tradicyons that bryngeth in the Iewishe ceremonies the gentyles supersticyons paganes customes aÌ„d heythen vsages yokynge menne with importable burdenes of false worshyppinges for theyr owne fylthye lucre and auauntage Not withstaÌ„dynge thus must they do styll by the sufferaunce of God tyll the .xlij. monethes be finyshed which ys not els but the tyme the tymes and the half tyme or the thowsande two hoÌ„dreth lx dayes in that God shall shorten the tyme for hys chosens sake Thus after saint â—anâ—e also before the lords coÌ„mynge ther must be a departynge The quere or chaunsel must be cast out thaâ— the manne of synne the sonne of perdicyon and the aduersarye exaltynge hym self aboue God maye be knowne in hys owne colours It maye not be motteÌ„ or allowed by Gods worde but reiected as that plante whych the heauenlye father hath not planted that the mysterye of inyquite maye be vttered and perceyued of theÌ„ which shal be saued It must be geuen to the gentiles or addict to their supersticyons with all lyenge powre sygnes and wonders in all deceyuable doctrine by the subtile workinge of SathaÌ„ They must also be permitted to do all mischef in vnryghtousnesse vpoÌ„ the cytezeus of God tyl he vtterlye consume theÌ„ with the mighty breathe of his mouthe The text 1 And I wyll geue power 2. vnto my two wytnesses 3. and they shall prophecye a thousande two hondred and threscore dayes 4. clothed in sacke clothe 5 These are two olyue trâ—es 6. and two candelstyckes 7. staÌ„dynge before the God of the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I wyll geue powre sayth the lorde vnto my two faithfull witnesses they shall prophecie a thousande two hoÌ„dreth and .lx. dayes ageynst those enemyes to the confort of my peple So that though my cyte by troden downe by their cruell lawes of persecutioÌ„ to deathe yet shall yt not be forsakeÌ„ And though my peple be ouerloaded with their heythen superstycyons and blasphemouse worshippinges yet shal they not be lost nor left all wythout socoure 2 They shal haue my .ii. wytnesses with them to solace theÌ„ in theyr trobles and to confort theÌ„ in ther cares Both Moyses and Christ both the lawe and the gospell both the prophetes the apostles shall stande vpon their syde aÌ„d be vpon ther part yea for so moche tyme as ther enemies shall vexe theÌ„ aÌ„d for so moche space as ther aduersaries shal troble theÌ„ Euen a thowsande two hondred and .lx. dayes whych maketh thre yeare and an half and is more then the .xlii. monethes by foure score dayes aÌ„d foure Which signifieth that the enemies shal not euer more kepe downe his worde but their dayes shall be shortened for his electes sake The scole doctours with their sophistrie hath fantasied the sayd two wytnesses to be Enoch aÌ„d Helias and that they shuld come then from paradyse terrestre for the same puprose because that Enoch was takeÌ„ awaye of God Helias was carried hence in a fyery charet neyther vnderstandinge what paradyse is nor yet knowynge what yt is to be taken froÌ„ heÌ„ce Paradyse is the swete rest of God appoynted vnto theÌ„ that depart hence in faythe The peculiar traÌ„slatioÌ„s of Enoch and Helias were not onlye for a confirmacyon or strengthenynge of the fayth of the fathers for their tymes but also that they shuld be figurs of Cristes ascencion And what godlye wyse man can geue more to the figure than to the veryte More were not they preuileged froÌ„ deathe thaÌ„ was Christ though God wolde not then haue yt so openly knowne to declare hys wonderful powre Unlyke is it that God shuld cal wytnesses from the dead not promisinge yt by his worde hauinge powre also from stones to rayse vp Abrahams children and to geue the sprete of Helias to whome he pleaseth lyke as he ded to Iohan Baptist and as he doth now to manye other more in our age as all the worlde maye se and heare These wytnesses are two for so moche as the trewthe of the lorde in the mowthe of two or thre godlye persones ought to stande 3 These two wytnesses or faythful procestours of the afore seyd two testamentes hath continewed with the peple of God sens the death of SteueÌ„ for the more part secretlye and vnknowne to the worlde But now they are come a brode by the appoyntment of God to the vtter confusion of the great aduersarye and manne of synne as Paule doth call hym And vnto them in thys sixt age of the churche the lord hath geuen the greate powre of hys lyuynge worde or the sprete of his inuincyble veryte in moche more ample wyse then afore tyme for the abatement of the seyd enemies or synagoge of perdycyon 4 Clothed they shall be in sack clothe sayth the lorde No pompe shall apere in their aparell no glorye of the worlde in their behauer Neyther shal they be accompanyed with a garde of ruffelinge rutters Neyther shal they with Annas and Caiphas syt vpon life and deathe Neyther shal they blesse in the strete with myter crosse and cope Neyther clayme the hyger seates in syde gownes shauen crownes and typpettes Neyther shal their be sacke fryres nor franciscanes monkes chanons nor hipocrites They shal not disfigure them selues to seme religiouse nor saye longe prayers to apere holye but in a sober conuersacion auoydynge superstuite they shal coÌ„staÌ„tlye witnesse the truthe of God to the vniuersall worlde to his glorye and their edification For sack clothe in the scripturs is a signe of sobryete sadnesse aÌ„d temperauÌ„ce as in helias and Iohan Baptist. 5 These wytnesses are two swete olyue trees shedynge forth the fatnesse of the scripturs aÌ„d dulcet sauer of the sprete God hath so blessed them that their lippes are full of grace He hath anoynted theÌ„ with the oyle of gladnesse aboue their fellawes of myrre bawme aloes they dilectably smelle Non other thynges vtter they but hys infallible veritees 6 They are also two shynynge candelstickes settynge forth the lyght or clerelye openynge the hyddeÌ„ misteries of the scripturs to the confort of the geÌ„tyles glory of the Israelites They are not the lyght it self but onlye instrumeÌ„tes ordayned to bere witnesse of the light For there is but one light for al. Onelye aâ—e they the vessels of eleccion as was paule to carrye that lyght the worlde ouer They stande in the presence of the God of the earthe or the lorde of all as menne of most hygh acceptacyon before hym rebye to do hys wyll and to fulfyll hys conmandemeÌ„t and pleasure hauynge the oyle of hys sprete and the lyght of hys eternall veryte The text 1 And if anye manne wyll hurte them 2. Fyre shall procede out of their mouthes 3. and consume their enemyes 4. And if anye man wyll hurte them thys wyse must he be kylled 5. These haue power to shut heauen 6. that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophecyenge 7. and haue power ouer waters to turne them to bloude 8. and to smyte
