in the open countrye 12 And the voice was this Sequestre your fiercenes for a time in no case presume after any cruell sorte to harme neither the earth nor the sea nor the growing trées Suffer the Gospell to haue his frée course stop not the passage of Gods worde let the winde of his verytie blowe without impediment Though some hartes be worldlye some conscinces wauering and some mindes barren and vnfruitfull yet may they repent and come to goodnes When the séede is sowen some falleth vpon the good earth bringeth foorth fruite in abundaunce Zacheus of a great extorcioner became a rightuous man Mathew of a Publycan a true Apostle and Paule of a fierce persecuter a gentle preacher 13 Cease therfore from with holding the swéet blast of the Scriptures till we haue sealed vp the chosen seruants of our eternall God in theyr foreheades or emprinted fayth in their hartes by his spirite which is the marke of saluation and tyll we haue tokened vp the whole number of them Thus to be marked vp for the seruants of God is not onely to beléeue after the minde of Ezechiel but also to lament the abhominatiō and bewayle the wickednesse that is done héere None are of that sorte vnlesse they sorrowfully mourne to se god blasphemed the name of Christ disdayned the trueth troden vnder foote and the perfect Christen church despoyled By the aforesayde Angell is not ment one Christen preacher alone but many for so much as it is héere sayde Till we haue sealed the seruants c. For after that one hath begun many doth continue it In that hath bene spoken afore is it manifest that wexe the tirants neuer so mad and persecute they neuer so sore to stoppe Gods worde of hys course yet canne they not so preuayle againste it but it commeth to them whome God hath appoynted to be marked vp for his They with all the deuils in hell cannot withholde it from them whom God hath prefixed to make vp his number And though that the Antichristes and murtherers thinketh them to be very few by reson of their wicked lawes cruel constitucions threatnings and terrible tormentes yet is their number infinite lyke as here doth folow THE TEXT 1 And I hearde the number of them which were sealed 2. And there were sealed an hundreth and xliiii M. of al the tribes of the Children of Israell 3. Of the tribe of Iuda were sealed xii M. 4. Of the tribe of Ruben were sealed .xii. M. 5. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed .xii. M. 6. Of the tribe of Asser were sealed .xii. M. 7. Of the tribe of Neptalim were sealed .xii. M. 8. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed tvvelue M. 9. Of the tribe of Symeon were sealed xii M. 10 Of the tribe of Leuy were sealed .xii. M. 11. Of the tribe of Isachar were sealed .xii. M. 12 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelue thousand 13. Of the tribe of Ioseph vvere sealed tvvelue thousande 14. Of the tride of Beniamin vvere sealead .xii. M. The Paraphrase 1 And I hearde sayeth Saincte Iohn the number of them rehearsed whiche were sealed with the sure token of faith and marked vp for the heauenly inheritours with Christ not for one countrye but for the whole world Fyrst were the Israelites named for so much as they were the peculiar nation whom God fyrst chose for his owne people Israell is mine eldest sonne sayeth the Lorde After them followed in course the Gentiles as the yonger Sonne that we shoulde thereby knowe that all people whiche feareth god and worketh rightuousnes is accepted vnto him 2 And there were sealed vnto the Lorde an hundred and xliij thousandes of all the tribes of the children of Israell to haue the lyfe euerlastinge of euery tribe twelue thousande persons 3 Of the chosen tribe of Iuda the fourth sonne of Iacob of whō christe descended were sealed vnto God .xii. thousand 4 Of the mighty stock of Ruben the first sonne of Iacob by Lia were marked vnto the Lord .xij. thousand 5 Of the happy kindred of Gad the vij sonne of Iacob by Zepha were tokened vnto life .xii. thousand 6 Of the blessed tribe of Asser the eight sonne of Iacob by Zepha were sealed vnto the heauenlye felowship xii thousand 7 Of the plentuous ofspring of Neptalim the vi sonne of Iacob by Bala were signed to be pertakers of ioy with christ .xii. thousande 8 Of the notable parage of Manasses the eldest sonne of Ioseph in the stede of Dan because of the ydolatrie were noted for the friendes of God twelue thousand 9 Of the humble tribe of Symeon the second sonne of Iacob by Lia were sealed to the heauens felicitie xii thousand 10 Of the sanctified successe of Leuy the thirde son of Iacob by Lia were marked vnto saluation twelue thousand 11 Of the pleasant posterytie of Isachar the .ix. sonne of Iacob by Lya were tokened to the ioyes euerlasting xii thousand 12 Of the famous tribe of Zabulon the .x. sonne of Iacob by Lya were sealed to the kingdom heauenly .xii. thousande 13 Of the rightuous stock of Iospeh the .xi. sonne of Iacob by Rachell were sanctified to Christes inheritaunce .xii. M. 14 Of the godly kindred of Beniamin the twelf sonne of Iacob by Rachel were elected vnto the eternall herytage twelue thousande This set number of twelue thousande for euery tribe of the Israelits betokeneth a notable multitude in euer kindred of them certenly appointed of God vnto saluation And it is not to be vnderstanded vpon them that are past but rather vpon them whom it shall please God to call in this latter age vnder the vi seale opening Whom Paule calleth the remnant which shal be saued according to the election of grace For lyke as by the fall of the Iewes Synagoge for vnthankfullye receauinge the veritie saluation then hapened vnto the Heathen so shal it now againe from their carnall church to the Iewes for the same god hath not thrust out his people but their conuersion shall be as is life from the dead Thys shall the carnall synagoge of Antychristes
