the earthe 9. with all maner plages as often as they wyll ¶ The Paraphrase i Yf anye manne wyll attempte to do them sâ—athe or presumptuouslye seketh by crafâ—ye colouâ—s subtle reasons and deceytfull argumentes vpon daungers doubtes doctorâ— olde customes and auctoryte of fathers to hyndre their office blemyshe their message and darken their lyghtâ— suche fyre shal procede out of their mouthes as shall consume theyr enemyes 2 The eternall worde of the lord that they shall declare which ys the consuminge fyre shall vtterlye destroye theÌ„ So that nothynge shall be seane of that they were afore Neyther cut showe nor corde coule nor graye cote bote nor blacke whode rother nor scaplar myter nor croser sandale nor frocke shauen crowne nor anoynting For all these are theyr enemies 3 CoÌ„sumed are they to ther saluacioÌ„ that with Matthew become of Publycanes trewe Apostles and with Paule of ferce persecuters charitable teachers Contrarye wyse are they consumed to theyr damnacyon whych beynge ouercomen by the manifest veryte wylfullye persist in their deuyllyshe errours with Antiochus and Pharao with the Scribes and Pharisees 4 For yt foloweth And yf anye manne wyll hurte them thys wyse must he be kylled Eyther must he be mortified froÌ„ the olde Adam and changed into a newe man in Christ or els by the seyd worde must he both be iudged and condemned for the vtter aduersarye of God with sathan hys auncient captayne So must he be kylled And no deathe will be founde lyke vnto that deathe come they ones to the felynge of yt though they account yt now verye lyght 5 For these wytnesses haue powre aâ— had Helias to shutt vp heauen that yt rayne not in the dayes of their prophecienge but yet non other wyse thaÌ„ by the afore seyd worde For the worde of God ys the verye keye of Dauid which openeth the kyngedome of God to theÌ„ that faythfullye beleueth aÌ„d that speareth yt vp also from theÌ„ which dwelleth in vnfaithfulnesse For it is sayd in the dayes of their prophecyenge This powre therfor is of the worde and not of the menne The worde speareth and openeth losoneth and byndeth saueth aÌ„d daÌ„pneth He that beleueth sayth Crist shall be saued he that beleueth not is iudged alredye No moyster of grace nor godly wysdome can lyght where sturdye frowardenesse is roted The dayes of their prophecyenge in figure is non other than the aforesayd tyme tymes and halfe tyme or the thre years and .vi. monethes of Helyas 6 In those dayes shall it not rayne vpoÌ„ the wycked they shall haue no grace to receyue the veryte In parables and figurs shall that be hydden from theÌ„ that shall be euident ynowe vnto the faythfull With eares shall they heare aÌ„d not vnderstande with eyes shall they se and not discerue So blynde wyll their hartes be For soche spake the prophetes in fygurs Christ in parables aÌ„d the Apostles in misteries The open truthe of this reuelacion shall not the wycked perceyue tyll they tast the plages therof Soche is the nature of Gods wisdom that thowgh it be not in gloriouse wordes fyne paputed termes nor in perswasible reasons of maÌ„nes wytte but in playne symple speakynge yet can it not be knowne of the worldly wise The swete dewe therof will not be receyued of theÌ„ in the aforesayd dayes of prophecie but he that is blynde shall be blynde styll 7 These wytnesses haue also powre ouer waters to turne them into bloude Whan they interprete and syncerely declare the pure berites of God which are those wholsome waters that restrayneth the daÌ„pnable drynesse of the sowle that refresheth the conscyence and clenseth the harte of the synner they can not chose but ernestlye condempne the peruerse iudgementes the couetouse lawes and hypocritishe workes of the vngodlye And then is all vncleane vnto them theÌ„ is all bloodye The gospell which was a stomblynge stone to the Iewes aÌ„d mad folyshenesse vnto the gentyles is also now vnto them nowrye