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
readeth they that hear the vvords of the prophecie keepe those things vvhich are vvritten therein 7. for the tyme is at hande The Paraphrase OF Iesus Christ the sonne of the liuing God this is the wonderfull reuelation concerning the diuers and doubtfull estate of the Christian church from the Apostles tyme to the latter ende of the world 2 Which reuelation with all iudgement and power God the euerlasting father hath wholly giuen vnto hym now takeÌ„ vp from the earth glorified and set aboue all the workes of hys handes 3 Euidently to declare yea to make manifest and knowne vnto hys true faythfull seruauntes beleuing in hys words and walking in his wayes the tokens signes marueils which must by hys vnchaungeable ordinaunce shortly in this latter tyme folow in effect without premonishment or warning taken of the wicked sort 4 And the sayd Iesus Christ sittyng on the right hande of the maiestie of God and being muche more excellent then the angels hath according to his former promise sent forth his spirit of truth most specially vnto his déerely beloued Apostle and peculyar dyscyple sainct Iohn the Euangelist not only to deduce him into all knowledge and veritie but also to manifest vnto him the secrete misteries of thinges to come 5 Which Iohn hath already as an earnest doer in his masters cause most constantly wytnessed his eternall godhead in the euerlasting worde against the Hebionites which denied him to com in the fleshe and hath faithfully affirmed his naturall manhode in all that he sawe being conuersaunt with him agaynste Carpocras and Cerinthus which blasphemed the same in the vtter confusion of all such Antichristes 6 Blessed is he saith Saint Ihon which after méeke prayer and godly meditacyon hauinge the gyfte of vnderstanding and grace of interpreting the scripturs doth sincerly faithfully without crafte or coloure publyshe declare the mistycall wordes of thys heauenly prophecye Blessed are they also which in a feruent faith hongeriÌ„g thristinge for the rightuousnes and with Simeon and Anna desirous of the glorye of God doth louingly heare and earnestly marke the wholsome words of the same sayd godly prophecye and that will deligently applye theÌ„ selues to obserue the rules and take the premonishementes of Godly doctrine ther in written 7 For the perelous dayes are come that the disceytfull swarme of Antichrist peruertinge the trueth shal bring the world into pernicious and dampnable errours And the Ieopardous time is at hande that the wrath of god shal be declared from Heauen vpon all vngodlynesse of these seducers that with hold his trueth in vnrightuousensse set hiâ— coÌ„maundementes at nought for their owne vile traditions The texte 1 Ihon vnto the seuen congregacions which are in Asia 2. Grace be vvith you 3. And peace from him wich is and which vvas and which is to come 4. from the seuen spirites which are present before his throne 5. and from Iesus Christe vvhich is a faythfull vvytnesse 6. and fyrst begotten of the dead 7. and prince ouer the kinges of the earthe 8. Vnto him that loued vs and vvashed vs from our sinnes in his ovvne bloud 9. and made vs kinges and Priestes vnto God his father 10. euen vnto him be glorye and dominion for euermore Amen The Paraphrase 1 Iohn the electe Apostle of Iesus Christ sendeth these greatinges to the vii churches or christian congregations which are in the land of Asia the lesse 2 Grace which is the mercy fauour and acceptacion of God be with you 3 And also peace which is the trauquilitie of conscience in them that beleue in Christ dwel euer among you from god the father euerlasting which is essencially in and of himselfe and which was before the constitucion of the world and which shall be after the worlde be finished for euer and euer without ende 4 The same grace and peace agayne be vnto you from God the holy Ghost here mencioned vnder the tytle of .vij. spirites for that he is manifolde and plentuous in gyftes 5 The thyrd tyme also the same said grace and peace be vnto you from the Lorde Iesus Christ the onely sonne of God which being the eternall veritie it selfe was in preaching his Gospell a wytnesse therof both faythful true and perfect and in no wyse could lye that ye should the rather beleue him 6 He was the fyrst of all men that euer were in this mortall nature or body of death recouering againe the fauour of God lost in Adam and that with victory ouer sinne hell deathe and the diuell ascended into Heauen and became in that fleshe glorifyed the sonne of God that ye should bée the bolder of him and the rather take him for your onely aduocate 7 He is also a mâ—ste mighty Lorde ouer the kinges rulers and magistrates of this worlde hauing now all power geuen him in heauen in earth with a wryting vpon his vesture that he is Kinge of Kinges and Lorde of Lords and that of his kingdome ther shall be no ende that the wicked tyrauntes should the rather feare least they féele him a terryble iudge at the latter day 8 For so much as he hath so intyrely loued vs as to be smytten and wouÌ„ded for our offencest and as to geue his lyfe for our wycked wretchednes yea for so much as he of most natural kyndenesse would be cruelly slayne to washe vs purifie vs and clense vs in his owne most innocent bloud from the moste cankred vylenesse of our sinnes to prouoke vs to loue him agayne 9 For so much also as he hath made vs a liuing kingedome to god through fayth in him and consecrate vs priestes to offer vp our bodies by a newe Christian life as a sacrifyce holy and acceptable vnto God his euerlastinge father 10 Unto him wyth the said father with the holy ghost be perpetual praise glorye power and dominyon for euermore Amen The text 1 Beholde he commeth with cloudes 2. and all eyes shall see him 3. and they also which pearsed him 4. And all kynredes of the earth shall vvayle 5. Euen so Amen 6. I am Alpha and Omega the beginninge and the ending sayth the Lorde almightie 7. vvhich is vvhich vvas and vvhich is to come The Paraphrase 1 Take hede for moste certayne it is though Christe in his fyrste comminge as a merciful sauiour apered here vpon earth poore simple ignominious yet shal he in his latter comminge appere in the cloudes of heauen with maiestie power and glorye accoÌ„panyed with the infinite hoste of angels as a rigorous iudge 2 And vpon him shall all eyes looke both man and angell shal behold him and stande before hys terrible iudgemente seate no creature good nor bad exempt 3 Yea thâ—se cruell tyrauntes also shal at that houre appeare befere him which did not only flée his moste innocente body but also
longeth for to be deliuered from this bodie of death shée coueteth to be dissolued and to be with Christ yea ferueÌ„tly she desireth to rest in the armes of hir almightie spouse 2 Tell hir therefore that these sayings hath he which holdeth the vij starres in his right hand walketh in the middest of the vij golden Candelstickes which hath in his power all ministers of his worde to retain theÌ„ or to cast theÌ„ out remaineth among the congregations to beholde their actes and reward them according to their doings 3 I know thy workes sayth hée I perceue thy labour thy anguish thy affliction thy payne for vnto me nothing can be hid I consider also thy pacient sufferance in aduersitie and thy troublous crosse for my wordes sake thy constant fayth and thy vnbroken spirite 4 And I ponder thy feruent and godly zeale wherin thou canst in no wyse forbeare theÌ„ that are wicked and euill but thou hatest blasphéemers abhorrest the enemies of god 5 I much commend thée for that thou diligeÌ„tly examinest them which call them selues Apostles and are none which boast theÌ„ selues to be christian teachers and are nothing lesse 6 And by thy diligent searche hast not only proued them false and deceiptfull Antichristes but also thou hast expelled theÌ„ least they shuld do harm 7 And though thou haste bene gréeuously vexed and persecuted of those false Prophets yet hast thou paciently suffred and firmly stand by the truth for my names sake Thou hast taken paynes and not faynted in thy labours so strong hath the spirit of God bene with thée And all these pointes in thée I greatly allow 8 Yet haue I somewhat agaynst thée for so much as thou arte fallen from thy first charitie the fruites of true faith not being so abundant and plentifull in thée as they were in the beginning of the Gospell nor thou so effectuall in working mercy pittie 9 Call therefore to thy remembrauÌ„ce from what perfectioÌ„ thou art fallen and repent thy slipper weakenesse and slothfull negligence which hath not suffered thée to perseuer in thy first calling 10 And return to thy first works agayne walking in that ferueÌ„t faith in that godly spirite and in that swéete loue of thy neighbour that thou diddest walke in before diminish not but increase euermore in al goodnes 11 Els wil I come shortly vnto thée as a straight looker vpon thée 12 And except thou repent from the hart with ful purpose of amendmeÌ„t I will remoue thy Candelsticke out of hir place I shall take away from thence the sincere doctrine and pure preaching of my word suffer mens fantastical traditions olde womens dreames the spirites of errour the doctrine of diuels the lyes of hypocrites with all blyndnesse darknes abhominatioÌ„ and idolatrie there to remayne For where as my word is not sincerely taught beléeued and obserued but vncharitably dispised hated and persecuted there shall not my church remayne but in hir place shal stand vp the Sinagoge of Sathan with blyndnesse and induration For that congregatioÌ„ is not myne which hath not my worde No longer is it my church then it hath my veritie Turne back againe therefore to Abraham Isaac Iacob to the Prophetes and Apostles and exercyse the first workes leauing all papistrie 13 This warning hast thou of mée for that thou hatest the vnséemely déeds of the Nicolaytanes so called of one Nicolas a proselitie of Antioche and one of the vij Deacons ordayned