the ryghtouse and that shall se the peace vpon Israell whan the lorde shall leade forth them with the euyll doers that hath yoked themselues with their lawes The lorde graunt vs ones to tast the prosperyte of Hierusalem Amen The .xv. Chapter NOt onlye for the common synnes of the worlde doth the lorde plage but most of all for vnthankefulnesse of all blaâ—â—phemyes the greatest For thaâ— spurneth agaynst knowlege and dyrectlye worketh agaynst the holye Ghost A double destruccyon or decaye both of sowle and bodye by the ryghtousnesse of God must nedes folowe the wylful contempte of hys veryte manifestlye shewed and openlye taught Yet ys the lorde so mercyfull that he willeth not the dampnacion of a synner Soche compassion hath he ouer oure manyfolde weakenesse that he premonysheth vs of his most terrible plages to call vs backe by feare yf loue will not do yt As here consequentlye in the first vysyon of this present reuelacyon to Iohan which foloweth after this sort in thys xv and .xvi. chapters The Text. 1 And I same another sygne in heauen greate and maruelouse 2. seuen Angels hauynge the seuen last plages 3. for in them ys fulfylled the wrathe of God 4. And I sawe as yt were a glassye see 5. myngled with fyre 6. and them that had gotten victorye of the Beast and of hys Image 7. and of his marke and of the nombre of his name 8. stande on the glassye see 9. hauynge the harpes of God 10. And they sange the songe of Moyses the seruauÌ„t of God 11. and the songe of the lambe saynge 12. Greate and maruelouse ar thy workes lord God almyghtye 13. iuste true are thy wayes thu kynge of sayntes 14. Who shall not feare o lorde glorifye thy name 15. For thu onlye art holye 16. and all Gentyles shall come aÌ„d worship before the. 17. for thy iudgementes are made manyfest ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I sawe sayth saynt Iohan by the secrete goodnesse of my lorde God yet an other token in heauen great and maruelouse straunge and wonderfull For in the churche or congregacyon of God are euermore vttred his wonderfull and depe iudgementes vnto them only whom his grace appoynteth as vnto Iohan. And this is the token in mysterye 2 Seuen angels had in their haÌ„des the seuen last plages Some exposytours haue taken these Angels for the ryght mynisters in the .vij. ages of the christen churche Some haue thought them to be the peruerse preachers and vngodly mynisters of all the sayd ages suffred of God strongelye to delude the vnbeleuers that he which hurteth shuld hurte styll and that he which is in fylthynesse shuld styll be fylthye Vnto euerye age correspondynge an Angell to declare the nature of those deceytfull hyrelynges and lyenge masters And this maketh them so to vnderstande the text They are here expreslye noted to be in heauen Amonge the congregacyons of God are the false prophetes and dissemblynge hypocrites euermore as the chaffe amonge the corne the tares amonge the wheate and the fylthye dregges amonge the pure wyne For that kyngedome is as a nette throwne into the see and gatherynge all maner of fyshes both good and badde In all ages hath the wycked generacyon increased to impugne the truthe and styflye to stande vp agaynst God and his Christ whych is non other after their myndes than to mynistre the .vij. last plages here For no poyson is to the sowle so pestylent nor yet venime so noyfull as is false doctrâ—ne No plage can be thought more deadlye nor vyrulent than to depryue vs of that faythe of that veryte aÌ„d of that lyfe which is in Christ Iesu or to brynge vs out of that waye which he hath appoynted And all this semeth no small lykelyhode of the iust vnderstandynge of the texte here Yet geueth Frances Lanâ—bert a farre better iudgement callynge them the set sentences or vnvariable decrees of God diffinynge hys iudgementes agaynst the wycked in this latter age of the worlde at their appoynted tymes to be vttered For all these thynges are ioyntlye to be consydered These Angels came not onlye from heauen which is the congregacyon as they haue mencyoned but also out of the celestyall temple of the tabernacle of testimonye which is the omnipoteÌ„t God and his Chryst as the .xxi. chapter here of declareth They are also clothed with pure whyght lynnen gyrded with golden gyrdels they haue golden vyals delyuered vnto them by one of the .iiij. Beastes and one of them commonèth with Iohan declarynge vnto him the iudgement aÌ„d fall of the great whore Which are no argumentes that they are here to be taken for yll preachers thowgh they here mynistre the last .vij. plages Therfor shall we iudge them here to be Gods appoynted purposes or eternallye decreed pleasurs agaynst the wylfull obstynates and indurate rebellyous to the ende of the worlde These are called the last plages bycause they fall in the last age of the worlde whom Esaye Hieremye Oseas and Mycheas calleth the last dayes Iohan the last howre and Paule the endes of the worlde Seuen are they named here in a vniuersal respect both of the tymes parsones places and peruerse doctrynes of the whole worlde And also because of the .vij. seales and the .vij. trompettes to whose iudgementes they Ioyntlye agre as in the next chapter folowinge wyll apere more largelye 3 For in them sayth the text is fulfylled the wrathe of God The indignacyon of the lorde is in them whollye declared For what hate can he shewe more vnto manne than to withdrawe from him his grace to leaue him to him self to suffre him in his owne blynde iudgementes to geue hym ouer to his owne fylthye lustes and to sende hym the operacyon of erroure to his double dampnacyon A verye fulfyllynge of Gods anger is it also to appoynt vs a false Prophete or deceyuable curate a wanton Prynce or vngodlye gouernoure These therfor with soche lyke are those plages in whom is depelye accomplyshed the dyspleasure of God And they are here named the last plages for after them shall non other be seane the latter daye fynyshynge and clearynge all 4 And I behelde sayth Saynt Iohan in the same sayd vysyon as it were a glassye see or a great flowynge water in symylytude of glasse all myngled wyth fyre Non other is this see but the precyouse veryte of the Lorde so clere as glasse and so pure as christall This see gushed out of the harde rocke stone that was clouen a sonder in the desart Whan he sent forth his sprete these waters floweâ— forth in habundaunce 5 Most effectuall and quycke is this see And therfor it is here noted as myngled with fyre whych signifyeth the holye ghost For neuer is the veryte wythout Gods sprete A ferce fyerye streme calleth Danyel this see All fyerye is thy worde lorde sayth Dauid also and therfor thy seruaunt loueth it This is the fouÌ„tayne of lyuynge water spryngynge vp into the lyfe euerlastynge Vnto this
awaye the synnes of the worlde In hym onlye ys the lyfe for he is the lyfe yt selfe Yet ys he the lyfe of noÌ„ other but of those that onlye beleue in hym 11 In that he was kylled from the worldes begynnynge is sygnifyed that he dyed for all them which were create to be saued and that hys onlye deathe ys all their helthe rayse and remedye by the promes of God For all they haue eaten of one spyrytuall meate and dronke of one spyrytuall rocke though yt came in the fleshe longe after them He onlye trode downe the head of the Serpent SeÌ„s the begynnynge hath he bene slayne in hys members also as manyfesâ— yt ys â—n ryghtouse Abell Hyeremy Iohan Baptist soche other lyke They that are not wrytten of the lambe in the boke of lyfe for the chyldren of God are regestred in the boke of deathe for the chyldreÌ„ of perdycyoÌ„ reserued to eternall deathe for their infydelyte with the deuyll and hys angels 12 He that hath an eare sayth the text lete hym take good hede He that hath an vnderstaÌ„dynge lete hym be admonyshed by that which foloweth here Or he that hath receyued the wysdome of the sprete lete hym iudge hereof accordinge vnto yt Thus doth the holye Ghost aduertyse the faythfull to consider that what so euer thinges are written they are written vnto owr lerninge 13 He that leadeth into captiuite shall go into captiuite And he that kylleth with a swerde must with a swerde be slayne This warninge geueth the lord take it if they list For he will haue his right iudgements knowne He that vexeth or afflicteth the iust beleuers in bodye by outwarde ponnishmeÌ„ts he shall be afflicted in the sprete with an inwarde darkenesse or blindenesse of the sowle that he maye be the more captiue to synne and to Sathan God will delyuer him vp into a lewde minde and will geue him stronge delusion to beleue al maner of lyes that he might be dampned 14 He that killeth the poore innoceÌ„t for his faythe with the proÌ„swerde or sleeth him with anye other torment with the swerde of the sprete which is the lordes worde shall he be both iudged and condempned The worde that I haue spokeÌ„ sayth Christ shall iudge them at the latter daye And this is in maner all one with that was sayed in the .xi. chapter afore If anye manne will hurte theÌ„ fyre shall procede out of their mouthes and consume their enemies 15 Neuerthelesse to the christiane is persecucion necessarye For here in this life is the pacience of the sayntes proued aÌ„d their faithe required Here was AbrahaÌ„ tempted and Iob sore vexed and both they were founde Gode true faythfull seruauntes Here were the Apostles contempned reioysinge that they were fouÌ„de worthye for Christes sake to suffer rebuke The rightouse the lorde trieth as golde in the fornace He chasteneth euerye seruaunt that he loueth and scourgeth euerye sonne that he receyueth Onlye is it faythe that all the euyls of this worlde by pacience ouercoÌ„meth and so obtayneth the victorye The frute which riseth to eternall lyfe is peaceable sufferaunce in faythe And that must be here in this lyfe where as we are vnperfight to make vs perfight The Text. 1 And I behelde an other beaste 2. comynge vp out of the earthe 3. And he had two hornes lyke a lambe 4. and he spake as ded the Dragon 5. And he dyd all that the fyrst Beast coulde do 6. in his presence 7. And he caused the earthe theÌ„ which dwell therin 8. to worship the first Beast whose deadlye wounde was healed 9. And he ded great woÌ„ders 10. so that he made fyre come downe from heauen 11. in the syght of men 12. And deceyued theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe by the meanes of those sygnes which he had power to do in the syght of the Beaste 13. sayenge to theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe that they shulde maâ—e an Image 14. vnto the Beaste which had the wounde of a swerde and dyd lyue ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I behelde sayth saynt Iohan in thys secrete reuelacyon of my lorde an other Beast arysynge out of the earthe A figure ys thys of all false Prophetes aÌ„d vngodlye preachers Beastlye are they euermore vayne carnall and corrupt in their stodyes abhominable in the practâ—synges of their wicked hartes not sehinge God but their bellyes not Christes glorye but their owne pryde and vayne glorye 2 From the earthe they aryse all geuen to earthlye wysdome The onlye affectes of thys worlde doth moue theÌ„ to teache aÌ„d no good zele of the truthe Eyther are they tyckled with ambytion prycked with auaryce or els sturred with malyce to inueye These are the commoÌ„ affectes of the wycked Thys goynge vp haue they froÌ„ wyckednesse to wyckednesse shall haue still tyll the lorde destroye theÌ„ lyke as haue the iust beleuers froÌ„ vertâ— to vertu in the sprete tyll soche tyme as they see hym face vnto face in the euerlastynge Syon From the worldes begynnynge hath this Beast rysen vp in Cayn the first murtherer in the fleshelye chyldren of menne in Cham the shamelesse chylde of Noe in Ismael and Esau in Iannes and Iambres in Balaham and Baals prophetes in the Beniamytes and Bels chaplaynes in Phassur and Semeins in Iudas Annas and Cayphas in Barichu and Diotrephes And now sens their tyme most of all in Mahumetes doctours and the Popes queresters Yea styll they are aloft in their beastlye beggerye and wyll be tyll their mysschef be fynyshed Who seeth not now adayes that hath lyght in the sprete the malygnyte Hypocresye hawâ—e crafte and deceyt in serteÌ„ false Prophetes at Paules crosse in London and in other places els 3 This Beast had .ij. hornes lyke the laÌ„be at 〈◊〉 blushe but all counterfett and false in verye dede for he spake as ded the Dragon The hornes of Christ are hys hygh kyngedome in the worde Onlye aryseth hys churche by faythe in the glad tydynges and promysys of God That worde ys the scepture of Christes power and the rodde of ryght order where as he regneth Non other straunge scepturs are there neyther tradycyoÌ„s nor customes Seuen hornes had Christ for in hym was the fulnesse of the veryte This Beast hath but two and yet they are but false and couÌ„terfeâ—t They seme to be Christes ad are not These are the corrupted letter of the .ij. testameÌ„tes falselye interpreted and for a carnall purpose alleged And therfor yt ys but apparent Hypocrityshe and deceytfull yea cleane repugnaunt to the lordes meanynge not hauynge the iudgement of hys sprete Thys letter without the holye Ghost is deathe and nothynge perteyneth vnto Christ. He ys the veryte and lyfe this ys but a fable or fyccyon Hys worde ys sprete and lyfe thys is but a brasse pot sowndynge or a latten candelstick tynkelynge fantastycall aÌ„d â—aynt sophistycall slayghtye Though these seme lyke Christes yet are they non of hys but the verye hornes of the Beast For