ryche glotton shall reioyce ouer them and be gladde 5 They shall clappe their handes whaÌ„ these godlye wytnesses be brought out of the waye They shall common ryote and bancket hauynge amonge themselues Ioye without measure that the heretykes be gone so hatefull ys the lyght to theyr eyes aÌ„d the veryte to theyr wycked hartes 6 And they shall sende gyftes or presentes one to an other for gladnesse as for example My lorde byshoppe hath had a summe of manye of the prestes for doynge hys part so well My lorde abbote aÌ„d master doctor haue had phesondes plouers partriches pigges gese capoÌ„s for dysparynge theyr matters so vaâ—eauntlye â–ª Master persone hath bene coÌ„mended for scoldynge and ser saundeâ— smelle smocke our perryshe preste for bearynge false witnesse Master fryre hath had a treuâ—all and father limit oure a bushell of maâ—â— or a cheâ—â— for playnge the knaues also And hardelye my lorde chefe iustyce hath not bene without his rewarde noâ— yet master ChauÌ„celloure neyther master Scrybe What made Thomas More for his tyme with so prodigiouse â—yâ—anâ—â—e to persecute the truthe aÌ„d seus Godfathe of Norwiche whartoÌ„ of Gongaye 〈◊〉 Baker of kÌ„te with soche other lykeâ— but auri sacra fames as 〈◊〉 both call it Thus do they 〈◊〉 triuÌ„phe whaÌ„ they haue wrought my 〈◊〉 and moche it deliteth theÌ„ whaÌ„ they bene 〈◊〉 vngodlye thiâ—ges 7 For 〈…〉 prophetes sayth the lorde vexed them that dwell on the earthe â–ª A great troble it is to theÌ„ to haue their fawâ—es seane a sore vexacion to haue their craftes knowne and an excedynge displeasure to be put from their plesaunt Euphrates by the preachynge of soche busye heretikes Moche was Herode offended with Iohan the byshoppes with criâ—t the prelates religiouse with Paule and a sore grefe it was to their hartes whan they rebuked their vyces The Text. 1. And after thre dayes and an halfe 2 â–ª the sprete of lyfe from God entred in to them 3. And they stode vp vpon theyr fete 4. and great feare came vpon theÌ„ which sawe them 5 And they herde a great voyce from heauen saynge vnto them Come vp hyther 6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a cloude 7. and theyr enemyes sawe theÌ„ 8. And thesame houre was theâ—â— a great earthquake 9. and the teÌ„th part of the cyte fell 10. And in the earthquake were slayne names of men seueÌ„ thousande 11. And the rennaunt were feared 12. and gaue glory to God of heauen 13. The seconde wo is past 14. And beholde the thyrd wo wyll come anone ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And after thre dayes an halfe sayth Saynt Iohan ded the sprete of lyfe by the powre of God entre in to them In the myddes of their Ioye and triumphe whan they thynke them selues well quyeted the heretykes thus taken a waye an other storme falleth vpon theÌ„ moche worse than the other Manye more aryseth out of their ashes to their confusion and to the chosens confort And the same wytnesses they are agayne geuynge the same testymonye though they be not the same persones 2 The same lyuynge sprete haue they confessinge the same veryte that had the other No longe tyme can Christes congregacion be without faythfull testes he promysinge to be with them to the ende of the worlde 3 These witnesses stode vp vpon their fete In the tyme full past ys this spoken for the certeÌ„te of the thynge though moche of it be to come For so certeÌ„ is it as it were all fynyshed An ernest stomake shall they haue and with moche boldenesse shall they speake The ryghtouse shall stande vp sayth the boke of wysdome in great feruentnesse of sprete agaynst them that hath extremelye handled them and taken awaye theyr labours persecuted them and blemyshed theyr doctryne 4. And great feare came vpon theÌ„ which sawe them Whan the Antichrystes se they can not preuayle moche are they inwardlye anguyshed vexed and tormented Then doubt they their falle thaÌ„ feare they their vtter destruccion They trymble and quake whaÌ„ they se their lawes wyll no longar stande nor their insurreccions no longar helpe them lokinge for a terrible daye With horryble feare shall they wonder sayth the aforesayd boke of wisdome â–ª at the comynge of the sodayne helthe gronynge for sorowe and mournynge for verye anguyshe of mynde and saynge within them selues These be they whom we somtyme had in deuysion Vnwisely we thought their lyues to be madnesse their endes to be without honour And now they are rekened amonge the chyldren of God their porcion is amonge the Sayntes Therfor haue we erred froÌ„ the waye of truthe the lyght of ryghtousnesse hath not shyned vnto vs. We haue weryed owr selues in the pathes of wickednesse but the waye of the lyuinge lorde haue we not knowne 5 And they harde a great voyce from heauen saynge vnto them Come vp hyther The Antichristes shall heare thys noyse they shal knowe theÌ„ to be in the fauer of God greate heuynesse it shall be vnto theÌ„ For this voyce is the fre eleccyon of God accordynge vnto grace aÌ„d not after manes deseruynge And it conmeth froÌ„ heauen as doth all other good gyftes froÌ„ the father of lyght It calleth vp them that afore walked sumwhat after the fleshe aÌ„d durst not for feare of poÌ„nyshmeÌ„t wytnesse the veryte It commaÌ„deth them to aryse vnto God to