this had a very sharpe sting For death was towardes them that withstoode their ginnes Destruction of body and goods was euermore at hand 11 Yet was their powre only to hurt men for v. monthes space to harme them in this sencible lyfe deuided in fiue partes No power had they vpon the soules hence departed Then could they not hynder with all their censures black curses suspencions disgradings interdictions excommunications and all such terrible thunderbolts with Booke Bell and Candle Farther extended not their violence then vpon the poore bodies The soules were in Gods handes whose mercy is neuer farre of 12 A King they had ouer them which is the Angell of the bottomlesse pit for he is the head captayne of all the children of pride the master of errours and the father of lyes Néedes must the diuell be their king whiles his smoky doctrine hath nourished them fed them and set them foorth in their coulours Sure we are that they are straungers to God for the heauenly father neuer planted them Well such people such gouernour such swarm such stinking leader 13 The name of this their capitayne in the Hebrue tongue is Abadon and in the Gréeke tongue Apollyon and both signifieth a spightfull destroyer His nature is to persuade all euill to infect the minde to corrupt the hart to plucke away faith to make the soule blinde to robbe man of all goodnesse to seperate hym from God and to dampne hym with hym selfe for euer Wo is that wretched army that hath such a Capitaine and that forsaken multitude which hath such a king 14 One wo is past One cursed season of execrable blasphemy darknesse and deuilishnesse vnder the fift seale opening and the fyft trumpet blowing is at an ende But looke to it well for two other woes yet shall come after this vnder the sixt and vii as here after wyll appeare THE TEXT 1 And the sixt Angell blewe 2 And I hearde a voyce from the. 3. Foure corners of the golden Aulter which is before God 4 Saying to the sixt Angell which had the Trumpet 5. Lose the fowre Angelles which are bounde in the greate ryuer Euphrates 6. And the fowre Angels were losed 7. Whiche were prepared for an howre for a day for a month for a yeare 8. For to slea the thirde parte of men 9. And the number of horsemen of vvar vvere tvventy times ten thousand 10. And I hearde the number of them 11. And thus I savv the horses in a vison 12. And them that sate on them hauyng fyerye habbergions of a yalovv and brimstonie coloure The Paraphrase 1 Consequently the sixt Angell stoode forth and triumphantly blewe his Trumpet Constantly the sincere preachers of this present age hath taught Christ and hys veritie vnder this sixt seale openinge wherin they haue disclosed the detestable errours and shamefull abhomynacion of the other age afore 2 And as this Trumpet was blowen I harde saith saint Iohn a swéete voyce from the fowre corners of the golden Alter whiche is before the eyes of God Uppon him we offer when we trust only in hym and also when we liue according to true faith in hym restraining our olde Adam with his fleshly desyres 3 The fowre corners of this alter is the Gospell which he hath left by his Apostles in the fowre quarters of the vniuersall worlde The voyce is the ioyfull tidings or message therof And this signifieth Christ not onely to haue his church within the dominion of Rome vnder bondage but also in all other partes of the world in lybertie All these fowre corners hath but one voyce The Gospell euery where taught hath but one heauenly message of mercy and peace from God the father one glad tiding of health and saluation from Iesus Christe and one swéete smell of the grace of God and of victory in Christ from the holy ghost 4 And this one voyce commaunded the sixt Angell which had the Trumpet or the true faithfull preachers vnder the sixt seale openinge which had the administration of the word at the onely gift of God 5 To goe foorth and to lose the fowre Angelles which are bounde in the great riuer of Euphrates Many hath the Lord anoynted with his spirit in this age to preache delyueraunce to the captiue to open the pryson to theÌ„ that were in bondage and to declare the acceptable yeare of health By whose preaching he hath now vnthaâ—â—led the children of the dead and set them at libertie to preache his name in Syon and to worshippe him in Hierusalem Manye that afore were fettered with fantasies yoked with vnaduised vowes ouercharged with intollerable burthens amoÌ„g Byshoppes Priestes Monkes Chanons Fryers and Noones are now graciously delyuered and with a frée conscience confesseth the verytie of God 6 So that many among the fowre Angels or a great number of them that were sometime Antichristes Hypocrites Tyrauntes and murthers are now losened from Euphrates the great flood of wauering fantasies and of the sickle pleasures of this worlde For though they were sore bound in their conscience and lyfe yet wanted they there no wanton delightes to nourish and féederal fleshlinesse They lacked nothing that might maintaine their pompe vayne glory couetousnesse pryde glottony and lechery but they had it in abundance And though the nature of Gods worde be as of a key to open vnto them that beléeue and to speare vnto them that beléeue not yet is it fayde héere to open vnto both But yet in diuers respects For in the chosen sort it openeth to loue in the other it openeth to hate The one bringeth forth hony by it with the Bée the other venim with the spyder The one is made more méeke and gentle the other wareth more cruel and mad As Paule saith vnto some it is the sauer of life vnto lyfe and some againe it is that sauer of death vnto death For hard is that worde to the execrable Angelles 〈◊〉 children of Sathan callinge them from Euphrates They can in no wise abide it Yet were the fowre Angels loosoned froÌ„ thence and hath lost a great parte of theyr pleasures Since the Gospell came in the Antichristes hath lost the prophets of their Buls pardons confessions pryuy tythes ydol offerings purgatory masses bell christenings church hallowings with other loose endes The Hypocrits hath lost their more then princely habitations their monasteries couents hospitalles prebenâ—â—â—ies and chaunteries with their fat féeding warme couches for yll gotten good will home againe The tiraunts and murtherrers haue not now their pleasures in all poyntes as they had afore tyme what though their cruâ—ltie be stil as much as it was and rather more For the people is not now to their minde as then And as these Angels are losoned in this quarter of the world so shal they be in all then other quarters the Lorde appoyntinge theyr tymes One corner of the aulter hath geuen his