water ¶ The Paraphrase 1 An other Angell sawe I sayth Saynt Iohan flye in the myddes of heauen For Chryst was the first Angell or massenger of the euerlastynge couenaunt of the father This Angell here mencyoned is non other than he that had the seale of the lyuynge God in the vii Chapter and he that was clothed wyth a clowde in the tenth chapter And he betokeneth those feruent mynysters whâ—m God hach sent in this latter tyme to admonishe his peple to fle from the errours of Antichrist and returne to his heauenlye veritees 2 He flyeth in the myddes of heauen An ernest feruent and faythfull course take they in the middes of Gods congregacion which is his heauenlye kyngedome here to whoÌ„ this reuelacion is written lyke as ded Paulus Sylas Barnabas Timotheus Titus and ClemeÌ„s with other of the Apostles syncerelye to declare his worde Mightye stomaked are they in Gods cause both in their wordes and wrytinges 3 An euerlastinge gospell had this angell to preache vnto them that sytte and dwell vpon the earthe to all nacions kynredes and peple His eternall testament and couenaunt of peace hath the lorde geuen vnto them to preache delyueraunce to the captiue helthe to the wounded lyfe to the dead and remission to the sinnefull Yea to vtter that worde that is stronger than is heauen or earthe and that shall neuer fayle him that trulye beleueth 4 The sounde of this gospell must go the worlde ouer as in the Apostles tyme Euery where must it be spredde to the increase of faythe Amonge all nacions of the earthe amonge all kynredes of the Israelytes amonge all laÌ„guages of the worlde aÌ„d amonge all kyndes of peple of what sort so euer they be whether they sytte vpon the earthe or dwell vpon the earthe whether they be hygh or lowe gouernours or subiectes masters or seruauntes owners or fermers So that they sytt not nor dwell not within the earthe or haue their felicyte here For that is holye shuld not be geuen vnto dogges nor yet pearles layed before swyne 5 And he cryed wyth a lowde voyce With a mightye feruent sprete do they beate it into the heades of menne both by wordes writinges and all they can make to haue the feare of God and to geue him his dewe honoure And this is the doctrine they teache and the counsell they geue 6 Feare ye God in all that ye do for the first poynt of godlye wysdome is to dreade least we offende him Be constaunt in the worde aÌ„d feare no displeasure of menne For nomore can they do in their anger but slee the bodye and brynge it to the rest of God No power haue they ouer the sowle Feare him onlye therfor that whan he hath destroyed both maye throwe them into helle 7 Geue honour vnto him worship him and serue him alone Prayse him aÌ„d glorifye him aboue all But yet after non other sort thaÌ„ he hath appoynted which is in faythe sprete and veryte and not in outwarde shaddowes with obseruacyon of tymes He trulye honoureth him that trusteth in hym that beleueth hys worde and that in spyght of all Antychristes confesseth it afore all menne After this sort therfor feare him and worshyp him nothynge doubtynge the assaultes of enemyes 8 For the howre of his iudgement ys come At hande is it that all the Antychristes and hipocrites shall by the invincyble worde of God be iudged condempned and destroyed From heauen shall his wrathe be declared vpoÌ„ all their vngodlynesse With the sprete of his mouthe shall the lorde consume theÌ„ and not longe after wyll the great daye of his indignacion towardes them lyght sodenlye vpon them 9 With all faythfull obsequy worship him therfor that create heaueÌ„ and earth in wonderfull strengthe and bewtye 10 That made the see and the fountaynes of water with all that in them doth moue whose power is eternall knowlege non other God but hym Non other helper redemer nor sauer but his Crist. For all other Chrystes not sent of him are but Antychrystes Onlye bowe your knees vnto him for onlye is hys strength euerlastynge Onlye obeye his lawes for onlye aâ—e hys lawes cleane The Text. 1 And there folowed an other Angell saynge 2. She is fallen she is fallen euen BabyloÌ„ that great cyte 3. for she made all nacions drynke of the wyne of her whoredome ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And there folowed an other angell sayth Saynt Iohan which betokeneth an other sort of preachers whose offyce is here appoynted theÌ„ of the holye ghost to declare vnto the peple the certente of the fall of the aduowterouse cursed aÌ„d malygnaunt churche of hipocrites here fygured by wreched BabiloÌ„ For though all the true prophetes and preachers haue but one worde of God in their mouthe yet passeth it diuerslye from them Vnto yche of them is geueÌ„ a dyuerse vtteraunce of the sprete to edifye One is softe meke and gentyll as was Dauid Iohan aÌ„d Peter an other is boystuouse harde aÌ„d vehement as was Helias Esaye and Paule And all this worketh the self same one sprete This diuersyte of teachers was neuermore plentuouse in the worlde than now in owr tyme figured here by these two angels Praysed by the lorde therfor 2 And the tenoure or grounde of this latter sort of preachers is this She is fallen she is fallen euen myserable Babylon thâ—â— great cyte of whordome because she made all nacyons to drynke of the wrathefull wyne of her fornycacion So sure is it that the execrable churche of Antichrist shall be ouerthrowne and vtterlye destroyed as it were now perfourmed in dede Nothing shall be vnroted out that the heauenlye father hath not planted Sonner shall heauen earthe peryshe than this promes be vnfulfylled 3 For with the stinkinge whoryshnesse of her supersticiouse worshippynges haue she poysened all nacions peples vnder heaueÌ„ The great gouernours aÌ„d lerned lawers of the worlde hath she made in maner of beastlye dronkerdes wytlesse faythlesse aÌ„d gracelesse by their prostibulouse doctrine And this shall be declared more at large in the .xvij. chapter folowynge where as she is more plentuouslye described The Text. 1 And the thirde angell folowed them 2. saynge with a lowde voyce 3. If anye worshypp the beaste and his Image 4. aÌ„d receyue his marke in his fore head or on his hande 5. the same shall drynke of the wyue of the wrathe of God 6. which is poured in the cuppe of his wrathe 7. and he shall be punnyshed in fyre and brymstone 8. before the holye angels 9. and before the lambe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 The thyrde Angell also sayth Saynt Iohan folowed them in the thyrde kynde of preachynge of the same self massage that in the mouthe of .ij. or .iij. faythfull wytnesses all veryte myght stande 2 And by this angell are they signifyed that by the worde of God stifflye impugne their wicked lawes and vngodly ordynaunces whose maner of ernest preachinge is this 3 If anye maÌ„ worship the Beast
withstande them with their craftes impugne them with their lyes and vexe them wyth their deuyllyshnesse as necessarye it is they shuld do For yf they haue trobled the head they must beâ—e also the members If the howsholder be called Beelzebub the howsholde must suffre the same No better is the seruauÌ„t than his lorde nor the massenger than he that sent hym 4 They shall also ouercome them not with the scripturs but with their beggerlye customes constitucions lawes decrees tradicyons They shall scourge them or dysgrade them in their synagoges They shall delyuer them vp to iustyces debitees and rewlers makynge them their bothers aÌ„d slaues so washinge their owne holye handes froÌ„ the shedynge of innocentes bloode 5 They shall kylle theÌ„ also by their couÌ„sell to fulfyll the measure of their fathers that all ryghtuouse bloude maye lyght vpon them which hath bene shedde vpon earthe Yet shall they not hurte their sowles but through faythe they shall haue victorye bothe ouer them and the deuyll 6 And their bodyes shall lye in the stretes of the great cyte In this worlde shall their carkases remayne where as they haue rewle and domynyon Here shall they be iudged and condempned At their pleasure shall it be to haÌ„ge theÌ„ heade them or burne them And thowgh they laye no handes vpon them for soylynge their coÌ„secrate fyngars yet must it be done by their ghostlye cownsel aÌ„d ordred also after their spyrituall appoyntment Non other is it to lye in the stretes of their greate cyte than after â—oche lawes as they haue practysed toke brought vnto deathe 7 For spiritually is their cyte called A gloryouse name vsurpe they as though they were noÌ„ of the world They wyll be called the holy churche good ghostlye fathers godly dyuines spirituall meÌ„ne not coÌ„siderynge of what sprete they are spiritual They are those into whoÌ„ the vncleane sprete hath entred with .vij. other spretes worse than hym self With the sprete of falshede the sprete of fylthynesse the sprete of lyes the sprete of wytchecrafte the sprete of erroure the sprete of blindenesse aÌ„d the sprete of cruelte And of these onlye with soche lyke are they spyrituall and of no godlye sprete as their frutes declareth And therfor the sprete of god doth iudge here this great cyte not to be called HierusaleÌ„ but stinkinge Sodome most myserable Egypte the prophecyes and other scripturs agreynge to the same For loke what fylthynesse and abhomynacion was in Sodome what Idolatrye and deuylyshnesse was in Egipt the same is now reygnynge in this paynted spyritualte and is accounted there great holynesse 8 Amonge this consecrate multytude or smered sort is Christ yet crucyfied as he was amonge the Iewes whych knewe hym not yet boasted theÌ„ selues outwardlye for the peculiar chosen peple of God Not onlye ys Christ amonge theÌ„ persecuted scourged ponnyshed aÌ„d put vnto deathe in hys membres but also he ys proued of them an vnsufficyent Sauer without their dayly doynges Their masses must be satysfactory sacrifices profytinge both the quicke and the dead And that must menne beleue vnder peyne of deathe and dampnacyon Thus crucyfye they Christ ageyne and make a mocke of hym as wytnessed Paule and yet do they call hym their lorde not vnlyke to the tormentours whych crowned hym with thorne and saluted hym with Aue rex Iudeorum The Text. 1 And some of the peple and kynredes and tunges and of the nacions 2. shall se theyr bodyes thre dayes and an halfe 3. and hall not suffre theyr bodyes to be putte in graues 4. And they that dwell vpon the earthe 5. shal