be more perfyght more spyrytuall more godlye and to haue their conuersacion in heaueÌ„ They atteÌ„de vnto the voyce they obeye yt and do after yt For yt foloweth 6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a clowde By the powre of God they are taken vp From worldlye affectes are they changed to the pure loue of God aÌ„d from carnall prudence to the wysdome of the sprete In a cloude are they rapte Compassed are they with thys fleshe the yll desyres taken from them Euerye where resemble they Christ and are daylye better and better They cease not of theyr progresse no peyne caÌ„ separate theÌ„ from the loue of Christ tyl they perfyghtly come to the syght of the God of Goddes in the supercelestiall Syon 7 And their enemies saue them The Antichristes knoweth that they are gods seruauntes the hypocrites perseâ—ueth they haue heauenlye knowlege Yea manye tymes they so report them both in their wordes and writinges In manye of them Chronycles they â—fâ—rme tâ—at Berergaâ—ius Ioannes scotus the elder Iohan wycleff Iohan husse Hierome of Prage Thomas thedonensis a whyght fryre of Bryttayne burned in Rome Hieronimus sauonarola a blacke fryre burned in florence diuerse other more were menne of most excelleÌ„t wyttes of most hygh lernynge of most godlye conuersacyoÌ„ of a most perfight lyfe ferueÌ„t constauÌ„t vnmoueable in in the tyme of their deathes Bylney BaynhaÌ„ Befeld frithe Tindale Barnes other are yet reported yea of somewhich to this hewe hateth their opinioÌ„s to haue dyed charetably aÌ„d godly Yet beleue they neuer the better they come neuer the senner
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
withstande them with their craftes impugne them with their lyes and vexe them wyth their deuyllyshnesse as necessarye it is they shuld do For yf they haue trobled the head they must beâ—e also the members If the howsholder be called Beelzebub the howsholde must suffre the same No better is the seruauÌ„t than his lorde nor the massenger than he that sent hym 4 They shall also ouercome them not with the scripturs but with their beggerlye customes constitucions lawes decrees tradicyons They shall scourge them or dysgrade them in their synagoges They shall delyuer them vp to iustyces debitees and rewlers makynge them their bothers aÌ„d slaues so washinge their owne holye handes froÌ„ the shedynge of innocentes bloode 5 They shall kylle theÌ„ also by their couÌ„sell to fulfyll the measure of their fathers that all ryghtuouse bloude maye lyght vpon them which hath bene shedde vpon earthe Yet shall they not hurte their sowles but through faythe they shall haue victorye bothe ouer them and the deuyll 6 And their bodyes shall lye in the stretes of the great cyte In this worlde shall their carkases remayne where as they haue rewle and domynyon Here shall they be iudged and condempned At their pleasure shall it be to haÌ„ge theÌ„ heade them or burne them And thowgh they laye no handes vpon them for soylynge their coÌ„secrate fyngars yet must it be done by their ghostlye cownsel aÌ„d ordred also after their spyrituall appoyntment Non other is it to lye in the stretes of their greate cyte than after â—oche lawes as they haue practysed toke brought vnto deathe 7 For spiritually is their cyte called A gloryouse name vsurpe they as though they were noÌ„ of the world They wyll be called the holy churche good ghostlye fathers godly dyuines spirituall meÌ„ne not coÌ„siderynge of what sprete they are spiritual They are those into whoÌ„ the vncleane sprete hath entred with .vij. other spretes worse than hym self With the sprete of falshede the sprete of fylthynesse the sprete of lyes the sprete of wytchecrafte the sprete of erroure the sprete of blindenesse aÌ„d the sprete of cruelte And of these onlye with soche lyke are they spyrituall and of no godlye sprete as their frutes declareth And therfor the sprete of god doth iudge here this great cyte not to be called HierusaleÌ„ but stinkinge Sodome most myserable Egypte the prophecyes and other scripturs agreynge to the same For loke what fylthynesse and abhomynacion was in Sodome what Idolatrye and deuylyshnesse was in Egipt the same is now reygnynge in this paynted spyritualte and is accounted there great holynesse 8 Amonge this consecrate multytude or smered sort is Christ yet crucyfied as he was amonge the Iewes whych knewe hym not yet boasted theÌ„ selues outwardlye for the peculiar chosen peple of God Not onlye ys Christ amonge theÌ„ persecuted scourged ponnyshed aÌ„d put vnto deathe in hys membres but also he ys proued of them an vnsufficyent Sauer without their dayly doynges Their masses must be satysfactory sacrifices profytinge both the quicke and the dead And that must menne beleue vnder peyne of deathe and dampnacyon Thus crucyfye they Christ ageyne and make a mocke of hym as wytnessed Paule and yet do they call hym their lorde not vnlyke to the tormentours whych crowned hym with thorne and saluted hym with Aue rex Iudeorum The Text. 1 And some of the peple and kynredes and tunges and of the nacions 2. shall se theyr bodyes thre dayes and an halfe 3. and hall not suffre theyr bodyes to be putte in graues 4. And they that dwell vpon the earthe 5. shal reioyce ouer them and be gladde 6. and shall sende gyftes one to an other 7. for these two prophetes vexed theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And as they lye thus dead in the stretes or are contempned as heretykes aÌ„d despysed as wycked doars some of the peple peruerted by these enemies some of the kynredes or sectes of dyuysion some of the tonges or blasphemouse bablers aÌ„d some of the nacyons of al wycked workers shall beholde their bodyes iij. dayes and an half 2 They shall for all ages abhorre them hate theÌ„ reuyle them and spyghtfullye report them In ther cronycles shal they wryte them for seducers of the peple in their storyes regestre them for dampnable heretykes For the .iij. dayes an half dyuided into .vij. halues betokeneth the .vii. ages of the churche wherin they