newe lerninge sediciouse doctrine aÌ„d abhominable he resye Yea and they iudge them worthye to be burned that doth teache it Thus is it abhorred of them that shall perishe and neuerthelesse to theÌ„ that beleue it is the powre of God vnto saluacyon 8 Fynallye they haue powre to smyte the earthe with al maner of plages as ofte as they wyll Uerye caâ—the are they that regarde not Gods truthe as the lorde sayd vnto AdaÌ„ after hys offence Earth thu art and vnto earthe shalt thu returne Nothinge they esteme but that whych ys earthlye Nothinge they desyre but that is carnall The frowarde creature wyll in no case knowe that is of the sprete The lyght ys hatefull vnto sore eyes Uerr peynefull is brede to the mouthe that ys not whole A great mote was Crist to the Iewes as hys true preachers are vnto the blynde worlde yet to thys daye For they smyte the earthe 9 They towche their lyuynge they rebuke their falshede they condeÌ„pne theyr wyckednesse They reproue them of synne of ryghtousnesse and of iudgement They force not to tell theÌ„ of ther vnfaithfulnesse frawde and hypocrisye of their philosophers prelates and relygyouse No greatter â—lage ys yt to the vngodlye than to heare of theyr euyll doynges No greater peyne nor yet greatter ponnyshmeÌ„t than to haue their fawtes opened and their clonynge colours condemned That fretteth theÌ„ at the very harte Deathe must be sought out for soche preachers No wonder is yt though thys be here writteÌ„ for thys age of the churche For neuer were more ernest wytnesses then are now and more are lyke here after to folowe tyll the maÌ„ne of synne be fullye knowne and his kyngedome clerelye ouerthrowne The Text. 1 And whan they haue fynished theyr testimonie 2. the beast hat came out of the bottom lesse pytte 3. shall make warre agaynst them 4. and shall ouer come them 5. And theyr bodyes shall lye in the stretes of the great cyte 7. whych spirytuallye is called Sodome and Egypte 8. where our lorde is crucyfyed ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And whan they haue ones fynyshed theyr testimonye sayth the lorde the beast that came out of the bottomlesse pytte shal make warre ageynst them No soner shal the witnesses of Gods veryte in allages be taken from the worlde than he hath prefixed After noÌ„ other sort shall they be sent hence than he hath appoynted by hys eternall decre IohaÌ„ baptist was not enprysoned nor beheaded tyll he had done hys offyce Christ was not taken condemned and crucyfyed tyl hys howre was come Paule was not putt vnto deathe tyl he had fulfilled his course 2 The beast of the bottomlesse pytte ys the cruell craftye aÌ„d cursed generacion of Antychrist the pope with hys byshoppes prelates prestes and relygyouse in Europa Mahomete with hys dettynge dowsepers in Affrica and so forth in Asia and India all beastlye carnall and wycked in their doynges 3 These maketh warre ageynst Gods wytnesses whan they hate them curse them blaspheme them and persecute theÌ„ Whan they
ryche glotton shall reioyce ouer them and be gladde 5 They shall clappe their handes whaÌ„ these godlye wytnesses be brought out of the waye They shall common ryote and bancket hauynge amonge themselues Ioye without measure that the heretykes be gone so hatefull ys the lyght to theyr eyes aÌ„d the veryte to theyr wycked hartes 6 And they shall sende gyftes or presentes one to an other for gladnesse as for example My lorde byshoppe hath had a summe of manye of the prestes for doynge hys part so well My lorde abbote aÌ„d master doctor haue had phesondes plouers partriches pigges gese capoÌ„s for dysparynge theyr matters so vaâ—eauntlye â–ª Master persone hath bene coÌ„mended for scoldynge and ser saundeâ— smelle smocke our perryshe preste for bearynge false witnesse Master fryre hath had a treuâ—all and father limit oure a bushell of maâ—â— or a cheâ—â— for playnge the knaues also And hardelye my lorde