wande of sixt cubits long and a spanne which was geuen vnto Ezechiell nor very far different froÌ„ the measuring lyne in Zacharie And what is this els but that the administratioÌ„ of Gods heauenly verytie is secretly of hym committed vnto them which hath afore receiued it and in faith digested it that they should therewith rightly measure disterne iudge all things None other is it to prophesi again in this sixt age but thus is to mete the TeÌ„ple the aulter the worshippers therin and to proue them in length bredth heigth and depth THE TEXT ANd than was geuen me a reede a Lyke vnto a rod. 3. And it was sayde vnto me 4. Arise and mete the Temple of God 5. And the Aulter 6. And them that vvorship therein 7. And the Quire vvhich is vvithin the Temple cast out 8. And mete it not 9. For it is geuen vnto the Gentiles 10. And the holy citie shall they tread vnder foote xlii monthes The Paraphrase 1 And there was geuen me sayeth sainct Iohn a Réede Both receiued I the wisdome of God and also a mouth to vtter it So that my tongue became the pen of a redy writer For so much as I abhorred iniquitie the Lorde anointed me inwardlye with thâ— oyle of gladnesse gaue me stomack to vtter his word 2 The réede which god deliuered me was lyke vnto a rod. For his worde is the rod of right order and the scepture of his kingdome With this rod sprede he out the heauens and layde foorth the firste foundation of the earth This rod of his power hath the Lord now graciously sent vs out of Sion by meÌ„ hauing his special grace as by Iohn to haue dominion héere in the midst of his enimies 3 For vnto Iohn it was sayd for this age Arise from vaine studi from cares of the body from consideration of earthly causes 4 And mete the holy Temple of God whiche is his congregation or Church Proue all beléeues whether they be right or no. Examine their works whether they spring of Gods coÌ„maundements or of mens tradicions And in so dooing try by the scriptures the corne from the chaffe Marke out the people of God from the synagoge of sathan and delay not to nourish them with the swéete fruits of the spirit 5 Measure the Aulter also which is Iesus Christ vpon whom the full sacrifice of redemption was offered For many false Christes are abrode in the worlde to seduce the people The Pope bosteth hymself for Gods owne vicar Machomet calleth himself the great Prophet of the Lord. And both they to subdue the Gospell hath set vp new lawes The Pope his detestable decrées and Mahomet his abhominable Alchoran Both they haue wrought such wounders and suche signes in supersticion as might deduce into erroure if God were not merciful the very elect persons The monkes saith that Christe is in the desert the pristes saith he is in the box but admonish my people that in no case they beléeue it The Chanons saith he is here the Fryers saieth he is there but counsell my flock that they goe not forth For God dwelleth in nothinge that is made with hand In the faithfull harte is Christe onely founde There remaineth he That is his dwellinge place 6 Therfore now last of al measure them also that worshippe in the Temple Consider them onely to be his people which séeke hym in spirit and in verytie and that worship not in outward shadowes nor in the elements of this world nor yet with obseruation of dayes and times They are not his sonnes that for the leuen of Pharises which is the doctrine of Hipocrits forsaketh the bread of children which is his liuing word They are not his Lambes but vile gotes that rather attendeth to the voice of straungers than to the true shepheard Christ. 7 And therfore the quier which is within the Temple caste oute The prelates priestes and religions which are not of the common sort seclude from Christ from his Church and from the company of true worshippers Throw foorth the bond woman and hir sonne the Rome church with the hir children and Mahomet with his rable For the bonde shall not inherit with the frée 8 Measure not out that chaunsell of charmers that college of Balams brethren those marked Madianits and cursed Ismaelits Alow theÌ„ not by the scriptures coÌ„mende not their counterfaict rightuousnes Admit them not for the members of CHRIST but iudge them to be the synagog of sathan And speare them out of the kingdome of God with the key of Dauid For they are those swine that treade pearles vnder their féete those cruell dogs that turne agayne to deuoure men Medle not with that quier haue not to doe with that wicked generation 9 For it is geuen vnto the Gentiles Wholy are those Antichristes addict to the superstitious rytes of the Heathen in their sacrifices their ceremonies their obseruations their holy dayes their vigils fastings prayings knéelings and all other vsages contrarye to the admonishment of Christe That they should in no wise enter into the waies of the Gentiles Wherfore God hath detested them with his own mouth and cleane geuen them ouer vnto their owne fylthy lusts Mow reigne they al in their owne wisdom thinking euermore their owne fleshly fantasies best wholly they are become gentiles 10 And the holy citie of whom glorious thinges are spoken they shall tread vnder foote the space of xlij moneths Not the earthly Hierusalem is this citie builded of men and made holy by the outward obseruacions and ceremonies of the Iewes as many expositours hath fantasied For of that like as Christ prophecied is not left one stoane standing vpon an other But this citie is the sure bulding of God grouÌ„ded vpon the strong foundation of the Apostles and prophets euen vpon the hard rocke stone Iesus Christ. This is the pleasant possession the wholsome houshold the sure hold and the delectable viniarde of the Lorde of hostes This is the liuing generation of them which feareth loueth and seketh their Lord God in faith spirite and verytie and not in outward shadowes These are the children of promis the true ofspring of AbrahaÌ„ the chosen house of Israell and the kingdome of the holy ghost Pure cleane and holy hath Christe made this citie by none other thinge but the onely shedding of his precious bloud 11 This citie tread they vnder foote that kéepeth downe the truth of the gospel that persecuteth sleath gods peple for it the defeateth his worde for their owne traditions that bringeth in the Iewish ceremonies the Gentiles supersticions pagans customes hetheÌ„ vsages yoking men with impâ—rtable burtheÌ„s of false worshippings for their owne filthy 〈◊〉 aduauntage Notwtstandinge thus must they do still by the sufferance of God tyll the lxij monthes be finished whiche is not els but the time the times the half time or the thousand two hundred lx daies in that God shal shorten the time for his