haue and shal styll both persecute and blaspheme 3 And these wycked sortes of peple kynredes tonges and nacyons or of false iustyces prestes lawers and relygyouse shall not suffre their bodyes to be putte in graues But be these wytnesses ones iudged heretykes by the clergye aÌ„d so condempned by the layte eyther shall their bodyes be resolued in to ashes by fyre or els consumed by the fowles of the ayre Seldome shal ye se a knowne heretyke buryed amonge them but most commonlye burned Examples of thys hath bene â—aâ—elye seane here in Englande by Thomas hyttoon Thomas bylueye Iohan frith George baynham WilliaÌ„ tindale Iohan lambert Robert barnes Wylliam Hyerome Thomas garade Rycharde spenser and in Partrick hamilton of Scotlande with manye other more And longe afore our tyme in sir Iohan olde castell the lorde CobhaÌ„ sir Roger acâ—on knyght sir Reynolde pecock byshop of chychester Master IohaÌ„ Ayshton sir Willyam thorpe sir Willyam â—awtre sir Richarde with sir Iohan balle sir Willyam tayloure and sir willyam whyght prestes with dyuerse other The body of Formosus was first taken vpp by Steuen the .vi. Bishopp of Rome and disgraded After was yt beheaded mangled and throwne into the flood of Tyber by Sergius the thyrde Saynt Herman after .xx. years from hys buryall was taken vpp and burned at Ferraria in Italie by Boneface the ryhht The bones of Master Iohan wycclef were taken vpp and burned also the .xl yeare after hys death as waldene wytnesseth to hys boke de Sacramentalibus ti .ix. Capi .lxxxix. So was of late yeares in worcestre dyocese the bodye of master WilliaÌ„ Tracye esquire in LondoÌ„ the bodye of Rycharde honne merchande taylour Moreouer Iohan colet deane of Paules in londoÌ„ also was not farre froÌ„ the same for readynge of Paules Epistles by hys lyfe had not other wayghtye matters bene in the waye Soche heretykes shall not rest in their cyte they shall not be buryed amonge them They shall not be shryued canonysed nor allowed for Sayntes for they buylded no monasteries they sett vpp no chauÌ„teryes they subdewed no Princes nor yet dyed for the lybertees of holye churche They sâ—ode not in defence that prestes doynge Idolatrye thefte murther wytche crafte whoredome buggerye with other abhominacyons shuld remayne vnponnyshed But rather to the contrarye that they shuld worshypp but one God lyue by their labours take wâ—â—es of their owne teache nothynge but Gods lawes 4 And they that dwâ—ll vpon the earthe sayth the lorde or haue their felycite herewith the
enuyouse manne The whole bodye foloweth the heades As the deuyll ys malycyouse wycked ferce cruell tyrannycall falâ—e execrable and deceytfull â—o are all hys members In the prudence of the fleshe after him they walke in Idolatry hipocreyse aÌ„d all other fylthynesse And lyke as a fore Christes 〈◊〉 these heades were in the Serpe 〈◊〉 the golden Calues in the kyngedome of Babylon in Nemroth in Pharao in antiochus and in the pharisees and Sâ—ribes byshoppes lawers and prestes so haue they bene sens hys tyme vnder the vâ— seales openynge and the. vij trompettes blowynge after the same 〈◊〉 Under the first he had a Serpentes head in the Iewes most malycyouslye and subtyllye withstandinge Christ and hys Apostles preteÌ„dynge the zele of God hys lawes Under the seconde he had a calues head in the Idolatours which slâ—we the consâ—eunt wytnesses of Christes veryte Under the thirde the head of a proude lyon in the bolde rable of heretykes presumynge agaynst Gods worde to afferme vngodlye thynges Under the forth the head of a Beare in the gredye multytude of holye hypocrites and spirituall Antichristes which hath rauyshed vp the substaunce of thys worlde vsurpinge the empyre of the same For then begonne the papacye with Mahometes myscheff Under the fift the head of a leoparde in the dyuersyte of pestilent sectes or execrable locustes of whome euerye one reioyseth in hys owne colour and inuention For then ded they sore increase Under the sixt the head of a Beast vnlyke to all other in the Tyrannye of wycked gouerâ—â—â—â—â— blynded and perswaded by the Prestes to flee Gods seruauntes for the vpholdynge of their stynkinge generacyon For then was and ys yet done moche murther vpoÌ„ soche as confesseth the truthe Under the seuenth or last seale openynge shall he haue yet styll the head of a maÌ„ne in fleshelye polycyes and falshede of the pope and hys prelates in the doctours and prestes tyll God vtterlye shall destroye them with the breathe of hys mouthe 4 The seyd dragon had also .x. hornes or all subtle wayes wherwith to impugne the feble weake nature of manne or to prouoke hym euermore to rebell agaynst Gods commandementes 5 Upon hys seuen heades he had .vij crownes sygnyfieÌ„ge therbye that both he and hys members hath not onlye possessed the afore named vices but also they haue ouer the worlde reigned in theÌ„ and yet do to thys daye In pryde falshede malyce crafte cruelte wyckednesse all other myscheues triuÌ„phe they yet 6 And hys tayle drue towardes hym the third part of the starres in conclusion shrewe them downe to the â—arthe By worldlye promocyons lucre fauer and other flatterynge fanâ—asyes hath he tangled manye lerned menne and plucked theÌ„ cleane from Christes true churche and from the lyfe of the gospell so pronoâ—â—ynge them whollye to geue them selues to the stodye of erronyouse doctryne and lyenge prophecyes to seduce the worldlye multitude and kepe them in perpetuall blindenesse 7 So that they are now cast into the earthe They are become all carnall fylthye and vngodlye in al their wisdome stodye aÌ„d workes in all their counsels preachynges and teachinges Now are they the wycked Apostles of Sathan no longar maye they shyne in the fyt mament The Text. 1 And the dragoÌ„ stode before the woman which was redye to be delyuered 2. for to deuoure her childe as sone as it were borne 3. And she brought forth a man chylde 4. which shulde rule all nacyons with a rod of yron 5. And her sonne was taken vp vnto God and to his seate 6. And