Iohan Boanerges an earnest thunderer out of the gospell a stirrer vp mens hartes to the study of heauenly things Yea a man knowne not only to you Afianes but also the whole Christianitie for that Apostle whom Christ peculyarlye loued 2 Euen I am the same selfe Iohan which haue both heard these wonderfull things with myne eares and also haue séene them through the great goodnesse of my lord God with myne eyes for your singular commoditie and profite 3 None other matter doe I héere wryte vnto you at the commaundement of Iesus Christ for your healthe and saluation but such as I haue both heard and séene for the same beleue them if ye wil. In my other writings as are my gospell and my fyrst Epistle whervnto I neuer subscribed ye haue throughly beleued mée Giue no lesse credence now than vnto this whervnto I subscribe my name For so haue I done here that ye should the rather beleue it and receyue it as most wholesome doctrine of saluation After thys sort did Paule adde his name to hys sayings that they should be the more earnestly receyued 4 And as concerning my parte truly whan I had thus harde them séene them the wonderfull mysteryes of them so rauyshed my spirites that I in a maner clearely forgate my selfe 5 Yea I was so farre from my right remembraunce for the vehemency of them that I fell downe flatte to the grounde prostrate before the féete of the Angell mynding to giue vnto him the whole homage of my soule which is onely due vnto God that created my soule 6 And what though this Angel which had thus opened vnto me all these woÌ„derfull mysâ—eries afore where Iesus Christ him selfe as I thought him no lesse in déede yet sought I not to haue worshipped him in that similitude coÌ„sidering also the God will haue no part of his honour giuen to any other than vnto himselfe onely 7 Wherefore he charitably admonished me of it and sayd thus vnto me 8 In any wise beware thou doe no such homage vnto me which apere here to thée but a creature least therby thou offende the Lord god For daunger may be in such case though the intent bée godly if any part thereof shoulde remayn to the creature as thou knowest wel inough Nothing maiest thou worshippe that thy outwarde syght offreth vnto thée for in them hath fayth no place whych is a substaunce of things vnséene And God hath taught thée to worshipe him in no creatures neither in breade nor wyne man nor angell but in spirit and veritie onely muche lesse than to worshippe the selfe creatures or Idols in their stede whych is much worse 9 Though I be the sonne of God and sauiour of the world yet am I in this office but a creature and thy fellow seruaunt A sent messenger from God as thou art an opener of his godly minde and pleasure as thou art to sygnifie yâ— vnto thée which he wolde haue thée againe to signifie vnto his people 10 And in this point am I not onely thy companion or in this message ioyned fellowe with thée for so well is it my reuelation as thyne but also I am a lyke companion to thy former brethreÌ„ Ezechiell Daniell Zacary and such other which had the gyft of prophecie and were prophetes in déede as thou art now doing lyke office with them thus vttering gods mind in misteries 11 Yea farthermore I am a fellowe seruaunt likewise and a companioÌ„ togither of all theÌ„ yâ— with reuerence obserue the faithfull testymonies of this present booke or prophecy In token wherof I toke the shappe of a seruaunt I fulfylled the lawe and was conuersaÌ„t among men 12 So thou worshippe not me therefore but worship thy onely Lord god For alone shouldest thou seke him and loue him honour him and serue hym prayse hym and glorifie him None other gods shalt thou haue in my sight saith the eternall and omnipoteÌ„t Lord. Obserue the same rule in worshipping that I taught thée to obserue in prayer Remember I taught thée not to pray vnto me whome thou séest nor yet vnto any dead sainct whome thou séest not but vnto thy lorde God whom thou hast only in beleue saying our father which arte in heauen I tolde thée also that God was a spirite and that he would only be sought in spirite and in nothing that thou séest with thyne eyes Therefore worship God not mée Consider here good reader the vngodly vyolence of the papistes enforcing the simple multitude to worship a drye wafer cake to knele vnto it to holde vp their handes to make theyr prayers to it and to call it their God making them to beleue that it is gods commaundement they shoulde so doe Oh abhominable Antichristes Oh filthie Balaamites séeking your owne bellyes glory to your confusioÌ„ Way this place throughlye with the other scriptures be once ashamed of your beastly and blasphemous madnesse Ye will peraduenture say it is Christes body But truly that is all false For thereof is no mutuall perticipation where one eateth vp all No shewyng is there of the Lordes death til he come where all is done in a foren language and nothing vnderstanded Christ breathed not vpon the bread with hoo hée haue at all as you doe He only tooke it in his holy handes and gaue thankes vnto God The wordes of thankesgyuing he lefte not behinde him for you to â—unger with for he knew yée afore for subtile workers He kept not that bread to him selfe nor yet closed it vp in a boxe as you doe But he brake it and distributed it vnto other In lyke case the disciples did neyther worship it nor him at that season For if they had he would haue forbidden it them and haue taught the same self doctrine that he sheweth here vnto Iohan. Only did they take it eate it in his remeÌ„braunce and that was his institution And where as it is this vsed there is both his body and bloud receiued But otherwise not The breade that was lefte of this consecration or breaking which was so holy as the other was neyther housed nor churched boxed nor pixed but remayned there styll to the housholders to be eateÌ„ of whom soeuer lusted Neyther doth the diuinitie of your senteÌ„cioners as of Thomas of Aquine Dons Dorbel Guido Baconthorp and such other appoynt thervnto that kynde of honour that ye suffer the people to giue vnto it but a far meaner honour called Hiperdulia But you can wynke at such matters suffer both them and your selues to go to the diuell for worldly lucer Nothyng holdeth long with you neither christes doctryne nor your owne But that yée make now ye marre to morowe And that at one tyme is a lawe at an other tyme shal be none at al. Such are your wauering wonders The Text. 1 And he sayde vnto me 2. Seale not thy sayinges of the prophecy of this booke 3. For the tyme is at hande 4. He that doth euill let
thrée vncleane spirits one comming out of the Dragons mouth which signifieth sathan the deuill an other out of the beastes mouth betokeninge the vniuersall Antichrist and the third out of the false prophets mouth compared afore to the two horned beast And all they séemed in maner as frogs both in their colours and fashions 7 Idolatry was that yll spirit which first went out from the serpent hath continued euer since in the world vnder the colour of good works as pilgrimage deuocion labour 8 Errour in abhominable filthynesse was the spirit whiche came from the beastly Antichrist defilinge the whole christianitie with innumerable superstitions vnder the colour of chaste lyuing in pristhod sacrifices and ceremonies 9 Hipocrisie was the foule spirite which issued from the false preachers poysoning the catholyque faith with false doctrine vnder the colour of religion pretending abstinence prayer and clennesse These thrée wicked spirits are not all vnlyke to the wilde fire smoke and brimstone whiche the terrible fierce horses euometed in the ix chapter of this present prophecye For cursed false and vnpure they are Their doctrine is wickednesse lies deuilishnesse and the execrable wisdome of the flesh In manner of frogs are they here described for their diuersitie of coloures in ceremonyes doctrine sects for their filthy dwelling in the dyrty tradicions of men and for crookelyng of theyr vnknowen Psalmodye and seruice disquietynge with their ydle customes the consciences of the symple multitude 10 These are the very spirites of deuyls the ympes of sathan workinge such signes and myracels as would deceiue the very chosen persons and bring them into erroure yf it were so possible But the Lorde euermore defendeth his 11 A stronge power haue they by the workynge of sathan to shewe lyinge wonders deceyuable signes amonge them that shal perish for detesting the truthe 12 These shal by the permission of god be suffered to go at large they shall strongly delude the kings of the earth and blynde the gouernoures of the vniuersall world making them dronken with the cup of all abhominatioÌ„s 13 And all this shal they doe to gather them to gether by their wicked counsayles to bring them in to one cruel consent of battailing against Christe and his meÌ„bers to receiue the penalty therof in the great day of the lord almighty 14 Most busely they gather them to battel when they moue them to persecute the iust beléeuers with ful vngodly actes as now most of all in our age which god hath promised in short space to reuenge Of this wil more be spoken in the xix chapter folowing Least any man knowinge the truthe shoulde tangle his owne conscience with their spirituall sorceryes for feare of princes lawes vnder the vaine hope of repentance in the end of their liues it foloweth in playne sentence 15 Beholde sayeth the Lorde Iesus Christ or earnestly take héede vnto it for I come dangerously vnlooked for as commonly doth the thiefe to thy hinderaunce if thou watch not in fayth but lyue in superstition Though this not without reasonable cause may be taken in a generaliti for the last iudgmeÌ„t dai yet is it here spokeÌ„ particularly of euery maÌ„s departing As a premonishment he geueth this here of loue least any man should perish without warning 16 Blessed is he saith that Lorde which watcheth in the true christian beléeue and liueth not in the vaine but in the sure hope of life sealed with the iust promises of god For all that he doth shall prosper and turne him to great aduantage in the concluston 17 Happy is he allo that holdeth fast vnto him his garments or workes of Gods prescription which are the fruits of the spirite or that hath done on the Lord Iesus Christ gyrdinge hym suer vnto himselfe by faith 18 Least he be founde a naked hypocrit witout faith veritye iustice charitie with such lyke or least the rightuous number at the latter day sée his filthines vncouered and reioyce at his condemnation 19 He is blessed whiche at that day shall be couered with the white garment of the Lambe not hauinge his sinnes imputed vnto hym 20 To shewe the certaintie of the aforesayde battayle Saint Iohn saith that the diuel gathered together those wicked rulers into a certaine place called in the Hebrue tonge Armagedon The vncleane spirites that afore are named thrée of their diuers workinge in the Dragon beaste and false prophet are here brought into one as all of one lying spirit whome Christe calleth the father diuell This one lyinge spirit whiche hath bene a murtherer from the beginning comprehendinge in hym all vncleane spirites like as doth the beast all Antichristes hath combined together into one execrable zeale of fatherly tradicions all vaine-glorious and vngodly minded gouernours against God and his Christe And this hath not bene withoute the secret permission of God wyllynge to proue his elects by stroÌ„g suffering that they might receiue at his hand the rewarde of stronge victorye or of his aboundant riches 21 This place here called in the Hebrue Armagedon betokneth in mistery an hyll of delectable fruites interpreted of some for the hyll of the gospell and is commonly taken of the Hebreues for that is swéet or of valew And this without faile is the churche whiche â—ft times in the Scriptures is called the plentuous hyll of God the hyll of Gods house the hyll of mirth the hyll of oliues the hyll of Sion Carmelus and Libanus with such other lyke In this mounte euermore are they bene â—o battaile There slea theâ— innocent Lambes of Christe All their power malice and tirannye is there extremely vttered at the Antichrists labour and desire whiche are excéedingly drunken in the bloude of holye martires whiche hath bene shed vpon the earth from the rightuous Abel vnto this day But when the almighty setteth kings vpoÌ„ the earth it shall be cleare euen in the darknes that the hill of Basan is Gods hill The texte 1 And the seauenth Angell poured out his vial 2. Into the ayre 3. And there came a great voyce out of heauen from the sate sayinge 4. It is done 5. And there followed voices thunderings and lightninges 6 And there was a great earthquake 7. Such as was not since meÌ„ were vpon earth 8. So mighty an earthquake and so great 9. And the great citie was deuyded into three parts 10. And the cities of the nations fell 11. And great Babtlon came in remembraunce before God 12. To geue vnto her the cup of Wine of the fiercenesse of hys wrath 13. And euery I le fled avvay 14. And the mountaines vvere not founde 15. And there fell a great haile 16. As it had bene talents 17. Out of heauen 18. Vppon the men 19. And the men blasphemed God beause of the plague of the hayle 20. For it vvas great and the plague therof vvas sore The Paraphrase 1 Fynally the seuenth Angell wente forth vnder the seuenth seale opening as God had eternali determined
the lawes of theyr fathers by the eatyng of meats dedicate to vncleane Idols but also fall into the high displeasure of god for committing with them most vile fornication Suche vnholsome teachers are among thy people take héede if thou list 8 Thou arte also verye familiar with such vngodly Apostates false Apostles as mayntayne the vncomely examples teachings of the Nycolaytanes which corruptyng godly maryage not only permit their own wyues to be common but also they abashe not to defyle the wyues of other men Whose damnable doyngs I detest and abhorre 9 I counsell thée therefore to repent in tyme and to bee conuerted frō the errors of those couetous gluttōs rauenous lechours which cōdemyning holy matrimony permit all kyndes of vncleannesse and nothing more gréedily deuour thā that is offred vp to Idolles in their dedycations and feastes Call backe these abuses with swéete teachings exhortations desires and patient rebukes els will I within a while visite thée to thy displeasure 10 Yea and I will valiauntly fight agaynst those Balaamitanes which giue false coūsel for filthie rewards and agaynst those Nicolaytanes that chaunge holy wedlocke for whoredome And with the swerde of my mouth which is the inuincible veritie shall I iudge them condemne them and vtterly distroy them with all those shauen Madyanites that with their whorishe inuentions paynted traditions and ceremonyall supersticions hath takē from me my most deare Israelytes bought with my precious bloud With the breath of my mouth shal I consume thée and bring thée to naught 11 Let him that hath but one eare of iust vnderstandyng take gentle warnyng by such charitable premonishments as the holy spirite of God giueth vnto the christen cōgregations 12 To him that through constante fayth in the name doctrine of God neither feareth the world sin death hel nor the diuil will I giue to tast eate and sauer an hidden manna a secret sweetnesse a wisdome in the spirite that he shall féele the goodnesse thereof and reioyce to knowe how swéete the Lord is and what an heauenly treasure it is to trust in him Which manna is hid from the wyse of this world 13 I will also giue him for a token of perpetuall peace and loue that pure and precious stone Iesus Christ so white as the lillie floure innocent and cleane frō all contagious vices to be his only whole wisdom rightuousnesse light health and redemption 14 And in the said white stone Iesus Christ which is also the booke of lyfe will I gyue him a newe name written I shall register him for the chyld of God and the heyre of lyfe euerlasting For in him alone must ye be accepted saued and glorified 15 Of this no man is certayne but he that is taught of the spirit of God No man can say Iesus is the Lorde but in the holy ghost By the spiryte of adoption ye cry Abba father The onely spirit of the Lord ascertaineth your spirit that ye are the sonnes of God THE TEXT 1. And vnto the Angell of the congregation of Thiatyra vvryte 2. This saith the sonne of God vvhich hath his eyes lyke vnto a flame of fyre 3. vvhose feete are lyke brasse 4. I knovve thy vvorkes and thy loue and thy seruice and thy faith and thy pacience and thy deeds 5. vvhich are mo at the last then at the first 6. Notvvithstanding I haue a fevv things agaynst thee 7. that thou suffrest that vvoman Iesabell vvhich calleth hyr selfe a Prophetisse 8. To teache and to deceyue my seruauntes to make them commytte fornication and to eate meates offered vp vnto Idols 9. And I gaue hir space to repent of hir fornication and shee repented not 10. Beholde I will caste hir into a bed 11. And them that commit fornication with hir 12. Into great aduersitie excepte they turne from their deedes 13. And I wil kil hir children with death 14. And all the congregations shall know that I am he which sercheth the reynes and hartes 15. And I will giue vnto euerie one of you according to your workes THE PARAPHRASE 1 Delay not cōsequently my louing friende Iohn sayeth the Lorde expresly to manifest with penne vnto the pastour of the elect congregation of Thiatyra which is frō these low partes here a sweete smellyng sacrifice vnto God of labour and contrytion in the olde aged man and bodie of death For shee detesteth the vanities of this world shée forsaketh the fruites of the fleshe shée renounceth the cōcupiscēce of the eyes shée mortifieth hir mortall mēbers she slayeth hir sensuall affects and rendreth vp hir selfe vnto hir Lord God as a lylyuing holy and acceptable offering 2 Geue vnto that contrite and feruent congregacion this comfort Tel hir that this saythe the dearely beloued and natural sonne of god which hath his eyes of godly wysdome and knowledge so lyuely effectuall as a flame of fyre that he séeth all thinges and nothing can passe from his righteousnesse in iudgement 3 Whose féete or charitable affections towardes man are lyke vnto Brasse brent in a fornace For his most innocent manhoode by his own agréement suffred here for his sake manyfolde affllictions and paines 4 For so much as all thinges are open to myne eyes and nothing can be hid from me saith that lord I perceue thy fruitefull workes I sée thy neighbourly christen loue I cōsider thy liberall heart and hande to the poore thy faythfull exhortacions thy feruent spirit in the Lorde thy pacient sufferaunce in aduersitie for the truethes sake and thy other godly déedes beside 5 I marke it also that thou shrinkest not in them but rather goest forward with increase For now at the last are they more effectual plēteous then they were at the fyrst which greatly delighteth mée 6 Neuerthelesse yet I haue somewhat to say against thée For though I iudge thée much to be cōmended yet finde I thée not without faulte 7 Thou peaceably permittest without resistance that cruel woman and abhominable strūpet Iesabel which is the malignaunt church and Sinagoge of Sathan which is not ashamed to boast hir selfe a prophetisse a publisher of the truth and maynteiner of Gods seruyce yea the mother of holy church hir selfe 8 Under that pretence to set foorth diuilish doctrine to aduaunce pernicious errours and colour false lyes in hypocrisie To the intent shee might therewith not only deceyue my faithful seruaūts but also bring them into such trade of wyckednes that they should not force to commit whoredome in the spirite by fallyng vnto straunge worshippings and to eate of Idoll offerings in consenting to wicked lawes and blasphéemous tradytions of olde dotyng Hypocrytes 9 I haue giuen to that wicked congregatiō many holsome premonishments and warnings with conuenient respyte to remember hir follie and repent hir detestable wayes of liuing least she should perish but she will in no wyse bee sorie repent