promises 9 And therfore are not their names written of the lamb in the booke of life which lambe was slaine from the beginning of the world Christ hath not alowed them by his word promise With the rightuous are they not regestred as members of one misticall body in hym In the similitude of hys death are they not grafted vnto hym as the braunches vnto the vine to be partners of his resurrection Their porcion is not in the lande of the lyuing with him They are none of those whom the father hath geuen hym to participate with hym in one spirit Predestinate they are not vnto life by hym nor so written vp in the foreknowledge of God Chosen they were not of the lord before the worlds constitution to be his vndefiled children in Christ. 10 He is the méeke lamb that was slaine He alone taketh away the sins of the world In hym only is the life for he is the life it self Yet is he the life of none other but of those that only beleue in him 11 In that he was killed from the worlds beginning is signified that he dyed for all them whiche were create to be saued and that his onely death is all their health raise and remedy by the promise of God For all they haue eaten of one spiritual meat and dronke of one spirituall rocke though it came in the fleshe longe after them He onely trode downe the head of the serpent Since the beginning hath he bene slaine in his membres also as manifest it is in rightuous Abell Hieremy Iohn Baptist such other like They that are not written of the lambe in the booke of life for the children of God are registred in the booke of death for the children of perdicioÌ„ reserued to eternal death for their infidelytie with the deuill his Angels 12 He that hath an eare sayeth the text let him take good héede He that hath an vnderstanding let hym be admonished by that which foloweth héere Or he that hath receiued the wisdome of the spirit let hym iudge hereof according vnto it Thus doth the holy ghost aduertise the faithfull to consider that whatsoeuer thinges are writteÌ„ they are writteÌ„ vnto our learning 13 He that leadeth into captiuity shall go into captiuyty And he that killeth with a sworde must with a sworde be slaine This warning geueth the lord take it if they lyst For he will haue his right iudgments known He that vexeth or aflicteth the iuste beléeuers in body by outward punishments he shall be aflicted in the spirit with an inwarde darknes or blindnes of the soule that he may be the more captiue to sinne and to sathan God wyll deliuer hym vp vnto a lewde mind and wyll geue him stronge delusion to beléeue all maner of lyes that he might be damned 14 He that killeth the poore innoceÌ„t for his faith with the yron sword or slaieth hym with any other torment with the sword of the spirit which is the Lords word shall he be both iudged condemned The word that I haue spoken saith Christ shall iudge them at the latter day And this is in manner all one with that was saide in the xi chapter afore If any maÌ„ wyl hurt them fyre shall procéede out of their mouthes and consume their enemies 15 Neuerthelesse to the christian is persecution necessary For héere in this lyfe is the pacience of the saints proued and their faith required Here was AbrahaÌ„ tempted Iob sore vexed and both they were founde Gods true faithfull seruants Here were the apostles contemned reioysinge that they were found worthy for christes sake to suffer rebuke The rightuous the lorde trieth as gold in the furnace He chasteneth euery seruant that he loueth and scourgeth euery son that he receiueth Onely is it faith that al the euils of this worlde by pacience ouercommeth so obtaineth the victory The fruit which riseth to eternal lyfe is peaceable sufferance in faith And that must be heare in this lyfe where as we are vnperfect to make vs perfect THE TEXT 1 And I beheld an other beast 2. comming vp out of the earth 3. and he had two horns lyke a lamb 4. and he spake as dyd the Dragon 5. and he dyd all that the firste beaste could do 6. in his presence 7. And he caused the earth and them which dwell therein 8. To worship the firste beaste vvhose deadly vvounde vvas healed 9. And he dyd great wonders 10. So that he made fyre come downe from heauen 11. In the sight of meÌ„ 12. And deceiued them that dwelt on the earth by the meanes of those signes which he had povver to doe in the sighte of the beast 13. Saying to them that dvvelt on the earth that they should make an image 14. Vnto the beast vvhich had the vvounde of a svvord and dyd liue The Paraphrase 1 And I behelde saieth S. Iohn in this secret reuelation of my Lord an other beast arising out of the earth A figure is this of al false prophets and vngoly preachers Beastly are they euermore vaine carnal and corrupt in their studies abhominable in the practisings of their wicked harts not séeking God but their belleyes not Christes glory but their owne pride and vaine glory 2 From the earth they aryse all geuen to erthly wisdome The only affectes of this worlde doth moue them to teach no good zeale of the truth Either are they tickled with ambition pricked with auarice or els stirred with mallice to inuei These are the common affects of the wicked This goinge vp haue they from wickednesse to wickednesse and shall haue still till the Lorde destroy them like as haue the iust beléeuers from vertue to vertue in the spirit till such time as they sée him face vnto face in the euerlasting Syon From the worlds beginning hath this beast risen vp in Cayne the first murtherer in the fleshlye Children of men in Cham the shamelesse childe of Noe in Ismael Esau in Iannes Iambres in Balaham Baals prophets in the Beniamits Bels chaplains in Phasur Semeias in Iudas Annas and Caiphas in Bariehu Diâ—trephes And now seÌ„s their time most of all in Mahometes doctoures and the popes queristers Yea stil they are aloft in their beastly beggerye will be till their mischif be finished Who séeth not now a daies that hath light in the spirit the malignite hipocrisy fraud craft deceit in certen fals prophets at pauls crosse in London in other places els 3 This beast had ii hornes like the lambe at a blush but all counterfet â— fals in very déede for he spake as did the dragon the hornes of Christ are his high kingdom in the world Only ariseth his Churche by faith in the glad tidinges and promises of god That word is the scepture of Christes power and the rod of right order wheras he reigneth None other strange sceptures are there neither tradicions nor customes Seuen hornes had Christ for