chefe iustyce hath not bene without his rewarde noâ— yet master ChauÌ„celloure neyther master Scrybe What made Thomas More for his tyme with so prodigiouse â—yâ—anâ—â—e to persecute the truthe aÌ„d seus Godfathe of Norwiche whartoÌ„ of Gongaye 〈◊〉 Baker of kÌ„te with soche other lykeâ— but auri sacra fames as 〈◊〉 both call it Thus do they 〈◊〉 triuÌ„phe whaÌ„ they haue wrought my 〈◊〉 and moche it deliteth theÌ„ whaÌ„ they bene 〈◊〉 vngodlye thiâ—ges 7 For 〈…〉 prophetes sayth the lorde vexed them that dwell on the earthe â–ª A great troble it is to theÌ„ to haue their fawâ—es seane a sore vexacion to haue their craftes knowne and an excedynge displeasure to be put from their plesaunt Euphrates by the preachynge of soche busye heretikes Moche was Herode offended with Iohan the byshoppes with criâ—t the prelates religiouse with Paule and a sore grefe it was to their hartes whan they rebuked their vyces The Text. 1. And after thre dayes and an halfe 2 â–ª the sprete of lyfe from God entred in to them 3. And they stode vp vpon theyr fete 4. and great feare came vpon theÌ„ which sawe them 5 And they herde a great voyce from heauen saynge vnto them Come vp hyther 6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a cloude 7. and theyr enemyes sawe theÌ„ 8. And thesame houre was theâ—â— a great earthquake 9. and the teÌ„th part of the cyte fell 10. And in the earthquake were slayne names of men seueÌ„ thousande 11. And the rennaunt were feared 12. and gaue glory to God of heauen 13. The seconde wo is past 14. And beholde the thyrd wo wyll come anone ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And after thre dayes an halfe sayth Saynt Iohan ded the sprete of lyfe by the powre of God entre in to them In the myddes of their Ioye and triumphe whan they thynke them selues well quyeted the heretykes thus taken a waye an other storme falleth vpon theÌ„ moche worse than the other Manye more aryseth out of their ashes to their confusion and to the chosens confort And the same wytnesses they are agayne geuynge the same testymonye though they be not the same persones 2 The same lyuynge sprete haue they confessinge the same veryte that had the other No longe tyme can Christes congregacion be without faythfull testes he promysinge to be with them to the ende of the worlde 3 These witnesses stode vp vpon their fete In the tyme full past ys this spoken for the certeÌ„te of the thynge though moche of it be to come For so certeÌ„ is it as it were all fynyshed An ernest stomake shall they haue and with moche boldenesse shall they speake The ryghtouse shall stande vp sayth the boke of wysdome in great feruentnesse of sprete agaynst them that hath extremelye handled them and taken awaye theyr labours persecuted them and blemyshed theyr doctryne 4. And great feare came vpon theÌ„ which sawe them Whan the Antichrystes se they can not preuayle moche are they inwardlye anguyshed vexed and tormented Then doubt they their falle thaÌ„ feare they their vtter destruccion They trymble and quake whaÌ„ they se their lawes wyll no longar stande nor their insurreccions no longar helpe them lokinge for a terrible daye With horryble feare shall they wonder sayth the aforesayd boke of wisdome â–ª at the comynge of the sodayne helthe gronynge for sorowe and mournynge for verye anguyshe of mynde and saynge within them selues These be they whom we somtyme had in deuysion Vnwisely we thought their lyues to be madnesse their endes to be without honour And now they are rekened amonge the chyldren of God their porcion is amonge the Sayntes Therfor haue we erred froÌ„ the waye of truthe the lyght of ryghtousnesse hath not shyned vnto vs. We haue weryed owr selues in the pathes of wickednesse but the waye of the lyuinge lorde haue we not knowne 5 And they harde a great voyce from heauen saynge vnto them Come vp hyther The Antichristes shall heare thys noyse they shal