nor forsake hyr accustomed Idolatrie 10 Bée in certaintie therfore I wil cast hir into a bed or couch of carnall quietnesse She shal in this life haue peace in the flesh libertie in vngodlynesse obedyence of the world and power in darkenesse that shee shall swim in wanton pleasures and bath hir selfe in innocent bloud and to assist hir in the same she shall haue subiect vnto hir the scepter sweard aucthoritie and power of Prynces Lordes rulers and Magystrates that none so hardy vnder payne of death to check hir rebuke hir nor ones say against hir This pleasaunt sléeping bedde had the ten trybes of Israel vnder kinge Hieroboam Achas Sedechias and the other two vnder Iorā Ochosias and such lyke tyll they were raysed of their rest ledde captiue into Babylon Such a delectable resting cowch hath also the greater part of the world vnder Mahomet and the Romishe Pope and shal haue still til God roote them out destroy them with the breath of his mouth throw them into the fyre euerlasting 11 Let them beware therefore that as hir louers hath to doe with that execrable whore cōsenting to hir pestylent lawes and tradicions defending as godly ordinaunces laudable rytes decent orders ciuill pollycies honest vsages comely fashions holy ceremonies necessary customes and such lyke boinge in very déede most damnable supersticions 12 For them doubtlesse wil I throw into the anguish of a desperate cōscience here after this lyfe into the vnquietnesse of eternall dampnaciō The wicked shal haue peace neither here nor there Neither shall their worme dye nor theyr fyre go out vnlesse they decline from that wickednesse renounce theyr abhominacions and cōuert to the trueth whiles they are yet here liuing 13 And as touching hir supersticious children which frō their beginning hath euermore sucked out of hir venemous breastes all poyson and vngodlynesse forsaking yea and abhorring the swéete veyne of the liuinge waters then will I slay with death and condempnacion euerlasting prepared for the diuell and his angels 14 Yea and it shall then be euident and cléere to all cōgregacions in heauen vnder heauen which hath béen frō the beginning to their vtter shame and confusion that I am he frō whome nothing can be hyd They shal perceue also that I go so nigh them that I serch out the ground of the harte and try the verie reynes or inward affectes so that I knowe all theyr priuie sleightes and practises be they neuer so secrete 15 And ground you vpon this surelie I shall giue vnto euerie one of you true and false good and badde rightuous and vnrightuous accordyng to your doinges Rewardyng them with lyfe euerlasting that hath done the true workes of fayth and them with eternall dampnatiō that hath left them vndon to folow their owne inuentions THE TEXT 1. Vnto you I saye and vnto other of Thyatira as many as haue not this lerning and vvhich haue not known the deepnesse of Sathan as they say 2. I will put vpon you none other burthen 3. but that which ye haue alreadie 4. Holde fast till I come 5. And whosoeuer ouercommeth and kepeth my works vnto the end 6. to him wil I giue power ouer nations 7. and he shall rule them with a rodde of yron 8. and as the vesselles of a potter shal he break them to shiuers 9. Euen as I receiued of my father 10. so vvill I giue hym the morning starre 11. Let hym that hath eares heare vvhat the spirite sayeth to the congregations THE PARAPHRASE 1 And take this of my mouth sayth the Lord aforehande both vnto you which hath the doctryne of the spyrite and vnto other also of them that remayne at Thyatira that notable citie of the Macedonians so many as hath not groūded in them that godly learning of the truth but a trifling doctryne of theyr owne imaginations contrarie vnto it whereby they haue not perceyued the more then subtile craftes of that deceyuable sathan which euermore craftily cōpasseth to deuower what though their fantasticall brayns hath giuen them so to thinke standing much in their owne conceipt 2 My mynde is to yoke you with none other law nor to burthen you with none other traditiōs thē I haue alredy giuen you Neither with ceremonies rytes nor aūcient customs in the obseruaciō of dayes monthes times nor yeares in holy dayes fastings vigiles nor sabbates for they were but shadowes of thinges to come 3 Regard only that swéete yoke and that light burthen which ye haue receued of me Hold ye fast to the gospel of the kingdome of God so long as ye shal continue here And let the Pharysées leuen with olde wyues fables hipocrits dreames passe by 4 Let my godly ordinaunce suffise you Ad nothing vnto my woords of your owne braynes least I finde you false lyars when I shall come again to my latter iudgement and according to righteousnesse so condempne you 5 And whosoeuer is so earnestly faithfull in the word of God that he ouercōmeth ther by his own lustes and perfourmeth to the latter ende of his life the workes that are there commaūded to be done none other 6 To him will I geue power as to the sonne and heyre of god ouer nacions or sectes of the world diuers in opinion and fayth as ouer serpents scorpions adders and lyons 7 That he shall not onely ouercome them with the mighty yron rodde of the inuincible veritie 8 But also as the weake vessels of a potter or as most vayne fantasies confoūd their dreames destroy their imaginacions and bring their practises to nought prouing their tradicions to be most vyle draffe moste stinking dregges of sinn for so much as that which is not of faith is sinne 9 And this power he shall haue in no lesse efficacie and strength then I receued it of my heauenly father 10 And besydes all this I wil fréely geue him my selfe to reward which am the cléere morning starre shyninge lanterne of lyfe So that all shal be his that is myne My byrth my labours my lyfe my passion and death my resurreccion and ascenciō with all their fruites shall be his owne proper good 11 Let him that hath reason and discretiō set beastly fantasies apart and diligently note what the holie Ghost sayeth héere in this daungerous tyme to the deare congregations of God The third Chapiter THE TEXT 1 And vvryte vnto the Angel of the congregation of Sardis 2. This sayeth he that hath the seuen spirites of God 3. and the seuen starres 4. I knovv thy vvorkes 5. Thou hast a name that thou lyuest and thou arte dead 6. Wake and strength the thinges vvhich remayne 7. that are ready to dye 8. For I haue not found thy vvorks perfect before God 9. Remember therefore hovve thou hast receyued and hearde 10. and hold fast and repent 11. If thou shalt not vvatch 12. I vvil come on
thee as a theefe 13. and thou shalt not knovve vvhat houre I vvill come vpon thee 14. Thou hast a fevv names in Sardis 15. vvhich haue not defyled their garmentes 16. and they shall vvalke vvith me in vvhite for they are vvorthie 17. Hee that ouercommeth shall bee clothed in vvhyte aray 18. and I vvill not put out his name out of the booke of lyfe 19. and I vvill confesse his name before my father and before his Angelles 20. Let him that hath eares heare vvhat the spirit sayeth vnto the coÌ„gregations THE PARAPHRASE 1 â—Hou shalte also so shortly as may conuenyently be sayeth the Lord to his peculyar seruaunt saint Iohn take paynes by an Epistle to admonishe the watche man or Curate of the chosen congregation of Sardis which though it bee of verie slender reputation before the eyes of the wyse riche and strong men of thys world yet is it precious in the sight of God for so muche as it was prysed bought redéemed by the greatest paiment that euer was eueÌ„ by the precious bloud of the vndefiled lambe and immaculate sonne of God Iesus Christ. Hee it was that laboured hungred thursted faynted accordyng to the weakenesse of the humayne nature finally suffred blasphemies curses scornes lyes persecutions rebukes with the most paynful death of his body at the latter to deliuer hir make hir attonement and restore hir agayne to the fauour of God 2 Fynde the meanes that she may know sayth the Lord Iesus that this is to hir the message of admonishment or warning from him which hath in his power to distribute at his pleasure the seuen spirits of God or the the vnyuersall gyftes of the holye ghost 3 And hath also in his right hande the vii starres which are the byshoppes or preachers of all congregacions with full authoritie power to hold them styll or to throw them forth to glorifie them if they be faythfull ministers of his worde or to damne theÌ„ for euer if they be deceiuable hipocrites and for lucre prefer theyr owne croked inuencions 4 Thou workest not so secretlye saith that Lord but I know thy déedes and perceiue wher about thou goest For vnto me all secretes are open cléere manifest When thou thinkest I doe not perceue than sée I thée most of all 5 Thou hast a name of lyfe an outward shew of vertue of goodnesse a shyning preteÌ„ce of much holinesse yet art thou before God a dead rotten Idol full of hipocrisie and falsehood Men thinke thée a godly creature yet art thou nothing lesse 6 Awake therefore quickly froÌ„ thy more then idle imaginacioÌ„s fickle sophismes and take vnto thée fayth and spirit Watch vpon thy cure and sée to theyr profit 7 Considre that thy wayes in the outwarde letter hath made my people weake faint and féeble left them at the very poynt of death Strengthen theÌ„ now a newe with that which is effectual strong sure lyuely true and necessary which is the sincere veritie and faith least thou peryshe with the wicked 8 For though thou hast the godlie gifte of prophesie with the grace of vnderstanding and iudgement yet haue I founde thy workes vngodly and thy doings vyle and abhominable before God my celestiall father For thou haste bene inwardly corrupt with auaryce and ambition like as was Balaam the deceiptful Prophet and wicked soothsayer 9 It becommeth the iudge to know afore what he shal iudge which hath caused me to searche out thy carnall and myserable wayes Call therfore vnto thy remembraunce howe thou by the singular gift of God haste receyued his word and heard his Gospel which is the kingdome of health at the verie mouth of his Apostles 10 And for so muche as thou haste not estemed it according to the worthinesse therof nor yet bene thankfull vnto God for such an heauenly gift but rather swynishly troden it vnder thy féete and currishly persecuted his faithfull seruauntes for it haue remorse in thy conscience and once agayne set sure hands vpon it embrace it holde it fast and faithfully beleue it repeÌ„t from the hart thy vngodly vsages past and from heÌ„cefoorth liue according vnto it 11 If thou wilt not doe so taking of me this gentle warning and watch as one vncertayne of the houre of death liuing as thou wouldest dye by and by 12 I shall as doeth the théefe in the nyght come vpon thée vnlooked for with death shall I distroy thée vnbewares so shall hell and damnation swalow thée vp for euer 13 And thou shalt neither know the day nor the houre the tyme nor the mynute that I will thus fiercely come vpon thée iustly suppresse thée accordyng to thy vngodly deseruings 14 And in spight of thy cruell hart yet are there a fewe new brethren and louers of the truth in the citie of Sardis though theyr number bée but small which are so déere vnto god that he hath regestred theyr names in the booke of lyfe 15 These hath for no painted speach glosing promisse suggestioÌ„ nor threatning ones soyled theyr garments with thy dyrtie ceremonies nor defyled theyr coÌ„uersacion with thy beggerly tradytions In the myddest of the wicked and froward generacion theyr hartes are towards me my word 16 Wherfore by promisse they shal walk with me in white their faults shal neuer be imputed vnto theÌ„ their sinnes shal be wyped cleane away I wil cléere them restore them to parpetual innocencie make them partakers with me in euerlasting felicitie glory For doubtlesse they are worthy for my will forsaking theyr owne will and leauinge the corrupt wayes of men to folow my sincere worde 17 He that after this sort ouercommeth perseuering in the faith therof to the latter ende of his lyfe shall be sure of these thrée benefits He shall be clothed with me in white apparel made innocent and pure incorruptible impassible and immortall 18 I will in no wyse put his name out of the booke of lyfe nor separate him from the predestinate number of them which shall be saued but associate him with the rightuous 19 And besides all this I will earnestly witnesse hym confesse hym and allow him by name before my heauenly father and all his company of Angelles for one of myne to haue the inheritaunce with mée 20 Let him that hath eares in no case be dull or slacke in hearing but diligently attende and marke what the spirite of God doeth héere vtter before the congregations to theyr singular warning and comfort THE TEXT 1. And vvryte vnto the Angell of the congregacion of Philadelphia 2. This sayeth he that is holie and true 3. vvhich hath the keye of Dauid 4. vvhich openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth no man openeth 5. I knovv thy vvorkes 6. Beholde I haue set before thee an open dore and no man can shut it 7. For thou hast â— little strength hast kept my
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