reioyce ouer them and be gladde 6. and shall sende gyftes one to an other 7. for these two prophetes vexed theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And as they lye thus dead in the stretes or are contempned as heretykes aÌ„d despysed as wycked doars some of the peple peruerted by these enemies some of the kynredes or sectes of dyuysion some of the tonges or blasphemouse bablers aÌ„d some of the nacyons of al wycked workers shall beholde their bodyes iij. dayes and an half 2 They shall for all ages abhorre them hate theÌ„ reuyle them and spyghtfullye report them In ther cronycles shal they wryte them for seducers of the peple in their storyes regestre them for dampnable heretykes For the .iij. dayes an half dyuided into .vij. halues betokeneth the .vii. ages of the churche wherin they haue and shal styll both persecute and blaspheme 3 And these wycked sortes of peple kynredes tonges and nacyons or of false iustyces prestes lawers and relygyouse shall not suffre their bodyes to be putte in graues But be these wytnesses ones iudged heretykes by the clergye aÌ„d so condempned by the layte eyther shall their bodyes be resolued in to ashes by fyre or els consumed by the fowles of the ayre Seldome shal ye se a knowne heretyke buryed amonge them but most commonlye burned Examples of thys hath bene â—aâ—elye seane here in Englande by Thomas hyttoon Thomas bylueye Iohan frith George baynham WilliaÌ„ tindale Iohan lambert Robert barnes Wylliam Hyerome Thomas garade Rycharde spenser and in Partrick hamilton of Scotlande with manye other more And longe afore our tyme in sir Iohan olde castell the lorde CobhaÌ„ sir Roger acâ—on knyght sir Reynolde pecock byshop of chychester Master IohaÌ„ Ayshton sir Willyam thorpe sir Willyam â—awtre sir Richarde with sir Iohan balle sir Willyam tayloure and sir willyam whyght prestes with dyuerse other The body of Formosus was first taken vpp by Steuen the .vi. Bishopp of Rome and disgraded After was yt beheaded mangled and throwne into the flood of Tyber by Sergius the thyrde Saynt Herman after .xx. years from hys buryall was taken vpp and burned at Ferraria in Italie by Boneface the ryhht The bones of Master Iohan wycclef were taken vpp and burned also the .xl yeare after hys death as waldene wytnesseth to hys boke de Sacramentalibus ti .ix. Capi .lxxxix. So was of late yeares in worcestre dyocese the bodye of master WilliaÌ„ Tracye esquire in LondoÌ„ the bodye of Rycharde honne merchande taylour Moreouer Iohan colet deane of Paules in londoÌ„ also was not farre froÌ„ the same for readynge of Paules Epistles by hys lyfe had not other wayghtye matters bene in the waye Soche heretykes shall not rest in their cyte they shall not be buryed amonge them They shall not be shryued canonysed nor allowed for Sayntes for they buylded no monasteries they sett vpp no chauÌ„teryes they subdewed no Princes nor yet dyed for the lybertees of holye churche They sâ—ode not in defence that prestes doynge Idolatrye thefte murther wytche crafte whoredome buggerye with other abhominacyons shuld remayne vnponnyshed But rather to the contrarye that they shuld worshypp but one God lyue by their labours take wâ—â—es of their owne teache nothynge but Gods lawes 4 And they that dwâ—ll vpon the earthe sayth the lorde or haue their felycite herewith the
enuyouse manne The whole bodye foloweth the heades As the deuyll ys malycyouse wycked ferce cruell tyrannycall falâ—e execrable and deceytfull â—o are all hys members In the prudence of the fleshe after him they walke in Idolatry hipocreyse aÌ„d all other fylthynesse And lyke as a fore Christes 〈◊〉 these heades were in the Serpe 〈◊〉 the golden Calues in the kyngedome of Babylon in Nemroth in Pharao in antiochus and in the pharisees and Sâ—ribes byshoppes lawers and prestes so haue they bene sens hys tyme vnder the vâ— seales openynge and the. vij trompettes blowynge after the same 〈◊〉 Under the first he had a Serpentes head in the Iewes most malycyouslye and subtyllye withstandinge Christ and hys Apostles preteÌ„dynge the zele of God hys lawes Under the seconde he had a calues head in the Idolatours which slâ—we the consâ—eunt wytnesses of Christes veryte Under the thirde the head of a proude lyon in the bolde rable of heretykes presumynge agaynst Gods worde to afferme vngodlye thynges Under the forth the head of a Beare in the gredye multytude of holye hypocrites and spirituall Antichristes which hath rauyshed vp the substaunce of thys worlde vsurpinge the empyre of the same For then begonne the papacye with Mahometes myscheff Under the fift the head of a leoparde in the dyuersyte of pestilent sectes or execrable locustes of whome euerye one reioyseth in hys owne colour and inuention For then ded they sore increase Under the sixt the head of a Beast vnlyke to all other in the Tyrannye of wycked gouerâ—â—â—â—â— blynded and perswaded by the Prestes to flee Gods seruauntes for the vpholdynge of their stynkinge generacyon For then was and ys yet done moche murther vpoÌ„ soche as confesseth the truthe Under the seuenth or last seale openynge shall he haue yet styll the head of a maÌ„ne in fleshelye polycyes and falshede of the pope and hys prelates in the doctours and prestes tyll God vtterlye shall destroye them with the breathe of hys mouthe 4 The seyd dragon had also .x. hornes or all subtle wayes wherwith to impugne the feble weake nature of manne or to prouoke hym euermore to rebell agaynst Gods commandementes 5 Upon hys seuen heades he had .vij crownes sygnyfieÌ„ge therbye that both he and hys members hath not onlye possessed the afore named vices but also they haue ouer the worlde reigned in theÌ„ and yet do to thys daye In pryde falshede malyce crafte cruelte wyckednesse all other myscheues triuÌ„phe they yet 6 And hys tayle drue towardes hym the third part of the starres in conclusion shrewe them downe to the â—arthe By worldlye promocyons lucre fauer and other flatterynge fanâ—asyes hath he tangled manye lerned menne and plucked theÌ„ cleane from Christes true churche and from the lyfe of the gospell so pronoâ—â—ynge them whollye to geue them selues to the stodye of erronyouse doctryne and lyenge prophecyes to seduce the worldlye multitude and kepe them in perpetuall blindenesse 7 So that they are now cast into the earthe They are become all carnall fylthye and vngodlye in al their wisdome stodye aÌ„d workes in all their counsels preachynges and teachinges Now are they the wycked Apostles of Sathan no longar maye they shyne in the fyt mament The Text. 1 And the dragoÌ„ stode before the woman which was redye to be delyuered 2. for to deuoure her childe as sone as it were borne 3. And she brought forth a man chylde 4. which shulde rule all nacyons with a rod of yron 5. And her sonne was taken vp vnto God and to his seate 6. And the woman fled into wyldernesse 7. where she had a place prepared of God 8. that they shulde fede her there 9. a thousande two hundred and thre score dayes 1 Before the afore seyd trauaylinge womaÌ„ stode thys dragon redye to deuoure her childe so sone as it were borne Euer more â—s the deuyll waytinge his praye where as the gospell is syncerelie taught least anye therbye shuld become the children of God 2 He selâ—eth all craftes polycyes and ingynnes to take the worde from the harâ— least they beleuynge yt shuld be saued Thus Tought he to deuowre Christ after the letter appoyntinge Herode to slee hym sone after hys byrthe and whaÌ„ he se that waye wolde not take yet left he not of tyll the Iewes had slayne hym Not thus yet satisfyed he laboured by the byshoppes to extynguishe the faythe of hys resurreccyon least that shuld profyght vnto lyfe More ouer where as the Apostles aÌ„d other godlye meÌ„ne hath geueÌ„ Christ vnto other in maner as they receyued hym he hath left no cauteles vnsought by hys malygnaunt members euer sens to depryue Gods people therof 3 Soche a man chylde sayth Saynt Iohan brought thys woman forth as with an yron rodde shuld rewle all nacyons Neuer ys the true churche Idle but conceyueth Christ at the gospell preachynge retayneth hym in faythe and bryngeth hym forthe in teachynge other the same No woman chylde ys he impotent weake and feble but a manchylde brynginge with hym alwayes a strange myghtye and inuincyble sprete wher as he is vnfaynedly receyued For he is the mightye lorde that ys valeaunt in battayle 4 With the yron wande of hys worde inuyncible shall he gouerne hys meke spreted flocke that non other lawes shall they require With the same also shall he subdue al powers which are not of hym and dryue them downe to the bottom of helle For by faythe onlye in him to the victorye gotteÌ„ ouer the worlde 5 This childe was also takeÌ„ vp to God and vnto his trone Where as the deuyl thought to deuowre hym and to wrappe hym vp for euer vnder deathe he put hym besyde hys purpose Uyctoryouslye he arose vp from deathe to lyfe he ascended vnto heauen and now sytteth vpon the ryght hande of God the father almyghtye And where as he ys now there shall hys faythfull folowers and mynysters be here after for that is hys is also theirs byrthe lyfe deathe resurreccion and ascencion 6 The womaÌ„ fledde after this into the wyldernesse What els doth te iust people of God but flee the coÌ„tagiousnesse vanyte tumulte fornicacioÌ„ Idolatrye and fylthinesse of this worlde sekynge God in the solytarye hart aÌ„d not in outwarde fantacies I gote me awaye farre of sayth Dauid and remayned in the desert Monkes nonnes chanons fryres hath fledde into monasteries couentes aÌ„d howses but nothynge after this sorte For in all voluptuouse pleasurs haue they there lyued The vnfayned solitarye manne after Hieremye continueth peceablye with him self aÌ„d hath his hart aboue 7 In the sayd wildernesse had she a place prepared of God Which is noÌ„ other but Gods proteccioÌ„ defence sauegarde promised in the scripturs That the lord shuld preserue vs as he ded his chosen peple of Israel whan he wente before them in a clowde vpon the daye and in the nyght in a pyller of fyre Dauid boasted hym self that God was his refiuge and that he dwelled vnder
Christ coÌ„fesseth non other sauer helthe redemer Them doth he torment and ponnyshe by hys mytred Mahowndes hys shaueÌ„ Sodomytes subduynge vnto them for that purpose the power of kynges and myght of magistrates Then sytteth Annas in consystorye and Cayphas in sessyons vpon lyfe and deathe Then bryngeth the woman her chylde forthe in peyne By the martyrdome or deathe of godlye wytnesses ys Christ delyuered and lefte here behynde in the hartes of manye 3 And vnto the woman were geueÌ„ two wynges of a great egle or the two testamentes of God contayninge the Prophecye and Gospell with the loue of God and oure neyber And these myghtye wynges were geuen her that she myght flye with them into the wyldernesse Euermore whan daungerouse persecucyon ys the members of Christes congregacyon which are left here behynde hath auctoryte of the olde lawe to flee from yt wyth Iacob Moyses Dauid and Helias of the newe lawe also with Christ and hys Apostles If they pursue ye in one cyte sayth the lorde flee yow into an other Not onlye to saue your bodies but to fâ—uctifye in the peple Set ye into the desert Teache theÌ„ that were not taught afore Yf ye caÌ„ not be suffred openlye to preache instructe menne priuatelye in howses Playe not the sluggardes in the lordes vyneyarde Be not niggardes ouer his fre treasure But as ye haue pleÌ„iuouslye receyued it so liberallye distrybute it agayne 4 From the face of the dragon hath the woman thus power to flye into the wildernesse by the scripturs whan her chylde is delyuered and takeÌ„ vp to the trone of God for the vnthankefulnesse of the peple that they haue not in faythe receyued him And in moche daunger are they lefte hauynge the deuyll and his angels throwne downe amonge them wyth theyr wyles and craftye snares In moche more parell are they them they were afore 5 A place