by the Apostles Whose corrupte custome was among other to defile holy wedlock in making their wyues common in boasting them selues lawfully so to do by the example of the sayde Nicolas 14 Whose vncomely actes I hate and abhorre also hauing matrimonye in honor and the chamber therof vndefiled This premonishement haue I giuen thée also least thou in processe of tyme shouldest fall to Apostasie vtterly decline froÌ„ the truth 15 Let him that hath eares sayeth the Lord which is iudgement and discretion in the spirit diligeÌ„tly heare and earnestly marke what the holy ghost speketh what premonishmeÌ„ts he giueth what reward he promiseth to the faithfull congregations 16 To him that by the spirit of Christ and by faith victoriously ouercoÌ„meth the world sin hell death the diuil I wil giue to eate of the trée of lyfe to haue reioyce here in the holy ghost to haue comfort peace and gladnesse in mée 17 And after this life eternall beatitude which is in the midst of the beautiful paradise or the triumphant church of my Lord my God and my celestial father yours also by mée THE TEXT 1 And vnto the Angel of the congregation of Smyrna wâ—yte 2. These things saith he that is the first the last 3 which was deade and is aliue 4. I knowe thy works and tribulatioÌ„ 5. And pouertie but thou arte rich 6. And I knowe the blasphemie of theÌ„ which call theÌ„selues Iewes and are not but are the congregation of Sathan 7. Feare none of the things which thou shalt suffer 8. Behold the diuill shal cast some of you into prison to tempt you 9. And ye shal haue tribulation ten dayes 10. Be faithfull vnto the death 11. and I will giue thee a crowne of lyfe 12. Let him that hath eares heare vvhat the spirite saith to the congregations 13 He that ouercommeth shall not be hurt of the secoÌ„d death THE PARAPHRASE 1 Apply thée also my friend Iohn with all festination to write vnto the faithfull mynister of the congregacion of Smyrna which trauaylyng in thys vayle of myserie as the odoriferous myrrha giueth forth the swéete smell of all good christian workes and distrybuteth fréelye the precyous treasure of godly examples Shée beleueth in God shée séeketh his onely glorie shée foloweth his word shée rebuketh sinne with pacieÌ„ce she openeth hir haÌ„ds to the poore she giueth meate to the huÌ„gry drinke to the thirstie lodging to the straunger clothes to the naked comfort to the sicke and reliefe to the prisoner Shée is méeke gentle obedyent pacient and mercifull 2 Infourme hir therfore that these things sayeth he which is the fyrst and the laste the maker and redéemer the founder and restorer of all creatures 3 Which was once dead to redeme hir from eternall death and now is alyue to restore hir to lyfe euerlasting Let hir not doubt therefore to suffer héere lyke as hée hath suffred For as he is now immortall hath the ouer hande of death so shall shée be and haue the same 4 I know thy works saith the Lord to spring onely of fayth and to bée fashioned according to the word of God I perceyue thy manyfolde trybulations how thou arte outwardly afflicted by continuall persecution of enimyes and inwardly crucyated in conscience to beholde the damnable errours frowardnesse blindnes and vtter contempt of Gods trueth which raigneth in the wicked 5 I consider thy pouertie in the spirite that
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
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
though he had ben killed 13 which had seuen hornes 14 and seuen eyes which are the seuen spirits of God sent vnto all the worlde 15. And hee came and tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the seat The Paraphrase AFter the forsayde vysion I saw saieth saint Iohn in the right hande or mighty power and wyll of hym that sate on the throne with maiestye a wonderfull Booke in the which both man and Angell were desirous to looke This booke is Gods heauenly ordinance contayning not onely all that hath bene created of God visible and inuisible but also the vniuersall contents of the holy scripture This boke hath the mercifull Lorde prouided that men should know him partly by his creatures partly by his Scriptures This booke he hath in his right hand For heauen he measureth with his spanne and the whole world he comprehendeth vnder his three â—ingers In his hande or power is the vniuersal earth bothe hills valleyes At his onely wil pleasure is the sincere vnderstanding of the scriptures and true interpretacion of the same 2 This booke is written within without The world coÌ„tayneth creatures visible and inuisible powers open hidden that men in theÌ„ should reade and vnderstand that there is a liuing God and that they should acknowledge him and worship him as the Lorde and creator of all The holy scripture hath hir figure history hir mistery and veritie hir parable plaine doctrine her night and day her letter and sence her voyce and word her flesh and spirit her shadow and cleare light her death and lyfe her law and gospell her Moyses and Christ to bring all men also vnto the knowledge of God 3 But that Booke is surely sealed with seauen stronge seales from the fleshlye vnderstanding of man not hauinge the spirite of Christ that he can neither vse the creatures of God a right nor yet perceiue the Scriptures according to their true meanning Muche hath the doctours fantasied of these seuen claspes or spearynges of thys booke wythout the aucthoritie of Gods word calling theÌ„ all maner of obscurities darkenesses Where as in verie déed they are nothing els but the strong and vnuariable decrée or set diffinition of God before the constitucion of the world that none should be able to read rightly therin nor know the iust meaning therof without the spirit of his sonne and vnles it be méekly asked in faith And this one decrée of god so oft locketh vp these heaueÌ„ly secrets froÌ„ maÌ„ as it findeth hym carnall couetous wilfull blinde malicious proude and false with such other lyke The number of seuen doeth onely respect the opening of the seales in all ages For in euery age hath God opened the trueth vnto some Godly men by his spirite with Abell and Enoch with Noe and Sem with Abraham and Iob with Moyses and Samuel with Dauid and Helias with Hieremie and Daniel with Iohn Baptist Peter 4 And I sawe sayeth S. Iohn a strong Angell which betokeneth euerie faithful minister of gods word coueting all men to be taught of god and sending them only vnto Christ for they are the Angels of the Lorde of hostes Which Angell cryed with a loude voyce with an earnest zeale of the glorie of God and with a feruent desire of his neighbours health 5 Who is worthie to opeÌ„ this booke and to vndoo the claspes thereof As though he should say None but he alone Séeke him therfore that he may open it vnto you els are yée lyke alwayes to be blynde foolishe and vnlearned lyers before the Lord séeme ye neuer so wyse eloquent and well learned in the sight of men 6 And in déede no man was founde able to doe it neyther in heauen nor in earth nor vnder the earth yet was there a diligent search made many did attempt it The Angels that by apostasie fell from God when they were in heauen wrought maistryes about it And in the earth héere the Philosophers among the Gentiles the religious fathers amoÌ„g the Iewes the Pharisies and Scribes the lawyers and priests and amoÌ„g the Christians the false Apostles Antichrists the Sophisters and Papists the sectes and scoole doctors with all the worldly wyse hath craftily compassed the thing Yea the messeÌ„gers of Sathan whose dampnation is certayne subtily to perswade and fraudelently to deceiue the innocent soules haue also done their parte But what hath folowed After their vayne enterpryse they haue bene so astonyed at the maiestie or sight of the booke that neyther were they able to open it nor yet to looke thervpon So high were the mysteries thereof so vnserchable the iudgements so inuestigable the wayes therevnto 7 And I fell in sore wéeping sayth Sainct Iohn muche dolour was it to my heart to see that none was found worthie no creature able neyther Angell nor man good spirit nor diuil to open and to read the booke which is cléerely to know the will of God therein nor yet once to looke therevpon that is sincerely to perceyue the least veritie coÌ„tayned therin No creature vnderstanding could attayn vnto it All were ignorant all darke all blynde 8 And as I was thus mournyng one of the elders euen Iacob by name comforted mée with his prophecie of Iuda Esay Micheas Esdras bearing witnesse to the same 9 These with other ascertained me that he was the Lyon of the Trybe of Iuda which should ouercome the world haue the victorie ouer death and hell for in déed they with Abraham sawe it a farre of and much reioysed He is the strong inuincible Lyon that subdued the prince of this world tooke from him the pray and hathe deuyded the spoyle 10 He is the verie roote of Dauid the ground and originall cause of all godly promises made vnto him of deliuerance victorie and raygne and alone in him are they fulfilled Only hath he obtayned by his death resurrection and ascension to make open the hydden mysteries of thys booke or whole ordinaunce of God and to loose the seuen seales thereof or to take away the vniuersall impediments wherby the said booke could in no case be séene as is carnalitie ignorance darkenesse blindenesse wilfulnesse couetousnesse malice hypocrisie lyes with such lyke So was it afore speared by the decrée of God that none could reade in it till he remoued the vntowardnesse from their heartes 11 All this I beheld saieth S. Iohn and as I looked further I sawe that in the midst of the seate which is the vniuersall congregation of God of the foure beasts which are the constaunt ministers of his worde also in the middest of the auncient elders whych hath bene the sincere witnesses of hys veritie since the beginning 12 There stood a fayre méeke most innocent Lambe as though he had bene newly slain I knew that Christ was this Lambe for he was wounded for