as one mynding thée good to bye of me golde tryed in the fyre Come vnto me with faith and aske in the feruentnesse of soule If thou be féeble harted say Lorde increase my fayth Desire my heauenly word to thy comforte with vnderstanding to perceiue it and know it It is treasure much more precious then golde it is sweetenesse more dulcet thē honie And tryed it is moste pure and cleane by the holy Ghost Thou shalt haue it without payment Thy good harte shall only suffyse mée 11 Diligently procure it that thou mayest be riche in fayth and righteousnesse in the merits of Iesus Christ and in the fauour of God by them and that thou mayest be cloathed in white rayment of innocencie cleannesse not only before men but also before God 12 Be neuer without veritie fayth righteousnesse and charitie with other giftes of the holy Ghost least the filthie nakednesse of hypocrisie and sin for all thy paynted colours appeare to thy confusion Let thyne owne dyrtie merites alone decke thée with the precious deseruings of the sonne of God that thou mayest haue thy sinnes wyped away cléerely forgiuen couered and neuer more imputed vnto thée by him 13 And to auoyde the blyndenesse sée thou anoynt thine eyes thy mind or affection thy iudgement or knowledge with the eye salue of clerenes which is Iesus Christ the swéete smelling oyntment of health 14 Consider that he alone was borne for thée and dyed for thée And take him for thy only wisdome satisfaction holinesse and redemption that thou mayst hereafter sée Let this precious lycour take from thine eyes all filthie corruptiō and whatsoeuer thou shalt hereafter do in word or in déed doe all in the name of that Lorde gyuyng thankes vnto God the father by him For he is the salue that shall heale thée and the lighte that shall cléere thée THE TEXT 1 As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten 2. Bee feruent therefore and repent 3. Behold I stand at the doore and knock 4. If any man heare my voice and open the doore I vvill come in vnto him 5. and vvil suppe vvith him and he vvith mee 6. To him that ouercommeth vvill I graunt to sit on my seate 7. euen as I ouercame and haue sitten vvith my father on his seate 8. Let hym that hath eares heare vvhat the spirite sayeth vnto the congregations THE PARAPHRASE 1 So many as I loue I rebuke earnestly least they shoulde perish with the wicked And those that I fauour I chastē in this life least they should be dampned for euer Woe is the man that hath of me here neither chastisement nor rebuke but is left without restraynte wallowyng in the concupiscence and desires of his fleshe A great signe it is of the indignation of God where as the other is an euident token of loue 2 From henceforth therfore be feruent in the trueth Earnestly embrace it kéepe it and follow it Abhorre thy olde superstitions and repent from the harte that thou haste béene so longe neyther whotte nor colde 3 Beholde I stande at the doore of thy harte as one ready to helpe thy weakenesse And I knocke at the portall of thy conscience as one that would gladly comfort thée I send forth my heauenlye worde to succoure thée lighten thée raise thée vp saue thée 4 If any man with a glad harte wil heare my voyce or the true preaching of my word and opē the doore of his fayth thankefully to receyue it I wil come in vnto him enduing with all spirituall delights as rightuousnesse peace loue and ioy in the holy Ghost 5 Yea to hym shall I make manyfest as to my friend the hidden misteryes of the scripture and secret coūsels of my father And he shall finallie suppe with me and with him in the eternall habitacle of God where no harte can estéeme what hee hath prepared for them that loue him 6 That man which through the earnest zeale of Gods trueth distroyeth hypocrisie and ouercommeth sin wil I admit to reigne with mée in the kingdome of my father and graunt him to sitte with me in the seate of euerlasting peace as a déere member of myne owne body declaring him a tryumphaunt conquerour in mée ouer dampnation hell death and the diuill in a glorified nature 7 Euen as my selfe was before sitting with my celestiall father in the seate of his eternitie And to haue with mée that health that blessyng that ioye that victorie that honour power and glorie that I haue 8 Let him that God hath giuē eare◠vnto apply them to his mynde and marke what the spirite hath héere spoken to the Christen cōgregatiōs for therevpon resteth his lyfe or his death his saluacion or his dampnation The fourth Chapiter THE TEXT 1 After this I looked and behold a dore vvas open in heauen 2. and the first voice vvhich I hearde vvas as it vvere of a Trumpet talking vvith me vvhich sayd 3. Come vp hither and I vvill shevv thee thynges vvhich must be fulfilled hereafter 4. And immediatly I vvas in the spirite 5. and behold a seate vvas set in heauen and one sat on the seate 6. And hee that sate vvas to looke vpon lyke vnto a Iasper stone and a Sardine stone 7. And there vvas a reyne bovve about the seate in sighte lyke a Smaragde 8. And about the seate vvere .xxiiij. seates 9. And vpon the seates .xxiiij. elders sitting 10. clothed in vvhyte rayment 11. and had on their heads crovvnes of golde 12. And out of the seate proceeded lyghtnings and thundrings and voyces 13. And there vvere seuen lampes of fyre burnyng before the seate vvhich are the seuen spirits of God 14. And before the seate there vvas a sea of glasse lyke vnto Christall 15. And in the middest of the seate and rounde about the seate vvere foure beastes 16. full of eyes before and behynde THE PARAPHRASE 1 After thys speciall iniunction of my Lorde and maister Iesus Christ sayth saint Iohn I did cast vp mine eyes towards the skye lifting vp my hart to giue thankes vnto God And anon as I seriously beheld the face of the fyrmament or maiestie of Gods works I saw a doore open in heauē Which was a significatiō to me that God mynded to opē certain high misteries of the scripture hidden secretes concerning his kingdome or church vnto me his simple seruaunt 2 And the first thyng that ascertained me of the same from thēce was a mightie great voyce as it had bene the stoute noyse of a Trompe or the vehement blaste of an horne The which voyce though it were fearfull vnto my fleshe as commonly the commaundement of God is yet was it solatious vnto my spirite for so much as it familiarly talked with mée and sayde these wordes 3 Come thou vp hyther Suspende thyne owne wil wit studie practise and iudgement Condempne that thou hast of nature Lift vp thy self aboue thy self
ascend in soule by the spirite and power of God and I will shewe vnto thée thinges wonderfull and such as must without fayle be fulfilled in euerie poynte hereafter by the vnuariable ordinaunce of God 4 And as it had bene in a thought I was sodenly by the Lordes power taken vp I was in the spirit in déed secluded frō all carnal imaginatiōs 5 And anon I was ware of a beautifull seat prepared in heauen which moued mee to consider that before the constitution of the world almightie God had appoynted by his spirite to raygne in his faithful church For I sawe that one sate vpon that seate as vpon the beautifull throne of his glorie No where els raigneth God but among his chosen people Hée dwelleth not in Temples made by hand he resteth not in houses of mās preparation Is the kingdom of God any where els thē within man Hath God any Temple that hee more fauoureth then mans faithfull harte 6 And he that gloriously sate vpon that comely seate was lyke by all similitude to a Iasper stone and resembled also a precious stone called a Sardine Betokening that his raign is durable strong his power firme and invariable his glorie cléere and precious and that he him selfe is as the red Iasper beautifull and orient and as the gréene Sardine freshe fayre and neuer fading that man shuld euer be desirous of him Whose will to consider is our felicitie and whose pleasure to folow is our perfectnesse 7 And there was a fayre raynbow about that glorious seate in sighte like a smaragde or an Amarald stone Which signifieth his perpetuall couenaunt of peace loue to all them that haue fayth which are so deare vnto him as is the apple of hys owne eye or as that thing which hee desyreth most And no lesse precious the sayde couenaunt is then the fresh Ameralde with his amorous hew and beautifull shewe of loue that wée should the rather couette it For nothing is more auydyously to be desyred then is the swéete peace of God 8 And about that excéedyng fayre seate or empyre of the Lorde were xxiiij other meane seates appointed which put me anon in remembraūce of charitie pacience stedfastnesse loue ioy peace temperance iustice knowledge of god méeknesse other fruites of fayth with innumerable giftes of the holie ghost wherein the seruauntes of God hath afore tyme and still doeth continually rest elders or notable auncient men sitting Which séemeth vnto me to be Abell and Noe Abraham Dauid Moyses and Helyas Ioseph Iohn Baptist the Prophets and Apostles the Preachers Martyrs with such other lyke To whom Christ promised in the regeneration to sitte with him vpon xij seates iudging the xij tribes of Israel These set numbers in the scripturs of xxiiij or of .xij. such lyke noteth certaintie in the promisse of God towards them which are in themselues without number 10 And the foresayd elders or men of rype discretion were cloathed in white rayment or apparell of innocencie according to the commaundement of the holye Ghost For their works were pure and cleane before God rysing only of fayth and were neuer defyled with the filthie traditions of men 11 They had also vpon their heads as myghtie rulers and gouernours crownes of fyne golde in token that they had héere the gouernance in his worde and shall hereafter be partakers with Christ in his heauēly kingdome and glorie 12 Great is the maiestie of the trone of God and the power muche For from his heauenly seate into the vniuersall world procéeded lightnings and thunderings and voyces which are the manyfolde and dyuers respectes of his worde For a fearfull lightenyng it is when it rebuketh throweth downe and condempneth the sinner It is a terrible thundering when it feareth threateneth and commaundeth thynges contrarie to the fleshe And it is a solacious voyce agayne when it rayseth reléeueth and quickeneth the desolace conscience with comfortable promises And full is all the scripture of these which commeth from Syon and the swéete worde of God whyche commeth from Hierusalem 13 And there were seuen lampes of flamyng fyre burnynge before the sayde trone of God which are the seuen spirites of God or the vniuersall giftes of the holie ghost prefigured in the scriptures by the seuen lightes of one Candelsticke the vij eyes of one stone and by vij hornes and eyes also of the lambe These shewe light euermore before Gods sight The church without them in no wyse can be the trone of God 14 And before the sayd seate there was as it had béene a sea of glasse a plentifull vnderstanding of the veritie fyrst giuen vnto Christ by the father and then vnto the church or cōgregation by the spirite of Christ. And this sea was lyke vnto a Christall cléere beautifull and pure without any corruption of humaine fantasies 15 In the middest of that heauenly seate in the circuite of the same were iiij beastes séene of diuers nature and shape not signifying the iiij greater Prophetes nor yet the iiij Euangelistes as no small number of doctors hath fantasied but rather the vniuersall number of all faithful beleeuers earnest setters foorth of the veritie in the foure quarters of the whole world And this may be gathered by the noyse of their wings in Ezechiel by their crying of sanctus sanctus sanctus by their shewing of mysteries of the opened seales of the booke as héereafter foloweth By whom are to be vnderstande the sincere openings of Gods word and the continuall praysing of his glorious name These beastes are in the middest of the seate or congregation of God when they teach them and exhorte them to persist in the trueth They are also in the circuite of the same when they diligently labour to defende them from the doctryne of diuils and errours of hypocrites 16 These beastes were full of faire eyes before and behinde Which is a cléere knowledge in the mysteryes of Gods word The sincere fauorers of Gods heauenly truth doth sée many wonderful things and know many secrete maruels not only concerning matters past but also of iudgements to come So many eyes haue they as they haue perceyued veryties For they once made spirituall by fayth discerne all things They are taught of God And the holy ghost doeth lead them into all trueth THE TEXT 1. And the first beast vvas lyke a Lyon 2. The second beast lyke a Calfe 3. and the third beast had a face lyke a man 4. and the fourth beast vvas lyke a flying Egle. 5. And the foure beasts had eche one of them sixe vvings 6. And round about vvithout and vvithin they vvere full of eyes 7. And they had no rest neyther day nor night saying Holy holy holy is the Lorde God almightie vvhich vvas and is is to come 8. And vvhen those beastes gaue glorye and honour and thankes to him that sate on
wryte them Register the thunders but not the voyces Note the figures but vtter not the misteries till God appoynt it It is not for all men to know the times which God hath in his power Many secret thinges hearde Paule which was lawfull for no man to vtter The outwarde sounde of Gods secrets may be heard of all men but the inward workinge is reserued to the spirit The Lorde alwaies with the holy ghost so informeth them inwardly that they perceiue the effect of many thinges the other heareth but a noyse For so much as the voice of gods thundrings is vnsearchable and his secret iudgementes the most mighty depth they are not open but to such as he electeth 14 Therfore was Iohn commanded in no case to writ them or to open the secret meaning of them That point the Lord reserueth peculyerly to him selfe to open to whom what or how much him lusteth Much wide ar thâ—â— which thinketh that they can of their owne wit and industry declare such causes vnles God openeth them by his worde or some euident signe as he hath done in this age most plentuously to many Lesse can we not gather of these thunders wheÌ„ the message of God is dispised abused forsaken neclected troden vnder foote 〈◊〉 damnable lyes preferred vnto it thaâ— that his wrath must folow Somewhat hath bene séene already much more wil appeere wheÌ„ they geue ful 〈◊〉 THE TEXT 1 And the Angel which I saw stand vpoÌ„ the sea vpoÌ„ the earth 2. Lyft vp his hande to heauen 3. And swore by hym that liueth for euermore 4. Which created heauen and the things that therin are 5. And the earth and the thinges that are in it 〈◊〉 And the sea and the thinges which are therin 7. That there shal be no more time but in the dayes of the voyce of the seauenth Angell 8. When he shall begin to blow 9. Euen the misterie of God shall be finished 10. As he preached by his seruantes the Prophets The Paraphrase 1 And the Angell saieth Saincte Iohn whom I saw in this wonderfull reuelation thus standynge with one foote vppon the sea an other vppon the lande after the sorte afore named 2 Lyft vp his hand towardes heauen so stroÌ„gly to affirme hys message to be true as the Lorde lyueth and to promise it so in fallibly iust as god siteth in heauen 3 What do the true preachers els in this age but maintaine their doctrine by the mighty word of God after the example of Christ and his Apostles which alleged the lawe prophecies and Psalmes to confirme their sayings with They neither alledge decrée nor decretall constitution nor Synodall Legende nor fable monks rule nor saintes lyfe doctors nor fathers Gregory nor Anselme Thomas nor Dons Plato nor Arystotle nor such lyke filthy dregs But they come to the verye true touchestoane with Iohn they proue the spirits whether they be of God or no coÌ„sidering that all men are lyers and haue erred one except 4 He sware by him that lyueth in himselfe with incomprehencible magesty power and glory for euermore which in the beginning created the heaueÌ„ aboue with the inuisible things that are therin contained 5 Which formed the poÌ„derous earth beneth and the visible creatures that are therin remaining 6 Which fashioned the flowing seas and the corruptible thinges that are there in continuinge 7 With an earnest constant spirite he protested and by the strong worde of God he affirmed so taking hym to witnesse that there shall be no more time no more leasure no more sinful occuping héere froÌ„ henceforth but in the dayes of the voyce of the seauenth Angell This othe is none other than a sure assercion that all shall be finished in this seauenth age of the church This wold not be hidden from the congregations Necessary it is that both good and badde knew it The faithfull to be assartened that their finall redemption is at hande to their consolation The vnfaithfull to haue knowledge that their iudgemente is not farre of that they may repent and be saued Not vnlyke is this othe to the othe in Daniell of time times and halfe a time whereof the time was from him to Christe The times were the ages from Christ to the seauenth seale opening or the seauenth trumpet blowing The halfe time from thence forth wherin the dayes shall be shortned for the chosen sake So much mischief shal not the enimies dâ— thaÌ„ Their tiranny shall be as waged 8 For when the vii Angel shall begin to blow or the ministers of that age sincerely declare the word 9 Euen the mistery of God shall be finished and the full meaning therof fulfilled 10 Like as he afore time both taught and promised by his peculyer chosen seruants the prophets No time shal be after this but that which will be of all times the ende But when that time shall begin we know not tyll God shall open it by his seuenth angel Of the thing we are certaine and sure but the time of it is euermore in gods hande That is sealed vp in the booke til he shal please to open it the rightuous shall not sée til it coÌ„meth but rest stil in their lot w e Daniell And the vngodly shal haue no vnderstanding then They shall builde and plant bye sel ryot banket as in the daies of Noe Loth yea they shall geue themselues to al filthy lustes couetuousnes And vnbewares shall death come vpon them the terrible iudge shal cal them to accoumpt and to the euerlasting fire condemne them thus shal their daies also be shortned when they think nothing lesse for the time shal be but halfe after Daniell THE TEXT 1 And the voyce which I harde from heauen spake vnto me againe and sayd 2. go take the litle booke which is opeÌ„ in the haÌ„d of the angel 3. vvhich staÌ„deth vpoÌ„ the sea vpoÌ„ the earth 4. And I vvent vnto the Angell and said vnto him 5. Geue me the litle booke And he said vnto me 6. Take it and eate it vp 7. And it shall make thy belly bitter But it shall be in thy mouth as svveet as hony 11. And I tooke the litle booke out of his hand and did eate it vp 10. And it vvas in my mouth as svveete as hony 11. And as soone as I had eaten it my belley vvas bitter 12. And he said vnto me 13 Thou must prophecie again vnto the people 14. And to the Heathen and Tunges and to manye Kinges The Paraphrase 1 And the voyce saieth sainct Iohn which I harde afore from heauen spake vnto me againe Gods holy spirit touched me moued me compelled me It graciously admonished me taught me and sayde thus vnto me 2 Goe thy waies foorth Iohn and take the lytle booke which is now open in the hand of the Angell Euery man hauinge grace with Iohn is héere commaunded to