knowe theÌ„ to be in the fauer of God greate heuynesse it shall be vnto theÌ„ For this voyce is the fre eleccyon of God accordynge vnto grace aÌ„d not after manes deseruynge And it conmeth froÌ„ heauen as doth all other good gyftes froÌ„ the father of lyght It calleth vp them that afore walked sumwhat after the fleshe aÌ„d durst not for feare of poÌ„nyshmeÌ„t wytnesse the veryte It commaÌ„deth them to aryse vnto God to be more perfyght more spyrytuall more godlye and to haue their conuersacion in heaueÌ„ They atteÌ„de vnto the voyce they obeye yt and do after yt For yt foloweth 6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a clowde By the powre of God they are taken vp From worldlye affectes are they changed to the pure loue of God aÌ„d from carnall prudence to the wysdome of the sprete In a cloude are they rapte Compassed are they with thys fleshe the yll desyres taken from them Euerye where resemble they Christ and are daylye better and better They cease not of theyr progresse no peyne caÌ„ separate theÌ„ from the loue of Christ tyl they perfyghtly come to the syght of the God of Goddes in the supercelestiall Syon 7 And their enemies saue them The Antichristes knoweth that they are gods seruauntes the hypocrites perseâ—ueth they haue heauenlye knowlege Yea manye tymes they so report them both in their wordes and writinges In manye of them Chronycles they â—fâ—rme tâ—at Berergaâ—ius Ioannes scotus the elder Iohan wycleff Iohan husse Hierome of Prage Thomas thedonensis a whyght fryre of Bryttayne burned in Rome Hieronimus sauonarola a blacke fryre burned in florence diuerse other more were menne of most excelleÌ„t wyttes of most hygh lernynge of most godlye conuersacyoÌ„ of a most perfight lyfe ferueÌ„t constauÌ„t vnmoueable in in the tyme of their deathes Bylney BaynhaÌ„ Befeld frithe Tindale Barnes other are yet reported yea of somewhich to this hewe hateth their opinioÌ„s to haue dyed charetably aÌ„d godly Yet beleue they neuer the better they come neuer the senner
the defence and shaddowe of the hyghest So longe as the lorde is my gouernour sayth he I can wante nothinge He fedeth me he sustayneth me I doubt no daunger for he ys with me Hys staffe stayeth one hys worde and promes ys my whole confort 8 And there wyl the lorde fede her sayth saynt Iohan for the space of a thousande two hondreth and .lx. dayes Non other are fende with the scripturs promises of God which ys the bread of children not to be geuen to dogges but they which fleeth into thys desert from the Dragon forsakynge both head and tayle both suggestions and lawes both customes and constytucions For all are deuyllyshe Non other escaped the plage of Sodome but they which fledde cleane from thens Lorâ—es wyse but lokynge backe onlye towardes yt agayne was turned into a salt stone 9 The nombred dayes here are non other but the afore wrytten tyme of the two witnesses the tyme of Helias preachinge the tyme of Iohans preachynge the tyme of Christes preachinge or the tyme of the gospell preachynge from Christes ascencyoÌ„ to the latter ende of the worlde That ys the verye tyme of the feadynge of hys churche And not open ys thys feadinge here but secrete in the wldernesse amonge a sorte vnknowne to the worlde hauynge the pouerte of sprete without shauynge anoyntinge or Hipocrytes apparell And not onlye hath the lorde thus noryshed hys peple in this spirituall respect but also in bodye Whan they haue bene greuouslye handled spoyled of their goodes impresoned and exyled gracyouslye hath he releued them and prouyded for them both solate and confort aâ— the haÌ„des of theÌ„ whom they neuer sawe afore So that the iust hath not felt hym selfe forsakeÌ„ nor his childreÌ„seking bread The Text. 1 And there was a great battayle in heauen 2. Michael aÌ„d his angels 3. fought with the Dragon aÌ„d the dragon fought and his angels 4. and preuayled not 5. neyther was theyr place