our offences tooke away the sinnes of the world He was that méek Lambe prefigured in the law whom the faithfull fathers so earnestly desired He was that gentle Lamb that was caried away to be slayne and that opened not his mouth before the shearer This Lambe standeth vp euermore for vs before God as our onely medyator aduocate peace maker Sauiour helper counsellour defender and teacher 13 This Lambe had seuen hornes which betokeneth his stronge and infinit power vertue victory kingdom glory bounteousnesse and maiestie with such lyke and in the whole his vniuersall reigne 14 He had also seauen eyes whiche are all the powers graces fruites of the holy ghost called héere the seuē spirits of God For so much as they are the singuler gifts of him whiche is his essenciall spirit And them he hath sent by his apostles other godly preachers into the seuen climates of the erth or vniuersal world the people with them to be replenished These are wisdome vnderstandinge counsell strength knowledge pittie the fear of god These are also loue ioy peace pacience gentlenesse goodnes fayth méekenesse long suffering cleannes and temperance with diuersitie of tongues interpretacion prophecie cures healings miracles and iudgement of spirits 15 And the sayd Lambe came foorth as one through méekenesse hauyng victorie ouer sinne death hell hée reuerently tooke the sayd booke from the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne Which made me anon to consider that the heauenly father had giuen vp vnto him the whole admynistration of his spirituall kingdom with all aucthoritie power in heauen and earth to open or to speare to choose or to reiect to take or to refuse to saue or to loose to rewarde or to dampne For he it was that first opened the vnderstanding of men that they might perceyue the scriptures He it was that sent the holy spirite of God to deduce them into all veritie and gaue them grace to instructe all people He it is also that shall thorowe them into euerlasting fire with the diuil his Angels that resist the same THE TEXT 1 And when he had taken the booke the liij beastes and the .xxiiij. elders 2. fel dovvn before the Lambe hauing harpes 3. golden vialles full of odours vvhich are the prayers of the Saincts 4. they sung a nevv song saying 5 Thou arte vvorthie to take the booke 6. and to open the seales therof 7. For thou wert killed 8. and hast redemed vs by thy bloud out of all kinreds tongs and people and nacions 9. and hast made vs vnto our God Kings and priestes 10. and vve shall reigne on the earth The Paraphrase 1 And when he had receyued the sayd booke of the hande of God with full authoritie and power the iiij beasts or the present protestours of the veritie here liuing in the world and the xxiiij Elders or auncient witnesses of the same departed cleane from thys worlde as were the olde fathers the Patryarkes Prophetes and Apostles méekly submitted them selues before the Lamb much reioysinge in his triumphant victorye for them 2 They fell downe before him they praysed hym they worshipped hym they gaue thanks and recognised him for their mercifull Lorde and Sauiour hauing in their handes harmonious harpes which there represented the melody of their faithfull soules or the inward reioyce that they had in faith of the eternal verytie of god For that is the agréeable concord and swéet harmony that he most delighteth in And as well had they harpes that were long afore Christe as had they that folowed hym the effecte of hys death being equall to them both So wel reioysed Abraham which saw him a farre of as did Iohn Baptist which shewed him persent 3 Each one of them had also in hys hand a golden viall full of swéete odours whiche is a faithfull harte to God full of swéete desires and wholsome praiers whiles they liued here And these vessels of prayer or harts of the faithfull beléeuers couetinge mercy to themselues and all other were very precious pleasaunt and beautifull in the sighte of the Lorde which onely desireth the harte 4 They sang also with their instruments a new songe of reioyce recording the great benefit of God They vttered the glad tidinges of peace They published the Gospel of Christ. They told of his comming They declared him present past This songe was euer new vnto flesh bloud It séemed very strange yea and folish to the children of this worlde yet is it the power of God vnto saluation for euery one that beléeueth Now it is also for so much as it nothing alloweth in our aged man of sinne but alwayes calleth vpon renouation in the spirite 5 This was the conclusion of that song Thou alone swéete Lord sayde they art founde worthye to take the Booke to receiue power and administration of the kingdome of God 6 Thou only art able to opē the seale◠thereof to take from vs all impediments of darknesse hypocrisie lyes ignoraunce wilfulnesse blindnesse and sinne and to deduce vs into all godly knowledge 7 For thou wert not only despised and wounded but most cruelly slaine for our offences whereby thou hast obtained our perpetuall peace and attonement with god 8 Thou hast clerely redéemed vs out all spirituall bondage by the price of thy bloude and by the vertue of thy passion and death thou hast gathered vs together into one kingdom of God from all the nacions of the world and hast chosen vs out of all kinreds languages peoples of the vniuersall earth Thou hast made vs also pertakers with thée in thy peculyer vnction that we are now called Christians 9 Thou hast annoynted vs Kinges by the gift of true faith to haue victory ouer sinne death the deuil and cōsecrate vs priests by the grace of thy holy spirite to offer vp our selues and vndefiled sacrifice vnto our euerlasting God So that we are now the chosen kinred the kingely pristhoode the holy generation the peculyer peple that should manifest the workes of thée which hast called vs out of darknesse into the merueilous light 10 And by the benifit of thy onely grace and goodnesse we shall raigne prosperously on the earth not héere wher as is sorow care penury scarsnesse and death but our porcion shal be in the pleasant land of the lyuing where as is the peace ioy tranquilitie comfort and life euerlasting THE TEXT 1 And I behelde 2. And herde the voyce of many angelles about the throne and about the beastes and the elders 3. And I harde thousand thousandes saying with a loude voyce 4. Worthye is the Lambe that was killed to receaue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honoure and glorye and blessinge 5. And all creatures vvhiche are in Heauen 6. And on the earth 7 And vnder the earth 8 And in the sea and all that are in
of Caunterburie with Antichristes sinagoge of sorcerers sate in coÌ„sistorie against Christes doctrine in Iohn Wycleue Mark the yeare day and houre and ye shall wonder at it 2 The Gospell once preached and the veritie sincerely opened whose nature is to condempne their supersticions the earthly and carnall Antychristes swell fret and waxe mad they threaten curse and blaspheme they runne vpon the faithfull mynisters with terror crueltie fiercens hauing at their hand the ayde of wicked princes and blynde gouernours Such a terrible earth quake was the general counsel of Constance against Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prage and here in EnglaÌ„d against the King when he set foorth the Gospell the sedicious rising of Lincolneshere and the traiterous vprore of Yorkshiere in their pylgrimage without grace where as neyther wanted the false counsayle of Byshoppes the riches of Abbeyes benifices nor yet the cruell harts of priests A thousand bowes and as many billes beside other weapons were there among priestes and religious to one poore Testament of Christ to subdue the veritie Yet hath the Lambe ouercomen them and declared their great wisedome in that enterpryce foolishnesse lyke as he did also in Germanie among them which maintayned the same spirituall quarell Yet is not this earth quake pacifyed but styll they ryse vp agaynst Christ and his word and dayly they counsayle togither to condempne his trueth that wée should know him to be the signe of contradiction the stumbling stone and the rock of reproch 3 The Sunne appeared so blacke as a sacke cloth made of heaire What though Christ being the cléere sonne of ryghtuousnesse and the shynyng Image of God can not bée darke in him selfe no more then can the materiall son in his owne nature yet may his clerenesse beholdeÌ„ from vs by the mystes of false doctryne lyke as is the sunnes brightnesse by the shadow of the cloudes For the more men delight in ceremoniall tradicions the blynder they are and the lesse knowledge they haue of God To them séemeth not Christ the fayrest amonge men well coloured and beutifull and gentle as a Lambe but ill fauored blacke and stubborne And therefore they haue no mynde to hym They rather séeke helpe health and light of other then of him They think it much better to pray to dead Sainctes and offer to Idolles then to call vpon God â—n spirite veritie and to helpe theyr â—oore neighbour at his néede More â—leasure they haue to followe mens â—reames theÌ„ the veritie of God For â—hat is to theÌ„ blacke as the heiry sacke doth It is dark rough foolishe vnto â—hem they can perceiue no beutie in 〈◊〉 â— The Moone became altogither as â—lud The church being somtime fair â—s the Mone taking hir light of christ 〈◊〉 now waxed all carnal Now is shée taught onely of flesh and bloud refusing the doctrine of God his spirite Now reigneth euerie where the corrupt fantasies of men a fewe places excepte And sure we are that neither flesh nor bloud shall obtayne the kingdome of God Neuerthelesse yet all the world hath not peryshed in thys bloudie church Alwayes hath there bene some that hath had the spirite of the childreÌ„ of God what though they haue erred sore in many thinges Though Benedict Bernarde Bruno Alberte Francis and Dominicke with many such other were farre out of square from the rule of Christes Gospell yet doubt I it not but the mercie of God hath saued theÌ„ through faith for Iesus Christes sake In the middest of false doctrine and diuilishe tradicions hee hathe preserued them lyke as hée preserued the thrée children in Daniell from the heate of the burning fornace Though all at that tyme were bloud through cruell decrées yet were not all men so taken afore God for then should none haue bene saued none should haue possessed his heauenly kingdome 5 And the starres from heauen fell downe vpon the earth The ministers of Gods word which should declare his rightuousnesse and be the lightes of the world were fallen from the heauenly doctryne of Christ and from the sincere scriptures to worldly learnyng and earthly fantasies Nothing can be more euident then thys specially to them that hathe redde the tryfling workes of the Sophisters sentencyoners schoole doctours Canonistes and summystes As are Dons Dorbell and Durande Thomas of Aquine Gerarde and Gyles of Rome Bonauenture BacoÌ„thorpe and Guido Caldrinus Bobius and Baldus Panormius Rosellus and Roxius with an infinite rable of such dyrtie dottages and filthie dregges Besides the great heape of the foolishe sermons of Barnardyne and Uincent Pomerij and Soccij Mallyard and Barlet De voragine and de Hungaria Discipuli and Dormi secure Uade mecunt and Rapiunt hinc inde with all such beastly beggerie and lousie learning 6 These stars hath thus myserably of a loÌ„g tyme fallen lyke as doth the infected figges when the figge trée is shaken of a mightie strong wynd FouÌ„d fickle vanities desire of worldly promotions feare to haue displeasure of friendes aduersitie vexation and trouble with such other blastes here hath caused the vnprofitable instructers of the people to fall from Gods heauenly veritie vnto fables lyes tryfles and most pestilent wicked errours 7 So that heauen hath vanished away from them as doeth a scroule when it is rolled vp togither True preaching of the word which is very heauen hath bene withdrawen the veritie hath bene closed vp Christ hathe take his leaue the spirite of God hath forsaken them the sincere faith hath fayled Christian workes hath decaied wheÌ„ their dark diuinity dead ceremonies crooked customes of their fathers hath bene in place Nothyng hath remayned spirituall Godly heauenly holy rightuous holsome nor worthie our christian vocacion among their solempne shadows and sacred sorceryes If it hathe it was neuer yet séene And that know they full well which hath vnfaynedly receiued Christes Gospell 8 All mountaynes and yles were remoued from their places Not onely the high mynded Antichristes but also the dyssembling hypocrites are enforced many tymes against their willes compelled by the open veritie and euident scriptures to deny that afore they highlye affyrmed and to graunt that afore they highly denyed The Bishop of Roome was afore Gods vicar head of the church hée is now neither of both They had somtyme a purgatorie nowe they haue none Pardons are forgotten pylgrimage is not spokeÌ„ of Faith in Christ now iustifieth without their vayne will workes They haue put man to death for that they now affyrme yet are they not ashamed of that cruell murther I hope in a while they shall out of more places and graunt will they nill they to more christian veryties though theyr selues be neuer the nigher saluacion for that they doe it not of good will but compelled 9 The Kings of the earth more looking for theyr owne prehemynence then for
haue Gods word Christ wylled all faythfull beléeuers to searche the Scriptures to vnderstand the prophecies and to perceiue the misteries of theÌ„ And for the performance of hys wyll therin he hath sent in this age this peculyer Angell beside the common preachers betokning those singuler lerned meÌ„ whoÌ„ now he hath endueâ— with most high knowledge Of their hands he mâ—ndeth vs to receiue the scriptures and not of the blasing star nor yet of the smoky Locustes Their faithfull sincere and godly interpretacions he willeth vs to take specially in bookes for so much as in person they can in no wyse be euery where present for that it is a booke heere named For by them in these dayes doeth he make open his sauing health and in the sight of all people declareth his rightuousnesse Let theÌ„ therefore whose hartes God moueth to instruct other in the wayes of the Lorde diligently peruse the labours of such whom he hath so plentuously replenished with his spirite But in thus dooing let them not to much depend vpoÌ„ no mans person but proue all things by the scriptures least they fall into errours as other hath done afore for so dooyng Uerye lightly is he deceiued that measureth the veritie by mans iudgements In the search therefore of godly mysteries not the wit nor the learning of the man is to be sought but rather the right meaning of God working in the man 3 This Angell standeth vpon the sea and vpon the lande As well is the true messenger of God for the weak as for the strong for the low as for the high for the poore as for the riche for the simple as for the learned for the sicke as for the whole for the foule as for the fayre Yea and rather for them than the other hauing his right foote vpon the water 4 And I sayeth S. Iohn obeying the voyce of the Lord or the heauenly mocion of his spirit went vnto the Angell and instantly desired hym to giue me that little swéete booke 5 None other is this booke theÌ„ the holy scripture whose openynge is a pure and right interpretation therof This he receiueth open at his hand which diligently readeth or heareth any sincere declaration of it by anye faithfull minister None other is this booke fitte for nor none other retayneth it in this age but meeke Iohns or men of a gentile spirit hauing the grace of God and obeying his heauenly voice For the wicked must euer be blinde Wisdom shall not enter into a froward soule nor dwel in the body that is giuen to sin Iohn went to the Aungell and receyued the booke for hée that will séeke shall fynde 6 For the Angel said vnto him Take it vnto thée eate it vp cleane The belly shall it make very bitter but it will be in the mouth so swéete as hony With good harte ought the scriptures to be receyued of all men in faith deuoured in a pure loue disgested In continual studie meditacion therof ought ech maÌ„ after his calling to perseuer the King in his raign the Iudge in his office the merchaunt in his occupying the labourer in hys worke the maryner vpon the sea and the bishop in his cure Nothing but idelnesse worketh the man which hath it not grafted within him though he both fast pray Uayne are all polycies actes constitucions and lawes wtout it For it is the life of our soules the lanterne of our féete the light of our passage and rule our workes 7 Bitter it is in the belly swéete in the mouth When the knowledge of trueth is is once receyued and surely setteled in the harte it engendreth a spiritie of indignation and a zeale of God very bitter agaynst all wickednesse It maketh vs with Ieremie to detest all vice and with Ezechiell to abhorre all sinne It prouoketh vs also with Moyses Helias Dauid and the Prophets gréeuously to complayne of the worldes abhominations with Christ his Apostles dolorously to lament the sore decaye of the wicked 8 Yet is nothing so swéet in the mouth as it is Nothing was to Paule so delicious when he once sauored it No nothing so pleasauÌ„t Neither colours of rhetorike paintings of poets wisedome of Philosophers nor holy tradicions of fathers coulde then delight him All were but darnal tares stubble chaffe filth rust dreames lyes and vnprofitable vanities Nothyng was in his mouth than but that delectable veritie that swéet Gospell of God That tooke hée with hym as the vessel of election in many an hard iorney and beare it foorth before the gentiles the kings the children of Israell yea for that to dye he thought it than aduauntage 9 And I tooke the little booke sayth sainct Iohn out of the Angels hande with méeknesse I receiued the scriptures of God I did eate it vp clean I dygested them in faith 10 And it was in my mouth so swéet as hony Oh how delicious saith Dauid are thy sayings vnto my throte More dulcet then honye are thy wordes Lord to my mouth 11 So soone as I had eaten it sayth Sainct Iohn so soone as I had incorporate it in my mynde rooted it in my soule my bellye was bitter my harte was gréeued much to sée the euils of the world my spirit was troubled to see the abusions of men and much I pittied the losse of their soules 12 Yet dyd not the Angell so leaue me but he said thus vnto me Thou must prophecie again amoÌ„g the people 13 As thou hast receyued thou must reÌ„der as thou hast bene taught thou must teach againe least thou hyding the treasure of thy Lord become an vnprofitable seruaunt 14 Thou must publish the trueth to the vnbeleuers thou must open it to people of dyuers nacions languages and finally manifest it to Kings of many regions that they sée theyr people instructed in the same As a truÌ„pet therefore exalt thy voyce shewe fréely the ioyfull message of saluatioÌ„ Refuse none that will come vnto it poore nor blynde halte nor lame CoÌ„sider that no man lighteth a candle to hyde it but to set it vp that men may see by it None other are fit to prophecie but they whiche haue deuoured the booke They must now declare the gospell in this latter age of the church by the appointment of the Lord. For necessarie it is that by the strength thereof all pryde of this worlde and blasphemie agaynst God bée distroyed ¶ In the nexte volume shall follow the reste The second part of the Image of both Churches after the most wonderfull and heauenly reuelation of Saint Iohn the Euangelist c. Compiled by Iohn Bale The same Disciple whom Iesus loued hath witnessed and written these things and vve knovve that hys testimonie is true Ioannes .xxj. ¶ A small Preface vnto the Christian Reader IN the first part or volume of thys
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