Sinagoges They shall delyuer them vp to Iustices debites and rulars making them their bochers and slaues so washing theyr owne holy handes from the sheading of innocentes bloud 5 They shall kill them also by their counsell to fulfil the measure of their fathers that all rightuous bloude may light vpon them which hath ben shed vpon earth Yet shall they not hurte their soules but thorowe fayth they shall haue victorie both ouer theÌ„ and the diuill 6 And their bodyes shall lye in the stréetes of the great citie In this world shall their carkasses remayne where as they haue rule and dominion Here shall they be iudged and condemned At their pleasure shall it be to hange them head them or burne them And though they lay no handes vpoÌ„ them for soyling their consecrate fingers yet muste it be done by their ghostly counsell and ordred also after theyr spirituall appointment None other is it to lye in the stréets of their great citie then after suche lawes as they haue practysed to bée brought vnto death 7 For spiritually is theyr citie called A glorious name vsurpe they as though they were none of the world They will be called the holy church good ghostly fathers godly dyuines and spirituall men not consideryng of what spirite they are spirituall They are those into whome the vncleane spirit hath entred with vij other spirites worse than hym selfe With the spirite of falshood the spirit of witchcraft the spirite of crueltie And of these onely with such lyke are they spirituall of no godly spirit as their fruites declareth And therfore the spirit of God doth iudge here this great citie not to bée called Hierusalem but stinking Sodome and most myserable Egypt the prophecies and other scriptures agréeing to the same For looke what filthinesse and abhomination was in Sodom what Idolatrie and diuilishnesse was in Egipt the same is now reigning in this painted spiritualtie is accompted theyr great holinesse 8 Among this consecrate multitude or smered sort is Christ yet crucified as he was among the Iewes which knewe hym not and yet boasted them selues outwardly for the peculiar chosen people of God Not only is Christ amonge them persecuted scourged punyshed put vnto death in his members but also he is proued of theÌ„ an vnsuffitient Sauiour without their dayly doings Their masses must be satisfactorie sacrifices profyting both the quicke and the deade And that muste men beléeue vnder payne of death and dampnatioÌ„ Thus crucifie they Christ again and make a mocke of hym as witnessed Paule and yet doe they call him their Lord not vnlyke to the tormentours which crowned him with thorne and saluted him with Aue rex Iudeorum THE TEXT 1 And some of the people and kinreds and tongues and of the nations 2. shall see their bodies iij. dayes and an half 3. shall not suffer theyr bodyes to be put in graues 4. And they that dwel vpon the earth 5. shal reioyce ouer them and be glad 6. and shall send giftes one to an other 7. for these two Ptophetes vexed them that dwelte on the earth The Paraphrase 1 And as they lye thus dead in the stréetes or are contempned as heretikes and dispised as wicked dooers some of the people peruerted by these enimies some of the kinreds or sects of diuision some of the tonges or blasphemous bablers and some of the nacions of all wicked workers shall be hold their bodyes thrée dayes and an halfe 2 They shall from all ages abhorre them hate them reuyle them and spightfully report them In their cronicles shal they wryte them for seducers of the people and in their stories regester them for damnable heretikes For the iij. dayes and an half diuided into vij values betokeneth the vij ages of the churche wherein they haue and shal still both persecute and blaspheme 3 And these wicked sortes of people kinreds tonges and nacions or of false Iustices priestes Lawyers religious shall not suffer their bodies to be put in graues But be these witnesses once iudged heretikes by the clargie and so condempned by the laitie eyther shall their bodies be resolued into ashes by fyre or els coÌ„sumed by the foules of the ayre Seldome shall ye sée a knowne heretike buried amoÌ„g them but most coÌ„monly burned Examples of this hath ben lately séene here in England by Thomas Hitton Thomas Bilney Iohn Frith George Bainham William Tindale Iohn Lambert Roberte Barnes William Hierome Thomas Garade Richard Spenser and in Partrick Hamilton of Scotlande with many other more And long afore our tyme in sir Iohn old Castle the Lorde Cobham syr Roger Acton knighte syr Reynold Pecoke Bishop of Chichester mayster Iohn Ashton syr William Thorpe syr Willyam Sawtre syr Richard With sir Iohn Bale sir William Taylour and syr WilliaÌ„ white priests with diuers other The body of Formâ—sus was first takeÌ„ vp by SteueÌ„ the vj. bishop of Rome and disgraded After was it beheadeâ— mangled throwne into the floud of Tyber by Sergius the third Sainct Herman after .xx. years from his buriall was taken vp burned at Ferraria in Italy by Boniface the eight The bones of mayster Iohn 〈◊〉 were taken vp and burned also the .xl. year after his death as Walden witnesseth in his booke de Sacramentalibus Li. ix Capi. lxxxix So was of late yeares in Worcester dyoces the body of maister WilliaÌ„ Trace esquier in LondoÌ„ the body of Richard Honne merchauÌ„t tailour Moreouer Iohn Colet deane of Poules in LondoÌ„ also was not far from the same for reading of Pauls Epistls by his life had not other waightie matters been in the way Such heretikes shall not rest in their citie they shal not be buried among them They shall not bée shrined cannonised nor allowed for Saincts for they builded no monasteries they set vp no chaunteries they subdued no Princes nor yet dyed for the liberties of holy churche They stood not in defence that priestes dooing Idolatrie theft murther witchcrafte whoredome buggerie with other abhominations should remaine vnpunyshed But rather to the contrarie and that they should worship but one God liue by their labours take wyues of their owne and teach nothing but Gods lawes 4 And they that dwell vpon the earth sayeth the Lord or haue their felicitie here with the riche glutton shal reioyce ouer them and be glad 5 They shall clappe theyr handes when they sée godlye witnesses bée brought out of the way They shall common ryote and bancket hauyng among them selues ioy without measure that the heretikes bée gone so hatefull is the light to their eyes and the veritie to theyr wicked hartes 6 And they shall sende giftes or presentes one to an other for gladnesse as for example My Lord byshop hath had a sum of monye of the priestes for doing his part so wel My Abbot and maister doctour haue had phesanâ—es plouers and parâ— riches pigges geese and capons for disputing their matters so valyauntly Master parson hath ben commended for
to his charge committed and after that sort their mighty monarke also by the scriptures which thei haue afore this time denied worshippinge them for most holy saints which haue most presumptuously rebelled in that behalf But ouer the whorish church of theirs whom Christe neuer planted is sathan the onely head by the holy ghosts fore iudgements héere For to that beastly brood gaue the dragon his power his seat and his mighty aucthorytie God forbid therefore that any christian prince shoulde at their false suggestions admit so blasphemous a title The deuill saith Iob is the only head ouer all the children of pride That voice therfore may be blasphemous as comming from the mouth of the serpent if it be not taken good héede to 3 And power was geuen to the beaste to do these things for the space of xliâ— monthes which is the thrée yeares an halfe of Hilias the time times halfe time of Daniell and the M. two hundred lx daies of Iohn Not onely for this age of the church but also for all other ages and by other heades also hath the mouth of this beast vttered great things in blasphemy lies in hipocrisie wonders vnder a deceitful power But as coÌ„cerning this latter healed heade of the beast the time therof wil be short as herafter shal appeare in the xvii chap. 4 He opened his mouth saieth the text in reproues against god speking euill of his name of his tabernacle and of them that dwell in heauen This is in a manner all one with that was spoken afore in the xi chapter of the temple the aulter and of them that worship in the temple saue only that his name is héere for his temple In token that when his temple is blasphemed which is his coÌ„gregatioÌ„ his name is blasphemed by the same so is his tabernacle Iesus in whom bodyly dwelleth the fulnes of the Godhed so ar also they that dwel in heauen wherby is meÌ„t the true church from whom the angels are not secluded beiÌ„g their fellow seruaÌ„ts These dwellers be they that haue their conuersation in heauen vnder an vndefiled faith that séeke those thinges which are aboue not vpon earth that worship the father in spirit veritie the perseuereth true christians to the end Many entreth this heaueÌ„ of the Lord but all continueth not in it to the ende of their liues the more is the pitie 5 Power was also geuen vnto this beastly antichrist to make battel with the saints and to ouercome them CoÌ„tinually do they with violence vexe by their carnall policies auctority lawes the sincere witnesses or preachers of the Lorde sanctified of him throw faith in his holy word as were his apostles lyke as did the malitius clergy of the iewes yea thei did resist theÌ„ with their more theÌ„ tiraÌ„ous proclamatioÌ„s coÌ„missioÌ„s coÌ„mandemeÌ„ts with cruell Pharao Aman Antiochus to proue Christ in them the signe of coÌ„tradiction and stone of reproch They seeke héere the hunt there and neuer leaue raging til they haue closed theÌ„ vp in prisons 6 Yet are they not so contented tyl they haue ouercome them in the sight of the blinde world though not before God Either shall they be compelled shamefully to recant or if they persist in the veryty to suffer most painfull death By one way or other they must be ouercome to hold the people in errour The gardiner of winchester was not ashamed now of late as I hard it credibly reported to say vnto one that was accused of his malignant multitude when he was no leÌ„ger able to withstande the manifest truth Master SeitoÌ„ we know ye are lerned and plentuously endued with knowlege in the scriptures yet thiÌ„k not that ye shall ouercome vs. No no set your hart at rest and looke neuer to haue it sayd that ye haue ouercom the bishops for it shal not be so In déed it is trueth For neither Christe nor his Apostles did euer yet ouercome you Their victory ouer you is not in this world your kiÌ„gdom being here But be ye certen sure of it ye shal be ouercoÌ„ to your much more rebuke at the latter day when al wroÌ„gs iniuries shall be reueÌ„ged which is not farre of Your lordly estimatioÌ„ which may not be hindred here wil apeare there not very precious Yet doe ye well to hold vp a proude pecoks head as long as ye may Lose not an inche of your height hardly but with your gogle eyes looke vp like a man with a gard at your taile like a sort of tormentours in a play And with your lyinge iudgementes ouercome these beggerly vagabonds and burn them also rather then faile to fulfil the mesure of your holy fathers 7 And authority was geuen to this beast vpon euery kinred people tong and nacion For none these antchristes spare neither high nor low rich nor poore sick nor whole learned nor vnlearned But a iurisdiction they must haue ouer them though it be vsurped Once in the yeare must they haue them in confession to knowe which way they are bente That salue haue they gotten in agayne to heale vp their wounded head Be he natiue or be he straÌ„ger be he ruler or be he a commoner he must obey theÌ„ no remedy or els stande forth at the sessions with Christ among théeues Not in on regioÌ„ or wher as one maner of langage is vsed haue they this auctority but in euery land in euery shire in euery towne in euery famyly must they haue to do corruptiÌ„g euery mans faith 8 For al that dwel vpon earth must worship this beast They must agrée to the great things no remedy They must blaspheme god as they do But blessed be the Lorde none doth yâ— in their harts but they onely that dwel vpon the earth that haue their felicity here that séeketh the prosperitie of this world regardeth noÌ„e other life theÌ„ therin is The laÌ„bs of christs fold geueth héed to his voice thei regard his cal they folow his word they walâ—e in his light Thei séeke for no holines but only in hiÌ„ neither in water nor bread ashes nor palmes robes nor reliques masses nor anointings He is their only sufficient wisdom rightuousnes holynes redeÌ„ptioÌ„ His word is their liuing water the fode of their soules the lantarne that shal gyde theÌ„ and the life that wyll not faile them None other doctrine do they couet nor yet other precepts of liuing Though they be héere in the earth yet dwell thei not vpon it No continuing citie haue they here but they séeke vnto another of much more beauty pleasure not builded of meÌ„ And for that they are ready rather to render vp their liues then to renouÌ„ce the verity only they which dwel here doth worship the beast louing themselues better then god their flesh better then his trueth hauing their whole trust in the mangye merits dirty deseruings of these beastly hipocrites and nothing at all in his swéet
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
the number of one seuenth be an infinit nuÌ„ber ther much more of many seuenthes 4 And I harde a voyce froÌ„ heauen saith S. Iohn which is all one with the aforesaid Sion is the vniuersal coÌ„gregacion of Christ all cleare froÌ„â— supersticions of men For from Sion commith the lawe of the Lord after Esay and the word of God from Ierusalem 5 This worde is as the noise of many waters whan it is in the mouthes of many diuers peoples of diuers nacions laÌ„guages one not vnderstanding an other yet knowing it eche people among them selues 6 Uery like is it also to a great thuÌ„der cracke mighty fearful and terrible to the fleshe Uery harde is thy word Lord sayde Christes disciples who is able to abide it 7 And the voice that I hard sayth Iohn was much after the noyse that the harpers make wheÌ„ they play vpoÌ„ their harps Ful of agremeÌ„t are the holi scriptures yea ful of swéet hermony concord more precious are the verities of the Lord than is golde and their melody more swéet than hony 8 With theÌ„ reioysed Dauid before the arke of the Lorde In them tooke Paule a stomake and coÌ„founded the Iewes at Damascus 9 And swéetly they vttered with their voyces a song that séemed all newe before the seat of the Lord before the foure beastes before the auncient elders This song is the word of the Lorde all new both to the good and to the il The faythfull it renueth in the spirit of their mynds prouoking them to do on a new man in Christ. The hartes of the vnfaithfull is so hardened that they in disdayn and spight doth call it new learning as did the ignoraÌ„t multitude at Caparnaum and the worldly wise men of Athens 10 Before the seate of the Lord was this song vttered which is the godly disposed multitude For like as the hart of an hipocrite is the very seate of sathan so is the harte of a faithfull man the seate of god and habytacle of the holy ghost 11 Before the iiii beasts was it opened also by this number of godly teachers which beasts ar the priuat coÌ„gregatioÌ„s of the Lord remaining here yet in the flesh in the iiii quarters of the world 12 Finally before the elders was it songe also For none other doctrine is it nor Gospell of glad tidinges than hath bin since the beginning nor than hath bene thankfully receiued of our old auncitors Patriarkes the Prophets the Apostles the faithful fathers 13 And no man could learne the new song but the aforesaide hundred and xliiij thousand which were redéemed from the earth Oh mighty wonderful yea tirrible sentence of the Lorde None that take them selues for the people of God can be accepted afore hym for the true féede of Abraham nor for the iust ministers of his worde vnlesse they be tokened afore with the holy spirit of his promise and so predestinate to the lyfe euerlasting 14 None can sincerely do that godly office to the profit of other vnlesse he be wholly taken from all fleshlye and worldly affects No man caÌ„ come vnto me saith Christ vnlesse it bée giuen him of my father 15 The wilfull Iewes beleued not bicause they were not the shéepe of his marke Neither is it of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of the onely mercy of the Lord. Necessarie is it therfore that his spirit draweth moueth inclineth the hart Els caÌ„ not the soÌ„g be swéet neither in him the singeth nor yet in the herer The notes of this new soÌ„g are gods heueÌ„ly verities registred in the faithfull hartes 16 And they that dyd signe them to the prayse of the Lord were not defiled with women With no straunge doctrines nor yet prophane worshippings is theyr faith coÌ„taminate that vnfainedly haue don on Iesus Christ. Not the spousage of their soules haue they broken by no filthy traditions of men Onely haue they with Dauyd sought the testimonyes of God and thought none lyke vnto them Onely dyd they cleaue to hys precyous lawes estéeming all other but chaffe and very whoredome in the spirite 17 Therfore