as are not afrayde of this worde but obstinatly cleaue faste to their false doctrine and ordinaunces also those whiche beyng striken of this sworde and beléeue not nor repentyng them of their misdedes frame their lyfe accordyngly shall perishe without doubt with this sword for euermore And all the foules are folkes whiche God of hys mercie hathe chosen and plucked from these worldly pleasures and naughtie desires shall be howesouer the matter goeth filled with their fleshe whether they be saued or damned For if they be saued these shall be gladde bycause that theyr numbre is increased Againe on the other syde shall they reioyce when that they sée the wicked and obstinate through thâ— iuste iudgement of God punished The righteous sayeth Dauid séeing the vengeaunce of God shall reioyce and shall washe their féete in the bloud of the wicked Euen so shal the vngodly which resist God and his holy worde with al their vainglorie and pompe sodainly and with a greate noyse perishe The Lorde shall destroy them for euer The wicked doers sayeth Dauid fall they are cast downe and are not able to stande Agayne he sayeth As for the vngodly they shal perishe and come to naught and when the enimies of the Lorde are in theyr floures they shall vanishe yea euen as the smoke shall they consume away They shall perishe in their wickednesse like a shadow and wither away as the thistle and lyke the chaffe and dust which the winde scattereth away from the grounde so lykewise the way of the vngodly shall perish This wyll suâ—ely come vpon the wicked as it hath done in al ages and as we haue séene it with our eyes and dayly shall â—ée it more and more But they which feare God and loue hym shall obtayne hys grace and mercy and shal enioy his faithâ—ful promises the inheritance of his euerlasting kyngdome as ye may heare nexte folowing I sawâ— sayth S. Iohn a newe heauenâ— and a new earth S. Peter sayth also that euery thing going before the iudge shal be clensed and purified and not consumed for al things must be changed and made cleane of all corruptiblenesse He meaneth not sayeth Aretes that the creatures shoulde consume away and be no more but onely y t they seruing to a better vse shoulde be renued so the godly and chosen shall be deliuered two maner of wayes that is to say Here in this worlde from sin hereafter of death damnation so shall be led conducted vnto the true libertie ioyfull inheritance of y e children of God The first heauen defiled with the pryde of the angels and the fyrst earth corrupted with the manyfolde wyckednesses of man were passed away altogether and shall be no more not that the veritie of them shall vanishe but the nature complection and qualitie of them shal change and turne into sinceritie and perfection And there was no more seaâ— y t is y â— vaine inconstaÌ„t people were no more for al prickings remorse of conscience al desperation mistrustfulnesse doubt shall be taken quite from y â— godly chosen All kind of anger sorow aduersity shal be turned into ioye and peace of the holy Ghost all hindrance feare persecution tyrannie violence and aduersitie whyche we endure héere in the troublous sea of thys worlde shal ceasse at the day of the lord when we shall sée hym face to face And the sea shall be no longer subiect to vanitie than all other creatures but shall be purified from all corruption and shall henceforth be so cleare as any christall although it remaineth the same substaÌ„ce And I Iohn sawe by reuelation and permission of God the holy Citie new Ierusalem come downe from God out of heauen By good reason is this holy Citie the congregation and churche of God called newe Ierusalem come downe from God hir Creatour and maker for she is holy not of hir self but of him that made hir and chose hir to be his welbeloued spouse prepared lyke a bride â—â—immed for hir husbande for she is purified and made newe againe as the well trimmed bride for hir husband the lambe Christ Iesus This bride shall hereafter through regeneration and renuing of the holy Ghost shew glorious perfect holy so long as she coÌ„tinueth here she maketh no accompt of any thing in this worlde but doth gouerne hir selfe accordyng to that rule which he hir husband hath lefte hir namely his holy woord But héerafter shall she being deliuered froÌ„ sinne wretchednesse and all kinde of corruptions more perfectly follow his steppes She is called new héere on earth for so much as she hath laide off and put away throughe the vertue of Gods holy spirite the olde man with all his lustes and hath no fellowship with the vnfruitefull workes of darknesse But heereafter shal she be new by his fauoure and grace for so muche as she shall be deliuered from sinne deathe and all manner of corruption She is called the new Ierusalâ—m both héere and hereafter bicause that all their Citizens are of one beliefe yet shall they be heereafter of like glorie and vnitie Héere hir Citezens are among the Sainctes and the familie of God and there shall they be both children and inheritors with Christ she came downe from god out of heauen hir Christian faith is neither of fleshe nor bloud but by the gratious Reuelation of the heauenly father But Ierusalem sayth S. Paul which is aboue is frée and mother â—uer vs all She is that Citie which God hath builded She is furnished with the gift of faith and w t the fountaine of life prepared and trimmed to be a faire and glorious churche without any spotte or wrinckle She is clensed from hir sinnes through his bloud she is very costly and wel fauoredly adorned beautified with ioy peace long suffering pacience and other more vertues of the spirit euen as an honest and true Bride is dressed and trimmed for hir louing deare husband The bride sayth Dauid standeth on thy right hand in a vesture of fine gold But hir raiments so long as she is on earthe are inuisible they are spiritual iewels of the soule and mâ—nde and not of the body And I heard sayth S. Iohn in the midst of this last vision a mightie voice out of the heauen the euerlasting and onely throne of GOD a voyce saying after this sort â—nto me Loke vp and beholde for your owne and al other beléâ—uers coÌ„moditie and instruction the holy Tabâ—rnacle of the Lord which shall be with the chosen for euer is also héere wyth the Militant Church vpon earth Moreouer consider that euery beleeuing soule is a Temple of the holy Ghost As Christ him selfe testifieth He that loueth me and keepeth my word I and my father will come to him and dwell with him In like manner speaketh God
Signifying and representing all manner of false Prophets vngodly teachers which are in their intents purpose wholy and altogither beastly idle carnall and corrupted They are also abhominable in the imagitions of their malitious harts not seking god but their belly not y e honor of christ but their own aduancemeÌ„t vain glory They rise out of the earth enclined giuen wholly to earthly worldly wisdom The desire and lust which they haue to raign in this world maketh theÌ„ to preach not for any loue or zeale which they bear to truth The desire of money couetousnesse thrusteth them in Thei go forward in al kind of wickednesse shall continue til the Lord destroy theÌ„ euen as the godly goeth on in vertue godlinesse til y â— time that they shall sée â—od face to face in that euerlasting Sion This beast was a murtherer from the beginning first of all in Cain and consequently in the carnal children of this world Namely in Cham the first vnshamefast sonne of Noe in Ismael Esau in Iames and Iambres in Balaam and al the false prophets of Baal in Annas and Caiphas in Baricha and Diotrephe and is now a dayes risen again in Friers Monkes Chanons Priests and Chanters as euery one haue he neuer so little a sparcle of light in him may easily sée and perceiue especially in their cathedral church where they haue their â—ull course Thys beast had .ij. horns like the Lamb but couÌ„terfaited altogither fals For she spake like thâ— Dragon The horns of Christ are hie great wherout only springeth the sweete comfortes of the promises of God giuen to his Church congregation and people Gods word is right and the Scepter of the auâ—thority of Christ and the rod of his righteous ordinaunces that wheresoeuer this worde ruleth there are none other straÌ„ge scepters institutions or customes The Lambe of God vpon the Mount Sion signifying Christ Iesus hath seuen hornes for in him consisteth the fulnesse of al truth This beast hath but iâ— hornes and those counterfaited and false They haue well a shew to be Christes hornes but of a truth they are not These then do signifie the corruptyng and falsifiyng the meaning both of the old and new Testament expounded and wrested to a worldly and carnal vnderstanding Wherout it is too apparant and manifest that it is but a false shew ful of dissimulation and altogither contrary to the Lordes meaning not discearning the true meaning of the holy Ghost This letter without the spirite of God is death and nothing agreable vnto Christ neither hath any regarde vnto him He is the truthe and life this is very lies and death His word is spirite and life theirs is but sounding Erasse or tinkling Cimbal fantasticall â—ained Sophistical and crafty although they séeme to haue a likenesse to Christ yet are they to none more vnlike They are onely the hornes of the beast to maintain the kingdome of Antechrist and not of Christe for Christes â—yngdome is not of thys worlde They chaunge the true vsage of the good creatures of God making Idols of trees adornyng and deckyng stockes and stones with golde siluer silke veluet and other iewelles turning the holy estate of Matrimonie into shamefull whoordome and to all kinde of vnchafte liuyng to make vs to wander from that seruice which God hath commaunded vs to their false moste abhominable superstitions so to abolishe and make of nâ—ne effect Gods commauÌ„dement and to establish their wicked traditions to bring leade men at length to detestable idolatrie wherof they are ful and to worship things forbidden And for the maintenaÌ„ce of their estate they haue wyth the ayde and helpe of Sathan their chief captaine wrested chopped and chaunged the scriptures to proue the adoratioÌ„ of the departed Saintes to be necessarie their masse meritorious and their workes of supererogation profitable their purgatorie to bee a fearefull and horrible thyng and other innumerable These beastly asses and belly God byshops are not ashamed to saye that by the â—yter whyche they doe weare is represented the olde and newe Testamente whiche to be true they defende wyth toothe and nayle They confesse as it is in deâ—de that they do weare but the figure of the thyng for it is but a shadowe in déede and an outwarde shewe not to the glorie of â—od but their owne ambition profite and coÌ„moditie séeking an occasion to persecute the very truthe They are of a truthe the false Prophetes the very limmes of Sathan deceyuers Wolues hie mynded inconstant shakyng wyth all manner of wyndes traitours and very folowers of Iudas dreamers liers idolaters enimies and aduersaries of truthe and veritie serpents and generation of vipers Foxes destroying the vineyarde of the Lorde deceiptful workers â—aintyng pastors blynde watchmen dumbe dogs diuels incarnated wycked or euill routes insatiable beastes whose belly is theyr god and their end perpetuall confusion and shame All these and many more names the holy Ghoste doth attribute vnto them bycause they myngle the swéetenesse of the word of God with the bitter worme wood of their Traditions so that almost the whole worlde is defiled with the dregs of their inuentions This beast did all that the first beastâ— coulde do before him This beastly generation hath the selfe same lying power to deceiue the pâ—ople and vnder the shew of holynesse to continue and vpholde thoroughout all the worlâ—e the same abhohominations as that greate Antâ—christe hath done euery where Namely vnder the Pope in Euâ—ope and in Asia and in Affrike vnder Mahomet Fynally there hath Sathan his chayre wheâ—e any sâ—range worsâ—yppyng or false seruyng of God is admitted And he caused the earthe and them that dwell therin to worship the beast They make not those onely to commit idolatrie that are ignorant and blinde but force suche as haue knowledge and vnderstandyng Oh how many are at this instant in Brabant Flandeâ—s and the low countrey and else where whiche agaynst their belefe conscience and the holy ghost maintain allowe and permit the maniâ—est â—abylonicall abhomination communicating the venemous dregges of the barbarous cup of these Baals priestes They had rather to tarrie ignominiously in this beggerly trashe and filthie ceremonies than to be depriued of this worldly friâ—ndshyp to forsake father mother childreÌ„ estate office and liuing banished persecuted or aduenture their liues and if néede so require to loose it for the truthe so delectable and swéete these worldely pleasures are vnto them They rather with Samuels sonnes wyll perishe transgressing the ordinances of GOD and with Dathan Chore Abiron be swallowed vp and sinke into Hel amongst the wicked than to suffer wyth Christe any trouble contempte reproche pouertie or other calamitie Suche I say as séeke and loue the commoditie and ease of their owne fleshe
great whore for no where was at any time more straunge and superstitious worshippings vaine institutions cold trifling ceremonies bisides sectes errors and false Prophets yea so many kind of vncleaÌ„nesses raigned in hir more than euer did raign in Sodome or Gomorre or the miserable land of Egipt This Babilonish whore or disguised Sinagoge of these shauen and greased ones sitteth vpon many waters which is many foolish inconstant and wauering people and not vpon those which are grounded vpon the sure rocke of Gods word and the true doctrine of the articles of the christian faith With this most wicked vile and stinking whoore and common strumpet to all men haue the moste mighty Kyngs Princes and Potentates committed spiritual whoredom in that they consent to diuers and sundry kinds of their strauÌ„ge new found and altogither superstitious Ceremonies and other their most wicked decrées Héere if I shuld make a discourse of al that might be spokeÌ„ of in this place time should faile me My purpose meaning at this present is onely to make a shorte exposition and declaration vppon these oure visions and that in as fewe wordes as is possible to the consolation edification of all godly and faithfull Christians Séeing theÌ„ what through the subtiltie craftie fetches of Babels priestes on the one side and what for the cruell straight plackets of Princes on the other side the dwellers vpoÌ„ earth or the worldly minded are all dronke of the wine of hir wickednesse and abhomination and spirituall whooredom They are al fallen without the prescript rule of Gods holy word to a straunge and new found kinde of seruing of God Moreouer not only these as couetous carnall and other wicked and sinnefull persons haue folowed their abhominations but also an infinite nuÌ„ber euen of the elect and chosen of god haue bene intangled yea and haue giuen credite to their false lies and erroures They were so nusled and busily occupied with their fonde and fained traditions with their naughtie customes and inuentions that they more like senselesse persons without any discretion or vnderstaÌ„ding yea without any respecte of Gods holy word wandred from all godlinesse grace Not only haue they stouped bowed and kneeled before stockes and stones lighting candels before it made Crosses blessing it kissing it held vp their hands to it but also haue put their confidence in it Neuerthelesse it shall not continue alwayes for it foloweth The .x. horns which thou sawest vpon the beast Signifying the Kings Princes and their subiects which héeretofore were fauourers seruauntes and maintainers of the