hath she in this desart apoynted of God wherin she is norryshed for a tyme for tymes and for the halfe tyme which is not els but his speciall proteccion amonge them that be poore in sprete and are iudged outcastes of the worlde There is the true churche norryshed wyth the pure worde not mixed wyth the leuen of Pharysees There is the faythfull congregacion at all tymes fedde without the tradicyons of hipocrites Onlye are they releued with the veryte satisfied with the lyuinge promâ—ses haue bene sens the tyme of Christ. Yea sens the tyme of Daniell and afore And thys fedynge tyme of the lorde in secretnesse hath bene somtyme shorter sumtyme longer and sumtyme shortest of all accordynge to the tymes of persecucyon and of blyndenesse in the enemies 6 To flee from the presence of the Serpente haue they euermore had commandementes of the lorde and to shurne the suggestions of hys angels Warned they haue bene in no wyse to go forth whan they saye Christ ys here and there for so moche as their craftes are soche as wolde yf yt were possible deceyue the verye electes 7 And the Dragon sayth saynt Iohan ded cast out of hys mouthe water after the woman Aâ— doctrine of Hypocresye errours and lyes hath alwayes passed from the Synagoge of Sathan Non other frutes hath gone from them than waverynge superstycyons Idolatry and Heythen ceremonies These hath â—lowed forth lyke a great ryuer Daylye haue they augmented and contynuallye increased Innumerable are the coÌ„berouse and vnprofitable burdens of their fantasyes and dreames wherwith they noye mennes conscyences drowne their small faythe ouerloade their sowles 8 Thys stynkynge water ded the Serpent vomete out by hys rauenouse Antichristes which are hys insacyable mouthe to stoppe the passage of the woman â–ª He powred yt forth in habundauÌ„ce that he myght cause her to be caught of the flood Soche ys alwaies the myscheuouse nature of the deuyll aÌ„d hys angels Vengeable assaultes haue they and innumerable craftes to deceyue the innocent not knowinge them Oure first mother Eua was thus trapped in the begynnynge so had bene drowned with Adam her husbande had they not had faythe in the promysed sede An innumerable multytude hath bene and are yet to this daye swallowed vp of this flood and without great difficulte non escapeth yt Excedinge ys the compasse stodye and practyse of this false generacyon Evermore powre they out their poyson they dyspute their matters with errours lyes with counsels and customes hauynge vpon their syde the darkened powers 9 Yet ys the lorde mercyfull to hys pore congregacyoÌ„ that they are not drowned with al this fylthye floude Non of yt ones toucheth their hartes No parte of their faythe doth all thys ryff raff hynder This dyrtye baggage accoÌ„breth not their sowles Onlye are they satysfyed with the wholsom doctryne of Christes sprete And the earthe ded helpe the woman sayth Saynt Iohan The carnall multitude the wyse menne of this worlde the verye reprobates from God all drye with out the true faythe dranke vp this fylthye water 10 They opened their mouthes wyde and swallowed vp the great ryuer cleane which the Dragon cast out of hys mowthe This erroniouse doctryne was euer more plesaunt vnto them Moche more haue they alwayes delyghted in lyes and olde wyues dreames than in Gods truthe Therto haue they geuen their eares with all auydyouse gredynesse and superstycyouse deuocyon haue they embraced them But the lyuinge waters of the lorde sauoreth not in their mouthes their owne broken cysâ—eâ—nes doth please them best Better ys to a swyne a fylthye puddle than a swete roÌ„nynge water No where wyll he drynke but where he maye wallowe hys earkas No doctryne pleaseth them vnlesse yt maynteyneth their synne 11 In drynkynge vp this flood yet ease they this woman In seeke multytude ys chrystes smal flock not myssed noâ— loâ—ed for nor yet manye tymes in their abhominacyoÌ„s perceyued to be absent So gracyouse to them ys the lorde that in no wyse are they harmed with those vnwholsoÌ„ waters They are not caught of that pestilent flood It ouerwhelmeth not their faythe 12 And the dragon was wrothe with the woman sayth sayth Iohan frantycke and madde ys the Synagoge of Sathan whan their wanton ware is forsaken abhorred and despysed Than frette they for anger than swelle they for wodenesse Than wher they their tethe vpon the innoceÌ„t sowles and wolde teare them in peces for verye spyght ThaÌ„ Imagyne they newe cawteles and wyles and therupon procure they newe lawes to be made to trappe them in snares that they escape no waye 13 For the dragon in hys wrathe made warre with the remnaunt of her sede which kepte the commandementes of God All maner of wayes hath thys Serpente assayed to destroye Christes true churche The Apostles he vexed with the Pharisees aÌ„d Pâ—estes for the first age With false bretherne and tyrauntes trobled he their successours for the seconde age For the thirde with innumerable Heresyes ded he accoÌ„bre them For the fourth with daÌ„nable sectes of Hypocresye ded he oppresse them For
here for the .vij. heades of this beast But I fynde an other thynge in it the bodye of these .vij. heades beynge but one and styll contynuynge so For thowgh all were at that tyme vnder her yet is it not so now aÌ„d yet styll remayneth this beast Therfor I do take it for one vnyuersall Antichrist as I ded afore comprehendynge in hym so well Mahomete as the Pope so well the ragynge tyraunt as the styll hypocrite and all that wyckedlye worketh are of the same bodye The seuen heades of this Beast maye so well be his presumptuouse doinges for the .vij. ages of the churche as anye thynge els and yet no preiudyce done to that hath bene sayed afore What shuld ayle this wounded head here not to sygnyfye his supremyte suppressed his vsurped auctoryte and power dyminihsed and his whole prodygyouse occupyenge condempned in this latter age of the churche I suppose nothynge more manifesâ— vnlesse we haue eyes aÌ„d wyll not se. Are not now in manye partes of Germanye and in Englande also the Popes pardons layed asyde His power put downe his name abolyshed his purgatorye pelgrimages and other peltryes vtterlye exyled and so lyke to be wythin short space in other regyons also If thys be not a deadlye woundynge of one of the Beastes heades I thynke there is non If thys be not an apparent lykelyhode of his falle there is non to be loked for 2 But the healynge agayne of this mortall wounde is lyke to marre all and make the last errour worse thaÌ„ the first In manye places where as the gospell hath bene preached the Byshoppe of Rome deposed sectes shrynes and sanctuaries destroyed monasteries prioryes and fryeryes turned ouer remayneth styll their poyson with those same instrumeÌ„tes wherwith they haue wrought all myschef Styll continueth their more than Iewyshe ceremonyes their prestybulouse presthode their vowynge to haue no wyues and their Sodomyticall chastite Styll remayneth their sale masses of all abhominacioÌ„s the principall their prodigiouse sacrifices their sensynge of Idols their boyeshe processyons their vncommaunded worshyppinges and their confessions in the eate of all trayterye the fountayne wyth manye other strauÌ„ge obseruacyons whoÌ„ the scripture of God knoweth not Nothynge is brought as yet to Christes clere institucyon and syncere ordynaunce but all remayneth styll as the Antichrystes lefte it Nothyng is tryed by Gods worde but by the auncyent auctoryte of fathers Now passeth all vnder theyr tytle Thowgh the olde Byshoppes of Rome were of late years proued Antichrystes and theyr names raced out of owr bokes yet must they thus properlye for olde acquaytaunce be called styll owre fathers If it were nought afore I thynke it is now moche worse For now are they become lawdable ceremonyes where as before tyme they were but ceremonyes alone Now are they become necessarye rytes godlye constitucyons semelye vsages and cyuyle ordynaunces where as afore they had no soche names And he that dysobeyeth them shall not onlye be iudged a fellon and worthye to be hanged by their newe forged lawes but also condempned for a traytoure agaynst hys kynge though he neuer in hys lyfe hyndred but rather to his power hath furdered the common welthe To se this also wyth soche lyke put in execucyon the Byshoppes haue auctoryte euerye moneth in the yeare yf they lyst to call a sessyon to hange and borne at theyr pleasure And thys is ratyfyed and confermed by acte of Perlament to stande the more in effect If thys be no healynge of Antichristes wounded head neuer is lyke to be anye Whan menne shall defende fre wyll and allowe their popyshe Masse to be a sacrifyce fatysfactorye for the quycke and the dead latoure they anye other thynke yow than the healynge of thys wounder He lykewyse that in an open audyence mainteyneth owr owne workes to iustifye by Dimitte nobis and other not ryghtlye vnderstanded scripturs doth he anye other than prepare a salue for the same Nay surelye No lesse also doth he that setteth menne to open penaunce at Paules crosse for holye water makynge for procession and sensynge with other popetishe gawdes constraynynge them to promyse the anauncement of the olde faythe of holye churche by soche fantasticall fopperyes as Bonner bishopp of London ded now of late to the lawhynge game and wonderment of all the worlde Alas how is the peple abused Non other do they but mocke Christen princes with flatterye that geue them olde popyshe tytles and blasphemouse names of Antichrist As to call them most Christen kynges and defenders of the catholike faythe meaninge the Popes olde tradicions to heale the head of the beast This is surelye non other but with the sayd Beast to receyue auctoryte seate and power of Sathan Lete them therfor take hede least they be fownde the same Antichristes that they haue condempned and so throwe them selues double vnder the same plage Necessarye it is they beware what they drynke or what tytles they take vpon them at their appoyntment least they forgettynge them selues be founde dronken by takynge excesse of the Babylonishe cuppe and so peryshe with the wycked Marke here dilygentlye this worde head and ye shall well perseyue how wonderfullye the storye agreeth with the mysterye 3 And all the worlde sayth saynt Iohan wondred at the Beast All folyshe carnall and worldlye peple not vnderstandynge the wysdome of Gods holye sprete depeÌ„deth all vpon their beastlye baggage thinkinge all that they do to be godlye meritoryouse spirituall They magnifye it prayse it and haue it in most hygh estimacion yea they haue it in moche more pryce than anye thinge that is of God In no wyse wyll they from their olde frenesye soche is their excedinge blindenesse For whan they here tell their customes shall continewe their gouernours agreynge to the same they clappe their handes for Ioye and synge Gaudeamus with the prestes 4 Yea they worshypp the Dragon which gaue soche power to the Beast With their hartes they reioyce trustinge vpon longer contynuaunce whan they se his head restored agayne in their rewlers the godlye teachers burned aÌ„d the preachers put to sylence 5 They worship also the Beast so manye as worshipped the Dragon For as they which worship Christ worship his father also so they that worship Antichrist agreynge to his lawes and decrees doth also worship the deuyll of whom he receyued his pryde They wonder with the Iewes that seketh cauyllacions to coÌ„tempne Christes doctrine as doth the filthye familye of the doâ—â—ynge dodypolles prestes and vnlerned lawers They worship with the heythen that admitteth their power and alloweth their factes as doth the folyshe multytude that neuer wyll be godlye wyse Non other iudgement remayneth in these dayes to these wonderers and worshippers of the newlye restored head of the Beast than ded vnto them that wyth double deuocion agreed to the abhominacions of Mahomete and the Pope 6 And thys wyll be theyr saynge as foloweth in the text spoken in the tyme past for the certente of the