are they vyrgines maryed vnto Christ in faith as were the Corinthians by Paules preachinge whoÌ„ he wished to coÌ„tinue a chast virgin vnto Christ. Neuer is the maydenhead of the soule lost till erronious doctrine be receiued froÌ„ the messengers of Antichrist the Bishops Hipocrites 18 The virgins or vncorrupted beleuers doth folow the lambe whersoeuer he becoÌ„meth They go after Christ the beleuing his word doth fashion their liues vnto it Like as they folow Antichrist the fashion their workes to his doctrine They walk in his steps that forsake theÌ„ selues with him that beareth the crosse of persecutioÌ„s with him or the suffreth deth for the truth with him And not they that séeke them selues lyuing héere in all pompe voluptuousnesse and Tiranny From this place fetch the blinde papists a great argument for their wiuelesse castity that none foloweth christ but they in this muster bicause they are vnmaried Neyther may AbrahaÌ„ Moises nor Dauid Zachary Peter nor Philip walk in this number bicause they had wyues So perillous a thing it is to haue a wife It is greate meruayle they admit Mary Christs mother to it bicause she had a husband Oh ignoraÌ„t asses very beastly Idiotes I think you follow Iudas which had neyther wyfe nor childe vnlesse he had theÌ„ sitting by other meÌ„s fyers as many of you haue yet at this same day What is vyrginitie before god more thaÌ„ is mariage No more thaÌ„ is circumcision in comparison to vncircumcision And that is nothing No more maketh the one thaÌ„ the other to a Christian life Only is it â—aith effectually working by loue that the Lord requireth of vs. Only respected he the faith of Mary and not hyr virginity They which liue in matrimony after the word of god ar accepted afore hiÌ„ for virgins so are named of S. Paule An other cauillatioÌ„ they haue that none which hath offeÌ„ded afore can be of this number But they consider not what is spokeÌ„ here afore that they wer redemed from the earth that the spirit of the lord hath purified their hartes throughe faith Neither haue they grace to remember the Christes innocency is reckened for an whole perfecte rightuousnesse vnto them that beléeue in him but they must bring in such trifles as are their owne beggerly merites 19 And therefore it followeth also These faithfull beléeuers saith sainct Iohn were redéemed froÌ„ men being the first fruites to God to the lambe By none other were they redemed than by Christ. For of all the elect nuÌ„ber he is the only rightuousnesse wisdom holinesse redemption From the corrupt blinde froward multitude hath he called them taken them and cleared them And of deformed sinners hath he made theÌ„ faire of vile pure of wretched gloryous of blinde perfectly séeing of lyars true sayers of obstinate gentle of yll good and
of the foure Beasts gaue vnto the seuen Angels 10. Seauen golden vials 11. ful of the vvrath of god vvhich liueth for euermore 12 and the teÌ„ple was ful of smoke 13. For the glory of God and for his power 14. And no man vvas able to enter into the temple 15. Tyll the seauen plagues of the seuen Angels vvere fulfilled The Paraphrase 1 And anone after that saith S. Iohn I loked yet more adâ—â—sedly And sodeÌ„ly as it were the euerlasting teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of witnes was opeÌ„ in heaueÌ„ 2 A mistery this is very earnestlye to be marked as a thiÌ„g of great waight The Lord almightye is this eternall temple he is the temple not made with hands vncreated gloryous and ful of maiesty coÌ„prehending in him al thiÌ„gs he within none againe comprehended He is the Lord of all He measureth heauen with his span he ouer reacheth all the world with his iii. fingers In him we liue we moue and haue our beyng The tabernacle of witnes is the lambe Iesus Christ. He is that very tabernacle of God that was here amoÌ„g men bearing that faithful witnes which geueth wisdom to babes He is the propiciatory or mercy seate wherin we are hard and forgeuen Neither was this tabernacle of this manner building but much more perfecte and greater This holy tabernacle is with in the aforesayd temple for Christ dwelleth in the father and the father in him 3 Open is this temple in heauen the tabernacle séene whan god is known by true preaching christs doctrine beléeued For he came into the world for that purpose was borne to beare witnesse vnto the truth whoÌ„ the father willed only to be hard concerning faith 4 This temple and tabernacle open or god and his worde once knowne in this latter age the seauen Angels coÌ„meth forth The eternall decrées of gods secret iudgemets apéereth are fulfilled in their times As Angels or messeÌ„gers of god thei haue in his eternitie theyr iust plagues in their season appointed to be exhibited 5 And therfore are they sayd to come out from the temple whiche is God Nothing hath he purposed to the world but he hath decréed it afore the worldes constitution For his purpose minde and pleasure is as he is euerlasting And as it falleth to the world by hys assignement it becommeth a messenger going out of the temple So many hath he sent out of such messeÌ„gers as he hath fulfilled decréed purposes And marueil not though they be here called angels considering that it is the commoÌ„ maner of the holy scriptures euermore to call them Angels which vttereth the will pleasure and commaundement of God as they doe here After this sort are the priests called Angels so is Aggeus the prophet so is S. Iohn Baptist so are Christes disciples also the publique preachers 9 What the plagues are that they shall shed out of their vials will be shewed clearly in the next chap. folowiÌ„g one after an other 7 These Angels are apparelled in pure whit linnen bright shininge as christal and girdels about theyr brests with girded of fine golde whiche betokneth their sincere cleannes their gloryous perfitnesse For what can be more pure precious than the eternall decrées of the lord What can be more perfit and glorious than his prediffined purposes The lawes of God are vndefiled the testimonies are true the statuts are right the waies are suer the commaundements are cleare the iudgements are godly the words are pure and precious Yea the gifts that come from the father of light are euer more perfit and good 8 The gyrding of their breasts is the streight spearing vp of the secret meaning of Gods iudgementes from our carnall vnderstanding till such time as he openeth theÌ„ vnto vs by his spirit for it belongeth not vnto vs to deserue such secrets as the father reserueth to his owne power 9 And one of the foure beastes or congregations saith S. Iohn delyuered vnto the aforesayde .vii. Angels .vii. golden vials replenished with the wrath full displeasure of God which liueth for euermore Though the congregations be in the first chapter .vii. in the fourth .iiii. vnderstanded by the foure beastes yet are they héere in this place brought all vnto one and called one of the iiii or els of the foure made one for so muche as the vniuersall christian church is of one consent one faith one baptim one god and pertayneth to one Christe For so much also as it confesseth beléeueth and teacheth one doctrine of health One is my doue saieth the holy ghost one is my dearelye beloued darlyng A beast is it here noted as liuing in the flesh and not yet mortified by death 10 The vials of Gods wrath are the vngodly reprobates fit onely for destruction Golden are thei here named because they appeare gloryous in the worldly iudgementes of men Uerye paynted tombs are the dissembling hipocrits within full of stinking bones A shining name of life haue thei yet are they inwardly dead For all that they do is to be séene of men 11 Full of wrath are they wherby is ment a sinfull vnderstanding with damnable doctrins For very swift ar thei to al vngodlynesse The .vi. properties haue they which the Lord hateth and the seuenth which he vtterly abhoreth A proud looke a dissembling tongue bloudy hands a wicked hart féet redy vnto mischife wayes to practise lyes sowings of dissencioÌ„ amoÌ„g brethren These are geuen of the true christen congregation to the vii Angels or decréed purposes of God to be iudged as thei haue eternally diffined For none other is their continuall prayer but that his wyll be fulfilled and that his predifined intentes againste the peruerse multitude be finished at theyr conuenient times None other is it to put into the Angels handes the vials of gods displeasure than thus to commit them by faithful prayer to his purposed decrées or fore set ordinaunces 12 Bâ—t because that commonly whan gods iudgements begin to wax knowen all thinges are commoned troubled therfore is it said here conseqently that the temple was full of smoke by reason of the maiestie of God and of his gloryous power This smoke are certayne misteries representing vnto vs the hidden maiestie of gods eternall presence Whose brightnesse can no frayle vnderstanding abide Not al the world could not sustaine it if all thinges were opeÌ„ playne coÌ„cerninge it In no wise could Moyses presently sée the face of God only might he be suffered to sée his backe partes for no maÌ„ can se God liue Only is he sene here in this life as in a glasse or vnder a dark speking He appereth vnto vs here in a mistical smoke like as he dyd to the patriarck Iacob in sléepe to Moises in the flaming bush to Helias in the horle winde to the Apostles in fyery toÌ„gs vnto Ananias in a secret visioÌ„ 13 Under the shadow of figurate locucioÌ„ is his glory for the elect persons and
swerd fyre halters no longer They shal be pensyue heauy to sée all goe to wracke they being no lenger able by the slaughter of innocents to vpholde hyr glittering estate 3 Specially shal they be sore disconteÌ„ted with the matter which haue with his commited the whordom of the spyrite by many externe worshipings of drye waffer cakes oyles roods relyques ladyes Images sculles bones chippes olde ragges showes bootes spurres hattes breches whodes nightcapes and such like 4 And they that haue liued wantoÌ„ly with hir in folowing hir idle obseruacions in matteÌ„ses houres and masses in sensinges halowings and font halowing in going processions with canapye crosse and pyx with banneres stremers and torchelight with such other gaudes to folish for children no godly admonishment taken of the scripturs For vnder the kinges here are also to be vnderstaÌ„ded those peoples whoÌ„ they haue wickedly gouerned constrained by theyr lawes to such abhominable vsages 5 Dolorously shal these kings lameÌ„t whan thy shal behould the filthy smoke of hir burning or whan they perceiue that she comming to the triall of the scriptures appereth nothing but a vile stinking smoke noyful to the eyes choking to the throte and euermore blemishing the comfortable light The churche of the wicked saith Dauid is as the dust that is blowen forth of the winde the shadow that passeth away the smoke that vanisheth and the waxe that melteth in the fyre yea of al fantasticall vanities the most 6 A fare of shal they stand trembling at the magesty of gods worde â—â—aring to be destroyed or to lose their worldlye honours also by the same as dyd the duke of Bauery and Brunswick with other popish princes at the last counsail of Rainsbrig For the continuall clamor of Eckius Cochleus Tregarius Sactzgerus Pelargus Herborne Hosâ—â—eister Badia Winchester and such other dirtye doctours of theirs is euermore that the Gospellers would haue all things in coÌ„mon And therfore do these persecut them and would not haue that church to goe downe thynkyng that if it should once fall they should not long after continue 7 Thus doth the childreÌ„ of Cain which haue murthered their poore innocent brethern fear that euery man loking vpon them would destroy them As men forsakeÌ„ of God they dispaier in them selues loking for non other but dampnacion now that they can haue no more masses holy praiers nor suffrages complayning after this sort 8 Alas alas that great cyty that beutiful BabiloÌ„ that blessed holy mother the church which somtime had so many Popes pardons so many bishoppes blessinges so many holye stacions so many clean remissions a Pena et culpa so many good ghostly fathers so many religious orders so much holy water for spirites and saint Iohns Gospels with the .v. woundes and the length of our Lord for drowning is nowe decayed for euer 9 We sorow we sighe we sobbe we are sore disquieted for pain we pante tremble and quake to sée our dearely beloued Babilon turned vpside down whom we toke for a most wonderfull miracle 10 Oh that cyty that city the sumtime was so mighty and strong so fayre bewtiful so glorious holy is now becom wast and desolate 11 At once is the terrible iudgment of God coÌ„men vpon thée vnloked for Sodenly art thow destroyed with the spirit of his mouth vnthought vpon Alas who shall pray for vs now who shall â—inge Diriges and trentoles who shal assoile vs of our sinnes who shal giue vs ashes palmes who shal blesse vs with a spade and sing vs out of purgatory when we are deade If we lacke these things we are like to want heaueÌ„ These are the desperate complaints of the wicked THE TEXTE 1 And the marchauntes of the earth 2. shall vvepe and vvaile in them selues 3. bicause no man vvill by their vvares anye more 4. The vvares 5. of golde 6. and siluer 7. and of precious stons 8. neither of pearle 9. and silke 10 and raines 11. and purple and scarlet 12. and all thinne vvood 13. and all maner of vessels of luery 14. all maner vessels of most precious vvood 15. and of brasse 16 and of yron 17. and of marbil 18. and sinamon 19. and odours 20. oyntmeÌ„ts 21. frankensence 22. wine 23. oyle 24. and fine floure 25. and wheat 26. and cattell 27. and sheepe 28. and horses 29. and charettes 30. and bodyes 31. and soules of men The commentary 1 Now followeth in course the merchauntes of the earth the sellers of wares in the temple the marked muster of Mahomet and the Pope 2 They shall wéepe mourne wayle and lament inwardly in them selues both wringing their hands for sorow and scratchyng theyr heades for verye anguish 3 Bicause they sée all men goe from them and none in a maner are disposed to buye their pedlary wares anye more 4 As these wares are specially which follow here in course 5 They will pay no more money for the housell sippings bottom blessings nor for séest me and séest me not aboue the heade and vnder of their chalices which in many places be of fyne gold Neyther regarde they to knéele anye more downe and to kisse their pontificall rings which are of the same mettal 6 They will be no more at coste to haue the ayre beaten and the Idols perfumed with their sensers at pryncipall feastes to haue their crucifixes layde vpoÌ„ horses or to haue them solemply borne aloft in their gaddings abroade with the religious occupyings of their paxes cruettes other Iewels which be of siluer 7 Neyther passe they greatly to beholde precyous stones any more in their ij horned miters whan they hallow their churches giue theyr whorishe orders and tryumphantly muster in processions 8 Nor in costuous pearles in theyr copes perrours and chysibilles whan they bée in theyr prelately pompous sacrifices 9 Men knowing the worde of God supposeth that their ornaments of silk wherwith they garnishe their temples and adorne their Idolles is very blasphemous and diuillish 10 They thinke also that their fayre white rochets of raynes or fine linnen cloath their costly gray amices of calaber and cattes tayles 11 Theyr fresh Purple gownes whaÌ„ they walke for their pleasures their read scarlet frockes whan they preach lyes in the Pulpit are very superfluous and vayne 12 In their thynen wood whom some men call Algume trées some Basill some Corall may be vnderstande all theyr curious buildings of Temples Abbeys Chappels and Chambers All shrines Images churchscooles pews that are well payed for All Banner staues Pater noster scores and péeces of the holy crosse 13 The vessels of yuory comprehendeth all their maundye dyshes theyr offring platters their relique chistes their god boxes their drinking horns their sipping cuppes for the hiccough their tables wherevpon are charmed their chalices and vestiments theyr standiches their combes theyr muske balles their pomaunder pottes and their dust boxes with such other toyes 14 The vessels which after some interpretours