should speake 3. And should cause that as many as vvould not vvorship the Image of the beast should be killed 4. And he made all both small great rich and poore free and bond 5. To receiue a mark in their right hands 6. Or in their foreheads 7. And that no man might bye and sell. 8. Saue he that had the mark 9. Or the name of the beast 10. Either the number of his name The Paraphrase 1 For power they haue to geue spirite to the Image of the beast It is surely geuen them of the deuil whaÌ„ they haue once fashioned out the beasts right image or made of an emperor a tiraunt or set in the place of godly gouernour a cruell murtherer vp of gods people by flattering prayses to encourage them to al mischiefe and by wicked counsell to prick theÌ„ forwarde to make cruell actes of murther for vpholdinge their beastly generation The spirit that they do minister vnto Princes euermore is not the correction of sin the amendement of lyfe redresse of the common wealth prouision for the poore nor the séeking of Gods glorye But by flatteringe praises to vpholde theÌ„ in their euils much after this sorte of speakinge Your maiesties or graces are called most vertuous moste valiant most worthy most wise most mighty best learned among al christen poteÌ„tates Thei are al but aâ—es in coÌ„parisoÌ„ to your worthinesses If it be your maiests plesure to do this or that within youre owne dominioÌ„ who shall be so bolde to withstande you No though Gods holy lawes be an hundred times against it Sopport the olde religion of holy church against the heriticks ye cannot choose but prosper in all your affaires Let it be treason against your owne persons according to the actes of the Emperour Sigismundus and of King HeÌ„ry the fift if they do but once speake against hir corrupt customes Make cruel constitutions a pace proclaim them abroad to shew your selues the popes liuely Images 2 Our office it is to cause the beastes Image to speake Let therfore your voyces be heard Be no domb idoles but speak with bold stomaks In his spirit make vtterance without gods word of his old romish rules Send forth your proclamacioÌ„ to be published eueri where coÌ„cerniÌ„g his masses his confessions his ceremonies and his whorish chastitie Let al things be blowen forth vnder your titles names auctoryties to be obserued vnder pain of death If other relmes report that ye abuse the duty of emperours or kinges which is the office of god estéeme not their sayings but stand wel in your owne coÌ„ceits Interpret the scriptures at your owne lust pleasures as your law master of Rome hath done afore your time 3 Cause so many to be killed as wil not worship the Image of the beast or obey such wicked lawes against the veritie of god as hath bin made by those Emperours that were the pops eldest sonnes by the kings of FraÌ„ce which were his yonger sons or by other princes els which were the defenders of his church let none escap your haÌ„ds that inueieth against our kiÌ„gdoÌ„e but make hauok of theÌ„ on euery side as of heriticks traytours to proue the holy ghost true here in his foreiudgemeÌ„ts For that is your office not appointed of god but of sathan And in our coÌ„mission froÌ„ him also we haue it to be no slake mouers of you therevnto So hath Christ tould afore in this reuelation vnto S. Iohn the Euangelist This is the Ghoostelye councsell that we the horned beasts haue in commission to geue vnto you from the mouth of the Dragon WheÌ„ such an Image or Idoluse prince is thus vp set or constituted by authoryty his oth once mad that he shall al waies defend theÌ„ he may in no wise speake but out of that spirit that their coÌ„iurers confessours I should saye haue put into him He mai make no lauws but at their spiritual appointment like as the Emperour Carolus doth now in these daies Much after this sort became the emperour Nero this beastes image immediatly after Christes ascention by the subtil flaights of that spiritual sorcerer Simon Magus at Rome to withstand the Christen preachers Peter Paule as largely witnesseth Egisippus in his thirde booke de HierosolimoruÌ„ excidio the ii chap. This Simon Magus by flateringe praises crepte firste into his fauer promising him health long life increace of power enlargemeÌ„t of his empyre with coÌ„tinuall victory ouer his enemies in case he would folow his counsel vpon this became he not only his chiefe counseller but also the high bishop of his soule conseruatour of his body the preseruacion of his whole health and life to him committed only All thinges after that was done by his counsell to stop the Apostles preaching he taken for the emperours most familiar friend and a man most profitable to the coÌ„mon wealth of the Romans they soone after supprssed and put vnto moste cruel death 4 And he made all saith saint Iohn both greate and small rich poore free and bonde to receaue a marke in their right handes or in their foreheds When this new raised Image of the beast or sworne power to Antichrist is once raised vp or admitted by their authoritye be he Kinge or Keyser Prince or other Potentate he must stronglye defende that sinagoge of the diuell with whole maiestie crowne and scepture By their only counsel must he theÌ„ make lawes for they must geue him spirit and send his commaundementes abrode that their holy decrées be obserued CoÌ„misioners and visitours must out vnder the auctorytie as wel to the clergy as laite TheÌ„ must al be sworn to it and so obey it both high lowe both gentleman yeoman both owner and farmar both citizen townsman both marchant and plowman both maister seruant both natiue dweller and denison Yea both priestes in their colleges monks in their abbayes chanons in their couents fryers in their cloysters must after their sort do the same This rule hath bin alwaies for the commoditie of that kingdome where as the powers haue bin thus by theÌ„ peruerted Much were it to shew the manifolde examples in that behalfe Charles the v. now Emperour to make this good and to shew him selfe to be the sayd beastes Image caused such actes to be publyshed throughout his whole dominion against the christen doctrine wherin al they ar declared heritiks scismatiques excoÌ„municats which taketh not the pope for S. Peters only vicare head of the christen church none excepted neither king nor coruester as there are now diuers of the contrary opinion The articles of the Louanians vnder his priueledge the actes of the Parisians vnder the French kings auctoryty proclaymed in this preseÌ„t yeare of our lord a M. D. xlv wil make al this matter good 5 And what is this els both in their clergy and coÌ„mons but to receyue a marke in theyr ryght haÌ„des or foreheads for in admitting those
tormeÌ„t ascendeth vp euermore as the flame of a fornace with most horible stinke for a perpetual signe of their punishmeÌ„t like as it dyd froÌ„ Sodome Gomor when the Lorde ouerthrew them 2 So that they haue no rest neyther day nor night so mani as worship the beast his image receuiÌ„g the priÌ„t of his nam 3 Both in this lyfe are they cruciate with a troublous and doubtfull conscience and also after this life with vnspekeable paynes For neither shal their worm dye nor yet their fyre be queÌ„ched all flesh abhorring theÌ„ 4 Thus shal they be with the beast tormeÌ„ted which haue the spirite of the beast For like as al the faithful which hath ben from the beginning belongeth to one misticall body in Christe and shal be preserued by him so doeth the wicked perteine to one misticall Antichrist hauing al one spirit with him and so shall with him perish 5 Here is the pacience of the saynts In this life ar their troubles no plesure is for them in this world but hate rebukes slaunders lies persecutions and death of their bodyes Their life vpon earth is continuall affliction but gloryous is the fruite of their labours Manifold are the misfortunes of the rightuous but the Lord cleareth them of all 6 Here are they vexed that kepe the commaundements the fayth of Iesu Here are they had in derision that behaue theÌ„selues as the ministrs of god in much patieÌ„ce afflictioÌ„s néede anguish labour stryps imprisonment and such lyke 7 Here are they chastened of the LORDE with many sore storms that they should not be damned with this world Much haue they héere to suffer of enemies that onely cleueth to the word of god in life doctrine THE TEXT 1. And I heard a voyce from heauen saying vnto me 2. Write 3. Blessed are the dead which hereafter dye in the Lord 4 euen so saith the spirit that they may rest froÌ„ their labours 5. But their vvorkes shall follovve them The Paraphrase 1 And I heard a voyce from heaueÌ„ saith S. Iohn saying vnto me 2 Wryte with penne or marke suerly this sentence following for them that here suffer in the truthes quarell 3 Blessed are the dead or they which are already departed and that also shal heereafter depart in the Lorde This voyce from heauen are the infallible scriptures ascertaining the faith of Iohn of the swéete rest of the saintes in the hands of God And that their ende is not without honour as the vain sort supposeth but they are couÌ„ted among the dere children of God Let theÌ„ therefore that suffer in this age be earnestly sprited not feare the tormeÌ„ts of the enimies in Christes cause 4 For from hence forth the spirit saith that they rest froÌ„ their labours In a woÌ„derfull quietnesse dwel they by the very sentence of the holy Ghost shall neuer more féele of any woo God hath clean wiped away al tears froÌ„ their eyes all sorrowes paynes from their bodies the first daungers being â—ast Happy are they therefore and moste godly fortunate that are slaine for Christ bicause they wil not worship the beast his Image nor corrupt their faith with their wicked lawes but in a pure christian beleue departeth froÌ„ hence to the Lord. Theyr portion is in the land of the liuing and their lot among the holy ones 5 For certainly their works doth folow them The promised rewarde of God for constantly standing by the veritie for the fruites of their christian patience for other exercise of theyr fayth is euermore to their glory present with theÌ„ Not as deserued of theÌ„ but of Christe