the woman fled into wyldernesse 7. where she had a place prepared of God 8. that they shulde fede her there 9. a thousande two hundred and thre score dayes 1 Before the afore seyd trauaylinge womaÌ„ stode thys dragon redye to deuoure her childe so sone as it were borne Euer more â—s the deuyll waytinge his praye where as the gospell is syncerelie taught least anye therbye shuld become the children of God 2 He selâ—eth all craftes polycyes and ingynnes to take the worde from the harâ— least they beleuynge yt shuld be saued Thus Tought he to deuowre Christ after the letter appoyntinge Herode to slee hym sone after hys byrthe and whaÌ„ he se that waye wolde not take yet left he not of tyll the Iewes had slayne hym Not thus yet satisfyed he laboured by the byshoppes to extynguishe the faythe of hys resurreccyon least that shuld profyght vnto lyfe More ouer where as the Apostles aÌ„d other godlye meÌ„ne hath geueÌ„ Christ vnto other in maner as they receyued hym he hath left no cauteles vnsought by hys malygnaunt members euer sens to depryue Gods people therof 3 Soche a man chylde sayth Saynt Iohan brought thys woman forth as with an yron rodde shuld rewle all nacyons Neuer ys the true churche Idle but conceyueth Christ at the gospell preachynge retayneth hym in faythe and bryngeth hym forthe in teachynge other the same No woman chylde ys he impotent weake and feble but a manchylde brynginge with hym alwayes a strange myghtye and inuincyble sprete wher as he is vnfaynedly receyued For he is the mightye lorde that ys valeaunt in battayle 4 With the yron wande of hys worde inuyncible shall he gouerne hys meke spreted flocke that non other lawes shall they require With the same also shall he subdue al powers which are not of hym and dryue them downe to the bottom of helle For by faythe onlye in him to the victorye gotteÌ„ ouer the worlde 5 This childe was also takeÌ„ vp to God and vnto his trone Where as the deuyl thought to deuowre hym and to wrappe hym vp for euer vnder deathe he put hym besyde hys purpose Uyctoryouslye he arose vp from deathe to lyfe he ascended vnto heauen and now sytteth vpon the ryght hande of God the father almyghtye And where as he ys now there shall hys faythfull folowers and mynysters be here after for that is hys is also theirs byrthe lyfe deathe resurreccion and ascencion 6 The womaÌ„ fledde after this into the wyldernesse What els doth te iust people of God but flee the coÌ„tagiousnesse vanyte tumulte fornicacioÌ„ Idolatrye and fylthinesse of this worlde sekynge God in the solytarye hart aÌ„d not in outwarde fantacies I gote me awaye farre of sayth Dauid and remayned in the desert Monkes nonnes chanons fryres hath fledde into monasteries couentes aÌ„d howses but nothynge after this sorte For in all voluptuouse pleasurs haue they there lyued The vnfayned solitarye manne after Hieremye continueth peceablye with him self aÌ„d hath his hart aboue 7 In the sayd wildernesse had she a place prepared of God Which is noÌ„ other but Gods proteccioÌ„ defence sauegarde promised in the scripturs That the lord shuld preserue vs as he ded his chosen peple of Israel whan he wente before them in a clowde vpon the daye and in the nyght in a pyller of fyre Dauid boasted hym self that God was his refiuge and that he dwelled vnder
goynge out of the temple So manye hath he sent of soche massengers as he hath fulfylled decreed purposes And maruele not though they be here called Angels consyderynge that it ys the common maner of the holye scrypturs euermore to call them Angels whych vttereth the wyll pleasure and commaundement of God as they do here After thys sort are the prestes called Angels so ys Aggeus the holye Prophete so is Saynt Iohan Baptyst so are Chrystes dyscyples and also the publyque preachers 6 What the plages are that they shall shed out of theyr vyals wyll be shewed clerelye in the next chapter folowynge one after an other 7 These angels are aparelled in pure whyght lynnen bryght shynynge as chrystall and gyrded about theyr brestes with gyrdels of fyne golde which betokeneth theyr syncere clennesse and their gloryouse perfyghtnesse For what can be more pure and precyouse than the eternall decrees of the lorde What can be more perfyght and gloryouse than hys prediffyned purposes The lawes of God are vndefyled the testimonyes are true the statutes are ryght the wayes are sure the commaundementes are clere the iudgementes are godlye the wordes are pure and precyouse Yea the gyftes that come from the father of lyght are euermore perfyght and good 8 The gyrdynge of their brestes ys the streyght spearynge vpp of the secrete meanynge of Gods iudgementes from owr carnall vnderstandynge tyll soche tyme as he openeth them vnto vs by hys sprete For yt belongeth not vnto vs to decerne soche secretes as the father reserueth to hys owne power 9 And one of the .iiij. Beastes or congregacyons sayth Saynt Iohan delyuered vnto the aforesayd .vij. Angels vij golden vyals replenished with the wrathfull dyspleasure of God whych lyueth for euermore Though the congregacyons be in the fyrst chapter .vij. and in the forth .iiij. vnderstanded by the .iiij. Beastes yet are they here in â—his place brought all vnto one and called one of the .iiij. or els of the .iiij. made one for so moche as the vnyuersall christen churche is of one consent one faythe one batyme one God and perteyneth to one Christ. For so moche also as it confesseth beleueth and teacheth one doctrine of helthe One is my dâ—ue sayth the holye ghost one is my derely beloued darlynge A Beast is it here noted as lyuinge in the fleshe and not yet mortifyed by deathe 10 The vyals of Gods wrathe are the vngodly reprobates fytt onlye for destruccyon Golden are they here named because they apere gloryouse in the worldlye iudgementes of menne Verye paynted tombes are the dyssemblynge hipocrites within full of stynkinge bones A shynynge name of lyfe haue they and yet are they inwardlye dead For all that they do is to be seane of menne 11 Full of