shal she appeare as the beautiful bride prepared to the spouse accompanyed with the wise maydens the vnwyse neither hauing oyle nor light for euer reiected THE TEXT 1 And he sayde vnto me 2. Write 3. Happye are they which are called vnto the Lambes supper 4. And he sayde vnto me 5. These are the true sayings of God 6. And I fell at his feete 7. To vvorship him 8. And he sayde vnto me 9. See thou doe it not 10. For I am thy fellovv seruant 11. And one of thy brethren 12. And of them that haue the testimonye of Iesus 13. Worship God 14. For the testimony of Iesus 15. is the spirit of prophesie The Commentarye 1 And the Angell sayth saint Iohn which shewed vnto me afore the fall of the great whore sayde at this present time vnto me 2 Seriouslye register this sentence followynge that it may remayne to their comforte whiche shall followe thée 3 After a most happye and fortunable sorte are they blessed whiche hauing the wedding garmente the pure fine raines afore named are graciously prdestinate called and accepted of the heauenly father vnto the euerlasting supper of the vndefiled Lamb Iesus Christ there to perticipat with him the eternall refection both of soule body Satisfied shall I be saieth Dauid without end when thy glory shal manyfestly appeare Not of corruptible meates and drinkes shal this supper be but of vncorruptible delightes and of pleasures that shall neuer fayle Nothing shal be there prophane voide or vncomely but al things pure clean true stedfast godly perfect TheÌ„ shal the méetinges be heauenly and the clippinges wtout deformity The bride shal at that day reioyce with hir euerlasting spouse and the daughters of Sion shal beholde the true Salomon in full glorye accompained with hys holye how shoulde of Angelles and Saintes 4 And the aforesaide Angell sayeth S. Iohn sayd thus vnto me 5 These words whiche I last tolde thée frinde Iohn are not mine but they are the true sayings of gods owâ— mouth So much the rather they are to be beleued as most certayne and sure that they are of hym whosâ— vniuersall language is the veâ—itie â—nfayned 9 As I heard the Angell speake thus vnto me saith saynt Iohn I fel down by and by at hiâ— fete flat vpon the grounde myndynge to haue worshypped hym So wonderfull wer the secretâ—â— of god whome he ther declared vnto me and the misteries so ioyful vnto my soule that in a maner I clearly forgote my selfe 7 〈◊〉 hand I was at the poynt to haue worshipped the messeÌ„ger for the Lord and the Angell for the Laâ—be otherwise thâ—â— did Abraham not of ignoraunce but of forgetfull reioysing 8 But in no wise would the Angell suffer me so to doe but gently he sayd thus vnto me 9 Se thou do no such homage vnto me a creture as peculiarly belongeth vnto god the creator of all So great is thy selfe and such as thou art I am so excellente a creature of God Trueth it is that I am the aungel of the Lorde and so are you also so many as beare witnes of the same veritie 10 And as concerninge myne owne persone I am but thy felowe seruaÌ„t For he that is â—hy god is also my god and he that is thy Lord and master is also mine Indifferently are we bothe created for his seruauntes and admitted for his messengers 11 Of thy bretheren am I one by creation 12 So am I also both a brother and felow of al them that haue the faithful testimonie of Iesus For like as they by his godly appointment are messengers thereof to the world so am I now vnto thée here for the same 13 worship not me therefore which am but a creature but worshippe thy Lord god for sending by me this message of health vnto thée Though Loth Iacob Iosue Gedion Tobias other fathers of the olde law gaue worship vnto the Angels whom God sente vnto them in message yet shalte thou not do so vnto me now considerynge that at thys tyme Gods sonne hath taken the nature of man hath raised it from death hath sette it vpon the fathers right hand and therin hath sent from thence the spirite of reconciliation vnto men By thys are ye become no longer in feriours vnto vs but equall with vs infauour and dignitye No loÌ„ger are ye strangers foreners but citizens of heauen and the very househould chyldren of God 14 And as for the testymony of Iesus Christ which both I vnto you you to the world haue to vtter it is the very sprit of prophisi on message of helth committed vnto vs both The true spirit of god it is that beareth witnes of Christ both in the law prophets for none can saye that Iesus is the lord but in the holy ghost and in that spirit do we nowe make mencion also of him This is the spirit of adoptioÌ„ wherby ye ackonwledge god for your deare father Thys spirit assertaineth your spirit that ye are become his children beleuing in hys name 15 And in this spirit do I admonishe thée Iohn by this presente ReuelatioÌ„ which is a Prophicy in thée al them that haue the same faith to acknowledge worshyp and confesse the sayde Iesus Christ as we do nowe for the onely Lord sauiour of the world Not only shalt thou be by the plaine manifestation of thys prophesye an Angel but also by an excellent prerogatiue of singuler grace aboue all thy felowes a Ppophete After the maner of this Angel dyd Paule Barnabas vtterlye refuse to haue honour geuen them of the people at Listra Peter would in no case suffer Cornelius the noble Centurion to worshype hym Contrarywise the Antichrist of Rome not onely suffereth but also commaundeth straightly such homage of honour euermore to be geuen to his holy fatherhood Yea he is not ashamed to coÌ„straine noble Emperours to kâ—sse hys filthy féete kings with cappe knée to holde hys steroppes and the greatest princes of the world to wayte vpon his Mule Great pardons hath he geuen to the worshyppinge of Idols and of olde rotten bones threatning most terrible death vnto them that would not at his commaundement do the same At Geneua was honorablye worshypped an Asses tayle and at Tholosa a young boyes shoo great in dulgences graunted vnto them both But let not him and his mitred Mahomets thinke easely to auoyde the indignation so God whan he shal call them to accountes wyth theyr craftye distincton of Latria Dulia and hyperdulia whom the scripture knoweth not Notwythstanding in this is not vtterly inhibited mutual reuerence betwixt man man for so much as Paul willeth the faithful to preueÌ„t eche other in honor geuing Necessary it is that they first honour God and then for his sake that they procecute their neighbours with such christen beneuolence as the comlines of humanity requireth The gospel neuer forbiddeth such politike maner as norisheth mutual frendship yet â—oth it not geue them
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
there were of both sortes So well was he accepted that mortyfied the desires of the fleshe and offered himselfe a lyuinge sacryfyce vnto God as hée that gaue his life for the veritie 14 But the residue sayth saint Iohn or the other sort called the deade men for that they were not numbred with the ryghtuous neyther among them that sate vpon the seates nor yet amonge them that were slayne for the witnesse of Iesu lyued not agayne after they were once dead tyll the thousand yeres of their death was throughly fulfilled The time was whan they which wer dead through sin did heare the voyce of the sonne of God They fatihfuly beleued the word therof so it reuiued in him vnto the lyfe euerlasting which was both the life light of men Wher as the froward conâ—eÌ„ners of the lyuing word hauing their coÌ„scieÌ„ces sealed with the beasts marke remained stil in their infidelitie which is the very death of the soule so were by the right iudgemeÌ„t of God lost for euer For the sin against the holy ghost which is a resistaÌ„ce against the manifest truth shal neither be forgeuen in this worlde nor yet in the world to come 15 A time without end doth this word till cause this thousand here to be after the commoÌ„ vsage of the scripture Noe sent forth a Rauen out of the arke whiche returned not agayne tyl the waters were dryed vp that is to say he neuer returned again Ioseph knew not Mary til she had brought forth hir first borne sonne That is to say he neuer bodely knew hir Thou shalte not out of prison till thou hast payde the vttermost mite .i. thou shalte neuer out With an hundreth of suche places in the Bible THE TEXT 1. This is that first resurrection 2. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection 3. For on suche shall the seconde death haue no povver 4. But they shall be the prists of God and of Christ. 5. And shal raign vvith him a thousand yeares The commentary 1 This is the first resurrection vnto lyfe to ryse from sin to repentaunce from ignoraunce to godly knowledge and from darknesse to faith Through the offence of one man entred sin into the world and through sin death Necessary it is therefore to dye vnto sin and to liue vnto rightuousnesse And so to rise togither with Christ séekyng the things which are aboue not vpoÌ„ earth For neuer shal they come to the seconde resurrection which is vnto the lyfe euerlasting that will not ryse by repentaunce vnto a new lyfe in hym which is both resurrection and lyfe 2 Blessed is that man of the Lord yea holy iust and perfect may he be reported also of all men which hath porcion conuenient in the first resurrection with Dauid Magdalene Zacheus and Peter Happy are they which hearing the word of God retayneth it in theyr lyuing For they being renued with the glad tydinges of lyfe are depured by the spirite of Christ sanctified and so made the habitacles of the holy Ghost 3 Upon such Godly dysposed persons hath the seconde death of the soule which is eternal dampnatioÌ„ no maner of power nor effectual iurisdiction For no damnation can be vnto them which are in Christ Iesu not walking after the fleshe Though they haue bene great sinners yet shall not theyr sinnes be to them imputed but in the resurrectioÌ„ of the wrightuous shall they ryse to immortalyte and be as the very Angels in heauen He that hath taken froÌ„ theÌ„ the poore of death shall make theÌ„ sure of eternal inheretauÌ„ce with god 4 They shall surely bée the chosen priestes of God the euerlasting father and of his eternall sonne Iesus Christ whiche are of the firste resurrection Though they be here in the flesh yet fight they not after the flesh but they shall folow the gouernaunce of the spirit geue ouer their bodis for a liuing sacryfice holy and acceptable vnto God 5 And thus shall they reigne with christ their merciful sauiour redemer for the space of the thousaÌ„d yeres afore named None other toke they all that longe seasoÌ„ for theyr spiritual Messyas their eternall King their hygh Bishop for all their mayster their Lorde their gyde their lyght and the shepeherde of theyr soules None other wold they acknowledge but him for their mediatoure attonement maker neyther Moyses nor Samuell Noe Daniell nor Iob Iohan Baptist Mary nor Peter Hée onely was vnto them all wysedome ryghtuousnesse holynesse and redeÌ„ption In none other name coulde they fynde health and saluation but alone in hys Nothing pertayneth this vnto the Popes masse sayers for they call vpon many names wyth Ora pro nobis and are of a far other priesthode as we haue declared afore In christes kyngdoÌ„ is none outwarde Priesthode nor sacryfice to be made for sin For he hath with one oblacioÌ„ for all fully satysfied for the sins of his electe number for euer The office of a ChristeÌ„ man now is onely to offer vp himselfe by the deniall of himselfe and by the mortificatioÌ„ of his fleshe In the holy supper of the Lorde which is a mutuall participacioÌ„ of his bodi bloud is no new sacrifice to be made but onely a faithfull remembrauÌ„ce to be taught of that full and perfect sacrifice that he made once for all vnlesse we will betray him and crucifie him againe The dutie of a minister in Christes coÌ„gregation is with all study and diligence to labour in the holy worde of God be he bishop priest Chaplayne Pastour or preacher Hys ministration is great labour no dygnitie payne and not pryde or arrogancie And hauing his foode and rayment he ought to require no more THE TEXT 1 And vvhan the thousande yeares are expyred 2. Sathan shall be loosed out of prison 3. and shall go out 4. to diseeiue the people 5. vvhich ar in the foure quarters of the earth 6. Gog Magog 7. to gather them togither to battle 8 vvhose number is as the sande of the sea 9. And they vvent vpon the plaine of the earth 10. and compassed the tentes of the sayntes about 11. and the beloued Citie 12. And fyre came dovvne from God out of heauen 13. and deuoured them 14. And the Diuell that deceyued them 15. vvas cast into a lake of fyre and brymstone 26. vvhere the beast and the false Prophet vvere 17. and shall be tormented daye and nighte for euermore The Commentary 1 After the plentnous description of the true church of Christe which is vnknowen to the worlde for the glorious doughter of the eternall Kinge is from within sayth Dauid now foloweth in course the pernicious kingdome of Antechrist whan it was in the hyghest pryde so soone as the afore rehersed thousande yeares sayth saynt Iohn are fully accoÌ„plished or brought to an ende 2 Sathan the common aduersarie of man shal be loosed out of his darke pryson and so shal be set at large by the sufferance
they comprehended whych hauynge the wisdom of the spirite inflameth other wyth it prouokinge them thereby to the loue of god their neyghbour Thus did Moyses and Esay Barnabas and Paule in whome the glorye of the Lorde apeared plentiously 13 The eight was of a Berall which is of a pale grene coloure betokening those faithfull persones whych of christiaÌ„ compassion hath dolorously lamented the fall of theyr brethren Of this godly natur was Steuen which prayed for them that stoned him to death So was afore hys tyme Samuell whych mourned for Saul whan hée sée hym cast out of the Lordes fauour 14 The nynth was of a Topaze whych hath in hym the colours of all other stones And thys signifyeth theÌ„ whych are with all vertues adourned Lyke as was Daniell the man of desires and Iohn the Euangelist which wrote thys present prophecy whom Christ much loued The clere workes of these and such other wolde hée to shyne vnto men that by them the father might be glorifyed 15 The tenth was of a Chrisoprasos whose condicion is to shyne lyke gold and yet he is gréene in sight Suche are they whych hauing godly wysdoÌ„e vttereth it accordinge to the tallent geuen them of the Lorde thereby renewing the dull spirites of other vnto heauenly things Among this sort may Ezechiell be numbred which saw many wonderful visions so may SimeoÌ„ and Anna in the Gospell 16 The eleueÌ„th was of a Iacinct which is in coloure lyke vnto water spred ouer with bright sonne beames And this betokeneth those that are baren from the â—cience and learninge of this worlde and yet haue knowledge from aboue Uery Idiots appeare they in the sight of men and yet are they taughte of God to disclose most wonderfull secrets Of this sort were Oseas Iohel and Amos wihch was but a poore shepard with the other inferiour prophets And so were Andrew Philip Thomas with the other Apostles and Disciples 17 The twelft was an Amatist purple violet rose coloured And this betokneth them that are feruent méeke and constaunt in the Lords truth and that hath bene alwaies ready to shed their bloud for it Such were the vnbrethren in the Machabées with their most faithfull mother So was also Iames the more and Antipas the faithfull witnesse with other disciples martirs None can shewe a more token of loue than he which giueth vp his lyfe for his friends This sort dyd Christe proclaime altogether blessed sayde that the kingdom of heauen was their own Thus signifieth these xii foundatioÌ„s that the godly ministers of Christes congregation haue builded vpon him according to the diuers graces which god hath geuen theÌ„ some gold some siluer some precious stones But they that haue brought vnto this building tiÌ„ber hay or stubble which are customes tradicions dum ceremonies or els worldly honors riches voluptuous plesures are not in this heauenly number admitted Figured are these foundatioÌ„s in the precious stones which were in the brest flap of Aron that hye priest in the preious decking of the king of Tirus necessary shal it be for him that will more largely know the natural properties of theÌ„ to resort vnto Plinius in the xxxvii Booke of his naturall historye or vnto Bartilmew de proprietatibus reruÌ„ for the vnderstanding of misteries vnto S. Hierom vpon the liiii chap. of Esay or vnto Beda Haymo Costasy BacoÌ„â—horpe Elyne Tilney such other as hath written great works vpon the apocalips Ynough is it for vs to shew you after the minde of S. Augustin these stones to signifie the diuers graces of the holy ghost For all these thinges doth one spirit of the Lord work deuiding seueral gifts vnto euery maÌ„ at his pleasure which ar not wtout their preciousnes beuty excelleÌ„t glory as will appere in the glorius day of the childreÌ„ of god The Text. 1 And the tvvelue gates vvere xii pearles 2. And euery gate vvas of one pearle 3. And the streat of the citie vvas pure golde 4. As a thorough shining glasse 5. And I savv no temple therein 6 For the Lorde God almightie and the Lamb is the temple of it 7. And the citie hath no neede of the sunne neither of the moone to lighten it 8. For the brightnesse of God doth lighten it 9 And the Lamb is the light of it 10. And the people vvhich are laued shall vvalk in the light of it 11. And the kings of the earth shall bring their glory vnto it 12. And the gates of it shall not be shut by day 13 For there shall be no night there 14. And ther shal enter into it none vnclean thing 15. Neither vvhatsoeuer vvorketh abhominatioÌ„ or maketh lies 16 but thei which are vvritten in the Lambes Booke of life The Commentary 1 Consequently saith the Angel vnto Iohn the xii gates or openinges into this citie were twelue fayre pearls For dilectable and precious is the doctrine of the gospell whereby men doe enter into the kingdome of God on euery side or in euery quarter age of the world 2 And euery gate by him selfe was of one pearle like as were the foundations of one precious stone euermore in their kindes In token that the verytie of Christ is whole perfect vnbroken in it selfe lyke as is his cote without seame A speciall commodyty is it in cities to haue their gates stroÌ„g and bewtifull And so is it in the kingdome of God that they which open vnto rightuousnesse be more feruent in the truth and of a more sincere life thaÌ„ the residue For they shoulde be both the salte of the earth and lighte of the world Though these gates be many yet haue they but one entraunce for eche one of them is but of one pearle But one mediatour is there betwene God and man which is Iesus Christ None maye come vnto the father but by hym onely Alone is he the dore the waye the verytie lyghte life 3 And as concerning the cytie within the great strete thereof was as of pure golde so fyne fayre and cleare all the bryght shining glasse that maye be séene through without any maner of impediment or dymnesse Thys strete is the large commynalty or the sayntes whom the father of heauen by his power made of froward stones the perfect children of AbrahaÌ„ whan he couched them here togyther in the verity of one christian fayth shall here after ioyne in such perfectioÌ„ of loue as possible can not be dissolued 4 Precious are they here through fayth in Christes bloud and there shal they be pure both in loue and lyfe incorruptible Oure reioyse sayth saint Paule is not in carnall wisdome but in the greate grace of God in singlenesse of hart in a sincere fayth Your glorye are we euen as you are ours also in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ. 5 In this glorious citye sawe I no temple builded saith Iohn for the Lord God almighty which is the eternall father and