Romish churche seeking to doe good to that whoore yea to their owne damage and hinderaunce bicause of the good will and blinde zele they bare vnto hir Euen as a man which loueth a light and an vnhonest woman is through hir loue and alluremeÌ„ts so blinded that he considereth not hir vnhonest behauior nor caÌ„ mislike any thing in hir but frameth himself alwayes to hir pleasure frendship or seruice and so much as in him lieth hating contemning and putting to death through vnlawfull loue wherewith she hath bewitched him all them which meaning his wealth warne him of hir and tel him of his fault how he is deceiued and greatly misused setting before his eyes hir fraude falshoode vnshamefastnesse fainednesse and vnfaithfulnesse all which he cannot iudge of vntil his eyes be open and his vnderstaÌ„ding illuminated by the grace of God so that when he perceiueth how he was beguiled and deceiued he hateth and defieth hir the more Euen so are now a dayes the eyes of many Princes and Kings Countreis Townes and Cities and other wel disposed opened and their hearts are touched by the mighty working of gods holy spirite and by the meanes of preaching hearing of the woord of God so that now they defie the whoore with all hir traditions and abhominations which they were wont to maintain and defend so willingly Yea those I say which for very blinde zeale and loue which they bare vnto hir were contented to kisse hir féete shal be as now hir mortall and deadly ennimies They shal not passe vpon hir aucthoritie they shall condemne hir vsages they shall take from hir the Realme and dominion which she now vniustly possesseth they shall deny hir tribute and obeisaunce or to doe hir any homage and at length shall leaue hir desolate and comfortlesse This shall not Princes only do but Kings and other temporal Magistrates yea euen the Metropolitanes Cardinals Archbishops Bishops and Prelates Of which many ensamples are at this instant to be fouÌ„d And more followers of these ensamples wil be héerafter Which albeit they were the hornes of the beast to defend y t whoore withal yet shal they so abolish hir mislike hir and forsake hir that at length she shal be left whole naked They shall chase pursue and hunt the Babilonish whoore of Rome with the cleare trumpe of Gods holy word that she shall become pale and colourlesse ready to sound Cal to remembraunce what God hath wrought by his seruaunts Iohn Wicliffe Iohn Hus Martine Luther Oecolampadie Zwinglie Melancton Capito Bucer Caluin Theodore de Beza Viret Peter Martyr Bullinger Alasco Brentiê° Regius and other moe All whiche haue brought low their Reliques Crucifixes Idols which they call sainctes Abbayes Purgatorie Masses for all soules and Indulgences And moreouer God shall raise some not inferior to them which shall make so muche a doe and bring hir to such a fall that she shal not be able to recouer againe so that no man shall regarde hir any more neyther shall there be any found to set hir vp againe They shall strip hir naked that so many as behold hir may cry out vpon hir detest hir and finally consume hir flesh Moreouer they shal bisides the taking away from hir al teÌ„poral reuenues rents and al other worldly pleasures confound hir peruerse and carnal iudgement of the scriptures and so consequently consume and make weake the kéeping and obseruing of all hir whorish Ceremonies Last of all they shall all to burne hir with fire and bring to nought the whole masse of their Decrées Decretalles Canons Customes and all other kinde of Idolatrie When as all these abhominations shall cease and be gone by the meanes of the preaching of the Gospel then this whoore shall not be seene any more bicause the harlot continueth no longer than hir estimatioÌ„ lasteth Take away their customs and Ceremonies their iewels and costly raiment their Images the light of their dominion their paternitie and estimation kéepe back their Altares their Masse Bishops Priests Miters Staues Crosses and Banners of what estimation I pray you shal be their holy as they terme it whâ—rish Church which standeth in nothing else than in outward false shew of many gay trifling and vaine hipocritical Ceremonies This kind of consuming of the flesh or this maner of burning is not only declared by external proues and euideÌ„t examples as
him waâ— called faithâ—ull and true This is the onely and true sonne of God which is called faithfull iust and true bicause hâ— is founde faithfull and vnfallible in hys promises and woorde for the Lord saith the Psalmist is very righteous in all his wayes true in his sayings pâ—rfect in all his doings He cannot but teach a right and speake a trouth for he is the truthe him selfe No more cannot those which are indued with his spirite who leadeth and conducteth them in all truthe He hath done according to iustice and equitie in condemning that wicked and abhominable whoore in destroying that filthie sinagoge of Sathan in dâ—liuering and exalting his poore afflicted Churche First of all he did fight in his owne persone as a worthy Champion against the deuill hel and damnation whom he hath ouercome conquered and vanquished by his owne death and glorious passion And now doth he ouerthrow the Deuill and all his adhereÌ„ts by the meanes of his faithful seruaunts distributers of his holy woord and mysteries which he nowe graciâ—usly sendetâ— vnder the figure of the white horsse For his seruaunts as Abacuck testifieth are lustie and wel animated horsses whom the Lord conduâ—teth which ar as Ieremie calleth them whiter than snow by the meanes of their vnfained and vndefiled faith And his eyes were like as a flame of fire mightie and cleare Whereby is not only vnderstanded his godly wisdome and knowledge whereby he knoweth and iudgeth al things but also all the heauenly and spirituall giftes of the holy Gâ—ost Behold sayth Zacharie vpon the only stone which S. Paule expoundeth to be Christ shal be .vij. eyes which are the .vij. spirites of god wherwith god doth ligâ—ten the hearts of his chosen and kindleth the fire of his loue in y e minde of his faithful His word is a laÌ„tern to their fâ—eâ—e hys law anâ— testimonies are pure and vndefiled giuing light to the eie And vpon his heaâ— were many crownes Euen as the same was séene being a figure of Christ vpon the head of Iesus the sonne of Iosedech the high Priest to signiâ—ie that Iesus Christ is the soueraigne and king aboue al kings which hath power in heauen and earth for euer He ruleth and gouerneth al nations with an irâ—n rod. For he is the Lord of hostes the euerlasting king of glory He is a mightie and puissaÌ„t gouernoure setting ouer the Mount Sion his holy hil He giueth prosperitie and gouernment to Kings and his elect and chosen are crouned in him with grace and mercie for euermore For he reserueth in heauen for vs an inheritance immortall and vndefiled Againe he hath layed vp for them that keepe the faith a crowne of righteousnesse and wil giue a crowne of life to them that be faithfull vnto the death c. All warrefares and victories of the saincts depend vpon him only And he had a name written to wit almighty maruellous and feareful Adonai Emanuel a name aboue all names euen the holy one of Israell the Lorde of Sabaoth the Lord of hostes our redemer sauiour and righteousnesse No man knewe this name but hym selfe and them whiche he hathe reueled it vnto neither fleshe nor bloude nor Heathen Turke Iew or false Christian is able to coÌ„prehend thys name â—right Albeit they haue good signes and tokens yet no man can say that Iesus is the Lord without the inspiration of the spirite of God who openeth the very truth of God The number of Gods elect are also signified or comprehended vnder this name which the world can not acknowledge nor vnderstand And he was clothed with a garment dipt in bloud His mortall bodie which he tooke vpon him for our redemption was so sore beaten and greuously wounded that from the soule of the féete to the very crowne of the head euen from top to toe nothing was lefte whole or sound This mighty Champion is he which came from Edom and Bosâ—a whose garmentes were sprinkled with bloud his clothes were rayed euen as of those that tread the wine presse For his manhoode suffred most shameful painâ—full death He him selfe alone trode the wine presse of his wrath and had none to helpe him He his owne self was wouÌ„ded for our sinnes and our infirmities were layd vpon him and by his stripes we are healed And his name was called the word of God Christ Iesu the sonne of god is that eternall and euerlasting word of God which was from the beginning by God by whom also heauen and earth are made and all that in them is the verye â—mage of his substance in whom the father is represented wherby also we vnderstand and know the wil of the father for the word of God is a true guid of the conscience This word was made flesh that is became maÌ„ for our sakes sauing iusâ—ifying and glorifying all those that beleeue on him And the warriers which were in heauen followed him vpoÌ„ white horses These are the true faithfull ministers which follow their maister and câ—ief captain Christ Iesu vpon white horsses that is in innocency of life and godly coÌ„uersatioÌ„ which they professe These horsses are nothing else than their mortal bodies redy to battaile For true christiaÌ„s mortifie their flesh y t concupiscence therof bring their carnal lusts vnder subiectioÌ„ their bodies obedient to y e spirit They become seruauntes to righteousnesse and not to sinne they are worthy Souldiers of God for they follow the Lord of â—ostes suche an armie saw the seruauÌ„t of the Prophet Elizeus in Doathim in a visâ—on They wâ—re clothed with fine linnen white and pure signifying the simplicitie and innoceÌ„cie which they haue in Christ Iesus their captaine and good and perfect gifts which the Lord giueth them As S. Iohn him selfe expounded them a little before where he sayeth that the fine linnen are the true iustifications which they haue of none other but from theyr head Christ. These are y e spirituall weapons wherof S. Paule speaketh saying Though we walke in the flesh yet we do not war after y e flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through god to cast down holds and out of his mouth weÌ„t a sharp sword which is that wonderful iudgment of his word Through this sharpe sword are the faithful and beleuers saued to â—ife euerlasting and the wicked infidels iudged to euerlasting death and damnation For it is vnto some a sauior of life vnto life and to others a sauior of death vnto death With this sword shall be cut of the dead braunches which in him beare no fruicts and the rotted members from the body In like manner shal be the good from the bad and the Goates from the shéepe with this sword deuided and separated Oh how terrible fearefull and sharpe shal be the iudgement of the
fleshe They are not ashamed to aduouch in their Decretals that it is better and a smaller offence to kepe a â—uÌ„dreth hoores than to marrie or contracte matrimonie after they haue vowed chastitie Oh beastes that ye are the spirite of Chastitie did neuer cause you to forbid holy matrimonie but it was the spirite of vncleannesse Asmodeus Beelsebub and that spirit whereof the Sodomites and them of Gomorra were driuen These foule spirites made you to do it to accomplishe the prophecies of S. Paule and of Daniell whiche amongest other wordes speaketh of Antechrist on this maner He shal â—xalt him selfe aboue all which is called God For the God of hys predecessors he shal make no count of He shal loue neither God nor woman but only his Maosim for he exalteth himself aboue all things The naturall duetie and affection whiche God hath graffed in man wyfe to loue and haue company comforte and healpe one of the other to increase and multyplie is the onely meane whych God hath prouided to preuent the decay of mankynde It is also a greate kinde of beneuolence and friendeshyp wherein the one parte of maÌ„s nature honoreth aswel for the likenesse as for the creatours sake the other in the feare of God whome they in the state of matrimonie not onely serue if it be well vsed but honour and worship Then the duâ—tie of a good husbande is according to Gods worde to labour and with the sweate of his browes to get his bread to care and prouide for hys familie for his wyfe and chyldren that shée neyther thorough pouertie hunger or other cause of wretchednesse haue no occasion to committe or do any thyng agaynst the rule of honestie and prescript commaundement of God A good wyfe agayne wyll be diligent and carefull for all things necessary and belonging to the house she shall be sober honest faithfull and busie This affection and kindenesse wherof we speake here procedeth out of the naturall loue gyuen vâ—to vs by nature and all men in generall are bounde to obserue it This naturall kyndenesse and diuine loue hath not this monstrous beast and beastly monster Antechrist nor his sodomitishe greasy ones They lurke onely in their dennes and wyth daintie dyshes and delitious meates fil their bellies and make merrâ—e they care for no bodie they beare neither honest loue nor heart or any good wil to woman neither for propagationâ— nor for the ordinance of God who is the author instituter of it They labour not to maintain their wife they seeke not to defeÌ„d any against dishonestie rauishment or shame they desire none for their owne but when they lust they take one nowe and an other to morowe and then sende hir packing to haue neither trouble cost nor charges of hir nor of the childe but like vnkyndely Cuckoes lay theyr egges into other folkes nestes Whether these things tende to the despysing disgracyng of women or not iudge you And surely the rather for that they not passing for the ordinaÌ„ce of God but reiecting it take one or other of their acquaintaunce after theyr owne minde forsooth to cast hir of like a broken pot and to take an other so often as they lust But what great euyl and inconuenience dothe procéede and followe here hence is to be séene in great Cities where these belly gods for the most part vse to haunt as at Rome and in other places where any Byshoprikes or canonistes or colledges be where ye may sée an infinite numbre of queanâ—s and painted CurtisaÌ„s which get their liuing by y â— lâ—tting of their flesh and body to these beastly vnnaturall kind of people to whom they beare neither heart nor good will for abusing them selues In that they haue to do with them they loose their honestie fame they marre and destroy both body and soule I leâ—ue the murtheryng and slayinâ— of chilâ—â—â—n whiche is no synne amongst them 〈◊〉 â—any other vnclean vnnaturall and 〈◊〉 abhominable filthy déedes vsuall amongst them in theyr priuie chaumbres and celles These bee the fruits of their promised sworné vnchast chastitie For what I pray you is chastitie or virginitie more before God than marriage no more than circumcision to vncircuÌ„cision one is neither better nor worse before god than y â— other coÌ„cerning the life of a christian man Christ Iesu requireth demauÌ„deth only of vs tru faith working thorough charitie so theÌ„ al they y â— lead their lyfe in the holy state of matrimonie accordyng to the word of God are reputed virgins as S. Paule testifieth The Lambe whyche taketh away the sinne of the world stands with them which y â— father hath giuen him vpon that strong mounte Syon Contrarywise the Dragon and the beast with all theyr adherents are set vpon the slyding sandes of the sea their kingdome their power their myght their lawes statutes and ordinaunces theyr frée will and wycked purpose their proude titles haue no sure foundation but are buylded only vppon tâ—e waueryng sandes of doubtefulnesse and falshode agaynst whiche when any tempeste or winde of Gods holy worde bloweth sodainly it is moued and ouerthrowen yea and these vile shauelyngs them selues are these sandes whâ—reon their captain the dragon staÌ„dethâ— they are the chair and dwellyng place of the diuel Thoroughe them as instrumentes and false prophetes he vsed to speake to commaunde and execute all hys deceiptfull and false hypocrisâ—es and idolatries It is then moste sure and certaine that this beast with all theyr beastlynesse can neuer abyde long For it followeth that the Beast was apprehended and taken and with hir the false Prophetes whyche did signes and wonders before them As heretofore Iames and Iambres the enchaunters of Egypt wente aboute to counterfaite the sigâ—es whiche Moyses and Aaron dydde in the presence of Pharao lykewyâ—e doe these false inchaunters peruert the truth in these oure days namely in that they shew greater wonders than any heretofore hath ben heard of That is that they as they affirme and violently holde can turne very bread into naturall fleshe and bloud and that so cunnyngly that it can not be once perceyued neyther in beholdyng féelyng or tastyng of it otherwyse than breade And more other as to redéeme soules out of Purgatorie by sacrifices and workes supererogations and other shamefull braggs wherwith he deceyued them that receyued the beastes marke and seale and worship his image These both namely the head and the bodie the beast and the false prophete were aliue caste into a lake of fire burning with Brimstone These shall surely thorough the power and ryghteous iudgement of God receyue theyr portion wyth the hypocrites and false Prophetes And the remnant which folow of what state and condition so euer they be were slayne with the sworde of him that sitteth vpon the horse which commeth out of his mouthe This sworde is as is before sayd his mightie and true word which hath within hym spirite and life Such then