smoke saieth sainct Iohn of hir abhominations very noyful vnto the eyes of God weÌ„t vp euermore into his sight prouoking him to eternall vengeaunce A smoke ascended in hys wrath saith Dauid and vpon the fyre procéeded from his mouth which kindled the coles of hir dampnation Thys fyre will be the tirrible sentence giueÌ„ vpon hir in his latter iudgement For neuer ceaseth this blasphemous bloudy church in requiring the vengeaunce of God 2 And the xxiiij Elders saith he by whom are signified the saincts departed as the Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs and other godly witnesses 3 And the iiij beasts also betokening the faithful multitude in the iiij quarters of the worlde yet liuing in this frayle nature fell downe before the face of the Lord. 4 In one godly spirite fayth zeale and feruent loue did both they in their tymes these in this our age submit them selues vnto God referryng alalwayes vnto him all that they euer had eyther in faith or workes as vnto the speciall giuer of them 5 These worshipped in their ages and yet doe to this day not things fantasied of men but the onely euerlastyng God that euermore hath sit vpon the eternall seate of his omnipotency 6 Continually saying Amen Or at his will be all things 7 Saying also Alleluya or euerlasting prayse be giuen to his name of the vniuersall Christian multitude for rightuously iudging the great whore to drinke the bloud that shée hath shed of the holy witnesses of Iesu or to sustain for euer the iust veÌ„geauÌ„ce therof 8 Consequently came there out an excéeding swéet voyce from the eternall throne of God which is Iesus Christ. This is that Gospell of glad tydings which he taught whan he was here liuing among vs being the bodily habitacle of his Godhead 9 This voyce euermore is mouing vs to the onely fayth obedience and feare of the eternall father comprehended in this clause following 10 In all your sayings and dooyngs saith that voyce commende alwayes that Lorde which is both my father both my God your God 11 Specially all you that are his faithfull seruaunts by earnestly louing and following his word 12 You also that vnfaynedly feare to transgresse his lawes and commaundements whither ye be great or smal high or lowe young or olde noble or vnnoble rich or poore strong or weak whole or sicke beautiful or deformed wyse or vnwyse learned or vnlearned none to be excluded froÌ„ his praise so that he be faithfull charitable pacient and godly For in no maner of nacion is any of him forsaken that faithfully feareth him and liueth according vnto rightuousnesse THE TEXT 1 And I heard the voyce of much people 2. euen as the voyce of many vvaters 3. and as the voice of stronge thunderynges 4. saying Alleluya 5. For God omnipotente raygneth 6. Let vs be glad and reioyce 7. and giue honour to him 8. For the maryage of the Lambe is come 9. and hys vvyfe made hyr selfe readye 10. And to hyr vvas grauÌ„ted that she should be araied vvith pure and goodly silke 11. As for the silke it is the rightuousnesse of saintes The Commentary 1 After this saith saint Iohn I herd in mistery the voyce of very much people or of an innumerable multitude of men 2 And it sounded vnto me euen as it had bene the flushing noyse of manye waters 3 And in a maner as the fearful souÌ„d of great thunderings For though the praise of God be all one in the faithful nacions yet is the vtterance thereof diuers like as the languages are also diuers Uery straunge and confuse are the speches one to an other wher they are not knoweÌ„ Tirrible also are they partly for that they comprehend such a magistie as is the glory of God and partly bycause they are for the vtter confusion of the wicked None other was this voyce than were the voyces afore nor to none other ende 4 For loke in what faith the Patryarkes and the fathers the prophetes and Apostles the holy Martyrs and preachers lauded God for victorie ouer theyr enimies in the same doth nowe the faythful multitude of all regions commend hym sayinge Alleluya or praise be euermore in your mouthes 5 For our Lord God almightye is become a victorious conquerour and nowe reygneth ouer all Not onely hath he ouercomen the diuel by the doughtye death of hys sonne but also hys proude kingdome of hipocrysie by the power of his mighty worde 6 Let vs be glad saith this voyce and highly reioyce in our harts for this heuenlye alteration profitable change 7 Let vs giue thankes to hys omnipotente name that withoute our deseruinges we are brought to so ioyfull a daye 8 For the glorious spousage of the Lambe Iesus Christ is come Nowe that this whore is ouerthrown shal he be ioyned to his vndefiled church which was afore dispersed by diuers afflictions and punishementes 9 His wife which is his congregation hath made hir selfe now ready to hir spouse Not with copes and crosses miters and reliques torches and holy water Not with chapels and chauntries hallowings and sensinges shauinges anointinges with such other beggerye No neyther with workes of supererogation merites of masses nor other dirtye deseruinges of our owne rightuousnes But with a pure christian faith with the true rightuousnes of god which she hath of christ 10 For it foloweth in the texte that to hir it was garnted by the singuler goodnes of God that she should be apparyled beautifully with pure whit silke or with most fine raines 11 None other are these faire pleasant and godly raines after the cleare diffinition of the holy ghost héere but the pure iustificatioÌ„s of the holy saints which haue bene since the beginning wherof they haue bene called rightuous Of their faith in Iesus Christ is this pure garment of innocency clernesse and righteousnesse Through faith was Abraham reputed for rightuous so was Abell Enoche Noe Isaac Iacob and Ioseph Moyses Iosue and Gedeon Samuel Dauid and Helias with the vniuersall number of the saints Prophetes and fathers So was Zacharias Simeon Ioseph Iohn Baptist Peter Iames Iohn and Paule Lazarus Lucas Agabus and Sâ—éeuen with all the Apostles martirs and other true beléeuers Through faith saith S. Paule haue the saints ouercoÌ„e kingdoms wroght rightuousnes obtained the promises stopped the mouthes of Lions quenched the vyolence of fyre wyth such like Sence the begynning of the world haue the true and faithfull prepared them selues vnto this heauenlye marriage in the resurrection of the rightuous shall it be perfectly solemnised celebrated and magnified such time as they shal appeare in full glory with Christ. In this latter time wyll the true christian church when all the worlde shall confesse his name in peace be of hir full perfect age and apte vnto this spousage Now shall she in méeknes of spirit appoynt hir selfe to méete hir bridgrome in the ayre for with a glad hart doeth she now here his voyce At that daye