founde anye more in heauen 6. And the great dragon that olde Serpent called the deuyll and sathanas 7. was caste out 8. which deceyued all the worlde 9. And he was caste in to the earthe and his angels were caste out wyth hym also ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And there happened at that tyme sayth saynt Iohan a great battayle in heauen In the churche is euermore variauÌ„ce and stryfe without ceasynge betwixt the sprete and the fleshe the good aÌ„d the badde the faithfull and the vnfaithfull Non other is this battayle but a verye contradiccion a dyuersite in faythe stodye opynion wyll aÌ„d worke about the lawes or commaundements of God aÌ„d also about the lawes and tradycyons of menne Thys battayle is wayghtye in cause multitude aÌ„d continuaunce The cause therof is Christ the gospell faythe rightousnesse mannes helthe Gods hygh honour aÌ„d soche other lyke on the one partye Vpon the other partye the cause is errour hipocrisie lyes ydolatrie auarice pryde cruelte fylthynesse with all soche other So great is the multitude that non is fownde out of its Non is there but are in this armye Eyther they are good or badde faythfull or vnfaythfull ryghtouse or vnrightouse The rightouse are of the hoste of Michael the vnrightouse are vpon the dragoÌ„s syde Continued haue this battayle froÌ„ the first beginninge and so shall styll to the latter ende Yea thowgh the dragon be bownde or tyed vp vnder the .vij. seale openynge that he rage not then as he hath done afore Yet shall the sprete of wyckednesse and a mynde to do mischef reygne inwardlye styll in his members for a Sathan can be but a Sathan and a deuyll a deuyll 2 Michael and his angels fought vale auntlye with the dragon Spyrituall are they which hath done on Christ after the mynde of Paule and spirituall is their armour Their gyrdinge is verite their brest plate rightousnesse their shilde a sure faythe their weapon the worde of God their helmet the hope of helthe and for stedefastnesse of their fete their showinge the gospell By interpretacion is Michael to saye who is as God or who is lyke vnto God And he betokeneth the constaunt ministers and syncere teachers of the gospell The angels of Michael are all they that in a sure faythe confesseth the eternall magnificence of God and that non is lyke vnto hym Contrarye wyse the dragons angels are the hipocrites lyeÌ„ge prophetes and erronyouse teachers 3 These fyght with the dragon and the dragon and hys angels with them For he that ys not with Christ ys agaynst hym With the ryghteouse ys Michael For mynystrynge spretes are the angels ordayned for the confort of them which shall be saued And commanded they are to wayte vpoÌ„ the faythfull to preserue and defende them The wycked sort haue the deuyll hys chaplaynes to fyght for them the ryghtouse haue Michael and hys angels The wycked fyghteth with errours aÌ„d lyes the ryghteouse with the onlye veryte of God 4. As vengeable and as ferce as they are yet preuayle they not neyther ys theyr place fownde anye more in heauen Faythe hath the vyctorye by the promyse of God though the blynde worlde seyth it not Ouercomen are the wycked whaÌ„ their enterpryses taketh not and cleane ouerthrowne whaÌ„ their beggerye ys contempned And neuer ys the full vyctorye gotteÌ„ no more than yt was in Christ tyll the tabernacle of thys bodye be layed a syde At that daye ys the crowne gotten whom the lorde hath layed vp for the ryghtouse And lyke as there ys daylye fyghtynge so ys there in some daylye vyctorye Dayly are the angels of darkenesse ouerthrowne daylye are they cast out of heaueÌ„ whych ys the true churche Daylye are they coÌ„deÌ„pned by the worde of God iudged for rebels agaynst the holye Ghost whose synne ys neuer forgeuen 5 No place haue they anye more with the chosen no eleccyon nor acceptacyon afore God The more light they haue had the more they haue tasted of the truthe