an Emproure a tyrâ—â—â—t or set in the place of a godlye gouernour 〈…〉 murtherer vp of gods peple by flatteringe prayses to encorage them to all my chefe and by wycked counsell to prycke theÌ„ forewarde to make cruell actes of murther for vpholdynge their beastlye generaâ—yon The sprete that they do ministre vnto princes euermore ys not the correccyoÌ„ of synne the amendement of lyfe redresse of the common welthe prouisyon for the poore nor the sekynge of Gods glorye But by flatterynge prayses to vpholde theÌ„ in their euyls moche after thys soort of speakinge Your magestes or graces are called most vertuous most valeaunt most worthye most wyse most myghtye and best lerned amonge all Christen potentates They are all but Asses in comparyson to your worthynesses If yt be your magestes pleasurs to do this or that within your owne domynyon who shall be so bolde to withstande yow No though Gods holye lawes be an hundred tymes agaynst yt Support the olde relygyon of holye churche agaynst te Heretykes and ye can not chose but prospere in all your affayres Lete it be treason agaynst your owne persones accordynge to the actes of the Emperour Sigysmundus and of kynge henrye the fift if they do but ones speake agaynst beâ— corrupt customes Make cruell coÌ„stâ—â—ucâ—ons apace proclame theÌ„ abrode to shewe your selfes the popes liuely Images 2 Our office it is to cause the Beastes Image to speake Let therfor your voyces be harde Be no dumme Idolles â–ª but speake with bolde stomakes In hys sprete make vtteraunce without Gods worde of his olde Romishe rewles Sende forth your proclamacions to be publyshed euerye where concernynge his masses his confessions his ceremonies and his whorishe chastite Let all thynges be blowen forth vnder your tytles names and auctoritees to be obserued vnder peyne of deathe If other realmes report that ye abuse the dewtye of heysers or kynges whych is the offyce of God esteme not their saynges but stande well in your owne consaytes Interprete the scripturs at your owne lust aÌ„d pleasurs as your lawe master of Rome hath done afore your tyme. 3 Cause so manye to be kylled as wyll not worship the Image of the Beast or obeye soche wicked lawes agaynst the veryte of God as hath bene made by those Emprours that were the popes eldest sonnes by the kynges of Fraunce which were his yonger sonnes or by other princes els which were the defenders of hys churche lete noÌ„ escape your â—aÌ„des that inueyheth agaynst our kyngdome but make hauocke of them on euerye syde as of heretykes and traytors to proue the holye ghost true here in hys fore iudgementeâ— For that is your offyce not appoynted of God but of Sathan And in our coÌ„mssiyon froÌ„ him also we haue it to be no slacke mouers of yow thervnto So hath Christ tolde afore in this reuelacyoÌ„ vnto saynt IohaÌ„ the EuaÌ„gelist This is the ghostlye counsell that we the horned Beastes thus haue in coÌ„mission to geue vnto yow froÌ„ the mouthe of the DragoÌ„ WhaÌ„ soche an Image or Idâ—louse prince is thus vpset or coÌ„stytuted by auctorite his othe ones made that he shall alwayes defende them he maye in no wyse speake but out of that sprete that their coÌ„iurers confessours I shuld saye haue put in to him He maye make no lawes but at their spiritual appoyntmeÌ„t lyke as the Emprour Carolus doth now in these dayes Moche after this sore became the eÌ„prour Nero this beastes Image immediatly after Cristes asceÌ„sioÌ„ by the subtle slaightes of that spiritual sorcerer SimoÌ„ Magus at Rome to withstande the Christen preachers Peter and Paule as largelye witnesseth Egesippus in hys thirde boke de Hierosolâ—moruÌ„ exci-dio the secoÌ„de chaptre This SimoÌ„ Magus by flatteringe prayses crepte first into his fauer promisinge him helthe longe lyfe increace of power and enlargement of his empyre with coÌ„tynuall vyctorye ouer hys enemyes in case he wolde folowe hys counsell vpon thys became he not onlye hys chefe couÌ„sellour but also the hygh byshop of hys sowle and conseruatoure of hys bodye the preseruacyon of hys whole helthe lyfe to hym committed onlye All thynges after that was done vy hys counsell to stoppe the Apostles preachynge he taken for the Emprours most familyar frynde and a manne most profitable to the common welthe of the Romanes and they sone after suppressed and putt vnto most cruell deathe 4 And he made all sayth Saynt Iohan both great and small ryche and poore free and bonde to receyue a marke in their ryght handes or in their fore heades WhaÌ„ this newe raysed Image of the Beaste or sworne power to Antichrist ys ones raysed vp or admitted by their autoryte be he kynge or Reyser prince or other potentate he must strongelye defende that Synagoge of the deuyll with whole mageste crowne and scepture By their onlye counsell must he than make lawes for they must geue hym sprete and sende out commandementes abrode that their holye decrees be obseued Commissioners and vysyâ—ours must out vndre that autoryte as wele to the clergye as layte Than must all be sworne to it and so obeye yt both hygh and lowe both Gentylman and ye man both owner and farmer both zytezen and townesman both merchande aÌ„d plowgh man both mastre and seruaunt both natyue dweller and denyson Yea both Prystes in their colleges Monkes in their abbayes Chanons in their couentes and fryers in their cloysters must after their sorte do the same Thys rewle hath bene alwayes for the coÌ„modyte of that kingedome where as the powers haue bene thus by them peruerted Moche were it to shewe the manyfolde examples in that behalfe Charles the .v. now eÌ„proure to make thys good and to shewe hymselfe to be the seyd Beastes Image caused soche actes to be publyshed through out hys whole domynyon agaynst the Christen doctryne wherin all they are declared heretyques scysmatyques and excommunicates which taketh not the pope for saynâ— Peters onlye vycar and head of the christen churche non excepted neyther kynge nor Coruester as there are now dyuerse of the contrarye opynyon The artycles of the louanyanes vndre hys pryuilege and the actes of the parysyanes vudre the frencâ—e kynges autoryte proclamed in thys present yeare of our lorde A M. CCCCC.xlv wyll make all this matter good 5 And what is this els both in theyr clergy and commons but to receyue a marke in their right handes or foreheaâ—es for in admittynge those artycles actes they graunte to obeye those blasphemouse doctrynes that shall both corrupt their lyfe aÌ„d faythe both their workes and conseyence For in consentinge vnto errours in their faythe they spott their foreheades hauynge so their consciences marked with an hote yron In full grauntynge also to do them in effecte they defyle their handes perfourminge soche workes as are vnpure before God If they were gone quyte froÌ„ Christ that wrapped them selues agayne with the workes of the lawe appoynted of God before his commynge moche more are they gone from
the beastes wounded head but also in other serten regyons But for so moche as yt ys most lyuelye done there and thys boke written in that language I haue onlye brought forth here examples therof in that purpose The .xiiii. Chapter IN thys present chapter declareth the lorde vnto Iohan and vnto hys faythfull seruauntes by him the degre estate and condycyon of hys true beleuynge churche now after he hath afore lyuelye described the bestyall churche of Antichrist and of hys horned spyritualte by the afore named .ii. moÌ„struouse Beastes And thys ys that hys louers shuld knowe what they be which are of hys howsholde aÌ„d what an helper they haue of hym in the middes of their aduersitees to the confort of their sowles And though they be here a monge those ragynge tyrauntes in terryble agonyes and peynes persecucions and trobles he ys neuer absent from them nor wyll not be tyll he hath rewarded them with vnspekeable Ioyes The Text. 1 And I loked and lo a lambe stode in the mounte Syon 2 aÌ„d with him an C. and .xliiij. thousande 3. hauynge his fathers name writteÌ„ in their foreheades 4. And I herde a voyce froÌ„ heauen 5. as the sounde of manye waters 6. and as the voyce of a great thundre 7. And the voyce that I herde was 8. as the harpers that playe vpon theyr harpers 9. And they sange as it were a newe songe 10. before the seate 11. and before the foure Beastes 12. and the Elders 13. And no maÌ„ coulde lerne that songe 14. but the hundreth and xliiij thousande 15. which were redemed froÌ„ the earthe 16. These are they which were not defyled with womeÌ„ 17. for they are virgynes 18. These folowe the lambe whither so euer he goeth 19. These were redemed from menne 20. beynge the first frutes vnto God and to the lambe 21. and in their mouthes was founde no gyle 22. for they are without spotte before the trone of God ¶ The Paraphrase 1 I â—oked saith saynt Iohan on the other syde and in a thought as it were I behelde that a lambe stode vpon mounte Syon Euen the lambe of God Iesus Christ that alone toke awaye the synnes of the worlde Alone doth he gouerne his faythfull churche as the onlye aÌ„d immediate head therof hauynge non other to assist him in that office For who is the kynge ouer Syon but he Who shall reduce Israel agayne to his folde but he Onlye is he with his congregacyon to ayde them with his worde to bolden them with his sprete to streÌ„gâ—then them with his grace 2 And with him were present an hondreth and .xliiij. thousande hauynge his fathers name written in their fore heades So manye as haue in hart receyued his worde and in faythe digested his veâ—e are the verye chyldren of Abraham and are marked vpp for the sonnes of God by the seale of the holye Ghost 3 For power haue they geueÌ„ theÌ„ to be Gods chyldreÌ„ that beleue in hys name And thys is yt to haue hys name written in their fore heades For their faythe declareth them Gods sonnes Lete thys set Nombre be non impediment to the reader to be taken here for the vnyuersall multitude of the faythfull as well of the Gentiles as of the Iewes that beleueth though yt otherwyse apereth in the .viii. chapter of thys boke For so well ys the Gentile that hath faythe a perfyght Israelyte as ys the Christen Iewe. Yea moche rather was Zacheus for hys faythe iudged Abrahams chylde than was Symon for fulfyllynge the workes of the lawe For God ys not parcyall What so euer he be that feareth hym and worketh ryghtousnesse ys accepted with hym And so ys yt ment here And therfor ys not the differeÌ„ce written here as in the other place but all ys Ioyned in one to coÌ„preheÌ„de all vnder one And as touchynge the equall certente in Nombre both here and there Lyke as yt ys therâ— certeynlye knowne vnto God euen so ys yt here though yt be vnto vs both innumerable and vncertayne Not as concernynge the Nombre yt self but the common vnderstandinge therof in the scripturs For yf the Nombre of one seuenth be an infinite Nombre there moche more of many seuenthes 4 And I harde a voyce from heauen sayth Saynt Iohan which ys all one with the aforeseyd Syon and ys the vnyuersall congregacyon of Christ all clere from the superstycyons af menne For from Syon cometh the lawe of the lorde after Esaye and the worde of God from Ierusalem 5 Thys worde ys as the noyse of manye waters whan yt ys in the mouthes of manye dyuerse peples of dyuerse natyons and languages one not vnderstandynge an other and yet knowynge yt yche peple amonge themselues 6 Verye lyke ys yt also to a great thoÌ„der cracke myghtye feare full and terrible to the fleshe Very harde ys thy worde lorde sayd Christes disciples who is able to abyde yt 7 And the voyce that I harde saith IohaÌ„ was moche after the noyse that the harpers make whan they playe vpon their harpes Full of agrement are the holye scripturs yea full of swete hermonye and concorde More precyouse are the verytes of the lorde than ys golde and their melodye more swete than honye 8 With them reioysed Dauid before the arke of the lorde In theÌ„ toke Paule a stomake and confounded the Iewes at Damasâ—us 9 And swetelye they vttred with their voyces a songe that semed all newe before the seate of the lorde before the .iiii. Beastes and before the auncyeÌ„t elders This songe is the worde of the lorde all newe both to the good aÌ„d to the yll The faythfull it reneweth in the sprete of their myndes prouokynge them to do on a newe maÌ„ne in Christ. The hartes of the vnfaythfull it so hardeneth that they in disdayne and spyght doth call it newe lernynge as ded the ignoraunt multitude at Capernaum and the worldly wyse menne of Athenes 10 Before the seate of the lorde was this songe vttred which is the godlye disposed multitude For lyke as the harte of an hipocrite is the verye seate of sathan so is the hart of a faythfull manne the seate of God and habitacle of the holye Ghost 11 Before the .iiii. Beastes was it opened also by this nomber of godlye teachers Which Beastes are the pryuate congregacions of the lorde remayninge here yet in the fleshe in the .iiii. quarters of the worlde â—â— Finallye before the elders was it songe also For non other doctrine is it nor Gospell of glad tydinges than hath bene sens the begynnynge nor thaÌ„ hath bene thankefullye receyued of owr olde auncetours the Patriarkes the Prophetes the Apostles and the faythfull fathers 13 And no manne coulde lerne that newe songe but the aforesayd hondred aÌ„d xliiii thousande which were redemed from the earthe On mightye wonderfull yea and terrible sentence of the lorde Non that take them selues for the peple of God caÌ„ be accepted afore him for the true sede of AbrahaÌ„ nor for the iust