They fashioned thē selues to the example that was shewed thē in the mount 3 None other are these horses then their corruptible bodyes prepared to battail They which are of Christ doth mortifie the vices and lustes of theyr flesh they tame their carnall affectiōs Like perfect men they brydle their bodies to the obedience of the spirite So to become the true seruantes of rightuousnesse and no more to do seruice vnto sin White are these horses for the pure word of the Lord which gouerneth thē No meruaile though these myghtie souldyers foloweth the Lord cōsidering he is so oft in the scriptures called the lord of hosts A like similitude dyd the seruant of Helizens the Prophet behold in a vision throug Gods permission in Dotham 4 This army of the Lord here were appareled preciously with pure white silk or fine raynes betokening the pure innocensy which they haue in Christe theyr general captain Not carnal is this armour but euermore spirituall after the doctrine of S. Paule Though we walke in the flesh saith he yet do we not fight after a fleshly maner For the weapons of our warre are not carnal things but things mighty in God Bewtifull fayre is my welbeloued saith the eternall Salomon for hys soule pleaseth his Lord and is loued agayn of him His fauour his mercy is vpon his holy ones he hath a louing respect vnto his chosen number A notable singe of victory in the faithfull are also these white horses vestures for afore they ar called iustificacions of the saintes 5 And out of his Godly mouth sayth the Text proceded forth a two edged swerd which is the fearce iudgement of his mighty word By this effectual swerd are the faithfull beleuers woūded vnto life and the vnbeleuers to the death of dampnacion For vnto some it is the sauour of life and vnto some againe the sauour of death vnto death By this swerd also shal the dead braūches be cut from the vine and the corrupted members from the whole body The gotes shal be deuided from the lambes and the euil from the rightuous Oh how sharp fierce and tirrible wil this sentence of the lords indignaciō be at that day Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre Yet shall it be vnto the faithful a perpetuall power victory triumphe ouer their enymies 6 Ouer besides all this goeth that swerd frō his eternal mouth to the intēt he should therw t correct their Heathē or reform◠thē of their heathinish life So that if they wil not at the wholsome admonishmēts of his word repent and amend their olde conuersacion that than they should be condemned by the same for their wilful contempt If men wil not turne saith Dauid he shall whet his swerde against them He wil sharpen it as the lightening and aquite his enymies their wickedmes 7 This mighty Lord shal rule them with a strong rodde of yron which is the inuincible veritie This is the rod of right order the septure of the kingdome and the wand of power whom the Lord sent frō Sion to haue sway among our enymies So strong is this septure that it wil not bowe No place wil it geue to the contrary parte If they will not therewith be ordred he shall breke them in peces as the potter doth his pot in such maner as they neuer shal recouer agayne 8 The winefat of the great fiercenesse and sore displeasur of almighty God shal he tred downe with power More greuously shal they be opressed at this latter comming by his set sētence thā they wer afore at Hierusalē by Uespasianus and Titus The vineyarde of the Lord of hostes was the house of Israell This brought he out of Egipt by strong hande Thereof looked hée to haue had grapes and it brought hym foorth bryers and thistles Their vines were as the wilde vines of Sodome Bitter were their grapes as the poyson of Dragons and as the cruel gaul of Adders Therfore will he break the hedge and throw downe the wal that it may be troden vnder foote 9 Great anguishe shall bée vpon the earth in his fury and wrath vpō that people in his anger They shall fall on the edge of the swerd and be dispersed Both here shall they haue griefe and also in the world to come 10 This victorious horse man hath vpon his white vesture besprinckeled with bloud which is his innocent māhood crucified 11 And vpō his tender thigh whom some call his churche some his scriptures as flesh of his fleshe or spirite of his spirite this name of magnificence written 12 In both of them is it manifestlye expressed that he is both king of kinges and also Lorde of Lordes the great guide of right gouernours and that monarke of godly magistrates By kings is his generation discribed of Mathew in the posteritie of Dauid and of Luke by faithfull fathers vnto Adam which had the first promise of health Both doth the godly actes of his natural māhood and also the holy spirite whom he left here to the comfort of all true beléeuers declare that he is the eternall attourney of God his Apostles true seruaunts affyrming the same And these are his garmente and thigh By hys death is our nakednesse couered which are his misticall members Of his spirite is our strength which are the generation séeking the Lord of Iacob 13 Both hath he giuen hym of God the high seat of Dauid his father and also the vniuersall power in heauen and in earth as he by whom all things were first created For his power is an euerlasting power and his kingdome such as shall neuer perishe And all this is comprehended in that he is called the sonne of the highest and in that he alone hath immortalitie inhabyting the light that no man can attayne to whom be honour and euerlasting empire Amen In this vesture and thigh are his titles written as to hys onely behou e that no man shuld of presumption vsurpe them neither by supremite nor vycarage his church and posteritie acknowledging the same euermore THE TEXT 1 And I savve an Angell 2. stande in the sunne 3. and he cryed vvith a loude voyce 4. saying to all soules that flye by the middest vnder the heauen 5. Come and gather your selues togither 6. vnto the supper of the great God 7. that ye may eate the fleshe of kynges 8. of high captaine 9. the flesh of mightie men 10. and the flesh of horses 11. and of them that sit on them 12. and the flesh of all free men bondmen 13. both of small and great The Commentary 1 After this reuelation I sawe saith sainct Iohn a beautifull Angell betokening not onely the Apostles but all other faithfull ministers in the word els hauing the Apostles spirite 2 In the sunne stedfastly stoode thys Angell which signifieth Christ that cleare sunne of rightuousnesse the bright morning star in the middest of the cloude the expresse Image of God substance of his