wrathe are they wherbye is ment a synnefull vnderstandynge with dampnable doctrynes For verye swyft are they to all vngodlynesse The .vi. propertees haue they which the lorde hateth and the seuenth which he vtterlye abhorreth A proude loke a dissemblynge tonge bloudye handes a wycked hart fere rydye vnto myschef wayes to practyse lyes and sowynges of dyssencyon amonge bretherne These are geuen of the true christen congregacion to the .vij. Angels or decreed purposes of God to be iudged as they haue eternallye diffyned For non other is their continuall prayer but that his wyll be fulfylled and that his predyfined intentes agaynst the peruerse multytude be fynyshed at their conuenyent tymes Non other is it to putt into the Angels handes the vyals of Gods displeasure than thus to committ them by faythfull prayer to his purposed decrees or foreset ordinaunces 12 But because that commonlye whan Gods iudgementes begynne to waxe knowne all thynges are commoued and trobled therfor is it sayd here consequentlye that the temple was full of smoke by reason of the mageste of God and of his gloryouse power This smoke are serten mysteryes representynge vnto vs the hydden mageste of Gods eternall presence Whose bryghtnesse can no frayle vnderstandynge abyde Nor all the worlde cowde not sustayne it yf all thynges were open and playne concernynge it In no wyse coulde Moyses presentlye se the face of God onlye myght he be suffred to se his backe partes For no manne can se God and lyue Onlye is he seane here in this lyfe as in a glasse or vnder a darke speakynge He apereth vnto vs here in a mystycall smoke lyke as he ded to the Patriarke Iacob in slepe to Moyses in the flamynge bushe to Helias in the horle wynde to the Apostles in fyerye tonges and vnto Ananias in a secrete vysyon 13 Vnder the shaddowe of fygurate locucyon is his glorye of the electe persones and faythfull beleuers knowne The vnfaythfull reprobates beholdeth the smoke but neyther perceyue they in it the glorye of God nor the mageste of his presence They neyther conceyue his wonderfull workes nor yet his godlye iudgementes Their folyshe hartes are so darkened that though they knowe God yet glorifye they him not They set the smoke and perceyue the worlde trobled as it is alwayes whan the veryte apereth but neuer the more faythe nor godlye knowlege haue they But that which is vnto the faythfull a rayse is vnto theÌ„ a ruyne That is vnto the other the power of God vnto helthe is vnto them slaunder and folyshnesse And that is vnto the other a sauoure of lyfe vnto lyfe is vnto them a sauoure of deathe vnto deathe They remember not that the lorde came downe in fyre vnto Moyses vpon mount Synay whan it smoked all togyther lyke a burnynge fornace and therfor bere they awaye no glorifyed faces or consciences depured by a true perfyght faythe 14 And no manne was able sayth the text to enter into the teÌ„ple tyll the .vij. deadlye plages of the .vij. angels were whollye fulfylled For though the true beleuers perceyue in the misteries of the scripturs the present mageste and mygh tye power of God yet enter they not in to full knowlege of him beynge as yet subiect vnto vanyte For here is theyr knowlege vnperfyght and their prophecyenge also And therfor acknowlegynge their imbecillite and also waytynge for the reuelacion of the childreÌ„ of God they saye with Saynt Paule O the woÌ„derfull depenesse of the wysdome and knowlege of God How incomprehensible are his iudgementes and how vnsearcheable his wayes 15 And at this poynt shall they styll be tyll the last iudgement daye fynishe all For the full enterynge into the temple is non other than a whole perfyght or consummate knowlege of God aÌ„d hys misteryes Which can not fullye be had tyll that which is vnperfyght be done awaye the creature delyuered from bondage of corrupcyon And tyll deathe be swallowed vp the vessell of corrupcyon becommynge incorruptyble aÌ„d the mortall bodye becommynge spyrituall The ryghtouse shall than shyne as doth the sunne in the kyngedome of their father and glyster as doth the bryght Starres worlde without ende What the .vij. plages are and what ys their fulfyllynge wyll in this
strongelye to delude the vnbeleuers 2 These lyghted vpon the swete waters by whom are ment the sacred scripturs refreshinge the drye sowles Who so euer drynketh sayth Christ of the waters that I geue he shall neuer be more a thirst 3 Of these waters haue they defyled both the ryuers and welspringes with bloud Both the lawe and Gospell the fygure and veryte the commaundemeÌ„t and promes the doctryne of Prophetes and Apostles haue they corrupted with their false interpretacyons and gloses with frowarde dryftesand opynyons with vayne tradycyons and worshyppynges and with carnall wysdome aÌ„d murtherynges Of thys sort were Eutâ—ces and Artius with soche other lyke as in the .viij. chapter afore 4 And I harde sayth Saint Iohan an Angell betokenynge those syncere wytnesses to whom God had opened for that age his secrete iudgemeÌ„tes And thys Angell sayd 5 Omnipotent creator and lorde which art not onlye of thy self at thys present instaunt but wart also essencyallye in thy self without begynnynge 6 Thu heauenlye lorde art faythfull in thy wordes and holye in thy workes 7 For as yt apereth before our eyes the decrees and fore iudgementes that thu madest afore are now fulfylled in effecte 8 For the relygyouse mourtherers that of cruelnesse caused the bloud of thy holye â–ª Sayntes and Prophetes Apostles and Preachers to be shedde haue now by thy iust appoyntment verye bloud to drynke as they are most worthye 9 For sleynge of them whose massage they contempned they had their iust plage Not oÌ„lye became they vayne in their thoughtes their folyshe hartes darkened not vnlyke to them that hath eares aÌ„dheare not eyes and se not but also there remayned vnto them after this lyfe a perpetuall vengeaunce without mercye for their cruell oppressyons as a due rewarde of their errour 10 Yet an other Angell harde I sayth Saynt