ministers of his worde vnlesse they betokened afore with the holye sprete of his promes and so predestinate to the lyfe euerlastinge 14 Non can syncerelye do that godlye office to the profight of other vnlesse he be whollye taken from all fleshlye and worldlye affectes No manne canne come vnto me sayth Christ vnlesse it be geuen him of my father 15 The wilfull Iewes beleued not because they were not the shepe of his marke Neyther is it of him that willeth noâ— of him that ronneth but of the only martyr of the lorde Necessarye is it therfor that his sprete draweth moueth and inâ—meth the hart Els can not the songe be swete neyther in hym that singeth nor yet in the hearer The notes of thys newe songe are Gods heauenlye verytees regestred in the faythfull hartes 16 And they that ded synge them to the prayse of the lorde were not defyled with women Wyth no straunge doctrynes nor yet Prophane worshyppynges ys their faythe contamynate that vnfaynedlye haue done on Iesus Christ. Noâ— the spowsage of their sowles haue they broken by no fylthye tradicyons of meÌ„ne Onlye haue they with Dauid sought the Testymonyes of God and thought non lyke vnto them Onlye ded they cleaue to hys precyouse lawes estemynge all other but chaffe and verye whoredome in the sprete 17 Therfor are they virgins marryed vnto Christ in faythe as were the Corynthyanes by Paules preachynge whom he wyshed to continewe a chast virgine vnto Christ. Neuer ys the maydenhede of the sowle lost tyll erronyouse doctrine be receyued from the massengers of Antichrist the Byshoppes and Hipocrites 18 The virgins or vncorrupted beleuers doth folowe the lambe whersoeuer he becoÌ„meth They go after Christ that beleuynge hys worde doth fashion their lyues vnto yt Lyke as they folowe Antichrist that fashion their workes to hys doctrine They walk in hys steppes that forsake themselues with him that beareth the crosse of persecucyoÌ„s with him or that suffreth death for the truthe with hym And not they that seke theÌ„selues lyuynge here in all pompe voluptuousnesse and Tyrannye From thys place fatche the blinde Papistes a great argument for their wyuelesse chastyte and that noÌ„ foloweth Christ but they in this muster because they are vnmarryed Neyther maye Abraham Moyses nor Dauid Zacharye Peter nor Philip walke in this NoÌ„bre because they had wyues So parelouse a thynge yt ys to haue a wyfe It ys great maruele they adâ—itt Marye Christes mother to yt because she had a husbande Oh ignoraunt Assee and verye beastlye Idiotes I thynke yow folowe Iudas which had neyther wyfe nor chylde vnlesse he had theÌ„ syttynge by other mennes fyers as manye of yow haue yet at thys same daye What is virginite before God more than is marriage No more than is circumcysyon in comparyson to vncircuÌ„cysyon And that ys nothynge No more maketh the one than the other to a ChristeÌ„ lyfe Onlye ys yt faythe effectuallye workynge by loue that the lorde requyreth of vs. Onlye respected he the faythe of Marye and not her virginite They which lyue in matrimonye after the worde of God are accepted afore him for virgyns and so are named of Saynt Paule An other caâ—illacion they haue that non which hath offended afore can be of this nombre But they consyder not what is spoken here afore that they were redemed from the earthe and that the sprete of the lorde hath puryfyed their hartes through faythe Neyther haue they grace to remember that Christes innoceÌ„cye is rekened for an whole perfight rightousnesse vnto them that beleue in him but they must bringe in soche tryfles as are their owne beggerlye merytes 19 And therfor it foloweth also These faithfull beleuers sayth Saynt Iohan were redemed from menne beynge the fyrst frutes to God and to the lambe By non other were they redemed than by Christ â–ª For of all the elect nombre he is the onlye rightousnesse wysdome holynesse and redempcioÌ„ From the corrupt blynde and frowarde multitude hath he called them taken them aÌ„d clered them And of deformed synners hath he made them fayre of vyle pure of wreched gloryouse of blinde perfyghtlye seynge of lyars true sayers of obstinate gentyll of yll good of vnfrutefull profytable For he yt is that taketh awaye the stonye harte and geueth a softe harte for yt so makynge vs Abrahams children Thus are we redemed from menne whâ— we are taken by hys goodnesse from soche corrupt vsages as mannes nature is inclined vnto 20 And for non other purpose but to be the first frutes vnto god as were the aulter offeringes in the olde lawe in the haÌ„des of the high prestes For so moche as the elect Nombre are but a fewe or a serten taken out from the vnyuersall multytude are the porcyon of the lorde as were the seyd offerynges perteyninge vnto Christ the onlye byshop of our sowles they are his first frutes Yea aÌ„d hys owne verye mysticall members and all but one offerynge vnto God the father by hym For he is the onlye lambe that dyed for them hys owne bodye beynge the onlye oblacyon and sacrifice 21 And in their mouthes was founde no gyle For non other wordes vttered they but hys pure testymonyes Non other taught they but hys vndefyled lawes Non other perswaded they to be obserued of other but hys immaculate Gospell or easye burden of Christ. No importable yokes layed they vpon mennes shulders neyther of Ceremonyes fastinges nor masse heaâ—ynges 22 For they are without spotte before the trone of God Both before them that are faythfull and haue right iudgement in the spâ—eâ—e which are the verye seates of God apereth their doctrine pure and also their lyfe innocent before God him self Neyther are they spotted with fylthye tradicions nor yet with vncomlye examples And as concernynge their former synnes they shall not be imputed vnto them They are remitted in Christ and so forgotten afore God Though this that here hath bene spoken be concernynge the whole Christen multytude and her preachers yet doth it most specially touche the Iewes or Israelytes that shall in this latter age be conuerted vnto Christ. And so do I counsell the reader to vnderstande it For the mounte Syon after the fleshe was theirs Not defyled are they wyth vnmarryed wemen which are the whoryshe lawes aÌ„d vncleane Supersticions of the Gentyles vpon non other harpe haue they commonlye harped but vpon the scripturs though it hath not bene to the pleasure of God tyll now in thys latter age wherin they shall whollye turne vnto Christ. The Text. 1 And I sawe an Angell 2. flye in the myddes of heauen 3. hauynge an euerlastynge gospell to preache vnto them that sytte and dwell on the earthe 4. and to all nacyons kynredes aÌ„d tonges and people 5. saynge with a lowde voyce 6. feare God 7. and geue honoure to him 8. For the houre of his iudgement is come 9. And worshyp hym that made heauen and earthe 10. and the see and the fountaynes of
age be ernestlye spreted and not feare the tormentes of the enemyes in Christes cause 4 For from hence forthe the sprete sayth that they rest from their labours In a wonderfull quyetnesse dwell they by the verye sentence of the holye ghost and shall neuer more fele of anye woo God hath cleane wyped awaye all teares from their eyes all sorâ—wes aÌ„d peynes from their bodyes the first daungers beynge past Happye are they therfor and most godlye fortunate that are slayne for Christ because they wyll not worshyp the Beast and his Image nor corrupt their faythe with their wycked lawes but in a pure Christen beleue departeth from hence to the lorde Theyr porcyon is in the lande of the lyuynge and their lotte amonge the holye ones 5 For certenâ—ye their workes doth folowe them The promiseâ—â—â—warde of God for constantlye standynge by the veryte for the frutes of their christen pacience and for other exercyses of theyr faythe is euermore to their glorye present with them Not as deserued of theÌ„ but of Christ in whose faythe they wrought here and for the promes sake that they shuld be Gods heyres togyther wyth Chryst. The lyuelye worde also which they ernestlye receyued here and so roted in their faythe wyll neuer suffre them to peryshe nor to be hurt of the â—conde deathe The Text. 1 And I loked and beholde 2. a whyte cloude 3. and vpon the cloude one sittynge lyke vnto the sonne of manne 4. hauynge on hys head a golden crowne 5. and in hys hande a sharpe syckle ¶ The paraphrase 1 I loked yet further sayth Saynt Iohan and euydentlye before me apered a whyght cloude which betokeneth the true mynisters of Gods worde Whom the holye ghost calleth cloudes by Esaye Dauid Peter and Iudas For from theÌ„ falleth vpon the peple the swete droppes of hys verytees 2 Whyght they are as mylke for their faythe in the worde And for their Christen conuersacyon not blotted with Hypocresye of mennes corrupted customes 3 Vpon this cloude was one syttynge lyke vnto the sonne of manne which ys verelye Christ in hys gloryfyed manhode For euermore ys he amonge hys trewe preachers geuynge them soche vtteraunce and wisdome as all their enemyes are not able to withstande Alwayes walketh he amonge the .vij. candelstyckes which are hys congregacyons as we had afore 4 He had vpoÌ„ hys head a goldeÌ„ crowne in token of hys eternall and vncorrupt kyngedome in hys hande a sharpe syckle which ys the sharpe iudgemeÌ„t or ryghtuousnesse of hys worde for ther with shall he reape hys latter harnest Accordynge to hys worde and promes shall he iudge good and euyll 5 Thys syckle receyued he of hys euerlastynge father soche tyme as he gaue ouer vnto hym hys vnyuersall iudgemeÌ„tes By the order of thys vysyon shuld the preachers seme in the last age of the churche moche to admonyshe the peple of the latter daye with the commynge of Christ agayne to iudge both the quicke the dead as ys in their crede or beleue The Text. 