the afore named Necromanser Siluester which was both a blacke Mouncke and also a Frenchman borne This beastly Antichriste boasting himselfe not onely to bée Christes vicar in earth but also to be equal with him in maiesty and power set fâ—rst the Diuell at large by his Necromancy which toke froÌ„ the heartes of mem the liuing worde of the Lord leste they shoulde be saued FroÌ„ theÌ„ce forth were not the holy scriptures regarded but olde wyues tales Iewish fabels most highly reputed Them came in CannoÌ„s Decrées Sentences Sinodals Decretals ClemeÌ„tines Exextrauagauntes with other Popysh â—awes the gospell claene set apart About this time ollo as master Iohn Carion wryteth in hys cronicle floryshed the Lordly order of cardinals and grewe into a wonderful estimacion in the worlde The vniuersites were theÌ„ furnished with learned meÌ„ mightely to proue the Pope Christes vicar in earth and the onely husbande and ouerséer of hys churche General counsels were oft gathered to dyspute with all Christendome that none might dispence in matters of conscience but he and they whom he should appoynte and that he could in no wyse erre No though when the candle were out he went to bed with an other mans wife besydes that I wil not spaeke at this time By this meanes got he an imperial seate and might make both Emperours kinges at his pleasure And lykwyse depose them when he lusted He myght distribute the kingdomes and geue the great possessions of this worlde to whom he lustâ—d yea to hys owne bastardes and chamberlynes as he dyd manye tymes For of the Diuell he hath receyued them where as Christ did vntterly forsake them And for so much as he was the high Priest after the order of SathaÌ„ be myght kepe a generall marte all hys lyfe tyme sell all the Bishoprickes benefices degrées and offices of hys church He might subiect the gospel to his owne interpretation make new constitutions release synne for mony make euery day new Gods and doe many other thinges els No end was then of their gaudyshe ceremonyes brawlynges in the temple Singings bels orgayns Images ornamentes lampes candels holy dayes shauings surplesses pater nosters coÌ„maunded 〈◊〉 such like that a man woulde haue thought them Angels when they were very Diuels in dede For the tyme that Sathan was thus sette at large by Christes onely vicar was ther not one martyr alowed vnlesse it were for deposinge of Princes and defending the liberties of holy churrh agaynst them lest theyr murtherers théeues beynge wythin sacred orders shoulde be hanged with the seculeâ—â— Marke the condition of the tyme. Afore that Sathan was thus at libertie he remained secret in the harts of euill men Now is he abrode in theyr outward ceremonies and rites ready to be séene of all the worlde if pryde pompe hawtinesse vaine glory may shew him or if hipocrisie errour supersticion and all other diuellishnesse can tell wher he is When Christ shut him vp he toke Idolatrie from the people the Pope hath restored it vnto theÌ„ againe in thus settinge him at large In this is he not denied to haue bene afore this time abrode among the wicked For little lesse then foure hundred yeares afore the end of this thousand began the two Monarks of Antichristes kingedome the Pope in the West vnder Phocas the Emperour and great Mahomet in the East vnder Heraclius marke it in the cronicles who so list For afore that time was not the Pope taken for the vniuersall head of the church nor yet for Christes vicar And this could not haue béen vnlesse he had after some sort béen at libertie Euermore hath he reigned wtout restraint among the vngodly But neuer so manifestly as then hys abhominacions accouonted for holynesse in the churche At this losinge of Sathan or very defection as Paul calleth it openlye appeared the man of sinne the sonne of perdicion and the aduersarye which exaleth him selfe aboue al that beareth the name of God Faith wared so fainte and charitie so colde the scarce appeared one spark of the truth The church becaÌ„e a peruerse generation hir children were very vnfaithful Afore regned be enermore in the world but neuer in Christes congregation till that time Neuer was the vniuersall church of Christ defiled with so many abhominable kindes of Idolatrye before 13 But it so continued not longe For the text saieth he was losed but for a litle season Immediately after perceued Berengarius the Archedecon of Angoy in Fraunce that all was well and with Bruno the bishop impugned their realitie IdeÌ„ptitie naturalitie in the sacrament to bringe it againe to Christes cleare institution After him followed Waleranus the bishop of Medeburge and did the same in Germany with many other prelates and doctours Consequently ensued the Waldeanes and Albigeanes pretending the Apostles life doctrine men doubtlesse of a godly zeale and spirit and of them the Antichrists slew more then a hundreth thousande besides an hundreth and foure score whome they brent bycause they would neuer abiure What Guidâ— Bonatus Ioannes Semeca Guilhelmus de sancto amore Marsilius Paduanus Arnoldus de villa noua FraÌ„ciscus Petrarcha other learned men dyd against them after that it were very long to write Iohn Wicleaue in EnglaÌ„d Iohn Husse in Boheme men of excelent life learning with diuers other more replyed earnestly against their transubstanciacioÌ„s and other sorceries LaureÌ„cius Ualla denyed the donation of Constantyne IhoÌ„ Wassalus of Groning in Friesland called the light of the world coÌ„dempned vtterly their purgatory and pardoÌ„s Now last of all commeth Martyne Luther Ioannes OecolaÌ„padius Huldricus Zwinglyus Pomeranus Brencius MelaÌ„cthon Bucer Bullinger with other sincere and godly deuynes and they turne ouer their vniuersall kingdome So merciful is the Lord to hys people in this latter ende of the world that by these and such other the Antichrist is clearly vttered and all his Hypocrisy disclosed I doubt not but within fewe dayes the mightie breath of his mouth which is hys liuing Gospell shall vtterly distroye hym with hys whole generation of shauelings by their faythfull administration in the worde THE TEXT 1 And I sawe seates 2. and they satte vpon them 3. and the iudgement was giuen vnto them 4. And I sawe the soules of them 5. that were beheaded for the vvitnesse of Iesus 6. and for the vvorde of God 7. vvhich had not vvorshiped the beast 8. neither his Image 9. neyther had taken his marke vpon their foreheads 10. or on their handes 11. And they lyued 12. and raigned vvith Christ 13. a thousand yeares 14. But the other of the dead men lyued not againe 15. till the thousande yeares vvere finished The Commentary 1 Whiles the Dragon was thus tyed vp and throwne into the bottomles pit for a â—housand yeares space a certayne continuance of beinge the elect had Whose peaceable estate and condition for that time the text here following declareth by maner of recapitulation After the afore rehearsed