IohaÌ„ eueÌ„ out of the aulter whych ys Christ. Thys Angell sygnyfyeth those wytnesses that suÌ„tyme confessed the truthe here and now resteth from their labours in the lorde These though they be departed afferme that the other hath seyd afore In token that now beynge departed they forget not that truthe which they afore confessed lyuynge styl yet in the same He that holdeth my worde sayth Christ shall neuer tast of deathe 11 And this ys their saynge in mysterie or wordes comprehendinge their secrete confessyon 12 Euen so lorde God almyghtye As the lyuynge beleuers sayth of the by mouthe so saye we now in the sprete 13 That thy decreed iudgemeÌ„tes are euer more true and thy maruelouse workynges ryghtouse The first ys called in some translacyons the Angell of waters the other here reported to come from the aulter to sygnyfye both sortes The Text. 1 And the fourth Angell poured out hys vyall 2. on the sunne 3. And power was geuen vnto hym to vexe men with heate of fyre 4. And the men raged in great heate and spake euyll of the name of God 5. which had power ouer those plages 6. and they repented not to geue hym glorye ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Consequentlye by the appoyntment of God the fort Angel in the forth Seale openynge poured out his vyall of Gods wrathe on the sunne As the lorde had eternallye prefixed in the forth age of the Christen churche For the whole worldes pannyshmeÌ„t was Christ sore blemyshed which ys the clere sunne of ryghtousnesse Sore ded the dissemblynge Antichristes in those dayes darken the true glorye of God with their many folde sectes of Hipocresye The pope had for hys part an innumerable swarme of shorne smered Sodomytes and Mahomete a fowle flocke of frantyck fabyllers which with their newlye paynted relygyons and prodygyouse obseruacyons made first all the worlde to wonder and than to worshyp Belâ—al for Christ takynge darkenesse for lyght and synne for ryghtousnesse 2 These beynge verye aduersaryes vnto Christ toke vpon them hys auctoryte and seate the one boastynge hymself for hys generall vycar in earthe the other for the great Prophete of the lorde and so were receyued of the excecate worlde Nedes wolde they seme to be the suÌ„ne beynge the verye shaddowes of deathe 3 Permytted was this heersackye sunne to vexe meÌ„ne with heate of fyre Syttynge in the temple of God which ys with in manne with soche wycked lawes as they made vnder the name of God and of Christ they terribly vexed tormented and cruciated the weake consciences of menne leauynge them coÌ„moÌ„lye in most peynefull desperacyon 4 So that the menne raged in greate heate speakynge euyll of the name of God which had power ouer those plages At their abhominable perswasions was Christ of them not taken for a mercyfull sauer and gentyll â–ª redemer but for a frowarde chorle vntractable tyrauÌ„t vnlesse he were mollyfyed by the merytes and callynges vpon of other that coude not be had without money 5 Power hath the lorde ouer plages to holde them or remoue them By hys ryghtfull iudgement at hys onlye pleasure he hardeneth As the potter maye he breke them or make them vessels of dyshonour 6 In no wyse ded this peruerted multytude repent their wycked blasphemyes to geue hym glorye for all their confessioÌ„s Masse hearynges pylgrymages and satisfaccyons without nombre For they were not accordynge to his prescripcyon 7 After non other sort wyll he be pleased and glorifyed than he hath by hys scripturs appoynted Nothynge lesse are their fantasyes than true repentaunce The Text. 1 And the fifte Angell poured out his vyall 2. vpon the seate of the Beaste 3. and his kyngedome waxed darke 4. And they gnewe their tonges for sorowe 5. and blasphemed the God of heauen for sorowe and payne of their sores 6. and repented not of their dedes ¶ The Paraphrase 1 In order succedeth by the dyuyne ordinaunce the fiâ—t Angell vnder the fift seale openynge pourynge out hys vyall of Gods indignacyon vpon the seate of the Beast After non other sort than the lorde had afore predyffyned for mannes vnfaythfulnesse sake was the proude beastlye kyngodome of the Papacye and the execrable regne of Mahomete replenyshed with all filthye abhomynacyoÌ„s vnder the sunne For in the other age afore they ded but crepe into the hartes of meÌ„ne through the glytterynges of hypocresye and dissimulate sanctyte 2 But here haue they obtayned the power seate and auctoryte of the Beast and so gotten vnto them the myghtye Monarchyes of the vnyuersall worlde Here regned they without checke in all vayne glorye hawtynesse malyce pryde murther Hipocresye superstycyon Idolatrye and blasphemye of Gods name 3 And therfor their kyngedomes as all one in deuylllyshenesse became all darke without the lyght of Gods veryte full of the stynkinge smoke of the bottomlesse pytte Than went the locustes abrode aÌ„d fylled the worlde with ygnoraunce and blyndenesse 4 Euerye where gnewe they their toÌ„ges for verye sorowe In detractynge the veryte moche grefe they suffred in their desperate hartes their wormes not dyenge nor their fyre quenched the scorpyons of the earthe stynginge them also 5 Spyghtfullye