loued most of al y â— did write the Reuelation in Pathmos 10 The tenth of a Chrisophrasius whose nature is to shine like gold and yet greenish in the sight Such are those who hauing receiued good knowledge perfecte wisdom of God distribute vnto others according vnto the talent which god hath deliuered vnto theÌ„ Therby to awake the sluggish and dreaming people and bring to heauenly meditations Amongst those may Ezechiel wel be couÌ„ted which in his time did sée maruellous things and wonderful straunge Reuelations 11 The eleuenth of a Iacinct the colour of which stone is like vnto water hauyng stripes glistering like the bright shining beames of the Sunne By this stone are represented suche as doe séeme to be ignorant and are counted noddies fooles before the world which notwithstaÌ„ding haue heauenly wisdom inough although in sight very ideots voyde of all knowledge yet neuerthelesse are they instructed and taught of God to reueale hidden and secrete mysteries of the numbre Of those are Ozee Ioel Amos whiche was but a poore shephierd with the rest of the small prophets Such were also Andrew Peter Philip Thomas and the rest of the Apostles of Christ. 12 The twelfth an Ametist this is of a violet or purpure and roste colour and this signifieth them which abide zelous meke and stedfast in the knowne truthe of the Lorde whiche also are ready at all times to die and shed their bloude euen for the same suche were the seuen brethren of the Machabees with their mother Such were also Iames the greater and Antipas that faithfull witnesse with many more disciples and martirs No man can shew any greater loue than this when any maÌ„ bestoweth hys lyfe for hys friendes All these sayth our Sauiour are blessed and the kyngdome of heauen doth belong vnto them On this maner then is notified by these fundations the same which the true and faithfull ministers and pastors of the churche of Christ according to the diuersitie of gifts giuen vnto them haue buylded vpon some gold siluer or precious stones but such as haue added to this buildyng any wood hay or stubble which are customes traditions and other duÌ„be Ceremonies or else vayneglorie worldly honoure riches and pleasures shall neuer be accompted among thys heauenly companie These fundations haue ben prefigured by the precious stones which were in the stomacher of Aaron the high Priest and in the costely and royall garmentes of the Kyng of Tyrus He whiche is desirous to know more of the nature condition and propretie of these precious stones may reade Plinie his .xxxvij. booke of naturall Histories or Bartholomeus de proprietatibus rerum and concerning the mysterie and allegorie reade Saint Hierome vpon the .54 Chapiter of Esaye or Beda Haymo Costasius BacoÌ„thorp Eleyne Tilney and dyuers more other whiche haue written vppon the Reuelation It suffiseth vs to haue shewed thée according to the meanyng of Saint Austen that these stones doe signifie the manyfolde gyftes and diuers gracâ—s of the holy Ghost for the onely spirite of the lord worketh all these thyngs dyuersly Hée measureth hys gyftes vnto euery one according to hys good will and pleasure thâ— whiche altogether are singular preciouâ— and moste excellente as it shall well aâ—peare in that great and ioyous day of the chyldren of God And the Angell sayeth Sainct Iohn whiche dydde shewe all those foresayde thyngs moued me in spirite to take the more heede to the gracious and mercifull purpose of the Lorde and to bryng me to a more déeper knowledge of his misteries shewed me a pure Riuer of water of life whiche is therefore called the Water of Lyfe bycause it maketh whole and gyueth saluation to oure soules Thys Ryuer is nothyng else but the flâ—wing veritie and the worde of Saluation or the myghtie doctrine of Christe Thys is that swéete Ryuer whyche proceâ—deth of Edom to refresh Paradise which diuiding it selfe in foure watereth the foure parts of the earthe This runnyng water maketh the Citie of God very pleasant and delectable This riuer is maruelous comfortable springyng into eternall lyfe it is here a spirituall comfort for the childreÌ„ of God and shal be hereafter that incomprehensible glory of the Sainctes in heauen To whome shal we go sayth Peter but to thée for thou hast the worde of eternall life The vertue and nature of this water is to satisfie purge and clâ—Ì„se to comfort to make whole and healthful for it procéedeth and floweth froÌ„ the maiestie of God it commeth from that eternal and excellent schoole of the father and thence procéedeth forwarde to the ouer-fulnesse of the lambe Christ Iesu and his diuine spirite I will poure cleane water sayth the Lorde vpon you and ye shall be frée from all your filth vncleannesse I will also gyue you a newe hearte and plant in you a new spirite In the middes of the strete of it and of either side of the riuer was the tree of life This riuer signifieth the two testamentes of the Lorde wherby stode that moste pleasant trée of lyfe namely Christ Iesus the mediatour and pastour the sauiour and redéemer of the worlde Out of the roote and progenie of Dauid spryngeth thys tree according to the fleshe conceyued of the holye Ghost borne of the virgin Marie As the tree of life in the beginnyng was planted in the middest of Paradise euen so is hée spiritually in the middest of his Churche whiche is his moste pleasaunt garden if that grounde or earth which maketh the trées twice fruitefull in the yeare be called happy so may this garden by good rereason well be called happy and blessed Where this trée standeth whiche neuer is without frute nor drieth vp or withereth which dothe not onely beare twyce a yeare fruite signifiyng all the vnspeakable giftes of the holy Ghoste but rendreth his frutes euery month of the yere that is continually bothe Sommer and winter All they which are thys Congregation people haue continually so long as they lyue greate Consolation in all theyr assaultes and trialles and in all kinde of aduersitie bothe spirituall and temporall And the leaues of the trees serued to heale the nations with The promises and the worde of GOD are spirite and lyfe the nature propretie and vertue of them are blessednesse and eternal saluation These leaues can not by any meanes wyther awaye When Gods worde is sincerely preached and taughte then we remember the benefites of oure deliueraunce then is oure conscience appeased and satisfied and the minde mery and gladde then dothe the soule of man reioyce and rendreth therfore to GOD the Father moste heartie thanckes worthie prayses syngyng and magnifiyng hym for his eternall goodnesse and merâ—ie So then the Nations are quite healed and made healthfull thorough beléefe and cleauing faste vnto the woorde acknowledgyng and confessyng Christe Iesu to be their onely Sauiour righteousnesse and true holynesse The woorde of GOD
shall wax colde But so many as beare more loue to God and séeke more to please hym than the diuell they must take good heede to do that which pleaseth him according to his reuealed wil For whom it is not sufficient to know Antechriâ—t to blame him to speake and reporte of him as his doings deserue but it is requisitâ— for them most chiefly to confesse the name of the Lorde euen from their very hearts to honour feare him to beleue and put all confideÌ„ce in hym to loue hym and as neere as we can to expresse him in oure conuersation thorough loue vnfayned therby to shew oure selues to be hys Disciples For not euerye onâ— sayeth oure Sauioure Christe that sayeth Lorde Lorde shall enter into the Kyngdome of heauen but suche as doe the will of my father Again saythe Christe Whosoeuer louethe hys lyfe héere in thys worlde shall loose it and who so hateth his lyfe here for my names sake shal kéepe it to life euerlasting Againe he that will be my Disciple let hym folowe me and where I am he shal be also Who so serueth me my Father shall honoure hym The seruaunte is no better than hys maister and a messenger is no more than he that sente hym If we kéepe the commaundements of Christe we shall remaine in his loue euen as hée did the will of hys father and remayned in his loue Hys commaundement is that we loue one an other as he loued vs let vs therfore henceforth leade a good lyfe coÌ„uersation according to the wyll of the Lorde and frame our lyfe to the doctrine and exaumple of our maister and Lorde Iesu Christ in kéeping the commaundementes of the Lorde Christe Lette vs not be wrathfull but loue one an other Praye sayeth the Lorde for them that persecute you and speake euyll of you and be ye perfect as I am perfecte That thys our sinful body might be destroyed and that henceforth wée serue syâ—ne no more for he that is dead is frée from sinne Let vs then thinke that we are dead to sinne and liue not to our selues but to our Lorde and Sauâ—our Iesus Christ. Let not sinne saith the apostle S. Paule raigne in your mortall body that ye shoulde obey the lustes thereof but be ye true seruantes of righteousnesse vnto life not seruaunts of sinne of the fleshe or the world â—o death neyther gyue ye henceforth your meÌ„bres as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne but as weapons of righteousnesse vnto GOD. For when we were the seruauntes of synne we were not vnder righteousnesse what frute had we then in those things wherof we are nowe ashamed for the ende of those things is death but contrarywise the fruite of rightousnesse is euerlasting life Brethren it is now tyme to awake from sléepe forasmuche as the nyghte is passed and the day approcheth and is euen at hande God hath fréely sent his true and faithful ministers and giueth his woord pleÌ„tifully to be preached let vs cast away then the workes of darkenesse and take vnto thée the armour of light walke honestly as in the daye time not in gluttonie dronkennesse nor in chambering wantonnesse nor in strife nor enuying but put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ take no thought for the fleshe to fulfill the lustes thereof but according to the good pleasure of God in al spiritual exercises The workes of the flesh are notorious manifest as adulterie fornication vncleanesse wantonnesse Idolatrie witchcraft hatred debate emulation wrathe contentions heresies enuie murthers dronkennesse gluttonie and suche like The workers whereof are y e most wretches and miserable slaues that euer wer yea they are threatned that who so euer coÌ„mitteth such things shall not enherite the kingdom of heaueÌ„ On the other side the fruitâ—s of y e spirit are loue ioy peace long suffering geÌ„tlenesse goodnesse faith méekenesse temperancie and suche like After this sort ought euery christian maÌ„ to walke being carefull to mortifie his own flesh exercising himself in these good works which God hath prepared for him to walke in casting of the old maÌ„ which is corrupt through deceiuable lusts be ye therfore renued in y e spirit of your mind and put ye on the new man which after god is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Wherfore cast of lying speak euery man true vnto his neighbour For we are members y e one of the other Be angrie but sinne not let not the Sunne goe down vpon your wrath neither giue place to the Diuell Let him that stole steale no more but let him rather labour and work with his hands the thing that is good that he may haue to giue him that néedeth Let not corrupt communication procéed out of your mouth but that which is good to edifie withal that it may minister grace vnto the hearers And gréeue not the holy spirite of God by whom ye are sealed vnto the day of redeÌ„ption Let all bitternesse anger and wrath crying and euil speaking be put away from you with all maliciousnesse Be ye courteous one to an other and teÌ„der hearted forgiuing one an other eueÌ„ as god for Christs sake forgaue you Be ye then followers of god as dear children walk in loue eueÌ„ as Christ hath loued vs hath giuen him self for vs to be an offring and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauor to god So then fornication and all vncleannesse or couetousnesse let it not be once named amoÌ„g you as it becometh sainctes Neither vse ye filthinesse nor foolish talking neyther iesting which are things not comely but rather giuing of thaÌ„ks For this ye must know that no whoremonger neither vncleane persoÌ„ nor couetous person which is an Idolatour hath any inheritaunce in the kingdom of Christ of God Let no man deceiue you with vaine wordes for by such things cometh the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience Be not therefore companions wyth them for so much as ye were once in darknesse but are now light in the lord walk therfore as it becometh children of light for the fruite of the spirit is in all goodnesse righteousnesse and truthe Approue and assay that which is pleasing to the Lord and haue no fellowship with the vnfruitful works of darknesse but euen reproue them rather take ye heede that ye walke circumspectly and wisely not like the foolish but as the wise and redeeme y e time for euen these dayes are euill and dangerous days Therfore be ye not ignorant but replenished with knowledge and spirite Let the woord of God dwell in you plentuously in all wisdom teaching and admonishing your own selues in psalms spirituall songs synging