in whose fayth they wrought here for the promise sake that they should be gods heyres togither with Christ. The lyuely word also which they earnestly receyued héere and so rooted in their faith wil neuer suffer them to perishe nor to be hurte of the second death THE TEXT 1 And I looked and beholde 2. a vvhyte cloude 3. and vpon the cloude one sitting lyke vnto the sonne of man 4. hauyng on his head a golden crovvn 5. and in his hand a sharpe sickle The Paraphrase 1 I looked yet further saith S. Iohn and euidently before me appeared a whyte cloude which betokeneth the true ministers of Gods word Whom the holy ghost calleth clouds by Esay Dauid Peter Iudas For from theÌ„ falleth vpon the people the swéete droppes of his verities 2 White they are as milk for their faith in the word and for their christian conuersation not blotted with hipocrisie of meÌ„s corrupted customes 3 Upon this cloude was one sittyng lyke vnto the sonne of man whiche is verely Christ in his glorified maÌ„hood For euermore is he among hys true preachers gyuyng them suche vtteraunce and wisedome as all theyr enymies are not able to withstande Alwayes walketh he among the vij candelstickes which are his congregations as we had afore 4 He had vpon his heade a golden crowne in token of his eternall and vncorrupte kingdome and in hys hand a sharpe sickle which is the sharp iudgement or rightuousnesse of hys worde for there with shall hée reape his latter haruest According to hys worde and promyse shall hee iudge good and euill 5 This sickle receyued he of hys euerlasting father suche tyme as hée gaue ouer vnto hym hys vniuersall iudgements By the order of this vision should the preachers séeme in the last age of the church much to admonish the people of the latter day with the commyng of Christe agayne to iudge both the quicke and the deade as is in their créede or beléeue THE TEXT 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2. crying with a loude voyce to hym that satte on the cloude 3. Thrust in thy sikle and reape 4. for the tyme is come to reape 5. For the corne of the earth is rype 6. And he that satte on the cloude 7. thrust in his sickle on the earth 8. and the earth vvas reaped The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angell sayth sainct Iohn came out of the temple which is the congregation of fayth consecrated as an holy temple vnto God in the bloud of the vndefiled Lambe Iesus This Angell betokeneth those iust men that with Symeon and Anna the doughter of Phanuell in thys latter age are desirous of the glory of God and of the finall redemption of man from bodily corruption 2 These shal cry with a loude voice with a feruent spirite shall they call vnto Christ which sitteth vpon the cloude 3 And thys shall bée theyr saying Thrust in the sickle and reape Send foorth thy lyuing word And lyke as it hath created all things so let it now trye and iudge all things 4 For the tyme is at hand to reape For we are those vpon whoÌ„ the ends of the world are come 5 And doutlesse the corne of the earth is ripe the worlde is at the best that it wil be As it hath bene euer so is it stil altogether set vpon
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
beleue his word which are the déere members of hys mitticall body No blasphemies false myracles lyes nor obprobryous slaunders rebukes spare they to blemish thy opinion to the worlde besides the most cruell kyndes of death The captaine of this wicked army is that tirrible beast whom Danyell also beheld in a vysiō with yron téeth deuouring and with nayles of brasse distroying and stamping the residue vnder hys féete 7 This horrible beast saith S. Iohn this filthy body of Antichrist comprehending all the great aduersaries of the Lord was taken sodainly 8 And with hym the false Prophet or beast rysing out of the earth betokening his false preachers 9 Which wrought vayne myracles before him as did Iannes Iambres the sorcerers of Egipt before Pharao in counterfaiting Moyses and Aaron Yea by their trāsubstauntiaciōs they can take from bread the substaūce the accydents still remayning They can hold the shadow whan the body is gone besides that they can doe in Purgatorie and hell by theyr sacrifices of satisfaction 10 With such deceitful myracles and lying signes shall those be deceyued by them that hath by a false beleue receiued into theyr cōsciences the vnwholsome mark of the beast or such a corrupt fayth as shall cause their damnacion 11 And they in lyke case shal be seduced by thē that hath worshipped the beastly Image of that great Antichriste or inclyned to any worldly potentate in the vpholdinge of hys false religion So sealed Cayphas the hartes of the wauerynge multytude of the Iewes wyth that markynge yron of Sathan that they coulde be but hys ministers In no case coulde they saue Iesus but Barrabas the murtherer Though they receiued him ioyfully not long afore into the citie with Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini yet could they at that time but crye Crucifige Crucifige eum No they had powre to doe none other but to crucifie him in déede whiche is to worship the beastes Image or to folow the wicked intēt of that beastly generation as their faithfull clyants doth yet still to this day 12 Both these twayne saith the text the head and the body the beast with hys false prophete were cast quicke by the mighty iudgment of god into a déepe lake of most terrible fyre boylynge with stinkinge brimstone For vnbewares shall destruction light vpon that cursed generatiō according to the faithfull request of Dauid and sodenly shal they fall into their owne mischiefe 13 Without warning shall the great day of the Lordes indignation light vpon them and bring thē to nought for euer Hastely shall death attache thē for their wickednesse sake and quicke shall they droppe into hel with Chore Dathan and Abyron As a waightye stone or leade shall they sinke to the bottome and the pit shal swallowe them vp for their exceding rebellion For like as they stode vp against Moyses Aaron so hath this beastely generatiō against God and his Christ. Therfore are they here specifyed after a moste strange terrible sort to be throwen foorth For thrée causes may it be that they are called here quick One is in that their stinking remnaunt shall at that dreadfull daye bée a liue after the doctrine of Paule An other in that they haue wilfully vpon a set mallyce resisted the knowen verytie detortinge it to their owne propre lust If I had not sayth Christ done among them such workes as neuer man did they should be fautelesse But they haue certienly knowen thē yet haue they hated both me and my father The Paganes not beleuing are iudged all ready and go to hell dead where as they knowing the will of their Lorde and not doeing it shall after an other sort be plaged Fyre shall they haue with heate and brimstone with stinke The thirde is in that they shall haue palpable darkenesse with weping and gnashinge of téethe their worme neither dying nor yet their fyre going out And lyke as the Diuell was throwne forth at the death of Christ and soone after that the prelates and Pharises of the Iewes as the head with the body so shall at that tyme Antichrist with his church the Pope with his clergy and Mahomete with his sectes as the head with the body also 14 The residue sayth saynt Iohan as Kinges captaynes strong weake high lowe greate and small were slaine with the sharpe two edged sword of hym that yet to this houre sytteth vpō the horse which is Christ Iesus in the gloryfied nature of his manhode 15 This mighty sworde proceded out of his reuerende mouth For it is the stronge worde of him that lyueth for euer and hath in it both sprit and life Necessary it is for thē that hath bene eyther seduced by their crafts or coacted by their threateninges to be towched with his sword For he that is not therby slayne from sinne the world shall not ryse vp to the lyfe which is in Christ. Hée that is not with hym dead from the ordinaunces of menne but styll is ledde with tradicions can not be clere from the cursse nor yet be the heyre of promise Therfore must they be slayne dead with this sword eyther to repentaunce amendement of life or else by the harde iudgements of the same to eternall dampnation 16 Which waye so euer it be all the aforesayd foules or peoples whome God hath raysed from this worlds affections shall be fulfylled with their fleshe Whether they be saued or dāpned they wil most highly reioyse cōsidringe it is the pleasure of GOD. Both wayes shall they be satisfied I◠they be saued than must they be glad for that their number is so muche the more increased and for the their selues hath escaped lyke daunger If they bée dampned than must they reioyce also to se the right iustice of God For the rightuous shall make mirth beholding the vengeaunce and shall washe their handes in the bloud of the wicked all fleshe abhorring to loke vpon them The xx Chapter THe laste enterprise of Sathan the common aduersary of mā doth this chapter folowing declare fetching an originall from the béeginning of Christes spiritull kingdōe to conclude with the whole for our necessarie instruction As a briefe rehearsall of all that is in a maner spoken afore was this vnto Iohn leaste hée shoulde of obliuiousnesse forget as mannes nature is forgetful these wōderfull misteries and singuler premonishments of the Lorde most expediēt to be knowen of his church That she might by them s◠aforehande the wily craftes of the diuell and his members and to beware of them Besids that to take courage patiently to suffer their cruell persecucions For a thing oft rehersed departeth not so soone the memory as that is but once tolde Which caused this Euangelist not onely here in this place but also in his Gospell first Epistle ofte to repeate the sayinges least he shoulde seme fayntely to passe them ouer and bycause the reader shoulde the more earnestly marke them THE TEXT 1 And I savve an Angell
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