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2 cryaÌ„ge with a lowde voyce to hym that satte on the cloude 3. Thrust in thy sycle reape 4. for the tyme is come to reape 5. For the corne of the earthe is rype 6. And he that satte on the cloude 7. thrust in hys syckle on the earth 8 and the earthe was reaped ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angell sayth saynt Iohan came out of the temple which ys the congregacyon of faythe consecrated as an holye temple vnto God in the bloude of the vndefyled lambe Iesus This Angell betokeneth those iust meÌ„ne that with Symeon and anna the doughter of Phanuell in this latter age are desyâ—rouse of the glorye of God and of the fynall redempcyon of man from bodelye corrupcyon 2 These shall crye with a loude voyce with a feruent sprete shall they call vnto Christ which sitteth vpon the cloude 3 And this shall be their sainge Thrust in the syckle and reape Sende forth thy 〈◊〉 worde And lyke as yt hath created all thynges so lete yt now trye and iudge all thinges 4 For the tyme ys at hande to reape For we are those vpon whome the endes of the worlde are come 5 And doubtlesse the corne of the earthe yâ— rype the worlde is at the best that yt will do As it hath bene euer so ys yt styll all togyther sort vpon myscheff Lete thy worde therfor fynyshe all as yt hath beganne all With the breathe of thy mouthe 〈◊〉 the great Antichrist 〈…〉 of synne the sonne of perdycyon and the aduersarye that hath exalted hymself aboue God Poure out thy indygnacion vpon the kyngedomes that will neyther knowe the worshyp the nor alone call vpon thy name Thu hast called thy haruest the ende of the worlde lete it now fynyshe all in dede Diuyde the chaffe from the corne the wicked sort from the ryghtouse Gather the wheate into thy garner and burne the chaffe in vnquencheable fyre 6 And he that satte on the cloude thurst in hys syckle on the earthe and anon the earthe was reaped 7 He hath sent hys myghtye worde so quycke in operacyon as fyre Which shall not onlye consume the wicked generacyon of the Beast but also reserue them to eternall dampnacyon 8 The earthe shall be cleared of theÌ„ as of all other fylthye corrupcions and hell replenyshed with them to their perpetuall care The Text. 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2. which ys in heauen 3. hauynge also a sharpe syckle ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And an other angell sayth saynt Iohan came out of the temple which ys in heauen or from the great nombre of Angels hauynge also a sharpe syckle in his hande 2 This Angell betokeneth those heaueÌ„lye spretes that the lorde shall seÌ„de forth to gather togyther hys chosen from the iiij wyndes whan hys token shall apere in heaueÌ„ These are the reapers of the lordes haruest These are they that shall go forthe to gather all nacyons and to separate the gottes froÌ„ the laÌ„bes the yl from the good and shall cast them into a furnace of fyre where as shallbe waylinge and gnashinge of tethe 3 And therfor ys their syckle here named sharpe Non other is their syckle but this appointed office Non other ys their haruest but thys gatherynge togyther But these massengers shall not forthe tyll they haue commandement And therfor sayth Saynt IohaÌ„ consequeÌ„tlye ¶ The Text. 1 And an other Angell came out from the aulter 2. which had power ouer fyre 3. and cryed with a lowde crye vnto hym that had the sharpe syckle and sayde 4. Thrust in thy sharpe syckle 5. and gather the clusters of the earthe 6. for her grapes are rype 7. And the aÌ„gell thrust in hys syckle on the earthe 8. aÌ„d cutte downe the grapes of the vyneyarde of the earthe 9. and cast them into the great wynefatte of the wrathe of God 10. And the wynefatte was trodeÌ„ with out
vnyâ—ersall worlde makynge them dronken wyth the cuppe of all abhomynacyons 13 And all this shall they do to gather them togyther by their wycked counsels and to brynge them into one cruell consent of battaylynge agaynst Christ and his members to receyue the penalte therof in the great daye of the lorde almyghtye 14 Most busylye they gather them to battayle whan they moue them to persecute the iust beleuers wyth full vngodlye actes as now most of all in owrage whych God hath promysed in short space to reuenge Of this wyll more be spoken in the .xix. chapter folowynge Least anye manne knowynge the truthe shuld tangle his owne conscyence with their spirituall sorceryes for feare of princes lawes vnder the vayne hope of repentaunce in the ende of theyr lyues yt foloweth in playne sentence 15 Beholde sayth the lorde Iesus Christ or ernestlye take hede vnto it for I come daungerouslye vnloked for as commonlye doth the thefe to thy hyndraunce yf thu watche not in faythe but lyue in superstycyon Though thys not wythout reasonable cause maye be taken in a geueralte for the last iudgemeÌ„t daye yet is it here spoken partycularlye of euerye mannes departynge As a premonyshment he geueth this here of loue least anye manne shuld peryshe without warnynge 16 Blessed is he sayth that Lorde which watcheth in the true christen beleue and lyueth not in the vayne but in the sure hope of lyfe sealed with the iust promyses of God For all that he â—oth shall prospere and turne hym to great aduauntage in the conclusyon 17 Happye is he also that holdeth fast vnto him his garmentes or workes of Gods prescripcion whych are the frutes of the sprete or that hath done on the Lorde Iesus Christ gyrdynge him sure vnto him self by faythe 18 Least he be fownde a naked hypocrite without faythe veryte iustyce charyte wyth soche lyke or least the ryghtouse nombre at the latter daye se his filthinesse vncouered and reioyce at his condempnacion 19 He ys blessed whych at that daye shall be couered with the whight garment of the lambe not hauynge his sinnes imputed vnto him 20 To shewe the certente of the aforesayd battayle Saynt Iohan sayth thaâ— the deuil gathered together those wicked newlers into a serten place called in the Hebrâ—â—â—onge Armagedon The vncleane spretes that afore are named thre of â—heir dyuerse workinge in the Dragon Beast false propheâ—e are here brought into one as all of one lyenge sprete whoÌ„ Christ calleth the father deuill This one lyenge sprete which hath bene a murtherer from the begynnynge comprehendynge in him all vncleane spretes lyke as doth the Beast all Antichristes hath coÌ„byned together into â—n exeâ—rable zele of fatherlye tradicyons all vayne gloryouse and vngodlye mynded gouernours agaynst God and his Christ. And this hath not bene without the secrete permission of God willynge to proue his electes by stronge sufferynges that they myght receyue at his hande the rewarde of stronge victorye or of his habundaunt ryches 21 This place here called in the Hebrue Armagedon betokeneth in misterye an hyll of dylectable frutes interpreted of some for the hyll of the Gospell and is commonlye taken of the Hebrues for that is swete or of value And this without fayle is the churche which oft tymes in the scripturs ys called the plentuouse hyll of God the hyll of Gods howse the hyll of myrhe the hyll of olyâ—es the hyll of Syon Carmelus and â—thanus with soche other lyke In thys mounte euermore are they bent to battayle There slee they the innocent lambes of Christ. All their power malyce and tyrannie is there extremelie vttred at the Antichristes laboure and desyre which are excedynglye dronken in the bloud of holye martyrs which hath bene shedde vpon earthe from ryghtouse Abell vnto this daye But whan the almyghtye setteth kynges vpoÌ„ the earthe it shall be clere euen in the darkenesse that the hyll of Basan is Gods hyll The Text. 1 And the seuenth angell poured out hys vyall 2 into the ayre 3. And there came a great voyce out of heauen from the seate sayenge 4. It is done 5. And there folowed voyces thoÌ„derynges and lyghtenynges 6. and there was a great earthquake 7. soche as was not sens men were vpoÌ„ earthe 8. so mightye an earthquake and so great 9. And the great cytye was deuyded into thre partes 10. And the cytyes of the nacyons fell 11. And great Babylon came in remembraunce before God 12. to geue vnto her the cuppe of wyne of the fearcenesse of his wrathe 13. And euerye Ile fled awaye 14. and the mountaynes were not founde 15. And there fell a great hayle 16. as it had bene talentes 17. out of heauen 18. vpon the men 19. And the meÌ„ blasphemed God bycause of the plage of the â—ayle 20. for it was great and the plage therof was sore ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Finallye the seuenth Angell went forth vnder the seuenth seale openynge as God had eternally determined throwynge out the content of hys vyall into the ayre For the seuenth age of the christen churche by the verye set purpose of God are manye conuerted to the truthe and become with Paule the vessels of eleccion that afore were wyth Iudas the vessels of wrathe vnder the great aduersarye of God Neyther is it anye blemishe vnto them to be called here that they were afore vyals of wrathe consyderynge that Simon leprosus beynge ones healed of his leprosye was euer after called a leper In case lyke Paule after his conuersyon was not ashamed to report hym self both a Pharyse and also the sonne of a Pharyse 2 These by the myghtye determynacion of Gods stronge iudgement are sent into the ayre Most effectuallye are they lyghtened wyth the sprete of God and prouoked stiflye to stande vp agaynst the aereall powers regnynge in the fyckle fantasticall Antychrystes and hypocrytes condeÌ„pninge by Gods worde their vnyuersall doctrines and deuyllyshnesse These powers are no lesse than deuyls whoÌ„ Christ calleth fowles of the ayre Peter aÌ„ IohaÌ„ mannis aduersaryes saynt Paule the gouerners of the esâ— darkenesses in spyrytuall wyckednesse 3 Whils these thinges are in doynge out of heauen which is the vnyuersall congregacion yea from the verye trone of God which is the electe faythfull nombre for they are onlye the seate of God came a voyce of reioysinge saynge after this sort 4 It is done All thinges are fynyshed Chrystes glorye ones manyfestlye knowne â—ke worlde is at an ende The wycked hath done all their myscheffes and the nombre of owr bretherne is fulfylled Thus shall they preache a full delyueraunce of the captyues and the peceable yeare of the lorde Thys ys the sylence of an halfe howre space mencyoned afore in the .viij. chapter and the returne of this worlde vnto Chryst in the .xij. Chapter Not that there shall in those dayes be no enemies for the remnaunt shall styll remayne but that they shall not then openlye dare rage persecute and kyll the worlde beynge at
of all lordes 11. and kynge of all kynges 12. And they that are on his syde 13. are called and chosen and faythfull ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the .x. hornes sayth the Angell vnto Iohan which thu sawest here vpon the heades of this rose coloured Beast are in significacyon .x. kynges Some hath taken these .x. kynges for all those Emprours of the larynes sens Charle mayne which haue sworne them selues obedyent to the Bishop of Rome Some haue thought them to be those prynces which here in Europa haue afore tyme bene subiect to the Empyre of Rome As the kynges of Englande Fraunce Spayne Portyugale Castele Denmarke Scotlande Dngarye Goheme and Napels But these considre not that they be yet more in nombre as Aragone Nauerre Cycyle Cypresse Sardyne Swethen Pole and soche other and are all included in the seuen heades as members of the afore rehersed empyres Neyther marke they that they are aboue the heades as hornes aÌ„d more in nombre than the heades betokenynge a rygorouse auctoryte and ferce power which they proudelye vsurpe ouer them euerye where Afore they were but suggestyons but here are they ernest doers For in euerye region hath the beastlye Antichrist of Rome his Metropolytanes and primates As in Englande are Caunterberye and Yorke in Fraunce Thuronensis and Remensis in Spayne Tholetanus and Teâ—raconeÌ„sis in Portingale Hispalensis aÌ„d Bracarensis in Irelande Armachanus and Dublimensis in Dennemarke Lundensis and Opsalensis in Germanye Colonâ—ensis and Maguntinus in Hungarye Serigonâ—ensis and Colocensis in Italye Pisanus and Rauennas in Sycyle Panormitanus and Messanensis with an infynite nombre of byshoppes prelates prestes and religiouse besydes the fyghtynge orders of the Rhodes the Prussyanes the Redemers of captyues the Aragondes the Beorgyanes called de alga the Monteseanes the Castylyanes the