Was there euer any were he neuer so wicked which turned to the Lord not receiued No surely for God is mercifull long suffering and readie to forgiue He heareth in the day of trouble and he is at hande to all them that call vpon him He is a protectoure and defendoure of all those that séeke him in truthe and trust in him But fie vpon them curssed are they that are faint hearted inconstant wauerers vntempered braines yea mockers and very libertines fearing men poore princes more than God which haue a greater care of these transitorie goodes and haue muche rather to please the worlde than God bycause they looke for none other God héere than to haue that they luâ—te and desire for their belly yea they say in their heartes there is no God They would gladly leaue to God the heauens so that they might râ—maine vppon the â—arth They know none other heauen then héere on earth which rather might be called an hel than heauen bicause we all are subiecte to many infirmities Bisides that they caÌ„not haue héere any rest or quietnesse in minde or conscience Neyther can they haue things as they would be they neuer so rich These men as they are altogether worldly carnal so can they neuer come to any knowledge of God For the worldly and naturall men canne not perceiue the things which are of the spirite of God neither consider they the gloryous maiestie of God neither are they so muche as once carefull of the life to come Woe be vnto the sinnefull lips slouthfull hands to the sinner which keepeth two wayes Woe to the dissolute of heart for they shall not be defended bicause they beleeue not Woe vnto the vnpacient that haue lost and forsaken the right way to decline and wander in the crooked way Woe vnto them for what shall they say when the Lord shall searche them out Let vs loue the Lord therfore all we that feare him Let vs put our confidence in him let vs remaine faithful and let vs walke according to his holy will let vs searche diligeÌ„tly after those things which please him let vs prepare our heartes and frame our selues to be acceptable in hys fight and humble our soules before his face let vs paciently abide the time vntil he send vs succour helpe and comfort saying It is better to fall in the hands of men than in the hands of the Lorde for as he is great and mightie so is he also merciful Let vs then be pacient and not shrinke yea rather let vs manfully striue in the middest of our troubles afflictions and miseries knowing that aduersitie engendreth pacience pacience trial or probation probation hope hope shall not be ashamed for the loue of God is poured into our hearts Goe forwarde then my brethren to all good works and make your selfe sure to the Lord and to the power of his might Take vnto you therefore the whole armour of God that ye may be able to resist in the euill day Stand therfore hauing your loynes girded with the truth hauing on the brest plate of righteousnesse and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Aboue all take vnto you the shield of faith wherewith ye may quenche the fierie dartes of the wicked Take vnto you also the helmet of saluation and the sword of the spirite which is the worde of God and pray without ceassing in all your assaultes and necessities making your prayers in huÌ„blenesse of the spirite Be diligent and watchfull Be you wise and suttle like Serpents simple without fraude or guile as Doues Be sober watche for your aduersarie the Deuil who goth about like a roaring Lion séeking whom he may deuoure He vseth a thousand sleights setches many kinds of wayes diuers and sundry meanes to entrap and snare by Resist ye him therfore be stedfast in faith and defende thy selfe with the armor right nowe before mentioned Beare your selfe manfully confirm and refresh your self euery time with that excellent meat of the spirite which doth not perish which is the word of god that ye might withstand him both day and night like a good souldior and all his assaultes Take ye héede therefore to giue any place to euill but set your selfe valiantly and couragiously against him at what time he shall assault you either by faire or foule meanes by flatterie in shewing you the riches the glorye and pompe of this world to none other ende and purpose than to entrap and deceiue you or by crueltie persecution or trouble to ouercome and vanquishe you if ye hearken vnto him any manner of way And bicause he can transforme him â—elfe into an Angell of light it is requisite and necessarie that euery sprite be proued by the touche stone of Gods holye worde if so be that it agreeth therewith so must it be holden for good be beléeued and followed But if so be that it in any parte be contrary to that it muste according to the Apostle S. Paules saying be accurssed Let no euill take any roote in your heart but pluck it out forthwith God is meeke holy long suffering mercifull and altogither good but féeling that any one bringeth any thing contrarye to these particularities appropriated vnto God be ye sure that that spirite is not of God from those refraine your selfe resisting them wyth the weapons before mentioned Be sober and humble in mind content with a litle not caried away of couetousnesse after the richesse and glorye of this world neither be ye seduced by the pleasure of carnall concupiscence and voluptnousnesse of this world which are deceitfull and bring great paines to them that folow after them But to kéepe your self the rather cleane from the thraldom of them way and consider how vain vncertaine and vile a thing it is what euill procéedeth froÌ„ it Againe remember that all flesh is graâ—se hay and all the glory honor force and might of it as the floure of the field The grasse withereth and the floure fadeth away Yea all Princes and people are but hay where ouer if y e breth of the Lord doe but blow it becommeth dry the floure of it falleth But y e word of the lord abideth for euer Thou lettest man Lord saith Dauid passe away as the hearbe which is greene in the morning and at night is cutte downe The time of our life is thrée score and x. yeres and thoughe men be so strong that they come to foure score yeares yet is their strength then but laboure and paine What is man sayeth he or what is thâ— wisedome of man The numbre of hyâ— dayes are a hundreth yeres at the moste and a thousand yeares compared vnto eternitie are not so much as a drop of water to the whole sea or as a little duste vnto the sandes of Affrike for that commeth to an ende and
eternitie hath none ende but continueth alwayes All fleshe waxeth olde as a garment and all that is made and can be séene shall perish in season The generation of fleshe and bloude is suche that when one is borne an other dieth One kyngdome increaseth an other decreaseth Who so euer committeth wickednesse shall perish with them Blessed is the man which through wisedome exerciseth hym selfe in al goodnesse and declareth holy things with vnderstaÌ„ding This many of the Heathen Philosophers and other Pagans could well discerne and iudge of by naturall reson the which also did contemne and forsake riches greate estimation and authoritie bicause of many labours paines and vnquietnesse and other euyls whiche herehence procéede for to passe ouer spende their time in more quietnesse would not be intangled with any kind of thing that mighte hynder them of their studie and other exercises Cecilius Metellus a valiaÌ„t captain wold neuer receue the office of Dictator which was offered him neither the charge of a CoÌ„sul or magistrate saying that he wold spend that in quietnesse y t he had gotten by great trauaile and paine in y e warres The Philosopher Anatillus dyd refuse to be gouernoure of Athenes saying that he would be rather a seruaunt of good men than a hangman of the wicked Nicodius did not regarde nor made any accompt of the great tresure which kyng Cyrus sent him for a present to go with him to war Aristotle forsooke the good entertainment of Alexander the great bicause he had rather be at Athenes to reade to his scholers after his accustomed maner Philosophie Apollonâ—us Thianeus leauyng hys owne natiue countrey toke his iorney to go thoroughout whole Asie to goe to sée the philosopher Hirarchus in Indie M. Curius contemned the great sum of gold the Samnites offred him The great Philoâ—opher Crates mentioned in y e beginning of our boke cast al his goodes riches into y e sea The inhabiters of the Isle of Varales being aduertised of the aâ—arice couetousnesse of their nâ—ibors threw al theyr tresure their gold siluer into the sea bicause they shold not take occasioÌ„ to make warre against them for their goods Upon a day in the presence of Phillip king of the Macedonians was moued a question among the philosophers namely What was the greatest thing in this worlde Whereunto one aunswered It was the Sunne the next sayd the sea the thirde the mount of Atlas the fourth sayd that great and learned Poet Homere Shortly euery one â—ayd that which semed him best But the wisest of them all aunswered after thys sorte The greatest and most coÌ„mendable thing is the heart and courage of Man whyche dothe not regarde worldly and transitorie Riches But I coulde rehearse here a greate many more of examples yf neede shoulde so require and tyme serue But if the Heathen haue done thys howe muche more â—ught ChristiaÌ„s to do that in knowledge discretion which they dyd in ignoraÌ„ce And to draw your selues the rather from all vayne and transitorie thyngs whiche leade men vnto all euill and to addresse your selfe with heart and mind towards the Lorde ye must call to remembrance often the wrath which shall come to the seruants of vnrighteousnesse the childreÌ„ of the worlde the fleshe and the deuill at the last day Agayne call to minde that worthie reward and glorious inheritaÌ„câ— whiche the children and seruants of God haue prepared for them The tyme passeth and is turned from mornyng vntil euening Therfore be ye wyse and haue the feare of God before your eyes kéepe your self from doing of euil in these dangerous dayes The foole hath no consideration of the time but the wise man vnderstandeth all that belongeth to knowledge and taketh héede to instruction He which findeth wisedom estéemeth it and maketh much of it A wittie man in talk sayth the wise man walketh wisely Also they haue knowen veritie and iustice and haue searched after true iudgement Withdrawe your selfe then if ye will bâ— counted wise before God from the vanitie of this present worlde and caste aside all manner of voluptuousnesse pleasure and carnall Concupiscence For yf you folow the peruerse iudgement of the worlde and giue the bridle to the wicked desires of the body it will cause your enimies to reioice ouer you Let it not greue you to sée y e wicked prosper to be regarded and to come to high promotion Be not ye abashed or displesed for consideratioÌ„ of teÌ„porall felicitie which god gyueth here vpon earthe vnto the vngodly wicked and carnall libertinâ—sâ— to Epicures bellygods and other seing they are of no continuaunce they shal fall vanyâ—he and come to naught they shall consume lyke smoake and perishe like the herbe and floure of the fieldes But truste ye in the Lorde and go forward from goodnesse to better Christe Iesu our Sauiour to the comfort of all troubled Christians warneth vs saying Feare not ye him which killeth the body seing he can not hurt the soule whiche is in the Lordes kéepyng though y e body be neuer so miserably tormented or yll intreated yet are we sure that God shall raise it vp agayne and so body and soule being ioyned receyue euerlasting ioy and blessednesse Contrary wyse all the wicked which persecute the true membres of Christ as doth at thys day that wycked tyrant the Duke of Alba with all his adherents very hangmen and cruel murtherers of the Pope shall haue an ylfauored and shameful end here in this worlde and hereafter haue eternall ignominie and confusion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone The reward in deede of all such tyrantes and wicked ones as nowe be or euer were as Neâ—o Dioclesian Dioscore Maximian Iouian Maxence Licinus Constantius Phocus and many more other whose fearefull and terrible examples ought to moue the cruell tyrantes of our dayes were it not that they by the iuste iudgement of GOD were hardened in theyr wycked malicousnesse Examynyng then the naughtie ende of these wicked tyrantes and waying again our good end and â—ure consolation which we gather out of the worde of God we ought by good reson to reioyce and be glad of oure estate from the bottom of our harts to thanke the Lorde oure God that it hath pleased him to cal vs to such a good state and that he hath thoughte vs worthy to suffer any thing for his name sake Then be of good cheere and take courage and takyng thy crosse on thy shoulder followe stoutely Christ Iesu thy kyng and only head â—ut if thou wilt do this thou must contemne cast of and forsake euen as Christ did al couetousnesse worldly honor carnal lusâ—s concupiscence and thou shalâ— finde that it is much easier to serue the Lord thaÌ„ to â—e a slaue to this wretched world for hys yoke is light his burden is easy Be ye therfore streÌ„gthned coÌ„forted by vertue of gods holy spirit neither purpose or desire either by worde or déede
to the saying of King Lamuell in the thirde of the Prouerbes Fauour is deceiuable and Beautie a mere vanitie but the woman that feareth the Lorde is to be beloued But chiefly and principally when I consider that God intendyng to bestowe an excellent benefit peculiarly vpon your Maiestie more than vpon any other Prince or Princesse in the worlde hath besides al the other forenamed his manifolde giftes and graces lightened your vnderstanding with his holy spirit and hath vouchesafed by enclinyng youre graces heart spirite and minde to humilitie peace mildenesse and all kinde of louablenesse to chose your maiestie especially to be his champion to defend his beloued church And in this respect like as all faithfull and true ChristiaÌ„ princes throughout all Europe do esteme and repute you do I also and that of good right call your grace a moste happie and blessed Prince Consider I beseche you how God hath blessed your maiestie in thys worlde more than he hath done any of your progenitours For neuer was it seene in any age or time heretofore that this your realme of England hath flourished as it dothe at this present vnder your Maiesties moste happie gouernement Firste in all kinde of liberall Artes and sciences Secondarily in the abundance of treasure as well golde and siluer as all sortes of riche and precious iewels and ornamentes Thirdely in the free passage and trafike of all kinde of marchandise Besides this in good and politike lawes and ordinances namely in the due execution of iustice according to law and equitie The worde of God is purely preached here in six or seuen languages The Sacraments of Baptisme and the holy Supper sincerely ministred according to Christes institution Christian discipline in due force in many places Finally euery countrey and nation that will liue here according to his holy worde is receiued and findeth good entertainement O how happy and blessed is that King or kingdome where these things are in force Contrarywise most vnhappie are those princes that banishyng and reiecting Christ receiue that Antechrist the sonne of the Diuell and forsakyng the truth embrace errour To be short that do al things ouerthwartly clean against the hair For it is moste certaine and sure that sodaine ruine and destruction shall fall vpon all wicked and vngodly persons as well nowe as in tyme paste as experience hath well proued heretofore Namely vpon Pharao and hys kingdome of Egypt vpon Ieroboam Achab Iezabell and infinite other mo Wher on the other part the good kings princes which feare the Lord shal haue peace and comfort bothe in this worlde and in the worlde to come Like as had Iosua Iuda Gedeon Dauid and diuers other in those days and is also to be seene at this day most euidently in the realmes and countreyes vnder youre Maiesties dominion whiche God hath blessed in suche sort that it may truly be sayd that the kingdome of Saturne and the Golden worlde is come againe and the Virgin Astrea is desscended from heauen to builde hir a seate in this your moste happie countrey of EnglaÌ„d For here is peace and quietnesse where as the moste parte of foraine countreyes are full of great tumultes and that more is the pitie with the sheding of much christian bloude And where as many myghtie kings and potentates of the earthe haue banded and conspired together fight euery where against God his anointed and his holy churche bendyng their force vtterly