that we nowe haue of the sea shall cease in that day of the Lorde whan we shall beholde hym face to face No longer shall it be subdued vnto vanitie no more than the other creatures but clerely depured from fylthy corruption No more shall it be the same to sée to being frō thens forth so claer◠as cristall though it styll be the same in substaunce 6 Heauen earth the sea wyth all other creatures in mistery thus renewed I Iohan the sonne of Zebede the same dysciple whom Christ loued being here in exyle for hys worde testimony perceyued in the saue mystery by the singular gyfte of the spirite the the selfe holy cytie or congregation of the Lorde whych is worthely called the new Hierusalem of peace descended downe out of heauen from hir omnipotēt creator God eternall 7 Holy is this cyty For both is she here the vndefiled spouse of the lambe and shal be hereafter more perfectly in the regeneracion Here admytteth she nothing in faithe that is prohpane and carnal but cleaneth to his only worde There shal she folowe his steppes in a much more pure estate clearly delyuered from all that is ill 8 Here is she newe in that she hath here by his godly spririte done of the olde man wyth hys fylthy workes And ther shal she also be new through hys gifte by throwinge awaye the bodye of sinne wyth death and corrupcion 9 Hierusalem is she called both here and there or peceable city of the Lord in that all hir cytizens are here of one faith and ther shal be of one glorious vnity and concorde Here are hir dwellers citizens with the saintes the househould seruants of god Ther shall they be both hys chyldren and heires togyther wyth Christ. 10 From God came she downe and out of heauen fyrste of all Neyther out of flesh nor bloud hath spronge hir Christen beléeue but frō the gracyous openinge of the father which is in heauē That Hierusalem saith Paul which is frée our mother is from aboue She is that Cytie whose builder and maker is God With none other lawes is she gouerned but with hys eternall testament and Gospell of peace With the constitutions of men hath she nothing to doe be they neuer so holy and precious For alone she dependeth on God and hys spirite 11 Of hym is she prepared through the gyft of fayth She is clensed with the fountayne of water in the worde of lyfe to séeme a glorious congregation without blemysh or wrincle From hir sinnes is she purely washed in his bloud 12 And so garnyshed as a beutifull bryde to hir husbande with loue ioye peace paciēce méekenesse long suffering other glorious fruites of the spirit Upon thy right hand Lorde sayth Dauid standeth a quene in a garmēt of most fyne golde compassed with diuersitie But euery man shall not se this hir apparell for it wil be rather a rayment of the harte than of the outwarde body Figured was this decking of hir at large in the wonderfull adourning of the temple and tabernacle of God in the dayes of Moyses and Salomon whose mysticall meting also he describeth in his cantycles How maruelous this newe Hierusalē wyll be in the regeneration whan shée meteth hir spouse in the ayre and how glorious hir countinaunce wyth him it lyeth not in vs to declare in all poyntes considering that neyther eye hath séene nor eare harde neyther can the hearte coniecture what God hath there prepared for them that loue hym but of this are we sure that wyth the glorye of him she shal be replenished Here is hir estate vnperfect and there perfect here mortall there immortal here sower ther sweet here harde there pleasaunt here paynfull there dilectable here Godly there inestimable glorious 13 And as Iohn had séene these wonderfull thinges and mused much vpō them a great voyce came vnto hym from the seate of God declaring the mistery thereof I hard sayth he in the middest of this last reuelation as I was in doubt what it ment a mightie voyce from the throne of my euerlasting Lorde saying thus vnto mée 14 Beholde Ihon beholde marke it both for thyne owne erudicion and also for the instruction of others The holy tabernacle or restyng place of the euerlastinge God of heauen is wyth men in the worlde beneth Not onely in that the eternall sonne of the Lorde toke vpon him the shape of a man callyng it the temple of hys body but also in that the soule of euery faythfull man is become the habitacle of the holy ghost He that loueth me sayth Christ obserueth my word In hym will both I and my father prouide vs a resting place He that is in loue abideth in god and God dwelleth in hym 15 This voice might Iohn well heare from the mouth of God in Esechiell I will make sayth he ther a perpetuall couenaunt wyth man to dwell with hym euermore My tabernacle shal be amonge them So that I wyll be their God and they shal be my people 16 For why it foloweth here in this voyce that he hath determined of fauourable loue mercy to dwell with them assisting them here in thys lyfe by hys spirite and in the lyfe to come shall he satysfye them by his eternall presence For here doe we sée hym in a similytude farre of there shall wee beholde hym lyke as he is in dede and shall eternally reioyce therein 17 Here are they his people through fayth for Israell is his heritage There shall they be his familiar housholde through loue and he their Lord for euer Here shall they be his chyldren and he theyr eternall father Ther shall they be his heyers Christ being the right heyer for them all 18 Thus God his owne selfe of hys inestimable goodnesse being presētly with them shall here by his grace and therby inestymable benefites shewe him selfe in all poyntes to be theyr moste mercyfull and louing God Here doth he strongly assist thē agaynst all temptations of enimyes There shall be endue them wyth full perfection and clerenesse 19 So shall he be theyr god that neither here nor yet ther shal they knowledge any other but hym alone Hée shall so comfort them here by his spirite and ther by his glorious presēce that neyther shall they here forsake hym nor there be deuyded from hym 20 And thys euerlasting god shall so wype away all teares from their eyes here that no vexacion shall make thē sorowfull nor yet aduersitie pensyue But all maner of slaunders and persecutions shall they take for most suffren consolations for his names sake For if he be wyth them who can preuaile against them 21 And after that day can no wepings be whereas shal be full ioye with immortalitie both of soule and body Beholde sayth the Lorde in Esayes prophecye I shall make a ioyfull Hierusalem yea and my selfe will reioyce there with them From thence forth shall neyther waylyng nor weping be harde in hir
any more 22 In hir moreouer shall be no more death for it shall be destroyed for euer No more shal mennes consciences dispayre here But haue ioye in the holy ghost No more shal they die through sinne but lyue vnto God by fayth And there shall no more the rose coloured whore be dronken in the bloud of martyrs Hir tyrauntes shal be closed vp in the stinking lake of fyre from the slaughter of them they than becomming immortall and impossible Moreouer thaÌ„ this he that beléeueth in christ shal neuer die nor yet come into iudgement but passe cleane froÌ„ death vnto lyfe 23 Neyther shall there be any sorow nor crying any more For all maner of displeasure of the bodye as pouertye sicknesse losses emnytie vexacions and yll reportes are here paciently borne of the faythfull And ther shal be founde nothynge to minister any suche occasions Here is neyther age doubted nor yet persecution feared in them that reckeneth death aduantage hauinge in desire wyth Paule to be hence and wyth Christ. Nor yet shal be there where all is in ioye and peace durable for euer 24 Neyther shall there be felt any more payne Such hath bene the constauncye of the martirs here that litle haue the tormentes greued them Eleazarus paciently suffered all punyshmente Steuen reyosed to sée heauen open Andrewe woulde in no case be delyuered from deathe Laurentius offred his brent fleshe to be eaten The burnynge coles were so sweete vnto Tiburcius as the fragraunt roses So desyrous were the terryble tormeÌ„ts vnto Uincent as a moste pleasaunt banket Angelus desired the people in Sicilia to esteme the tyraunt hys frynde What the exceding constauncy was of Iohn Husse and Hieronime of Prage dyuers Chronycles mencyoneth And in our tyme George Baynham in the fyre dyd neuer complayne Ihon Frith neuer shewed him self once greued in countenaunce Barnes neuer moued as hys enymyes doth report Peter Franke in Colchester sang ioyfully to the Lorde The thrée young men of Southfolk reioysed at the death with such other many And how farre they shal be from paines after this the great daye of the Lorde shall declare 25 For the olde thynges are paste sayth the text All that afore was tedious heauy and fearefull to the flesh is nowe become easie light and pleasaunt through that they haue learned of Christ. His word refresheth them in spirit and is a swéet rest vnto their soules And in the regeneration shall hunger thirst werinesse labour heat colde rayne winde thunder earthquakes with all other discommodities be taken cleane from them Neyther shal they haue ther néede of meat nor drinke foode nor rayment beddes nor buildings féeldes nor medowes welspringes nor riuers gardens nor vineyardes The Text. 1 And he that sate vppon the seate sayde 2. Behold I make all thinges nevve 3. And he sayde vnto me 4 Wryte 5. for these vvordes are faythfull and true 6. And he sayde vnto me 7. it is done 8. I am Alpha and Omega 9. the beginning and the ende 10. I will giue to him that is a thirst 11. of the vvel of the vvater of lyfe free 12. He that ouercoÌ„meth shall inherite all thynges 13. I vvill be his God and he shall be my sonne 14 but the fearefull 15. vnbeleuing 16. the abhominable 17. murtherers 18. and vvhoremongers 19. and sorcerets 20. and Idolatrs 21. all lyars 22. shall haue their part in the lake 23. that burneth With fire and brimston 24. vvhich ys the seconde beath The commentary 1 And the omnypotent Lorde whych sate vpon the eternall throne