Lusitaneanes the Calatraneanes and Saynt Iames warryours 2 These had not yet at that tyme receyued the deuylyshe kyngedome of pestilent vsurpacyon ouer the sowles of menne For though in Iohans dayes arose certen Antichristes as Hebion Cerinthus Diotrephes Carpocras and so the lyke yet were they nothing to these 3 But now in dede they haue receyued the same self auctoryte and power with the Beast that he toke afore of the Dragon in maner of kynges to rewle in the hartes and consciences of menne to his behoue 4 For so moche as their auctoryte is not of God lyke as is the auctorite of kynges it is sayd here as kynges or as menne counterfeatynge them in vsurpynge a gouernaunce not frelye geuen them of God but of the deuyll 5 All at one houre receyued they thys auctoryte wyth the Beast And that I suppose was in the generall counsell of Laterane at Rome gathered vnder the tytle to recouer Hierusalem agayne Where as confession in the eare was cruellye extorted of Christen peple vnder peyne of deathe and dampnacion by the whole consent both of the princes and bishoppes at the former suggestioÌ„ of innocent the thirde besydes other wicked thinges As to heare lattyn seruyce to go procession on Sondayes to praye vnto dead Sayntes to worship Images to bye Masses for the dead to fast the fridayes with purgatorye pardons merytes and fryres orders In the sayd counsell became the Metropolytanes as kynges 〈◊〉 by the auctorite therof appoynted they that 〈◊〉 Balyues and other 〈◊〉 as byshoppes Curates and Pariâ—â—he Prestes to haue cure and charge of so idle and in the sayd eare confession to receyue theyr accountes 6 These counterfett kynges are all of one deuyllishe mynde practyse and purpose agaynst God and his â–ª veryte 7 And fullye they are fixed to geue their whole power their stodye and theyr streÌ„gthe vnto the behoue of the Beast â–ª Not accordinge to Gods mynde wyll they rewle but all after his wyll pleasure agreynge alwayes vnto him as meÌ„bers to their heade to serue wickednesse after wickednesse in BabiloÌ„ His popisshe decrees wyll they seke his deuylishe decretals wyll they folowe his ceremonials wyll they obserue nothynge of the sacred scripturs What lerning so euer they haue what giftes of nature fortune or grace all must be to the maintenaunce of his fantastycall fopperyes To hym are they sworne to do hym homage to obeye his lawes to kysse hys fete for hys gloryes sake to persceutâ— the Gospell 10 And in so doynge they shall fyghâ— with the lambe which ys Iesus Christ. They shall impugne hys truthe whan they thinke to do hym seruyce For that myschese they do to one of his they do to hys owne persone 9 But be they neuer so dogged yet shall the lambe ouercome them in hys faythfull members yea by pacyent sufferaunce onlye The vyctorye sayth Saynâ— Iohan which ouercometh the worlde is a sure Christen faythe Vpon their syde fyghteth he which ys most myghtye aÌ„d stronge yea the lorde that ys valeaune in battayle And he shall first ouercome them in this lyfe with the myghtye breathe of hys mouthe scatterynge them awaye as dust from the earthe And after thys shall hys terryble iudgement for euer condempne them 10 For he ys by the auctoryte geuen hym of hys father the lorde of all lordes and by hys owne eternall Godhede the Kynge of all kynges hauinge all power in heauen and in earthe He ys constytâ—â—te iudge of the quycke and the dead hauynge alone the euerlastynge Empyre with his father and the holye ghost and of his kingedome shall neuer be an ende â–ª 11 By his permyssion doth all kinges regne he hath their hertes in his hande and iudgeth their thoughtes Both maye he geue them hys sprete and also take yt froÌ„ them and of his enemyes he shall make hys forestole He ys the same stoâ—ne after Danyell that without anye haâ—â—des was cut out of the mounte which breaketh the IroÌ„ the copper the earthe the syluer and the golde in peces By whome are ment the vnyuersall kyngedomes of this worlde 12 Of this hys vyctorye are all they paâ—â—tyners with hym which are vpon hys syâ—de by faythe Most specyallye those truâ— seruauntes of hys which after they arâ— called by grace and chosen by faythe perseuer styll constaunt feruent faythâ—full and sure in his veryte to the latteâ— ende of their lyues 13 Not onlye the lambe therfor shall oâ—uercome the Beast but they also afteâ— the doctryne of Paule that are called aÌ„d chosen in him not fallynge from his trâ—â—che for anye temptacyoÌ„ or grefe but staÌ„â—dinge fast by yt vnto the verye deathe For those that the lorde hath prefixed afore he hath called iustifyed and allowed These auaunceth not themselues with the proude but mekelye they submit their crownes referrynge all vyctorye to the lambe as menne that coulde haue done nothinge in that behalfe with out hym The Text. 1 And he sayde vnto me 2. The waters which thu sawe it where the whore sitteth 3. are people folke and nacyons and tuÌ„ges 4. Ad the teÌ„ horns which thu sawest vpon the beast 5. are they which shall hate the
water shuld all they resort that are thurstye therof to take refreshynge 6 Vpon this glassye see were they sene of Saynt Iohan that had obtayned victorye of the Beast of hys Image of his marke and of the nombre of his name By whom are ment those constaunt christianes whych hath for all ages firmelye affermed the truthe For non aduersyte declinynge from it Strongelye haue these sens the Apostles tyme resysted the aduersaries of God by his only worde perfystynge therin vnto the deathe as ded Steuen Iames and Antipas with soche other his faythfull witnesses Uictorye haue they gotten by faythe both of the Beast aÌ„d his Image both of the great Antychryst and his supporters of the Pope and of Mahomete wyth theyr maynteyners Emprours kynges and magistrates and of all them that vsurpe theyr tytle name seate auctoryte pompe or power 7 They haue blemyshed lykewyse by the sayd worde not onlye the marke of the Beast whych is a corrupted faythe but also the nombre of hys name whych is the denyall of God Them haue they to theyr rebuke vttered and to their confusion declared They haue proued their orders dampnable their doctrine deuyllyshe their religion hypocrisye and their spiritualte playne wyckednesse condempnynge them by the scripturs as vngodlye dyssemblers denyenge the lorde which bought them These are they whom the lorde tenderlye norryshed and gracyouslye brought forth vpon the refreshynge waters conuertynge their sowles to his godlye feare and loue 8 These stande euermore on the glassye see they sett sure fotynge vpon the rocke stone Unmoueablye they perseuer in the truthe neuer denyenge yt afore menne 9 And they haue in their handes the harpes of God whych are deuoure myndes geuen all vnto godlynesse aÌ„d reioysynge in spirituall thynges 10 Harmonyouslye they synge the tuneable songe of Moyses the faythfull seruaunt of God and the melodyouse swete songe of the lambe Iesus Christ. 11 Of both testamentes they make vtteraunce declarynge the wonderfull workes and terrible iudgementes out of the olde lawe and out of the gospell of gladnesse the most swete mercye of the lorde Wythout ceasynge open they the scripturs vnto other inwardlye reioysinge in spirituall hymnes and psalmes hauynge this euermore for the standynge tenoure of their songe 12 Inestimablye great is thy goodnesse and wonderfullye maruelouse are thy workes O Lorde God almyghtye 13 Iust are thy promyses and most perfightlye sure thy wayes thu gloriouse kynge of Sayntes and graciouse gyde of the godlye beleuers 14 Who shall not euermore feare the o mightye lorde who shall not alwayes in hart gloryfye thy blessed name 15 Thu alone art holye iust aÌ„d perfight for non is there good but thy self onlye Thu art owre onlye maker redemer aÌ„d coÌ„fortoure Non other haue we for owre God but the. 16 No doubt of it but the tyme will be that all kyndes of peple both Iewes and Gentyles faythfull and heythen shall seke vnto the and shall faythfullye in veryte and sprete worship before the acknowlegynge the for their onlye lorde God 17 Because thy wonderfull iudgementes that sumtyme were secrete are now to the worlde made openlye knowne aÌ„d manifest Though this songe be lyttle and small yet is therin contayned all veryte that both Moyses and Christ confesseth at large Moreouer what so euer the scripturs comprehendeth eyther of the great omnipoteÌ„cye of God or of his most wonderfull workes eyther of hys louinge mercye or of his benigne pytie towardes manne of his gloriouse name or myghtye power or that he is to be magnifyed and feared or how that the faythfull perteyneth only to his kingedome or how that all peple shall finallye be conuerted vnto hym All is compendiouslye in this brefe songe here contayned what though it be not so worde by worde expressed And as concernynge that ys here last spoken that his iudgementes are made manyfest it is to be vnderstanded of those faythfull creaturs whom he calleth clereth and iustyfyeth and of non other For vnto them onlye are his heauenlye veritâ—es knowne to whom he wytsaueth to open them Though the other outwardlye se the iudgements of God yet do they not inwardlye perceyue theÌ„ though they boast it neuer so moche For it is not geuen them so to do They must haue eyes and not se eares and not vnderstande The Text. 1 And after that I loked 2. beholde the teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of testymonye 3. was open in heauen 4. And the seuen angels 5. came out of the temple 6. which had the seuen plages 7. clothed in pure and bryght lynnen 8 and hauynge theyr brestes gyrded wyth golden gyrdels 9 And one of the foure Beastes gaue vnto the seueÌ„ Angels 10. vij goldeÌ„ vyalles 11. full of the wrathe of God whych lyueth for euermore 12. And the temple was full of smoke 13. for the glorye of God and for his power 14. And no man was able to entre into the temple 15. tyll the seuen plages of the seuen angels were fulfylled ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And a non after that sayth Saynâ— Iohan I loked yet more aduysedly And sodenly as it were the euerlastynge teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of wytnesse was open in heauen 2 A mysterye this is verye ernestlye to be marked as a thinge of great wayght The lorde almyghtye is this eternall teÌ„ple He is the temple not made wyth haÌ„des vncreated gloriouse and full of mageste comprehendynge in him all thinges and he within non agayne comprehended He is the lorde of all He measureth heauen wyth his spanne he ouer reacheth all the worlde with his .iij. fingers In hym we lyue we moue and haue owr beynge The tabernacle of wytnesse is the lambe Iesus Christ. He is that verye tabernacle of God that was here amonge menne bearinge that faythfull wytnesse which geueth wysdome to babes He is the propiciatorye or mercye seate wherin we are harde and forgeuen Neyther was thys tabernacle of thys maner buyldynge but moche more perfyght and greatter This holye tabernacle is within the aforesayd temple for Christ dwelleth in the father and the father in him 3 Open is this temple in heauen and the tabernacle seane whan God is knowen by true preachynge and Chrystes doctrine beleued For he came into the worlde and for that purpose was borne to beare wytnesse vnto the truthe whom the father wylled onlye to be harde concernynge faythe 4 This temple and tabernacle open or God and his worde ones knowne in thys latter age the seuen Angels cometh forth The eternall decrees of Gods secrete iudgementes apereth and are fulfylled in their tymes As Angels or massengers of God they haue in his eternyte their iust plages in their season appoynted to be exhybited 5 And therfor are they seyd to come out from the temple which is God Nothynge hath he purposed to the worlde but he hath decreed yt afore the worldes constitucyon For his purpose mynde and pleasure is as he is euerlastynge And as it falleth to the worlde by his assignement it becometh a massenger