to deface hys name his glorie and his Churche Almightie God of his diuine prouidence hath nowe also in these days like as he hath in all ages heretofore raised vp diuers good and godly princes and states and prouided certaine places wherto the elect and faithfull haue resorted bene preserued during the time of persetion to the ende that his holy name myght there be glorified his worde purely and sincerely preached and his Churche dispersed in a manner restored As it is also come to passe in these our most miserable days in the whiche suche as syncerely loue and esteeme more derely the honoure and glorie of God than they doe their owne commodities ease and welfare after the counsel of Christ saying in this wyse Yf they persecute you in one citie flie ye vnto an other haue bene coÌ„tent to depart their owne naturall countrey wholly to forsake their landes inheritances possessions and dwellyng places yea and some also to â—urreÌ„der their offices dignities worldly preferments An other sort with their wiues children and parentes are departed into Germanie namely into the territorie and dominion of Frederike prince Elector and couÌ„tie Palatine the floure of all Christian Princes in these dayes that I knowe in the feruent zeale and true feare of God a man worthy to be compared with Dauid or Iosias Others are fled into other places elsewhere some to one cuntrey some to an other euery one according to his abilitie estate condition and facultie But we a numbre of vs are arriued in saftie in this your maiesties realme of Englande as into a moste safe and sure harborough where we liue God be thanked vnder your Maiesties protection and safegarde in greate libertie to serue God in eyther language the French or the Dutche without al feare of tyrantes or daunger of the gapyng throates of greedie rauening wolues After the same maner hath God in time past preserued deliuered his elect out of the haÌ„ds of their enimies persecuteâ—s by the ministerie of dyuers vertuous women As is to be sene in the .4 chapt of the boke of Iudges How God deliuered his people of Israel out of the haÌ„ds of Iabin king of Chanaan by Debora the prophetesse by selling Sizara chiefe captain of his armie into the haÌ„d of a womaÌ„ called Iahel As he also preserued Dauid froÌ„ the furie of Saul by Michâ—l Sauls own daughter As he deliuered the citizeÌ„s of Bethulia froÌ„ the tiranny of Holoâ—ernes by the hand of that most vertuous Ladie Iudith â— And as the childreÌ„ of Israel were saued by the counsel of Mardocheus at the instaÌ„ce request of the most gratious humble Hester â— where they were lately before in peril of death preseÌ„t destructioÌ„ by the conspiracie of wicked Haman The like hath ben brought to passe by diuers other renoumed Ladies whose fame shal endure for euer And surely the graces mercies that God hath shewed to his afflicted church in these later days by your maiesties means ar no lesse thaÌ„ those he hath shewed tofore by the late rehersed ladies so that your grace deserueth equal praise and coÌ„meÌ„datioÌ„ with them coÌ„sidering with what geÌ„tlenesse with how louing charitable affection you haue receiued the poore scattered flock of Christ. Is not your Maiestie then to be estemed infinitely more happy blessed that are so specially elect of god to serue him for such an instrumeÌ„t in such a quarel that maugre the beards of the enimies being enraged through the malice and obstinacy of
their hearts do persecute the church of God Yes assuredly most happy christiaÌ„ and vertuous princesse euen in the highest degree Howe shall I be able then to expresse with tong or to endite with pen your praises sufficiently verily I am confounded and put to silence and do confesse my self to be altogether insufficient Wherfore moste gracious Ladie I rest with my heartie and continuall prayer vnto God for your maiestie that he turne not his face from you but that it wold please him to continue and daily to encrease his grace and fauor towards you and his holy spirite within you as also in and towardes those that be of your Maiesties counsel and all other Magistrates and officers whatsoeuer hauing authoritie vnder your highnesse within your maiesties realms and dominioÌ„â—â— that walking in the fear loue of him they may do al their endeuour through the preaching of his holy word to aduaunce his holy name and aboue al things especially to seke the safetie and weal of his church And therfore for the great benefit good that God hath don vnto his church by means of your maiesty most gracious prince al tru faithful whatsoeuer they be as wel strangers as your natural subiects seke to do vnto your maiestie most faithful and honorable seruice according to their power Besides in al their asseÌ„blies in euery congregation they make their hartie ferueÌ„t prayers vnto almightie God for the helth of your soule the safegard of your most royal person the prosperous estate of your realm long to coÌ„tinue And I especially for mine own part bicause I wold not be vnthaÌ„kful for the great benefits I enioy by your grace abiding vnder your maiesties protectioÌ„ forasmuch as ingratitude is a a most horrible and detestable vice in consideration thereof moste gracious Lady I present your highnesse with this smal Treatise of mine as the best Iewel that I haue in store at this presente in signification of my good wil and for declaration of my duetie in this behalfe beseeching youre highnesse moste humbly to accept it in good parte as considering your maiesties natural bountie and your accustomed goodnesse my trust is you will vouchsafe to doe For I am persuaded albeit the stile be rude that the matter shall be fitte for your Maiestie to reade and that the same shall not be vnpleasant vnto you but minister vnto your grace great occasion of much ioy peace and contentation of minde and conscience And these be the causes and respects for the which I presume to present the same to your maiestie in most humble maner beseching your highnesse to accepte the same and praying to almightie God to graunt vnto your Maiestie a moste happie reign in this world and after this life to reigne with him for euer for his only son our Lorde Iesus Christes sake At London your Maiesties Citie and seate royal The .25 of May .1569 Your Maiesties most humble seruanâ—â— Iean vander Noodt BEing one day at my window all alone So many strange things hapned me to see As much it grieueth me to thinke thereon At my right hande a Hinde appearde to me So faire as mought the greatest God delite Two egre Dogs dyd hir pursue in chace Of whiche the one was black the other white With deadly forceâ— so in their cruell race They pinchte the haunches of this gentle beast That at the last and in shorte time I spied Vnder a rocke where she alas opprest Fell to the grounde and there vntimely dide Cruell death vanquishing so noble beautie Oft makes me waile so harde a destinie AFter at Sea a tall Ship dyd appere Made all of Heben and white Iuorie The sailes of Golde of Silke the tackle were Milde was the winde calme seemed the sea to be The Skie eche where did shew full bright and faire With riche treasures this gay ship fraighted was But sodaine storme did so turmoyle the aire And tombled vp the sea that she alas Strake on a rocke that vnder water lay O great misfortune O great griefe I say Thus in one moment to see lost and drownde So great riches as lyke can not be founde THâ—n heauenly branches did I see arise Out of a fresh and lusty Laurell tree Amidde the yong grene wood Of Paradise Some noble plant I thought my selfe to see Suche store of birdes therein yshrouded were Chaunting in shade their sundry melodie My sprites were rauisht with these pleasures thereâ— While on this Laurell fixed was mine eye The Skie gan euery where to ouercast And darkned was the welkin all aboute When sodaine flash of heauens fire outbrast And rent this royall tree quite by the roote Which makes me much and euer to complaine For no such shadow shal be had againe WIthin this wood out of the rocke did rise A Spring of water mildely romblyng downe Whereto approched not in any wise The homely Shepherde nor thâ— ruder cloune But many Mâ—ses and the Nymphes withall That sweetely in accorde did tune their voice Vnto the gâ—ntle sounding of the waters fall The sight wherof dyd make my heart reioyce But while I toke herein my chiefe delight I sawe alas the gaping â—arth deuoure The Spring the place and all cleane out of sight Whiche yet agreues my heart euen to this houre I Saw a Phoenix in the wood alone With purple wings and crest of golden hew Straunge birde he was wherby I thought anone That of some heauenly wight I had the vew Vntill he came vnto the broken tree And to the spring that late deuoured was What say I more Eche thing at length we see Doth passe away the Phoenix there alas Spying the tree destroyde the water dride Himselfe smote with his beake as in disdaine And so forthwith in great despite he dide For pitie and loue my heart yet burnes in paineâ— AT last so faire a Ladie did I spie That in thinking on hir I burne and quake On herbes and floures she walked pensiuely Milde but yet loue she proudely did forsake White seemed hir robes yet wouen so they were As snowe and golde together had bene wrought Aboue the waste a darke cloude shrouded hir A stinging Serpent by the heele hir caught Wherewith she languisht as the gathered floure And well assurde she mounted vp to ioy Alas in earth so nothing doth endure But bitter griefe that dothe our hearts anoy MY Song thus now in thy Conclusions Say boldly that these same six visions Do yelde vnto thy lorde a sweete request Ere it be long within the earth to rest IT was the time when rest the gift of Godâ— Sweetely sliding into the eyes of men Doth drowne in the forgetfulnesse of slepeâ— The carefull trauailes of the painefull day Then did a ghost appeare before mine eyes On that great riuers banke that runnes by Romeâ— And calling me then by my propre name He bade me vpwarde vnto heauen looke He cride to me and loe quod he beholde What vnder this great Temple is containde Loe all is
enuie dissimulation falshoode and inconstancie vaine glorie iniquitie sorcerie superstition and impietie than doth in this one dominion of Antechrist He alone hath more contaminated Gods holy Temple than all the infidels together that euer were they haue most shamefullye intreated and iudged the very electe people of God which are the vessels of his glory They haue most miserably and narowly kept vnder and as it were in prison the true Ministerâ— of God by their Decrées and traditions The seueritie and rudenesse of Pharao Antioche and Caiphas is nothing in the comparison of theirs for in them is all kind of beastlinesse vncleanlinesse wantonnesse concupiscence and carnall securitie No reason or humanitie hath any place amongst them they are more lyke beasts than men The rigorous Proclamations against the Iewes at the request of wicked Ammon and of Antioche are nothing to speake of to the ordinaunces and statutes of the Antechrists for those were only against the body but theirs are against the soule and conscience of man also After this sort doth the PopedoÌ„ which is the dominioÌ„ of Antechrist bear the Image of the Leopard of the Bear of the LioÌ„ bicause it is not only partaker of al y e wickednesses with othâ—r realmes but it excéedeth and surmounteth al other viâ— times double in all kinde of iniquitie idolatrie abhominations y t euer were coÌ„mitted vnder heauen They haue the mouth of a Lyon always blasphemyng cursing and banning Their feete lyke a beare signifiyng their insatiabâ—e couetousnesse runnyng headlong to euery kinde of mischiefe very ready to sheade bloud as leopards are they polluted and spotted with dyuers and sundry inconstant mindes institutions obseruings neuer stedfast or constant but in al thinges chaungeable and foolishe for suche as receiue not Gods truthe are worthily forsaken of God Therfore God shall sende them strong delusions that they shoulâ— beleeue lies that all they might be damned which beleue not the truth but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnesse The Dâ—agon sayth S. Iohn which is Sathan the Diuellâ— gaue to the beast or cursed generation of Antechrist his beastly membres his whole power his seate of blasphemie and his great authoritie To giue them his power is nothyng else than to make them perfect and skilfull by all maner of crafte subtiltie and dissimulation cunnyngly to seduce the simple silly soules and so forth to confirme and stablysh them in al kinde of wickednesse and falshods To gyue vnâ—o hym his seate is to leaue him heâ—e a glorious kingdome full of vain glory â—isâ—imulation other wickednesse To giue him hiâ— great authoritie is to worke by false miracles signes and wonders and by false and â—rrâ—nious doâ—â—rine to allure the pâ—â—ple and to draw the vnbâ—leuing infidels the rather to the pâ—t of perditioÌ„ and euerlasting torments On this maner is that greate Antechrist a king with Sathan â—uer all the children of pride and darknesse He occupieth and possesseth â—alsly with Lucifer the seat and â—oume of God taking vpon hym euen to search and créepe into mens consciences For he bâ—steth him self to stand in Gods stede to deceiue thâ—m that â—well on the earth to reigne and to beare rule ouer them for so much as they hauing a blind guide are lâ—d into the ditche of all errour and false doctrine the very way vnto euerlasting peâ—dition Touchyng the seat euen as Christe our Lorde with his Father raigning eternally sitteth in heauen vpon the seate of his Maiestie in eternall glory felicitie eueÌ„ so sitteth â—ntechrist the Pope of Rome I meanâ— with his â—ather the Deuil full of pride and blasphemie in the seat of coÌ„demnation in eternal darknesse ignomie and shame CoÌ„cerning his power euen as Christ receiued his power of God his father euen so hath he recâ—iued his authoritie of his father the Deuil Euen as Christ is full of mercy truthe euen so is this Antechrist ful of enuie and hate vntruthes and lies and al other mischiefs of whose abhominations errors the vnbeleuing and infidel hath tasted As the holy ghost and the sprite of Christ openeth the misteries of the truth in his elect euen so on the other side hath the spirit of erroure since the death and reuelation of Christ darkned truth and set forth the secretes of his malice in the ennimies of Christ. CoÌ„cerning his aucthority as christ being man receiued his aucthority of god to doe such miracles as no man else could do Euen so doth this Antichrist by the Deuill and Gods permission amongs the infidels and vnbeleuers So that he in all power and aucthoritie vniustly vsurped foloweth yea passeth his father the deuil For as he robbed the godly man Iob and spoiled him of all his substance goods children seruaunts and cattel and tormeÌ„ted him in his body with â—oils and Botches euen so doth this rauenous and greadye Leuiathan and cruell murtherer vexe consume and oppresse the poore people by his spoiling Grashoppers defrauding the poore of their sweat and bloud of theyr paines trauaile necessitie and liuing no not sparing the féeble and sicke neyther widow nor fatherlesse No kind of good be it neuer so vniustly gotten being brought to them in shriuing of some one burdened in conscience but that they are coÌ„tented to receiue it and that by the way of restitution Yet neuerthelesse do they which is worst of all lead mennes mindes to dissimulatioÌ„ false belief and other diuelishnesse doubtfull desperate and comfortlesse Finally euen as in the body of Christ dwelleth fulnesse of the whole Deitie Euen so in this body of Sathan dwelleth the whole masse of impietie subtilitie fraud and malice with power to worke all maner of mischiefe mightely substantially and corporally And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death with the sword of his mouth that is through the anouncing and preaching of the Gospell Which thing is come to passe since the time of Iohn Hus in Boheme after that in Germanie and is since God be praised daily more and more that the head of the Beast is wounded in places where gods word is preached As in England Fraunce Scotland Poland and else where as euery one may wel perceiue except he will needes be blinde For it is euident to al men that in most places Buls and Pardones of the Pope are little set by hys power and might troden vnder féete hys name blotted out his Purgatory Masses Pilgrimages Idols and other like trumperies cried out vpon If this be not a deadly wound on the head of the beast I think it to haue none at all If this be not a manifest token of his fall to come there is none to be looked for But his deadly woundes were healed Although the Gospel hath ben preched in sundry and diuers places and the popes abhominations cast vpside downe yet remaineth in some places their false priesthood vows not to mary Sodomish chastitie auricular