concluded thus with me Hys holy spirite of promise assertayned my spyryte by hys heauenly word that all these thynges should be true 2 Behoulde sayth he I wyll make all thynges freshe and newe Heauen earthe the Sea and the vnyuersall Cytye of peace I wyll delyuer from all corrupcyon I make all pure cleane holy immortall vncorrupt impassible clere heauenly spirituall and glorious Neuer more shall they bee as they were afore whan they were yet olde Neuer shall be more eating nor drinking wyuing nor â—anketing traueling nor sléeping â—or other such doeinges pertayninge to the corruptible lyfe The rightuous shall than shyne as the red fyre sparkes So bright as the sunne shall they be in the kingdome of theyr father 3 Thus hath the Lorde here midsts meruielously described vnto Iohn and by hym vnto vs the misticall Sabboth of his people here the eternal Saboth after this lyfe oÌ„maÌ„ding him to 〈◊〉 it as foloweth Much to fro hath bene amoÌ„g the 〈◊〉 doctours is 〈◊〉 to thâ—â— day whether the saued multiâ—â—â—â— shall reygne here vpon earth 〈◊〉 Christ or aboue in heauen afteâ— the iudgement dayâ— Which is easy to be perceiâ—ed if the scriptures hée truâ—â— conferred Therefore serâ—h dâ—lygently the scriptures for they hearâ— witnesse of all truth Christ hath in Math. the they shal be thaÌ„ as the Angels are nowâ— in heauen whose office is hath to be hâ—re â— there And so muche 〈…〉 the they shal be as thaÌ„ all one 〈◊〉 wâ—ll shall the earth be new as the heauens And nedes it must be to some purpose Neuer woulde Esay Peteâ— haue said the rightuousâ—sse should dwelt in theÌ„ if they shuld not occupy theÌ„ both It is said here also the the new Hierusalem shall come downe froÌ„ heaueÌ„ But not so that it shall not vp againe For Christes electes shal be whereas he is Whan they shal be vpoÌ„ the earth no let nor impedimeÌ„t shal they haue to be also in heaueÌ„ both they being one 〈…〉 agyltie perfectioÌ„ shall be thaÌ„ in their bodies as is now in the glorified body of Christ or in the spirituall nature of the angels Which are nowhere now theâ— And whether they be here or ther alwaies they sée God â— are 〈…〉 absent from him Manye scriptures myght be brought in to declare thâ—â— matâ—er more at large but it wold 〈◊〉 much tyme. What mutuall feloship heauenly amyte glorious pastyme will be betwixt them the angels at that day it fare passeth al capacities to diffine I couÌ„sail 〈◊〉 to be curious in the serch of high misteris â—s this here is one without the feare of God least he ouercoÌ„meÌ„ of their exceding 〈◊〉 whoredom with many kinges by many false worshippinges This for hir méekenesse is commended of God the other proudely boasteth hir 〈◊〉 through holy tradicions merites and deseruinges to bâ—â— a riche quâ—ene With many such other 4 And the Lorde sayth saint Iohn which worketh all thinges by his onely word and commaundement 〈◊〉 thus vnto me Emprente first in thy hart that I haue here sheweâ— theâ— than leaue it in writing to the 〈◊〉 of those that than folow theâ— 5 And if thou wyll kâ—owe a reason why thou shalt thus doe take this 〈◊〉 sentence with thee I assure the so 〈◊〉 as I am God yâ— the wordes which I haue shewed in this present ReuelatioÌ„ are effectually most faithfull and ruste In no manner of
docttrine of Christes .xii. Apostles But I am contented with that is sayd afore being more agréeable to the text 10 Such leaues had this wholsome trée as were for the health of the people good necessary and medicinable Such profitable wordes and promyses hath Christ as are spirite and lyfe power of saluation and euerlastinge health These leaues of hys can in no wyse wyther away and whatsoeuer he doth by them it shall wonderfullly prosper He sent forth hys wholsome woorde sayth Dauid and so healed them He delyuered them from all euyls wherewyth they were oppressed As these wordes are sincerely taught the benefightes of our redempcion are brought into remembraunce So is the conscience quyeted and the harte made glad So reioyseth the soule giueth perpetuall thankes vnto God the father Soo are the Gentyles throughlye made whole acknowledgynge Christe for theyr onely sauyour and redéemer 11 Thus after Czechyell are these fruites good to eate and theyr leaues profitable for medicynes As the leaues are the beauty of a trée and preserueth the fruite so is the true preachinge of the Lordes veritie the comelynesse of hys church and preseruacion of the same And not the oylynges shauynges and disguysynges nor yet the Lordeshippes myters and masses A lyght thynge is the worde of god written or spoken as is the leafe also of a trée But if his spirite worketh in it than is it a thyng moste precious effecttuall and stronge compared of Christ to a mustarde séede which grâ—weth into a greate trée Aboue all thinges sayth Zorobabel the veritie is most stronge For that is the Lords eternall will which neuer shal be altred The text 1 And there shal be no more curse 2. but the seate of God and the Lambe shal be in it 3. and hys seruauntes shall serue hym 4 And they shall see hys face 5. his name shal be in their foreheades 6. And there shall be no nyght there 7. and they neede no candell 8. neyther lyght of the Sunne 9. For the Lorde God giueth them lyght 10. and they shall reygne for euermore The Commentary 1 And as concerning the afore named cytie or worthy congregation of the Lorde the curse that the earth had in the worke of Adam shall clerely be taken from it Neuer more froÌ„ henceforth shall therein be any thinge that God is not pleased with For Christ hath redemed hir from the curse of the lawe sustaining thereof the penaltie to make hir innocent So that nowe there is no dampnation to them whych are in Christ Iesu folowing the doctrine of the spirite if painfull aduersitie losse of goodes detriment of fame syckenesse persecution of body or any other troublous crosse happeneth it is euermore for the best to them that are faythfull Perfectlye shall these be taken awaye wyth all the corrupte fruites of Adam in the regeneration whan to theyr glorye both heauen and earth shal be blessed all that is cursed throwen into the lake of euerlasting fyre 2 And for a more sure token that thys will be true the hygh seate of God the eternall father and of the Lambe Iesus Christ wyth the holy Ghost one Lorde almighty in thrée personages shal be contynually there in In the house of Iacob shall hée reygne euermore and of hys kingdoÌ„e shall be none ende Amonge them will he fixe hys dwelling place here which loueth hym and obserueth his coÌ„maundementes and there will he not be seperated from them but be still their eternall God 3 Moreouer as hys true seruauntes here shall they worship hym in spirite and in veritie and so serue hym in a sincere fayth perfourming such Godly workes as he hath prescribed vnto theÌ„ and not such as mens fantasyes hath dreamed They shall so mortyfie their olde man destroying the body of sinne that no longer shall he obeye the concupiscence nor become a captyue seruauÌ„t vnto wickednesse here But nowe delyuered from sinne they shall doe on a newe man which is rightly fashyoned of God and so become his seruauÌ„tes in rightuousnesse And in the world to come they shall serue him according to the knowledge that they shall haue than which now is incomprehensible and vnspeakeable 4 Hauinge the spirite of Christ they shall here sée hys face of saluation in the myrroure of fayth whych is to haue knowledge of hys Godhede And after thys lyfe they shall beholde him in glory lyke as he is in dede much more perfectly than dyd Iacob which sawe hym face to face Moreouer soo shall these hys seruauntes respect his vsage that whatsoeuer they doe here in worde or in dede they shall doe it with all godly feare lowlynesse and reuerence alwayes thinkyng hym to beholde their dedes 5 They shall also perceyue hys gloryous name to be writteÌ„ in their foreheades or regestred in their fayth féelyng the swéetnesse thereof to their saluatioÌ„ Besides yâ— not onely shall they coÌ„fesse God with their mouth but also in their outward coÌ„uersacioÌ„ shal they dayly apere as hys faythfull seruauntes and children And as concernyng the gloryous day by that name than shall one knowe an other to be a frée cytizen of heauen Consyder sayth Saynt Iohn howe louyngly the Father doeth vse vs. Not onely here doo we beare the name of hys chyldren but also there shall we be sure to bée his sonnes in déede 6 No maner of night or darcknesse of humayne doctryne shall appere anye more in that cytie But hauing Christ and his veritie all vnprofitable doubtes fantasies errours lyes and false myracles shall these citizens detest here And after this lyfe are no suche matters to be loked for all things theÌ„ being clere and perfect Though they some time were darkenesse yet are they now lyght in the Lorde and will walke styll therein as the children therof tyll they come to the God of Gods in the euerlasting Syon 7 There shall they haue néede of no candell or of wisdome borowed of meÌ„ 8 Nor yet of the matteryall sun which mynistreth light to the day by whom is ment the high sience of philosophers coÌ„ceiued of the creaturs aboue wtout faith Those foreÌ„ lightes may his ministeres wel vse but truely his church nedeth theÌ„ not hauing much better than they are of christ of his Aposils Uery dark lights are they wher his bright beaÌ„es once apereth which is the clere sunne of rightuousnes Abhominable lyes errours did he proue the high learning of the bishops lawyers as he doth yet their decrées lawes their schoole diuinitie and sentences their ordinarie questions and quodlibetes 9 All these stinking mistes set apart the mercifull Lorde aboue which is the omnypotent God giueth them a light sufficient His eternall sonne is vnto them suche a cleare shyning cresset as no great blast can extinguishe nor cloude with darke shadowe blemishe Of most tender mercy sent hée that day spring from aboue to dyrecte their féete here in the way of his peace 10 And after thys laborous pilgrymage in the sabboth of perpetual