vnyâ—ersall worlde makynge them dronken wyth the cuppe of all abhomynacyons 13 And all this shall they do to gather them togyther by their wycked counsels and to brynge them into one cruell consent of battaylynge agaynst Christ and his members to receyue the penalte therof in the great daye of the lorde almyghtye 14 Most busylye they gather them to battayle whan they moue them to persecute the iust beleuers wyth full vngodlye actes as now most of all in owrage whych God hath promysed in short space to reuenge Of this wyll more be spoken in the .xix. chapter folowynge Least anye manne knowynge the truthe shuld tangle his owne conscyence with their spirituall sorceryes for feare of princes lawes vnder the vayne hope of repentaunce in the ende of theyr lyues yt foloweth in playne sentence 15 Beholde sayth the lorde Iesus Christ or ernestlye take hede vnto it for I come daungerouslye vnloked for as commonlye doth the thefe to thy hyndraunce yf thu watche not in faythe but lyue in superstycyon Though thys not wythout reasonable cause maye be taken in a geueralte for the last iudgemeÌ„t daye yet is it here spoken partycularlye of euerye mannes departynge As a premonyshment he geueth this here of loue least anye manne shuld peryshe without warnynge 16 Blessed is he sayth that Lorde which watcheth in the true christen beleue and lyueth not in the vayne but in the sure hope of lyfe sealed with the iust promyses of God For all that he â—oth shall prospere and turne hym to great aduauntage in the conclusyon 17 Happye is he also that holdeth fast vnto him his garmentes or workes of Gods prescripcion whych are the frutes of the sprete or that hath done on the Lorde Iesus Christ gyrdynge him sure vnto him self by faythe 18 Least he be fownde a naked hypocrite without faythe veryte iustyce charyte wyth soche lyke or least the ryghtouse nombre at the latter daye se his filthinesse vncouered and reioyce at his condempnacion 19 He ys blessed whych at that daye shall be couered with the whight garment of the lambe not hauynge his sinnes imputed vnto him 20 To shewe the certente of the aforesayd battayle Saynt Iohan sayth thaâ— the deuil gathered together those wicked newlers into a serten place called in the Hebrâ—â—â—onge Armagedon The vncleane spretes that afore are named thre of â—heir dyuerse workinge in the Dragon Beast false propheâ—e are here brought into one as all of one lyenge sprete whoÌ„ Christ calleth the father deuill This one lyenge sprete which hath bene a murtherer from the begynnynge comprehendynge in him all vncleane spretes lyke as doth the Beast all Antichristes hath coÌ„byned together into â—n exeâ—rable zele of fatherlye tradicyons all vayne gloryouse and vngodlye mynded gouernours agaynst God and his Christ. And this hath not bene without the secrete permission of God willynge to proue his electes by stronge sufferynges that they myght receyue at his hande the rewarde of stronge victorye or of his habundaunt ryches 21 This place here called in the Hebrue Armagedon betokeneth in misterye an hyll of dylectable frutes interpreted of some for the hyll of the Gospell and is commonlye taken of the Hebrues for that is swete or of value And this without fayle is the churche which oft tymes in the scripturs ys called the plentuouse hyll of God the hyll of Gods howse the hyll of myrhe the hyll of olyâ—es the hyll of Syon Carmelus and â—thanus with soche other lyke In thys mounte euermore are they bent to battayle There slee they the innocent lambes of Christ. All their power malyce and tyrannie is there extremelie vttred at the Antichristes laboure and desyre which are excedynglye dronken in the bloud of holye martyrs which hath bene shedde vpon earthe from ryghtouse Abell vnto this daye But whan the almyghtye setteth kynges vpoÌ„ the earthe it shall be clere euen in the darkenesse that the hyll of Basan is Gods hyll The Text. 1 And the seuenth angell poured out hys vyall 2 into the ayre 3. And there came a great voyce out of heauen from the seate sayenge 4. It is done 5. And there folowed voyces thoÌ„derynges and lyghtenynges 6. and there was a great earthquake 7. soche as was not sens men were vpoÌ„ earthe 8. so mightye an earthquake and so great 9. And the great cytye was deuyded into thre partes 10. And the cytyes of the nacyons fell 11. And great Babylon came in remembraunce before God 12. to geue vnto her the cuppe of wyne of the fearcenesse of his wrathe 13. And euerye Ile fled awaye 14. and the mountaynes were not founde 15. And there fell a great hayle 16. as it had bene talentes 17. out of heauen 18. vpon the men 19. And the meÌ„ blasphemed God bycause of the plage of the â—ayle 20. for it was great and the plage therof was sore ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Finallye the seuenth Angell went forth vnder the seuenth seale openynge as God had eternally determined throwynge out the content of hys vyall into the ayre For the seuenth age of the christen churche by the verye set purpose of God are manye conuerted to the truthe and become with Paule the vessels of eleccion that afore were wyth Iudas the vessels of wrathe vnder the great aduersarye of God Neyther is it anye blemishe vnto them to be called here that they were afore vyals of wrathe consyderynge that Simon leprosus beynge ones healed of his leprosye was euer after called a leper In case lyke Paule after his conuersyon was not ashamed to report hym self both a Pharyse and also the sonne of a Pharyse 2 These by the myghtye determynacion of Gods stronge iudgement are sent into the ayre Most effectuallye are they lyghtened wyth the sprete of God and prouoked stiflye to stande vp agaynst the aereall powers regnynge in the fyckle fantasticall Antychrystes and hypocrytes condeÌ„pninge by Gods worde their vnyuersall doctrines and deuyllyshnesse These powers are no lesse than deuyls whoÌ„ Christ calleth fowles of the ayre Peter aÌ„ IohaÌ„ mannis aduersaryes saynt Paule the gouerners of the esâ— darkenesses in spyrytuall wyckednesse 3 Whils these thinges are in doynge out of heauen which is the vnyuersall congregacion yea from the verye trone of God which is the electe faythfull nombre for they are onlye the seate of God came a voyce of reioysinge saynge after this sort 4 It is done All thinges are fynyshed Chrystes glorye ones manyfestlye knowne â—ke worlde is at an ende The wycked hath done all their myscheffes and the nombre of owr bretherne is fulfylled Thus shall they preache a full delyueraunce of the captyues and the peceable yeare of the lorde Thys ys the sylence of an halfe howre space mencyoned afore in the .viij. chapter and the returne of this worlde vnto Chryst in the .xij. Chapter Not that there shall in those dayes be no enemies for the remnaunt shall styll remayne but that they shall not then openlye dare rage persecute and kyll the worlde beynge at