title and supremacie ouer them â—or that onely belongeth vnto Sathan for the Diuell is sayeth Iob the onely chiefe head of the proude And power was giuen vnto them sayth our text for .xlij. monâ—ths to rule which are the thrée yeres and a halfe of Helias and one halfe tyme of Daniel and the thousande two hundreth and thrée score dayes of S. Iohn He openeth his mouth to blasphemie against God and his name and to blaspheme his holy Tabernacle and inhabiters of heauen The tabernacle of God is Christ Iesu in whom the fulnesse of the godhead abideth wholy and perfectly By the inhabiters of heauen is ment his true church whereout the Aungels are not excluded These inhabiters then are those whiche leade an heauenly lyfe in a true and vnfained faith séeking the things which are aboue and not on earth worshipping god the father in spirite and truthe abidyng stedfast and immoueable to the ende Many haue entred into this heauen but are not founde faythful and constant vnto the ende whiche is lamentable And to this beast or beastly Antechrist was giuen power to fight against the Sainctes They trouble and vexe continually with force and violence by their wicked and vngodly Decrées lawes and ordinances by their worldly aucthoritie and power the true witnesses and godly preachers of Christ instructed and taught euen as the Apostles were of God him self in the truth of his holy word eueÌ„ as the wicked Phariseis in the time of Christ and his Apostles did They persecute them by writs proclamations by banishments fire and sword as the cruell tirant Pharao and Antiochus did to shew manifestly that Christ is that stumbling stocke and the stone of offense whereat the world stumbled They search and seeke héere they hunt there neuer ceassing vntill they haue him fast in prison and forth-comming wherat they are not yet satisfied till such time as they haue procéeded openly before all men following theyr placcate thereby to fortifie men in theyr error against them And so vanquished as they boast to condemne theÌ„ although they are otherwyse before GOD. Then either they make him to recant or else if he abiâ—e constant in the faythe of Christ they put him to most cruel death either by fire or water And power was giuen vnto the Beaste ouer euery kinred tongue and nation For these wicked and abhominable Antechristes spare no man small nor great yong nor olde high nor low riche nor poore sicke nor whole learned nor vnlearned but that they must bow before them and become subiecte to their most wicked commaundements either by force or otherwise they must haue them at the least once a yeare at shrift before them to knowe their minde and intention whether they be Towne dwellers or Straungers Gouernours or common people No excuse will serue or take any place in this behalfe or else they must wyth Christ raigne at the Barre among Théeues And thys power they haue not onely in one place but in all places tongues and in euery Towne yea they must haue to doe amongst euery familie destroying the true and godly fayth of all men For all that dwell vpon earth shall worship the beast They must all consent to their great abhomination They muste blaspheme and offend God obserue and keepe their most filthy traditions and Romishe trashe They that dwell vpon earth are such as doe loue them selues more than God their owne affection more than Gods truthe putting theyr confidence comfort and hope in the only beggerly merites and vile deseruings of these beastly and abhominable Hipocrites and not vpon the swéete promises of God in his worde Whose names are not wrytten in the booke of the Lambe They which are not confessed of Christ nor accepted by his word and promisses They which wyth the righteous as members of one spirituall body and â—idden in him are not marked nor Registred whose part and portion is not in the land of the liuing that are not of the nuÌ„ber of those which the father hath giuen vnto Christ to be participant of one spirit with him They which are not ordeined predestinated nor written in his forknowledge neither of him before the foundations of the world elected chosen to be hys childreÌ„ immaculate in Christ. Al these I say must worship the Dragon The Lambe is Christ Iesu the which only taketh away the sinnes of the world in whom is only life for he is the life him selfe of them namely which beleue on him which was slaine from the beginning for all them which are created to saluation So that his only death resurrection and ascentioÌ„ through the promise of God is the saluation of theÌ„ all for they all haue tasted of one spirituall meat dronke of one spiritual stone Albeit he came a long season after them in the flesh he onely did tread downe the head of the Serpent Also he hath bene slaine from the beginning in his members as it is to be seene euidently in iust Abel Ieremy Iohn Baptist many more But those which are not written of the Lamb in the booke of life be sealed in the booke of death and kept as S. Peter saith with the Diuel and his angels to eternal death bicause of their vnbeliefe He that hath cares to heare let him heare sayeth the text He y t hath any wit let him giue place to y e admonition which followeth he that will be wise let him iudge according to the demonstration of these things After this sort doth the holy Ghost certifie hys faithfull warning them to consider that all which is written is wrytten to our learning and edification He that leadeth into captiuitieâ— shall goe into captiuitie Thys warning giueth the Lord let them take héede iâ— they lust for he wil that his iudgments be knowne They which doe afflict and vexe the faithfull in their bodies outwardly shal be vexed and punished in the spirit with inward darknesse and strickeÌ„ with blindnesse of the minde to abide the rather in the net of Sathan and sinne God wil leaue them in a reprobate sense and inordinate lust and suffer them to enter into great errors and diuelishnesse to belieue all manner of lies that they might be damned If any kil with the sword the pore and innocent for their faith must also be killed iudged and condemned throughe the sword of the spirite which is the worde of God The word which I haue spoken saith Christ shall condemne them at y e last day as he testified also in his Reuelation in the eleuenth Chapter If any will molest or trouble them the fire shall procéede forth of their mouth to consume their aduersaries Aâ—d I saw yet sayth S. Iohn an other Beast rising out of the earth hauing two hornes like the Lambe
is not greased with Crisome or Creame which they cal Confirmation of the Bishop cannot be counted though he be baptised and beleue in God and Christ neuer so faithfully for a right christian but for aboue al they are marked graffed in the trust confidence â—f their owne merites and deseruingsâ— For as the right mark of an vpright christian is the faith working through charitie and loue for the pledge of the childreÌ„ of God is faith vnfained euen so is the true mark and seale of the Popish Antechrist to bragge and trust in their owne workes and deseruings as Masses Pilgrimages shrifts Buls and Pardons to be buried in a gray Friers coat so many Pater nosters and Aue Maries and an hundred more such dreames And that no man might bie and sell saue he that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name Whosoeuer doth not confesse or allow that which the Pope teacheth or coÌ„maundeth but is contented and willing to obserue so much as in him lieth al that which Christ teacheth commaundeth and promiseth is to haue no regarde to the Pope nor his trumperies nor his Masses of Requiem Diriges absolutions and other abhominations those may neither bie nor sel amongst them Yea they are excommunicated persecuted and condeÌ„ned to fire sweard gibbet or water But they that beare his mark are al good children especially those that haue the double marke and Caracterem indebilem as they cal it namely his greased and â—hauen troupe Those I say may traffique and occupie fréely practising Simonâ—e chaunging and selling of Beneâ—â—ces Prebendaries and all other of their Romish pedlary and peuish trash Iesus Christ cast out of the Temple the biers and sellers but Antechrist bringeth them into his Temple there to vpholde them Here is wisdom The true and heaueÌ„ly wisdom consisteth in well vnderstanding of things and iudging aright of the same for when we doe not vnderstand things we are fooles and not wise men Therefore the Lord dothe admonish his auditors diligently to serch of Antechrist to y e entent that they might kepe them selues from him For these which receiue the marke of the beast and worship his image shal drink of the wine of gods wrath But al those which detest his Popedom from the very heart folow and embrace Christ Iesu and his holy gospel shall drinke altogither with him on his table the drink of life and of the graâ—â— of God in his kingdom Héereby we may coÌ„clude what great wisdom it is through which we escape the wrâ—th of God and attaine to euerlasting blessednesse For the holy Ghost sayth here incontent by S. Iohn He that hath wit count the number of the Beast That is they which are not altogither foolish and deafe let them count and cast ouer the number of the beast let them studie and meditate continually on the thing find fault with it abolish that which seemeth maruellous in the sight of the world Count sayth the Lord for it is the number of a man that is such a number as the carefull and dilygent man may easily finde out God commaundeth heere expresly that we must search and count Therfore they may wel keepe their peace saith Aretes which blame and slaunder our godly studie diligent labor and great paines which we take to wryte against the Pope and his adherents and his false detestable doctrine saying that the time is not wel imployed when we goe about to cast ouer the time count the number For they may euidently sée and perceiue here that the holy Ghost doth commaund vs to search out to trie and to make an accompte to know whom to hold for the right and wicked Antechrist him namely which hauing dismissed and put down three Kings is of nothing come vp and exalted aboue all and especially to the subuersion and throwing downe of Christes true religion hath begon to raigne and rule And his number is six hundred three score and sixe For so many make these letters in the Greeke tong 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The name Latinos Latinus compreheÌ„deth the number of sixe hundreth three score and sixe And it is well and very credible sayth the holy Martir Irene that his name should be so called for so muche as hys dominion hath that name and are all Latinists that rule and gouerne there We sée héere of a truthe that this godly teacher being full of the spirit of god hath not failed to foretel the true mening of the holy Ghost in this behalf For it is euident that the Romish church is called the Latine church and the Pope soueraigne and supreame head of the same Wé sée also y t all things in this Church are done in Latine And in their spirituall courtes as they call them nothing but Latin is vsed and spoken no man may serue in this church except he be a Latinist Moreouer they call Hebrue to be Iudaike or Iewishe and the Greeke erronious or heretiquish yea they holde the Hebrue and Greeke Bible to be suspected and straightly charge and commaund their Latine falsly called Ieromes translation to be of euery one imbraced and holden for the best Which thing is so manifestly known that it hath no néed of any further exposition This number of 666. is signified by some Greeke wordes for this Prophesie was written first in the Greeke tongue as Anthemos that is against the glory of god Also it is signified by Aruine wherby is noted a denier or forsaker of God And Titan that is the sonne or the name of Nemroth the tirant These thrée names or wordes although they sound diuers yet they do compreheÌ„d no more nor lesse than the iust number and all thys may be made agreable and approued by scripture and reason For he that is not with Christe is agaynst him Some expositors leauing y e Greeke wordes haue practised to their own aduauntage a Latin woorde namely Lux containing the numbre aforesayd with the couÌ„tyng letters whych signifieth as they name it them selues the lyghte or a spirituall companie where in deede they resemble nothing lesse for they are very darknesse which in no wise wyll receyue the light but séeke to extinguish the light with al maner of crueltie and torments We might bring in here besides these names two other names of Antechrist namely Diabolus incarnatus and Filius perditionis which signifie Deuill incarnate and childe of perdition Where as in the one lacke but foure of the numbre and the other six couÌ„ting those letters which are commonly numbred But amongest so many words aboue meÌ„tioned is none fitter and better to the purpose than the word Aruine coÌ„taining a great mistery anâ— is asmuch to say as I denie or I forsake It is manifest then that these haue receiued the mark and signe of the beast or else are sealed with the numbre of hys name which when they hear Gods truth reueled vnto them say I will not heare of