docttrine of Christes .xii. Apostles But I am contented with that is sayd afore being more agréeable to the text 10 Such leaues had this wholsome trée as were for the health of the people good necessary and medicinable Such profitable wordes and promyses hath Christ as are spirite and lyfe power of saluation and euerlastinge health These leaues of hys can in no wyse wyther away and whatsoeuer he doth by them it shall wonderfullly prosper He sent forth hys wholsome woorde sayth Dauid and so healed them He delyuered them from all euyls wherewyth they were oppressed As these wordes are sincerely taught the benefightes of our redempcion are brought into remembraunce So is the conscience quyeted and the harte made glad So reioyseth the soule giueth perpetuall thankes vnto God the father Soo are the Gentyles throughlye made whole acknowledgynge Christe for theyr onely sauyour and redéemer 11 Thus after Czechyell are these fruites good to eate and theyr leaues profitable for medicynes As the leaues are the beauty of a trée and preserueth the fruite so is the true preachinge of the Lordes veritie the comelynesse of hys church and preseruacion of the same And not the oylynges shauynges and disguysynges nor yet the Lordeshippes myters and masses A lyght thynge is the worde of god written or spoken as is the leafe also of a trée But if his spirite worketh in it than is it a thyng moste precious effecttuall and stronge compared of Christ to a mustarde séede which grâ—weth into a greate trée Aboue all thinges sayth Zorobabel the veritie is most stronge For that is the Lords eternall will which neuer shal be altred The text 1 And there shal be no more curse 2. but the seate of God and the Lambe shal be in it 3. and hys seruauntes shall serue hym 4 And they shall see hys face 5. his name shal be in their foreheades 6. And there shall be no nyght there 7. and they neede no candell 8. neyther lyght of the Sunne 9. For the Lorde God giueth them lyght 10. and they shall reygne for euermore The Commentary 1 And as concerning the afore named cytie or worthy congregation of the Lorde the curse that the earth had in the worke of Adam shall clerely be taken from it Neuer more froÌ„ henceforth shall therein be any thinge that God is not pleased with For Christ hath redemed hir from the curse of the lawe sustaining thereof the penaltie to make hir innocent So that nowe there is no dampnation to them whych are in Christ Iesu folowing the doctrine of the spirite if painfull aduersitie losse of goodes detriment of fame syckenesse persecution of body or any other troublous crosse happeneth it is euermore for the best to them that are faythfull Perfectlye shall these be taken awaye wyth all the corrupte fruites of Adam in the regeneration whan to theyr glorye both heauen and earth shal be blessed all that is cursed throwen into the lake of euerlasting fyre 2 And for a more sure token that thys will be true the hygh seate of God the eternall father and of the Lambe Iesus Christ wyth the holy Ghost one Lorde almighty in thrée personages shal be contynually there in In the house of Iacob shall hée reygne euermore and of hys kingdoÌ„e shall be none ende Amonge them will he fixe hys dwelling place here which loueth hym and obserueth his coÌ„maundementes and there will he not be seperated from them but be still their eternall God 3 Moreouer as hys true seruauntes here shall they worship hym in spirite and in veritie and so serue hym in a sincere fayth perfourming such Godly workes as he hath prescribed vnto theÌ„ and not such as mens fantasyes hath dreamed They shall so mortyfie their olde man destroying the body of sinne that no longer shall he obeye the concupiscence nor become a captyue seruauÌ„t vnto wickednesse here But nowe delyuered from sinne they shall doe on a newe man which is rightly fashyoned of God and so become his seruauÌ„tes in rightuousnesse And in the world to come they shall serue him according to the knowledge that they shall haue than which now is incomprehensible and vnspeakeable 4 Hauinge the spirite of Christ they shall here sée hys face of saluation in the myrroure of fayth whych is to haue knowledge of hys Godhede And after thys lyfe they shall beholde him in glory lyke as he is in dede much more perfectly than dyd Iacob which sawe hym face to face Moreouer soo shall these hys seruauntes respect his vsage that whatsoeuer they doe here in worde or in dede they shall doe it with all godly feare lowlynesse and reuerence alwayes thinkyng hym to beholde their dedes 5 They shall also perceyue hys gloryous name to be writteÌ„ in their foreheades or regestred in their fayth féelyng the swéetnesse thereof to their saluatioÌ„ Besides yâ— not onely shall they coÌ„fesse God with their mouth but also in their outward coÌ„uersacioÌ„ shal they dayly apere as hys faythfull seruauntes and children And as concernyng the gloryous day by that name than shall one knowe an other to be a frée cytizen of heauen Consyder sayth Saynt Iohn howe louyngly the Father doeth vse vs. Not onely here doo we beare the name of hys chyldren but also there shall we be sure to bée his sonnes in déede 6 No maner of night or darcknesse of humayne doctryne shall appere anye more in that cytie But hauing Christ and his veritie all vnprofitable doubtes fantasies errours lyes and false myracles shall these citizens detest here And after this lyfe are no suche matters to be loked for all things theÌ„ being clere and perfect Though they some time were darkenesse yet are they now lyght in the Lorde and will walke styll therein as the children therof tyll they come to the God of Gods in the euerlasting Syon 7 There shall they haue néede of no candell or of wisdome borowed of meÌ„ 8 Nor yet of the matteryall sun which mynistreth light to the day by whom is ment the high sience of philosophers coÌ„ceiued of the creaturs aboue wtout faith Those foreÌ„ lightes may his ministeres wel vse but truely his church nedeth theÌ„ not hauing much better than they are of christ of his Aposils Uery dark lights are they wher his bright beaÌ„es once apereth which is the clere sunne of rightuousnes Abhominable lyes errours did he proue the high learning of the bishops lawyers as he doth yet their decrées lawes their schoole diuinitie and sentences their ordinarie questions and quodlibetes 9 All these stinking mistes set apart the mercifull Lorde aboue which is the omnypotent God giueth them a light sufficient His eternall sonne is vnto them suche a cleare shyning cresset as no great blast can extinguishe nor cloude with darke shadowe blemishe Of most tender mercy sent hée that day spring from aboue to dyrecte their féete here in the way of his peace 10 And after thys laborous pilgrymage in the sabboth of perpetual