the lambe Iesus Christe which is his eternall sonne is the holy full and perfect temple therof None outwarde priesthoode ceremonye nor sacrifyce for fiue coÌ„maundeth Christes doctrine to his congregation The golden measure of his word which diffyneth and iudgeth all thinges necessary therevnto appointeth no such matter For in no teÌ„ples made with stone dwelleth God which wil be all in all Only is required of them a sacrifice from the soule which is the very temple of God In his onely name shoulde the faithful sort ther offer vp themselues And therefore Christ appoynted Uespasian and Titus to turne ouer the great temple of Hierusalem and vtterly to destroy that priesthoode because we should put no trust in suche thinges nor yet be addict or bound to places A damnable inuencion is it of Antichrist that the suffragans halloweth the sinagogs to bringe them into al kinds of superstition They constitute also a feastfull daye to the honour and worshipe therof called the dedication which is most abhominable wickednesse Truthe it is that after the Apostles time ther were places appointod where as the congregacion met together once in the weake for the hearinge of Gods word and for the holy communion and that was called the oratorie or house of praier But that house was not exercysed nor coniured crossed nor smered blessed nor be sprinkled wyth water Neyther was there at that time anye aulter set vp in it anointed with oyle creme to offer any newe sacrifice vpon Consider also that the appoinmente of this bare house withoute aulter or images was lefte to mans ordinaunce without any exprest commaundement of Christ that it should be thought of no reputacion For in spirite and veritie wyll god only be worshiped And for this cause after that Christ had dryuen the byers and sellers out of the temple he commended none other temple vnto vs but his body which he raysed vp in the daye of his resurection to our behoue 6 God therfore is our temple and his Christ. In them ought we to do sacryfice and in none other In their faith should our workes labours studies be grounded only if we couet them to profit vs. Iohn for his time could sée none other temple but this The Lord of his tender mercye graunt vs to be Iohns in this behalfe Iohn beheld also at the Angels demonstration that this Citie had neither néede of Sunne nor Moone to minister light vnto it as the olde Hierusalem had Neither hath Christes congregation néede of mans naturall reason nor yet of hys worldly wisdom coniectures nor practises subtilties nor wiles polices nor witts inuencions nor traditions No neither of their philosophy nor sophystrie the decrées nor sentences of the great Lawyers Schoolemen which all is but darknesse and blindnesse 8 For the brightnesse of God sheweth theÌ„ light sufficient His shining verytie his pure gospell and his vndefiled lawes cleareth their vnderstandings A lanterne to their féete is hys heauenly word Only doth that clerenesse suffise them whiche faith offereth vnto them 9 Onely are they contented with the light they haue of the Lambe which is the bright Sunne of rightuousnes He is the Lamp the Candle and the flaming Cresset of this citie None other admonisher haue they néede of none other counseller nor teacher Accursed holde they him that bringeth any other doctrine than his though he were an Angell from heauen For he is the only light of the world the brightnesse euerlasting the vndefiled myrrour of the maiestie of God and the Image of his infinite goodnesse Whoso euer foloweth him can in no wise walke in the darknesse The dayes wyll come saith the Lorde in Hieremy that a man shall not néede to teach his neighbour or brother for they shal know me froÌ„ the highest to the lowest I shall plante my lawe in their inwarde partes and write it in theyr hartes 10 And the people of al maner of regions which are predestinate of God to be saued shall walke in the clearnesse of the light None other wisdome helth rightuousnesse and redemption shall they seke than they finde in him Neither shal they care for Mary nor Ihon rodes nor reliques hedes nor holy water masses nor merites For so shall he shyne vpon them and his glorie apere in them that the cloudes of Antichrist and his false prophits shal take no place So liuely shall the rightuous waxe in that faith of saluacion that they shall become not only the children of clernesse but also very lyghtes in the Lorde 11 Morouer vnto this heauenly light shall the myghty kynges of the earth bringe their glory magnifycence and honour as did the wise men of the East which offred rewardes vnto Chryste They shal be conuerted from their erroures to a sincer beleue in the Lord as were in the Apostles tyme Abagarus Egippus and Gundoforus And since their dayes the mighty Emperour great ConstaÌ„tine Iouinian Theodosius and diuerse other Yea some were so feruent in that faith that gladly they suffred death for it Of whose numher were here in Englande saint Edmound Oswalde Ethelbert Edwyne and Fremonde with a greate sorte more in other Christian regions All kinges saith Deuid shall worshipe him and all paganes shal do him seruyce Amonge these are not they to be rekâ—ned which leauing their kingdomes hath made them selues monks and friers or hath founded masses and monastaries to be praied for For they neuer brought theire glorye to thys light No more haue they done which hath enriched the cleargye gluttinge them with possessioÌ„s and setting them vp in a glitteryng pompe But rather haue they sought darknesse than light blyndenesse than to be taught of god Some haue thought them selues in our age clearly coÌ„uerted to thys lyght But ryghtly hath their iniquitie lyed vnto them For nothynge haue they done lesse than broughte vnto Chryste theyr glorye Truthe it is that they haue discharged them selues of the Pope and to some of hys sects They haue plucked downe shrynes and Images that receaued offeringes and dayly worshippings with a fewe superstitions besides but still bringing vp whelps of the same false generation both bishops prists Stil haue they to this day the same wicked rits and ceremonies that they had afore And when thei should bring ani thing to a right christian order according to Christes first institution they cannot away with it Great is the vengeance terrible heuy and fearefull the iudgement that abideth them 12 And as concerning the great gates of this Citie which are the true vnderstandings of the Lordes verities they shall not be shut vp by day Hidden shall they not be to them the walke in this light All that Christ hath receiued of his heauenly father leaueth he manyfest and plaine vnto his faithfull leuers Not only openeth he their feble vnderstandings but also sendeth them his spirit to deduce them into al godly knowledge 13 For in that citie shal be no night No doctrine of darknesse nor fylthye mist of
this water as the pure cristall that is without spotte Much farther from corruption is the sincere worde of God than is the fine siluer that is vii tymes tryed in the fyre The lawes of the Lorde are perfect and quickneth the soule hys testimonies are true giuing wiseome to babes His statutes are ryght reioysing the hart His preceptes are pure giuing sight to the eyes And hys iudgementes are all togither rightuous 4 The nature of this water is none other but euermore to cleÌ„se euermore to reuiue euermore to make whole and perfect For onely doth it issewe from the magistie of God it procedeth out from the sempiternall throne of the father and so floweth forth in the pleÌ„tuous haboundaunce of the lambe Iesus Christe and of his Godly spirite With hym is the well of euerlasting lyfe They that walke in his lyght shal be frée from darkenesse for euer They shall throughly enioye the haboundaunce of those thinges that his house is full of and he shall giue them drnicke out of the ful flowing ryuer of his eternall pleasures I will powre cleare water vpon you sayth the Lord in Ezechiell and ye shal be cleane froÌ„ all filthynesse A new hart will I giue you A new spirit will I plant in you and so clense you from all your idoles Reioyce with Hierusalem all you that loue hir for ye shall sucke comforte out of hir brestes and bée satisfied They that haue sowen in heauinesse shall reape in perpetuall gladnesse From the father and the sonne proceded the holy Ghost as a clere cristall ryuer neither created nor be gotten to refreshe this chosen citye So that much more vnderstanding lyght and knoweledge it hath than had the olde Synagog of the Iewes which was therof but a shaddow Yet is it incomparably farre from that shall bée in the durable lyfe to come being as yet thereto but a figure For as witnesseth Paul our knowledge is now vnperfect and our prophecying vnperfect But whan that cometh which is perfect then that which is vnperfect shall be done away Here is it also to be coÌ„sidred that the Lambe is equall with God they both hauing but one seate 5 Moreouer in the middes of the golden stret of this beutifull citye which comprehendeth the spirituall children of Abraham couched togither in the vnytie of one tryed fayth 6 And vpon eyther sides of the swéet ryuer which are the .ii. Testamentes of the Lorde was standing the moste dilectable trée of life Iesus Christ that mediatour father which giueth lyfe â—o the worlde Out of the stocke of Afbraham and Dauid sprang this frée aâ—er the fleshe conceyued of the holy Ghost borne of Marie the virgine which was also a golden stone of this stréete Blessed arte thou sayth Elizabeth for thy beleues sake For in thée is performed the full promise of the Lorde This is that trée which was planted by the water side gaue forth fruite at his tyme appoynted As the trée of life was sette in the middes of Paradyse at the beginninge so is hée nowe spiritually grounded in the middest of his church which is his gardeÌ„ of pleasure Behold saith Christ I am with you euery day vnto the worlds end 7 Maruayll not that the trée is here called wood for it is the custome and maner of the Hebrues to put the one for the other Both is this trée in the myddest of the stréete and also vpon eyther sydes of the ryuer For both is Christ knowen of his faithfull multytude and comprehended in the scriptures Dauid acknowledged himselfe to be a pure stone of this golden stréete whan he sayd My humble soule hath cleaued or fastened to the pauemente thou quyckening me Lorde according to thy worde So did Kinge Ezechyas whan he was reuyued agayne And so dyd Helias whan he vnder the Iuniper trée desired to dye with many other more Betwene both testaments arose Christ performing the olde and begynning the new He bordereth also to thys present day vpon them both for both they beare large and plentuous witnesse of hym Both the lawe and the Gospell the Prophetes and Apostles the Psalmes and all other scriptures witnesseth throughly that he is the promysed séede the sonne of the lyuing God the sauiour of the worlde 8 If that soyle be fortunate which bryngeth forth fruites twyse in the yeare most happye and blessed is the ground of this citie For the liuing trée therof is neuer barren bare nor idle 9 Not onely doth it beare .xii. maner fruites of inestimable wholesomnesse betokening the vniuersall graces and giftes of the holy Ghoste but also it giueth them forth euery moneth in the yeare or euer more wyth out ceasing Euery moneth hath there both his soÌ„mer and hys wynter Euery life time of them which be of this congregation hath here both his swéete consolation in the spirite and also his hard persecution in the fleshe Els is it not of Christs kingdom which is the destroier of death and ministreth lyfe at his pleasure In this trée is the originall grounde of lyfe He is the very lyfe of all them that liueth vnto God In hym onely they consist they moue and they haue their continuall being His branches are the holy Prophetes and Apostles and the Euangilistes Martyrs wyth all other godly preachers and teachers euermore gréene pleasaunt in their conuersaâ—ioÌ„ and doctrin I am the true vyne sayth he and you are the braunches He that abydeth in me and I in him bringeth forth much fruite Them sent Christ out as brauÌ„ches and spred wyth them the world ouer too brynge forth frute that should not perishe And that euery moneth from age to age and from tyme to tyme continually For styll are the true beleuers fedde wyth the Apostls fruitefull doctrine and shal be to the ende of the worlde Therewith are their soules refreshed in their greate manyfolde sorowes and labours A singuler comfort it is vnto them to consider Gods swéete promyses and to remember what a louinge father they haue of him through Iesus christ theyr onely mediatour and sauiour Most habouÌ„dâ—untly féele they theÌ„selues satysfied when they are assertayned throughly by the scriptures that they are predestinate called saued sanctified and shal be here after gloryfied by him Where as contrarywyse the desperate infidels are much discomforted considring them selues blynded condemned iudged reproued Twelue are these fruites here called which is a perfect and full complete number comprehending the vniuersall graces of the spirite contayned in all the whole scriptures As are the feare of God the pouertie of soule the clennesse of hart coÌ„passion vpon the nedy desyre of rightuousnesse mercy gentilnesse quietnesse sufferaunce wysdom vnderstanding counsayll perseueraunce knowledge prudence force iustice temperauÌ„ce with those that Paule numbreth too the Galathians and innumerable vertues besides some expositours willeth this twelue to signifie the none can be saued vnlesse he be of the xii children of Israell in spirite so walke according to the
for hys shousholde seruauntes enioying the swéet coÌ„modyties mencioned in thys booke as pertayning to hys peculyar people 8 Lyke as are the bewtyfull trée of lyfe wyth his manyfolde fruites and leaues of wholsomnesse the swéet running ryuer of the lyuing waters and the holy citye sufficiently discribed afore with such other els None that contendeth for a mastry saith Paule shal be crowned vnlesse hée contende lawfully Arrius toke away from the tenth of Iohn this setence I the father are one Photinus added this clause to the gospell as a voyce froÌ„ the father I giue vnto Iesu his original of Mary And both their inteÌ„tes were to destroy our faith concerning christs godhede lyke as the papystes doth also our iustificacyon in hys bloude vnlesse we haue theyr lowsie masses merites A lyke adiuratioÌ„ to this hath Hireneus in the ende of his octonarie requiring al them that shal coppy out that booke to doo it truly as they will aunswers it béefore god their rightuous iudge In like case doth saint Hierome before the abreuiacioÌ„s of Eusebius chronicle coÌ„mauÌ„d that in anye wyse the veritie therof be dilygently reserued So doth also Cyrillus the Gréeke in the preface of his prophecy vnto Ioachim Abbas desiring the writings therof in no case to be corrupted of il writers which diuers other 9 In confirmatioÌ„ of the I haue sayd afore saith S. Iohn the eternall son of god which hath ratified these former things with his mighty word saith here also as one subscribing to it 10 Yea it is so or els thus Like as thou hast said Iohn shal these blasphemers here after finde it the presumeth eyther to adde or to deminish froÌ„ these scriptures for any carnall purpose 11 And to perform the promyse of thyne I wyll not long tarry I come by by to reward the wicked which swift dampnatioÌ„ for not beleuing the truth For nowe are the last dayes the endes of the worlde yea the very laste houre Ready is the Lord sayth saint Peter to iudge the quicke and dead and the ende of all things is at hande 12 Sainct Iohn hearing this of hys mercifull Lorde and sauiour lifte vp his heade and handes towardes heauen as one desirous of the perfourmaunce of Gods appoynted will and of the full deliuerance of the faythfull he sayde Amen Or be it fulfilled in effect For that is the thing which my soule dayly desireth and inwardly coueteth to the full manifestation of thy glorious kingdome 13 Consequently in the voyce of the whole congregation cryeth Iohn as did Symeon the iust Yea euen so might it be as thou hast here promised that thou mightest come out of hande 14 Oh come most merciful redemer gracious Lord Iesu Christ to iudge the vniuersall worlde Come come or hie thée hether apace to seperate the wheate from the chaffe and the lambes from the Goates so bringing them into thy eternall tabernacle