it is come to passe in many places in our dayes to diuers Friers Monkes or Priests which setting themselues for the defeÌ„ce of the Romish church were killed and slaine And yet shall it be with them euen as Baals Priests with the prophet Helias about the riuer Rison but are yet spiritually by a mistery of that which hath bene foretold For the Foules as ye shall heare shall consume hir flesh For god hath saith the Angell put in their hearts to fulfill his will God hath giuen by inspiration of his holy spirite in the minds of those aforsaid and such like persons to accomplishe in this behalfe his secrete will and pleasure Namely to roote out wholy and altogither that false and hipocriticall religion to suffer no longer the enormitie and foule abhominatioÌ„ of that Antechrist After all these manifold Reuelations I saw an other angel saith S. Iohn signifying the true ministers and preachers sent in these our dayes As also in the .vj. Chapter of the Reuelation is made mentioÌ„ of the Angell which had the seale of the liuing God Again in the .x. chapter of the angel which was enuironed with the cloud and in the .xiiij. Chapter of the Angell which published and cried out the fall of Babilon comming from heauen downeward All which is to declare that the godly preachers are sent of God hauing receiued great power feruent zeale and stedfastnesse of the spirite of God to declare and pronounce the wil of god valiantly to the ouerthrow of that pesâ—ilent whore For like as the father hath the life within him euen so hath his soÌ„ne Christ Iesu also and in him liue his seruauntes without any feare And the earth was light of his brightnesse Not of the Angell which was but a Messanger was the earth lightned but of the power which was giuen vnto him Wher Gods word is once truely preached there the whole earth is lightned of the brightnesse of the glory of God And this Angell cried aloud she is fallen That great Babilon which was so proud hie minded so common a whore that blasphemous sinagoge of the hipocrites is turned vpside downe She is by the iust iudgement of God brought to great ignomie and shame Hir first ouerthrow was when as the prince of this world was ouercome and vanquished through y e death of our sauiour Iesus Christ. Consider and ponder weâ—â—â—â— your minde the destruction of Ierusalem after what sort the Iewish seruice ceased and tooke an end namely when the materiall temple was throwne down and not one stone left vpon an other Now in this our time she shal haue a more sharper and seuere iudgement through the publishing preaching of gods word to the comfort of all beléeuers Which although it be somewhat as it were deferred yet let them be as well assured of this hir iudgement to come as we know and certainly beleeue the other to be come Cal to remembraÌ„ce and compare this place with the haling plucking downe of Abbays Frieries and other religious houses as they cal them in Germanie England and in other places and make your accompts that more and more sorowes shal happen and surely fal vpon hir shortly The occasion of hir fall and the desolation beâ—ore the lord is this She is become a dwelling place to deuils more than euer she was before hir first fall for now enter they a great many at once yea wel seuen for one And she is become a keeper of vncleane sprites For all manner of Idolatrie is maintained and kept by hir spirituall Courtiers and holy fathâ—rs as they call them as be their Bishops and priesâ—s Here raigneth Simonie bying and selling of benefices sacriledge vsurie ambition fraude couetousnesse desire of money to shed bloud enuie malice lecherie gluttonie pride vncleannesse and all other wickednesse She is become a sauegard or cage of all vnclene and execrable birdes For in hir dwelleth the adulterous Bishops the buggerous Cardinals and lecherous Prelates and a heape of Sodomitish Monks and Friers Nunnes and Sisters All these compareth Esay the Prophet to wilde beastes namely to Dragons Ostriches Eagles Monkeis Owles Mermaides and other rauenous and greadie birdes and monsterous and straunge beasts for amongst them hath bene vsed alwayes and is yet at this present all manner of vaine and foolishe toyes as mockings scoffings and iestings with crossing coniuring gasing singing playing and diuers other folish straunge fashions to mocke God withall Heere we might speak and reherse many things Namely of the keeping of their stewes and how they goe a whoring two maner of wayes wherâ—unto we might ioyne and declare what gaine and profite the ruffian prelates get thereby As it is to be séene namâ—ly at Rome what reuenues and rents that great and soueraign ruâ—â—ian getteth by his whoores And afterward of the drouning and killing of childreÌ„ and secretly murthering and casting in corners and ditches as is vsually practised amongst these riggish and lecherous prelatâ—s It is â—allen For all the kinreds and nations of the world except a very fewe of simple and seely souls which god through his vnspeakeable goodnesse mercy and grace hath chosen and predestinated to him selfe Haue droâ—kâ—n of the wyne of the wrath of hir fornication Bicause they haue not rendred thankâ—s to almightye God when occasion oportunitie and time serued therefore they are fallen into that bottomlesse pit of all errour and abhomination to the losse both of body and soul. They haue very carefully and narowly searched to runne a whoring after their hurtfull and damnable witchcraftes and inchauntments beleuing and crediting their false doctrine and teachings and so consequently apply theÌ„ selues to expresse it in their conuersation and liuing And the Kings of the earth not hauing before their eyes the loue and feare of God haue committed formcation with thys vile and filthie whoore Yelding theÌ„ selues to many false Idolatrous and straunge worshippings In such sorte that by the teachings admonitions and persuasions of their holy fornicatours they haue broken the bonde of peace and haue warred against the true children of God Which notwithstaÌ„ding y t they haue wrongfully molested and troubled scornefully intreated and mocked violâ—ntly oppressed and persecuted haue yet chasing and banishing them confiscated their lands and goodes turning their wiues and litle children out of the doores a begging Aboue all this so murther they and slay all such as they can catch and shed very much innocent bloud as hanging drowning or burning them most cruelly without any cause yea without any remorse of conscience euen as if there were neither hell nor heauen God nor deuil life nor death and as if there were no iudgement or no accoumptes to be giuen before God of all their doings and crueltie Also their mitred Merchaunts and shauen Massemongers factors and sellers of mennes soules are waxen very rich and welthy by
strong great citie Babylon y â— mightie citie for in one houre is thy iudgement come Thou art sodainly perished with y e sword of his mouth before thou canst be aware of it Alas who shal now pray for vs who shal now sing our Diriges masses of Requiem and do the funeralles for our soule Whether shall we go nowe to â—hrifte who shall now absolue and pardon vs our sinnes where shâ—ll we nowe fetche oure ashes Who shall consecrate vs our Candles and Palmes who shall sing or ryng and cast holy water at oure burials and redeme vs out of purgatory Suche shal be the complaints of the wicked and faithlesse persons And the merchants of the earth whiche do make any trafike of the marchandise of their Temple whiche place dothe serue them in steade of the market as well amongest the Mahometistes as the Papistes But bycause we are moste troubled and molested here in Europe of that popishe Antechriste we shall endeuoure to speake as we haue done hitherto most of hym These merchantes then I say shall bewayle hir and mourne ouer hir very sore and muche more than the Kyngs dyd For no man buieth their ware any more theyr pedlary is nothing set by any more The wares or merchaundises of theyr shoppes are Masses prayers blessyngs Crosses theyr cakes greate and small whyche they sell to get the more as it is estéemed in stéede of God theyr maker Holy breade holy water Candels relikes Pardons Sâ—ala coeli Diriges Annuaries and dyuers other lyke whereby they get the very sweate and bloude of the poore silly soules All whiche they sell for good moâ—ey daily and yet they keepe neuerthelesse For the people haue but the hearyng the eye syght or a taste of trifles And euery Shippe maister and all the people that occupie shippes and shipmen and whosoeuer trauaile on the sea shâ—ll stande afarre of That is to say all Bishops Ordinaries Abbots Parsons Uicars and Massing Priestes and other lyke liuyng on the sea Of these waueryng blinde and zealous people al these sayth the voyce stode a â—arre of euen as the merchants did and cried In like maner When they saw the smoake of the burnyng saying What Citie was lyke vnto this great Citie in ryches power wealth and voluptuousnesse No Prince or lorde is better entertained of al thyngs better prouided and more attendance giuen vpon him than these shauelings be For their truste and confidence is onely in this Citie this is theyr God Herein consisteth their whole felicitie and blessednesse These Shipmen shall bycause of theyr greate losse so weepe and wayle that men shall cast duste vppon theyr foolishe and fond wytlesse heads that is to saye They shall be so wrapped in darkenesse that they shall not see in theyr vnderstanding bycause of theyr vnbeléefe and also their knowledge shall bée made dull blunte and beastly by the meanes of iealousie furie and rage All this shall they do to shewe theyr greate griefe as for theyr repentaunce it shall be lyke vnto that of Caius Pharao Esau Antiochus and Iudas their predecessoures And in theyr sorrowe they shall complayne on thys manner Alas alas that greate Citie that woorthie and moste famous Rome that sweete and pleasaunt Babylon oure holy mother wherein we were made so ryche so proude so myghtie and glorious that al the worlde dyd dreade honour and serue vs and we felte no trouble no kinde of aduersitie or miserie is now made desolate she is fallen The apples that thy soule lusted afâ—er are departed from thee the learned the wyse and men of vnderstanding whiche thou for the maintenance of thy beautified whoordom desiredst sayth the menacing voyce of the holy Ghost are now departed from thée and wil not since they haue séene and considered thy great abhomination haue to do with thée any more but they shall forsake and leaue thée cursse and abolishe thée quite and where as they were wonte to prayse maâ—â— muche oâ— and magnifye thee before the worlde shall nowe defye thâ—â— yea and by the testimonie of the holy and sacred Scripture rebuke condempne and confounde thâ—e Of the common sort also men of an â—onest and ciuâ—le lyse whiche were wont to defende thee nothyng suspecting but thynkyng that all these trumperies and beggerly Ceremonies were profitable and necessarie to be obserued notwithstanding that thy lyfe and conuersasation was wicked and too too haynous shal speake agaynst thée flie from thée as soone as theyr eyes and vnderstanding by the vertue of the spirite of God shal be opened seyng that thou arte detestable and diuelishe Briefly no man haue he neuer so little a taste of Gods holy word shal be abâ—e to abide thee or suffre thy mâ—nyâ—esâ— whordom any lonâ—er for thy vpholâ—ers are but dissemblers men plesers flâ—tterers raâ—ling Sophistes Scoffers brawling Canonists Sorbonists Epicures Libertines and other vngodly and slaunderous persons very Antechristes Touching honest sober discrete and vertuous persons busie in godly works fearing God and séeking his glory from the bottome of their hartes which also desire with all their strength zeale and feruencie to set forthe the same they shall leaue and renounce al thy pestiferous dangerous wayes These grosse and fat shippe men and mariners shall say yet Woe woe Alas alas that great Citie wherein we were mâ—de rich all that had ships on the sea by hir costlinesse for in one houre she is made desolate We which had Bishopriks Abbays Benefices Prebendaries and great Reuenues amongst these foolish vnstedfast and worldly minded people waxed by al maner of wayes welthy and riche through the deare and costly wares which oure shippes were laden withall on euery side which ar innumerable We I say are in great heauinesse and in such a perplexitie when we remember of that so great and famous Citie as we are not able to expresse bycause of hir so sodaine fall being in one houre ¶ The .14 vision containing the iust iudgement of god ouer the assembly of Antechrist and that gratious vengeaunce of the innoceÌ„t bloud of his good and faithful seruaunts which I haue taken out of the .xix. chapter of the Reuelation where it beginneth in this maner I Saw the heauens open that is to say The misteries of God were shewed me and his secretes were fully declared and expouÌ„ded vnto me I perceiue that through faith and humblenesse great knowledge of the misteries of God werâ— obtained For the heauens are opened when Gods word is fréely preached and are shut vp when it is not preached or not regarded but in the stead of it men are fedde with dreames and lies And behold a white horse appeared vnto me Héereby are ment the true and faithfull ministers of the word of God whose office and condition is as S. Paule saith to announce throughout all the wholâ— world this heauenly doctrine and instruct teach admonish both great and small And he that sate vpon
by the Prophet Ezechiel saying I wil make a bond of peace with them which shall be vnto them an euerlasting couenaunt I will set my sanctuarie among them for euermore My dwelling shal be with them yea I wil be their God they shal be my people The same also he confirmeth heere in this place saying He will dwell with them and they shal be his people and God him sâ—lfe shal be their God In suche sorte that they shall neuer acknowledge any other than him only He shal alwayes comfort and strengthen theÌ„ heere by his holy spirit and heereafter by his preseÌ„ce so mightely defend and surely kéepe them that they shall neuer faile him heere nether afterward be seperated from him And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes so cleane that no kinde of trouble or feare shall make them afraid neither any aduersitie shrinke or make them heauie The same also saith the lorâ— by his Prophet I shall make a pleasant Ierusalem and I my selfe wil be glad with hir From that time forward shall there be heard within hir no more sorrow nor paine neither shall there be any death for death shall be destroyed for euermore The conscience of man shall not then be subiecte to any mistrustfulnesse or other infirmitie but shall haue ioy in the holy Ghost They shall through sinne not die any more but shall liue through faith in God That cruel whoore shal drink droÌ„ke no more in the bloud of the Martirs for she with al hir adherents and wicked tirantes shall be kept in that filthie lake which burneth with fire and brimstone for euermore So that no kinde of trouble persecution slaunder hatred malice anguish or pain or any kind of aduersity crueltie or wretchednesse which coulde be deuised can hurt or hinder them for sorowes wailing and wéeping shall be put farre from them The building of the frame and the situation of this citie was four square which signified not only vnto vs the sure grounde and stedfastnesse of the true Christian faith which God kéepeth tenderly nourisheth and augmeÌ„teth in his elect but also sheweth y t euerlasting certaintie of that mightie and inexpugnable kingdom of Christ and that hope which is neuer ashamed for who so euer beleueth and dependeth vpoÌ„ Christ shall neuer be confounded Whatsoeuer is foure square abideth firme vnmoueable and is not subiect to rolling or vnstablenesse like a boule or speare or any thing that is rouÌ„d In like maner haue we to consider of the four squarenesse of 〈◊〉 new IerusaleÌ„ wherof material Ierusâ—â—â—â— bâ—ing also square was a figure that none of what so euer kindred language or nation he be shall haue either preferment héere in this citie or be lesse regarded for whether he be froÌ„ the East or the West from the South or the North rich or poore Grecian or Barbarian if he be but a true beléeuer he shall be receiued and accepted of God Wherof we haue a manifest ensample in the Gospell where Christ teacheth by the Parable of a certaine housholder which hired labourers into his vineyard who calling them vnto him in y â— euening gaue as much to them that wrought but an hour as he did vnto them that wrought the whole day The walles of this Citie are strong and well furnished wherout we may coÌ„clude and gather that the blessednesse of saluation or Gods promises are sure and strong in so much that hell gates can not preuaile against or withstand them These walls are of such a height that no enimie be he neuer so craftie subtile or wise by anye meanes of faire speach dissimulation or hipocriâ—ie is able to get ouer them onely must they enter through the gate which is Christ Iesu. This holy Ierusalem is glorious blessed heauenly and spiritual not made by mans hande but it is made and builded of God the heaueÌ„ly father the father of light of whom all goodâ—â—nd perfect gifts onely do descend are sent down Therfore hath she a maruellous and incomprehensible light and wisdome of almightie God The Lambe Iesus Christ is hir light and his word the lanterne to his fâ—ete And hir shining light and spiritual wisdom was like an oriental stone most precious for his word is more costlier than golde yea than the moste finest golde This Citie hath twelue gates for to open and to shut with sundrie names bicause of the diuers natioÌ„s and languages For from euery side of the worlde come the people to the churche of Christ yet passe they al through one gate which is Christ Iesu. None saith he coÌ„meth to the father but by me I am the doore to enter into the shéepe folde Who so euer entreth through me shall be saued Thys Ierusalem hath twelue gates And on euery gate was a very costlye and precious Pearle for the doctrine of the Gospell is precious and costly without comparison whereby so many as are ordained from all coastes of the earth enter into the kingdom of Christ. And at these gates were set twelue Angels In that respecte Dauid also did sing saying The Angels of the Lord are about the tents of them that feare him to kéepe them He did set a garde vpon the walles of Ierusalem sayth Esayas to annouÌ„ce his worthy name So that it is wel garded fenced round about The Diuel with all his bost haue no force against it No man is able to draw any one out of his hands And aboue these gates were written honorable names namely the names of the twelue tribes of Israell which are Iuda Ruben Gad Assur Nephthalim Manasle Simeon Leui Isachar Zabulon Ioseph and Beniamin These names were wrytten héere bicause the right inheritance was promised to the séede of Abraham and Christ Iesus was the true séede of Abraham and by him are we made children of the promise The walles of the Citie hath twelue foundations grouÌ„ded vpon y â— strong and mightie stone Christ Iesu which is vnmoueable for so much that from the beginning the Church of God vpon hym hath bene builded and grounded Uppon him did Adam Noe Abraham Moyses Dauid Helias with the rest of the godly fathers that euer were build remaine stedfast although they were neuer so loÌ„g before him or shall be after him for they beleued certainly on the promises which God had wrought to theÌ„ by Christ. They all being vnder the cloud did eate of one kinde of meat and dronke of one spirituall stone which is Christ Iesu which afterward is come into the flesh No man may lay any other foundation sayeth S. Paule than that which is layd alreadye which is Christ Iesu. Upon this one strong and euerlasting foundation were laid and builded these twelue foundatioÌ„s agréeable vnto him Namely the twelue Apostles of the Lambe Peter Iohn Iames Andrewe Philip
written or preached is lyke vnto the leafes which beyng well and reuerently receyued by the woorkyng of the holy Ghost is of muche importaunce and wayghtie healthfull strong and myghtie in operation muche lyke vnto the mustard séede Aboue all thyngs sayeth Zorobâ—bell is the Truthe moste strong and ouercommeth all For it is the wyll of the Lorde whiche neuer shall perishe This worde then I saye is so myghtie and victorious that the Congregation of Christe and true beléeuers what soeuer trouble persecution or violence they doe suffer shall yet euen in their extreme paine and distresse be comforted and quieted in coÌ„science and spirite beâ—ing well assured that God keepeth them as the very apple of his eie for they know â—hat they ar vnder his protection gouernance and that hereafter they shal inherite how conteÌ„ptuously so euer they lyued here eternall glory felicitie and blessednesse in the presence of God in that new heauenly Ierusalem Of whiche glorie and blessednesse to make a discourse I shold labor in vain and bysides that neuer get my purpose nor finish mine enterprise For neuer no eare hearde it nor eye sawe it neyther came it into any heart And to say al neuer any man was able to comprehend it that God hath prepared for his elect that loue him Ye haue nowe gentle Reader sufficiently as I hope herd what wickednesse thraldome laboure paine and trouble couetousnesse concupiscence and ambition bringeth to them that loue it follow it wishe for it and séeke after it Lykewise ye may consider here howe and after what sort they draw man from God from naturall reason from all goodnesse and mutuall and brotherly loue vnto all kinde of iniquitie crueltie and vnnatural vices and oftentimes come so farre that they not onely bryng other men in great danger to attaine to their purpose but they themselues also body and soule Ye haue hearde also that the Deuill the Prince of this worlde is a father and the author of al wickednesse wicked doers and how that that mischeuous Antechrist whiche within a â—ew yeres hitherwards hath ben reueled did procéede and was borne of him as ye may see more euidently out of this Genealogie folowing The booke of the Generation of Antechrist the desolatour and childe of perdition FIrst the diuell begot Darknesse And darknesse begot Ignorance Ignorance begot error and his brethren Errour begot Freewill Ignorance and Selfe loue Frée will begot Merites Merites begot forgetfulnesse of the grace of God Forgetfulnesse of the grace of God begot Transgression And Transgression begot mistrust Mistrust begot Satisfaction Satisfaction begot sacrifice of the Masse Sacrifice of the Masse begotte Popishe Priesthode And popish priesthod begot SuperstitioÌ„ Superstition begot Hipocrisie the Kyng And hypocrisie begot Lucre. Lucre begot Purgatorie And Purgatorie begot the Fundation of Pentions Fundation of Pentions begot Patrimonie of the church And Patrimonie of the church begot MaÌ„mon of iniquitie Mammon begot Abundance And Abundance begot Fulnesse Fulnesse begot Crueltie Crueltie begot Domination Domination begot Pompe Pompe begot Ambition Ambition begot Simonie Simonie begot the Pope and the Cardinals his brethren in the transmigration of Abhomination And after the Transmigration of Abhomination the pope begot the Mysterie of iniquitie And the Mysterie of iniquitie begot Diuine Sophistrie Diuine Sophistrie begot Reiection of holy Scripture Reiection of holye Scripture begot Tyrannie And Tiranny begot murther of Saincts Murther of saints begot dispising of god Dispising of God begot Dispensation Dispensation begot Licence to sinne And Licence to sinne begot abhominatioÌ„ Abhomination begot Confusion And Confusion begot Trauail of y e spirit Trauaile of the spirit begot Disputation and matter to séeke for the veritie by the which that desolatour Antechriste hath bene reuealed You haue heardâ— also gentle Reader howe that the Diuell wyth all hys adherents accordyng to the veritie of Gods holy word and his righteous iudgement shal be â—hrowen and cast into the pit of eternall pardition of vnquenchable fire which hath ben prepared for him and hys angels hys sâ—ruauntes and followers marked with his marke from the beginning of the worlde where shall be gnashyng of téeth and wringyng of the handes eternally Moreouer it hath ben said howe that neyther hée nor all hys membres are able to do any thing against Iesâ— Christe nor agaynste hys kyngdomâ— or Churche Which bicause they are not of the world thereâ—ore the world and all that belongeth to â—he world haue from the beginning hated them persecuted and afflicted them as well Sathan himself as the world and y e worldly minded as it is séene dayly and shal be so long as the worlde continueth notwithstanding there hath bene sometime a little quietnesse séene and shall be it is possible yet namely so long as the malice and violeÌ„ce of Sathan and his membres be bridled tied shorte so long shall the godly people haue peace quietnesse and shal sée some yeares of grace Furthermore it was shewed you how that Christ Iesus became man for vs and is now in eternall glory in the kingdome of his father with al his Apostles his chosen with all suche as beléeue through them in him whiche hathe bene prepared for them from the begynning where is and shall be vnspeakable ioye Here you may sée and iudge of God and the deuil Christ and Antechrist the kyngdome of God and of Sathan the Churche of Christe and the synagoge of Rome or the assemblie of the reprobate the broade waye and the straite gate heauen and hell eternall lyfe and euerlaâ—tyng death Nowe tâ—en if euery one might choose the one or the other of these two wayes I beleue that no man would be so foolishe or ignorant that would not choose rather saluation than condemnation to ascende into heauen than to goe into hell Neuerthelesse those that will be saued and are desirous to be accompted vnder the numbrâ— of the elect muste diligentely take héede that they wander not nor bée deceyued by euery wynde of doctrin For lyke as couâ—tousnesse pride arrogancie ease of the body voluptuousnesse and plesure of the worlde hath chased and dryuen away all maner of deuotion zeale and godly exercises pertayning vnto true christian religion at the primitiue churche In lyke mâ—ner shall the Dyuell not yet ceasse or leaue oâ— to raign and rule in his membres notwithstanding that the childe of perdition that Antechrist is already manyfested and openly shewed yea he attempâ—eth yet daily by the meanes of suche vices a little before mentioned to rayse vp euen in the reformed Churches among the brethren dissention and trouble And it is to be feared that in the ende he shall preuaile more and more For it is writteÌ„ that iniâ—quitie shal abounde and haue the vpper hande and the charitie of many
any thing y t displeaseth him put al thy trust coÌ„fideÌ„â—e in him Thus doing let him be the marke whereat thou shootest the conductyng starre the compasse true token wherat thou saylest the way whereon thou goest the rocke whereon thou stanâ—est the sure grounde wheron thou buyldest the strength and fortresse wherin thou trustest the ende whervnto thou hastest the good whiche thou desirest the lyfe whiche thou séekest the comfort which thou dost wishe for the treasure wherefore thou labourest thy glory perfection all thy truste and confidence So then it shall come to passe that no kinde of euill shall hurte thée neyther fyre nor water lâ—sse of goodes or honoure wife chyldren of friendes lande house inheritance or any other possessions neyther yet contempt sclaunder backbityng persecution banishement or any other myserie sufferyng for hys name sake Haue no regard vnto the inconstancie and variableâ—esse of Fortune nor vnto the vncertaintiâ— of richesse and time then shalt thou in pouertie be riche in reproche highly regarded in distresse mery in heauinesse glad in prison at libertie and abroade Therefore bridle thy lust and refraine thy heart from al worldly carnal and transitoriâ— riches and be lifted vp in mynde and spirite to heauenly and vncorruptible treasures so shalte thou be regenerate of the holy ghoste and being confirmed by the worde of God may well be called Microcosme that is the whole worlde vppon the little foote Ye shall be true Christians Kings and Priestes estéeming neuerthelesse youre selues as vnprofitable seruantes Ye shall lyue happily and plesaunt and quiet in conscience ye shall knowe your owne and being throughly persuaded of the truthe ye shall abyde stedfast and vnmoueable not waueryng wyth euery wynde No kynde of affection enuie hate anger sorowe or payne shal trouble you ye shal put away al wickeâ—â—esse make no accompt of worldly matters but youre conuersation shall be in heauen ye shall then continually meditate of God and his kingdome that beyng busie therwithall ye myghte contemne al worldly things from the heart Nothyng then shall be able to separate you from the loue of God but ye shall go forewarde in all vertue and godlynesse till suche time as it shall please Almighty God to take oure soules vnto hym then shall we sée hym moste perfectely face to face Unto the which perfection and ioyfull sight vouchsafe to bryng vs O Lord Almightie the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ thorough the same his only and welbeloued sonne To whom with the holie ghost be all honor and glorie power and dominion euerlastingly And to all faithfull christians here vpon earth peace and comfort of the holy gost and hereafter life euerlastyng AMEN Imprinted at London by Henrie Bynneman dwelling in Knight riders streat at the signe of the Marmaid ANNO. 1569. CVM PRIVILEGIO AD IMPRIMENDVM SOLVM Seneca in the treatise of the happâ— life 22. Châ—â— â—salm 62. Lib. 5. de legâ—bus Epist. 20. Homel 21 super Marâ— â—ib 10. de â—â—ipub Luke .1 â—ty 14. â—ath 19. Lib. Ethi ca. 13. li. 10. â—â—p 8. â—n hiâ— 5. serâ—on of the â—orde of God In his apologie ca. 29 Math. 1â— Mark .4 Luke .8 Exod. 32. In his apologie ca. 2â— Abac. 3. Chrysost. In his boke of the ornamentes of women Mart. where he disputeth that no man commeth in trouble but by himselfe 1. Tim 6. Prouerb 23. Math. 13. In his Hâ—â—â—â—oâ—â—e Li. â— epistolaâ—uÌ„ Epi. 2. Luke .12 Psalm 38. Of the life of Demosâ— Li. 8. de â—â—â—nita cap. 85. In his bokâ— of Noe and thâ— Aâ—ke Epist. 2. liâ— Eâ—â—sâ—o Vpon the 106. psalm Saâ—y 10. Daniell .11 Comâ—ed â—â—rcat Sigâ—bertus Geniblacen Carolus Boâ—illuâ— Hieronymê° Sigebertus Geâ—iblacenfis Vincentius Anthonius Planâ—ina Abbas Vrspergensis Iacobus Bergenâ—is Hermanâ—us Shedel Reuel â— Rom. 2. Luke 12. Math. 6. Esay 5. â—â—â—uerb 5. â—â—uel 13. â—poc 6. â—poc 9. Math. 2â— Nahum .25 Esay 13. Abacuck .1 Hest. 23. 2. Paralip 3â— Esay 22. 2. Macha 2. â— Macha 2. 1. Corin. â— Rom. 9. Hest. 3.4 1. Mach. 2.3 Psalm 9 Rom. 3. Rom. â— Rom. â— â— Thess. 2. 2. Thess. â— 2. Thess. 2. Matâ— 28. Iohn .17 Iohn .1 â—ohn .3 â— Thess. 2. Iob. 1.2 â—â— Psal. 73. Reuel 9 â— Thessa. 2. Rom. 11. Tim. 4. Tim. 4. â—eb 13. â—ob .41 â— Reg. 17. Dan 12. Apoc. 21.13 â—oloss 3. â—ohn .4 Math 24. Luc. 9. â—phe 6. 1. Corinth Actes .4.6 Exod. 1. Hest. 3 1. Machab. â— Math. 20. 1 Luke .2 1. Peter .1 Math. 27. Mar. 15â— Luke .23 â—ohn .19 2. Tim. 3. Luke .10 Rom. 11 Philip. 3 1. Corin. 6. Iohn .15 Psalm 16. Iohn .14 Rom. 9. Ephes. 1. Iohn .1 Iohn .15 â— Tim. 2 â— Corin. 10. Genes 3. Math. 23. Genes 3. Math. 14. 2. Peter .2 Iohn .1 1. Corinth â— Rom. 1 2. Thessa. â— 2. Tim. 4. 2. Peter .2 Ephe. 6. 2. Thessa. â— 2. Peter .2 1. Coriâ— 1â— Gene. 14. Gene. 9.17 21.57.28 â—xod 7. 2. Timo. 3 Nume 22 Iudic. 22 2â— Ieremy 20 Math. 27. Actes 13 Iohn .1 3. Reg. 16. Psalm 44â— â—pocal 14 Iohn .16 Collosâ— 2. 1. Cor. 2. 2. Cor. 3. Iohn .14 Iohn .6 â— Cor. 13 Iohn 1â—â— Rom. 1. Heb. 13. Math. 15. Math. 7. 2. â—hesâ— 2. 1. â—im 3. 1. Corin. 6. Math. 3. 2. Corin. 11. Ezech. 34. Eâ—ay 56. Philip. 3. Esay 6. Iere. 2. â— Reg. 12. Math. 15. â—phe 4. Psal. 79. Math. 21. Mar. 12. Luke .19 Iohn .26 Reuel 17. Reue 12.14 â— Thesâ— 2. 2. Tim. 4. 2. Thess. 2. â— Tim. 3. Coloss. 2. Heb. 10. Rom. 2. 2. Cor. 3. Reuel 17. Psalm 85. Iohn .4 Rom. 2. Esay 45. Baruc. 6. Ierem. 2. Reuel 15. Reuel 1â— Reue. .6 Reue. 10. Reuel 14. Iohn .1 â—â— Actes .13 Mar. 3. Actes .18 Rom. 12. Iohn .6 â—say .11 Esay 9. 10. Iohn .16 â—uke .19 Esay â—2 Actes â— Galat. 5. Ephe. 3. Gene. 18 1â— Esay 34. Psalm 13. Ierem. 3. Eze 16. Oseas .2 Reuel 18. Esay 54. Eze. 17. Luke .16 Rom. 4. Math. 6. â— Esd. â— Gene 19. â—say .52 â—poc 1â— â—en 19. Math. 5.10 Iohn .6 1. Corin. 4. Esay 47. Math. 11. 2â— Math. 16. Deut. 8. Gen 19. Exod. 9. Psal. 11. Collos. 3. Math. 24. Mark .9 Math. 25. Psalm 50. Rom. â— Dan. 5. Leui. 10. Deut. 1. Reuel 1â— 2. Thess. 2. Gen. 4. Exod. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Math. 26. Math. 6. Galaâ— â— 1 Tim 4 2. Tim. 4. 1. Tim. 3 1. Tim. 5. Reue. 19. 11. â—say 66. Wysdom .11 Mâ—th 11.12 2. Corin. 1. Math. 16. Actes .9 Psal. 145 1â— Psalm â—â— Rom. 9. Iohn .14 Iohn .16 Psal. 23. Ioh. 16. â— Cor. 15. â—ohn .12 â—ba 3. Zâ—ch 3. 1. Cor. 1. Psal. 119. 1. Esd. 3. Eâ—cle 4 9. 1. Peter .1 â— Timo. 4. Reuel 2. â—ames .1 Math. 16. Math. 16. 1. Cor. 12. Esay 63. Esay 53. Math. 8. 1. Peter .2 Iohn â— Ephes. 3. Psalm 33. Heb. 1. Colloss 1. Iohn .1 Coloss. 3. Gala. 5. Rom. 6. 1. Cor. 10. Iohn .15 1. Corin. 5. Math. 24. Psal. 2. 45. Mat. 25.