Wo is mée that my banishmeÌ„t endureth so long I dwelling in the tabernacles of the sorowfull My soule hath a thurstie desire for God the fountaine of lyfe Oh whan shall I come and beholde hys face Lyke are we to those faythfull seruaunts which wayte for the return of their Lorde from the wedding very ready to open at his knocking 15 The grace of our mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ sayth saynct Iohn wherby commeth saluation to them that truly beléeueth bée with you all so many as are of that godlye expectation and desire 16 Or the fauour mercy and acceptation of God the father through his blessed death euermore preserue you in the vnitie of his godly spirite that yée may hereafter in this holye citie bée partakers of his gloryous heritage in the worlde to come 17 Let all them say Amen vnto this which myndeth the glory of the Lorde vnfaynedly So be it A conclusion of the vvhole vvorke HEre hast thou good christian reader to thy soules consolation from the eternall Trinitie the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost three distincte persons in one euerlasting godhead the vniuersall estate of the church from Christes ascencion to the ende of the world in wonderfull mysteries discrybed directed vnto thee of him by the most holy Apostle and Euangelist Saint Iohn Wherein it is fully by all due circumstances manifested of the sayde holy Ghost what the innocent Christian church is with all hir iustifications blessings to the singular comforte of the Lords true electes and what the proude Synagoge of Antichrist is with hyr filthy superstitions and plagues to their fore warning also This is specially done here of the sayde holy ghost that no true beleuer should professe him selfe a citizen of this wretched world with Cain Nemroth other reprobate vessels at the execrable doctrine of men but at the pure voyce of God with Abell and Abraham to seeke for that heaueÌ„ly heritage which is purchased for them in Christes bloud Marke heere the condition of Iohn being in most paynefull exile for he in misterie through all this booke representeth euery godly beleuer By this shall ye well knowe in this reuelation the one church from the other for the one is mayntayned by the onely preaching of Gods pure worde the other by all kyndes of Iewishe ceremonyes and heathenish superstitions And by this they also differ that Christ wold haue all of loue Antichrist of tyrannous constraint as euidently appeareth in Mahomete and the Pope For that only cause are many necessary thynges here written in mysterie that they should bee hid from the worldly wyse Hypocrites and that the iust or Gods meeke spirited seruauÌ„ts should aske them of their Lorde in fayth and prayer In the which dayly prayer is that most worthy minister of God Kyng Henry the eight afore all other to thée remembred which hath so sore wounded the beast that he may before his departure or Prynce Edwarde after him throw all his supersticions into the bottomlesse lake agayne froÌ„ whence they haue commen to the comforte of his people The grace and peace dyrected from God the Father his Son Iesus Christ with the holy Ghost in the beginning of this reuelatyon be vnto all them which vnfaynedly loue hys veritie Amen ¶ Printed at London by Thomas East Apoc. 22. 1. Cor. 6. Rom. 12 Apoc. 1. Apoc. 22. Apoc. 4. 1. Iohn 5. Mat. 16. Apoc. 14. Hebr. 7. Apoc. 1. Iohn 7. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 18. Apoc. 15. Ephe. 5. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 17. Apoc. 2. VVhy this booke is called the Image of both churches Apoc. 11. Apoc. 18. 2. Pet. 3. 2. Timo. 3. Eccle. 2. 1. Pet 5. Ephe. 6. A brief sum is this boke of the whol scriptures Luc. 24. Esay 9. Apoc. 21. Ephe. 4. Iohn 16. Hebr. 2. Apoc. 18. Col. 1. Apoc. 4. Apoc 12. Apoc. 21. Ephe. 3. August Apoc. 21. Hier. 50. Iohn 5. Mat. 7. Mat. 13. Rom. 15. Luce. 10. Iohn 21. Apoc. 1. Iohn 12. Apoc. 22. Gilbertus porreâ—a Mat. 25. Lucc 11 Mat. 5. Mark 4. Iacobus faber super Dionisium VVhat
daies was in auhoritie ouer al the world yea sitting aboue God in the consiences of men and nowe is become of no reputacion amonge men God openinge his mischiefes is euen the eyghte in number And yet neuertheles is one of the vii heades For both is he the beastly body it selfe comprehending in him the vniuersall abhominations of all the earthlye kyngdomes And in that poynt diuers from the seuen heades and so the .viii. in number 10 And also he is one of the .vii. heades and the seauenth in numbre in vsurpyng this proude worldly kyngdome thus after a vayne temporall sorte Ouer and besids all thys maye he also be called the eyght in the curssed remnant which after the peaceable silence of christen libertie sathan loosoned shall most cruelly persecute Christes congregation a freshe as in the xx chapter here following wil appeare 11 This beast with hys carriage the Antichrist with hys church or sathan wish his sinagog shal not onely go into destructioÌ„ here by the mighty breth of Gods mouth or the true preaching of hys Gospell but also into dampnation euerlastinge in the ende of the worlde with the deuill and hys Angelles THE TEXTE 1 And the ten hornes vvhich thou savvest are ten Kinges 2. VVhich haue not yet receiued the kingdome 3. But shall receiue povver 4. As Kings 5. At one houre vvith the Beast 6. These haue one minde 7. And shall geue their povver and strength vnto the beast 8. These shall fight vvith the lambe 9. And the Lambe shall ouercome them 10. For he is Lorde of all Lordes 11. And Kinge of all Kinges 12. And they that are on his side 13. Are called the chosen and faithfull The Paraphrase 1 And the ten hornes saith the Angell vnto Iohn which thou sawest here vp on the heades of this rose coloured beast are in signification x. Kinges Some hath taken these ten Kings for al those Emperours of the Latins since Charlemayn which haue sworn them selues obediente to the Byshoppe of Rome Some haue thought them to be those Princes which here in Europa haue aforetime bene subiecte to the Empyre of Rome As the Kinges of England Fraunce Spaine Portingale Castele Denmarke Scotlande Ungary Boheme and Naples But these consider not that they be yet more in number as Aragone Nauerre Cicile Cypres Sardine SwetheÌ„ Pole and such other and are all included in the seauen heades as members of the afore rehersed Empires Neither marke they that they are aboue the heades as hornes and more in number then the heades betokening a rygorus authorytie and fierce power whiche they proudlye vsurpe ouer them euery where Afore they were but suggestions but héere are they earnest doers For in euerye region hath the beastly Antichriste of Rome his Metropolitanes Primats As in England are Caunterbury anâ— York in Fraunce Thuronensis and Remensis in Spaine Tholetanus Terraconensis in Portingale Hispalensis Bracarensis in Irelande Armachanus Dubliniensis in Denmarke Lundensis and Upsalensis in Germany Coloniensis Maguntinus in Hungary Strigoniensis and Colocensis in Italye Pisanus Rauennas in Sicyle Panormitanus Messanences with an infinite number of bishops prelates pristes religions besides the fighting orders of the Rhodes the Prussianes the Redemers of captiues the Aragondes the Georgianes caled de Alga the Monteseanes the Castilianes the Lusitaneanes the Calatraneanes S. Iames warriours 2 These had not yet at yâ— tyme receiued the diuillish kingdom of pestilnce vsurpacion ouer the soules of men For though in Iohns daies arose certaine Antichristes as Hebion Cerinthius Diotrephes Carpocras and such like yet were they nothinge to these 3 But now in déede they haue receyued the selfe same aucthoritie power with the beast that hée tooke afore of the Dragon in maner of kings to rule in the heartes and consciences of men to his behoue 4 For so much as theyr authoritie is not of God lyke as is the authoritie of Kings it is sayd here as kings or as men counterfeyting them in vsurping a gouernaunce not fréely giuen them of God but of the Diuill 5 All at one houre receyued they this aucthoritie with the beast And that I suppose was in the great general couÌ„sayle of Laterane at Rome gathered vnder the title to recouer Hierusalem agayne Where as confession in the eare was cruelly extorted of christian people vnder the payne of death dampnation by the whole consent both of the princes bishops at the former suggestioÌ„ of InnoceÌ„t the third besides other wicked things As to heare latine seruice to go on processioÌ„ on sundayes to pray vnto dead saints to â—orship Images to buy masses for the dead to â—ast the fridays with purgatory pardoÌ„s merits friers orders In the sayd couÌ„sail became the metropolitanes as kinges and by the authority threof apointed they their Stuards Baliues other officers as bishopes curates parish pristes to haue euer charge of soules and in the sayd eare coÌ„fession to receiue their accountes 6 These counterfet kinges are al of on diuelish mind practise purpose against God and his veritye 7 And fully they are fixed to geue their whole power their study their strength vnto the behoofe of the beast Not acording to Gods mind wil they rule but al after his wil pleasur agreing alwaies vnto him as meÌ„bers to their head to serue wickednesse after wickednes in Babilon His Popish decres wil they seke his diuelish decretales will they folow his ceremonials wil they obserue and nothing of the sacred scriptures What learnyng so euer they haue what giftes of nature fortune or grace al must be to the maintenaÌ„ce of his faÌ„tastical fopperis To him ar they sworn to do him homage to obey his laws to kisse his féete for his glorious sake to persecute his gospell 8 And in so doing they shal fight with the lamb which is Iesus Christ. They shal impunge his truth wheÌ„ they think to doe him seruice For that mischiefe they doe to one of his they doe to hys owne person 9 But be they neuer so dogged yet â—hal the Lambe ouercome them in his faithful members yea by pacient sufferaunce onely The victory saith S. Iohn which ouercoÌ„meth the worlde is a sure christian fayth Upon theyr â—ide fighteth he which is most myghtie and strong yea the Lord that is valyaunt in battail And he shall first ouercome them in this lyfe with the mightie breath of his mouth scattering theÌ„ away as dust from the earth And after this shall hys tirrible iudgement for euer condempne them 10 For he is by the aucthoritie giuen him of his father the Lord of all Lords and by his own eternall Godhead the King of all Kings hauyng all power in heauen and in earth He is coÌ„stitute Iudge of the quicke and the dead hauing alone the euerlastyng Emâ—yre with his father and the holye Ghost and of his kyngdome shall neuer bée an ende 11 By his permission doeth all kinges reigne he
hath their hartes in his hand and iudgeth their thoughts Both may he giue them his spirite and also take it from them and of his enimyes hée shall make his footestoole He is the same â—â—one after Daniell that without any handes was cutte out of the mounte which breaketh the Iron the copper the earth the siluer and the Golde in péeces By whom are ment the vniuersall kingdomes of this world 12 Of this his victory are all they parteners with him which are vpon hys syde by fayth Most specially those true seruaunts of his which after they are called by grace and chosen by fayth perseuer still constant feruent faythfull and sure in hys veritie to the latter ende of theyr liues 13 Not only the Lambe therfore shal â—uercome the beast but they also after the doctrine of Paule that are called and chosen in him not falling from his truth for any temptation or grief but standing fast by it vnto the very death For those that the Lorde hath prefixed afore he hath called iustified and allowed These auanceth not them selues with the proude but méekly they submit theyr crownes referring all victory to the Lambe as men that could haue done nothing in yâ— behalf without him THE TEXT 1 And he said vnto me 2. The vvaters vvhich thou savvest vvhere the vvhore sitteth 3. are people and folke and nations and tongues 4. And the ten hornes vvhich thou savvest vpon the beast 5. are they vvhich shall hate the vvhore 6. and shall make hir desolate naked 7. and shall eate hyr flesh 8. and burn hyr vvith fyre 9. For God hath put in their harts to fulfill his vvill 10. and to doe vvith one coÌ„sent 11. for to giue hir kingdome vnto the beast 12. vntil the words of God be fulfilled 13. And the vvomaÌ„ vvhich thou savvest is the great citie 14. vvhich reigneth ouer the kingâ— of the earth The Paraphrase 1 And after thys long communicatioÌ„ sayth Sainct Iohn the afore sayd Angell sayde thus vnto me to make vp his tale with 2 The wauering waters which thou sawest héere now of late in misterye where as the Babilonish whore sitteth vpon the rose coloured beast are in signification all maner of peoples of the carnall nations and the supersticious folke of many sundry tongues 3 Not onely in one place of the worlde ruleth this wanton religion of Antychrist but in euery lande in euery dominion in euery company among all occupacions languages The foolysh multitude euery where being blynded by their subtile sorceryes and neyther hauing fayth nor yet the feare of God before theyr eyes as a raging flood the banckes broken downe runneth headlings into all blasphemy and diuillishnesse 4 Moreouer the a fore named ten hornes sayeth the Angell which thou by the wil of God beholdest here in spirite vpon the sayd beast of distructioÌ„ are those very persoÌ„s which also shal hate the whore Hir abhominations once knowne by the Gospel preaching they shall abhorre hir lawes dispise hyr authoritie coÌ„tempne hir customs They shal defeat hir of those lands possessions which now shée vniustly holdeth 5 They that afore were hir friends shal than be hir mortall enymies denying hir both tribute obedience seruice so leauing hir without all comfort Not only are these the temporal gouernours as the King of England the Kyng of Denmarke the Duke of Saxon the LaÌ„dgraue of Hesse and other Princes of Germany with such other as wil here after followe the same principles but also the Metropolitanes and bishops the Doctors and Prelates As are already Thomas Cranmere the Archebishop of Caunterbury Hermanus de Weda the Archbishop of Coleyn Godrick the Bishop of Hely Barlow the bishop of Sainct Dauids Byrde the Bishop of Chester Thurleby bishop of Westminster Hugh Latimer Nicolas Shaxton of late yeares Bishop of Worcester and Salisbury with such other lyke as will here after followe theyr trade Though they were afore the horns of the beast for defence of the whore yet are they now fallen from him more shall euery day to make hir desolate of honour and naked of rentes and possessyons 6 So shal they chase that Babilonish harlot Rome with their prechers that neyther shal they leaue hir couler nor yet bewty Consider what Iohn Reuclin Martin Luther Erasmus Ocolampadious Zwinglius Pomeran Bucer Capito Melanthon Grineus Caluinous Brencius Frances Lamberte Bullinger and such other hath don against hir alredy Likewise here in EinglaÌ„d Bilnee Tindale Frith Barnes Cromwel Couerdale Turner Gorge Ioy Rose Ridley Ward Becon and other els leauing her neither Reliques nor Robes sectes nor Shrynes Abbeyes nor Priores many more comming after them of the same sort These shal make her so desolat that no man shall in proses of tyme regard hir They shall leue hir so naked that all the worlde shall abhorre hyr that shal loke vpon hir Yea in the conclusion they shal eat hyr fleshe 7 Besides the taking away of hir carnall prophites and plesuers they shal confound hir fleshly vnderstanding of the scriptuers utterly consume the superfluous obseruacions of hir whorishe cerimonies 8 Finally with fyre shal they burne hir in bringing vnto nought al hir abhomynable rules customes and kindes of idolatry All these once plucked away by the euident worde of God no lenger shall this harlot appere For no lenger continueth the whore then the whoredom is in price Take away the rites and cerimonies the Iewels and ornaments the Images and lightes the Lordeshippes and fatherhodes the aulters and masses with the Bishops and Priestes and what is their holye whorishe church any more Not onely is this flesh eating and burÌ„ing declared now a daies in outwarde experimentes as in the rebellious Monkes and Priestes of Englande and in theÌ„ that arose there in the North specially in fryer Forest and Margarete Cheny which were for their church coÌ„sumed like as were Baales chaplayns at the broke of Cison by Helyas but also mistically in that is spoken of hir afore 9 For God hath saith the Angel al blindenesse secluded put it into the hartes of those and such other godlye meÌ„ by the infusioÌ„ of his spirit to fulfil his decréed wil pleasure in this behalf as vtterly to distroy the popish religioÌ„ or filthy abhominations of Antichrist 10 He hath giueÌ„ it theÌ„ moreouer to doe these thiÌ„gs to his glory throgh the agréement of faith that they haue in the vnitie of his godly truth to the abolishment of all sects false prophets coÌ„iurers of egipt 11 Finally by his grace he hath moued them through knowledge of his word to reÌ„der vp hir blasphemous kingdom whom sometime of ignorance they vsurped vnto the malignaunt beast again as the horns of his pestilent heads After this sorte did good Latimer Shaxton giue ouer their bishoppricks so haue diuers other godly men their promocions liuings as many more yet here after will doe 12 For as they haue begonne so shall they coÌ„tinue in diminishyng the