now forsakinge yt rebellyng against yt with the deuill the farder they are froÌ„ God the more nygh vnto daÌ„pnacyon Neuer beleued he trulye that so had receyued the worde Lett noÌ„ thynke to be saued vnlesse he perseuereth to the ende 6 And the great DragoÌ„ or captayne of all the vnfaythfull sort that olde croked SerpeÌ„t whych deceyued AdaÌ„ ys called the deuyll or malycyouse accuser yea also Sathan the most cruell aduersarye with all hys elyentes spirituall adherentes are certayne sure to be cast out 7 With the ryghtouse shall they haue no porcyon for all their gloriouse tytles With the godlye shall not their names be regestred for all their holye vnccyoÌ„s But with the prince of this worlde they shall be throwne forth 8 For he by them they by hym hath deceyued all the worlde in lyenge tokeÌ„s woÌ„ders in the operacyoÌ„ of errours to the vtter daÌ„pnacyon of all theÌ„ that coÌ„senteth to theyr wyckednesse 9 And he was cast into the earthe his aÌ„gels also
thynge as the maner of the scrypture is 7 Who is lyke vnto the Beast in outwarde glitterynge workes or in the eâ—terne obseruacions of counterfett relygyon 8 Who is able to warre with her the worldlye powers now so depelye maynteyninge her quarell All seketh the papistes that they can in the worlde Imagyne to vpholde the glorye magnificence and bewrye of their holye whoryshe churche or malignaunt muster No cautels nor câ—aftes leaue they vnsought nor vnserched out to cause the peple to esteme her of incoÌ„parable power No small labour toke standyshe in hande in whittington College whan he made his more than folyshe boke of reproche ageynst Barnes beynge dead Nor no lesse dylygence the wyse Poete Iohan Hontyngton whan he regestred in his Genealogye of heretykes without grace wyt and lernynge the names onlye of soche godlye menne as were the popes enemies no heretyke agaynst God ones meÌ„cyoned Nomore ded Thomas Smythe Richard Dallyson William Stawne SteueÌ„ Prowett frire Adriane quarrye the pardoner wyth soche other blynde Popishe Poetes and dirtye metristes whan they vttered their shitten â—ymes and poesies And sure I am that manye more be yet abrode of the same wycked zele and sprete to the great blasphemye both of God and his truthe now that the Beastes wounde is made whole agayne by so manye newâ— actes so manye newe tytled Bishoppes so freshe sale of benefyces mastershyppes and dignitees spirituall offyces degrees and auctorytes as plentuouse as euer was in Rome And least we shuld be depryued of our newe plesaunt Euphrates and so be compelled by the worde of God to folowe the Monkes Chanons Nonnes and fryers in their bannyshementes We haue procured serten actes to be made for our commodyte and those onlye to be publyshed amonge the peple ones in a quarter or so oft as shall please vs to blemyshe all godlye preachinges of the scripturs Thus seke we our selues and not God our owne streÌ„gthe and not hys our owne glorye not Iesus Christes But lete vs not thynke that he sleapeth with Baall the false God knowinge the most hydden toughtes of the harte but that he wyll within short space sende forthe hys lyghtenynges and scatter vs bryngynge our heythnyshe deuyses to nought For the kyngedome of one fayth in vs and the pope thus manyfestlye in certen poyntes deuyded must surelye decaye The Text. 1 And there was geuen vnto hym a mouthe 2. to speake great thinges and blasphemyes 3. And power was geueÌ„ vnto him to do .xlij. monethes 4. And he opened hys mouth vnto blasphemye agaynst God to blaspheme hys name and hys tabernakle and them that dwell in heauen 5. And yt was geuen vnto hym to make warre with the sayntes 6. and to ouercome theÌ„ 7. And power was geuen hym ouer all kynredes tongue and nacyon 8. And all that dwell vpon the earthe worshypped hym 9. whose names are not wrytten in the boke of lyfe 10. of the lambe 11. which was kylled from the begynnynge of the worlde 12. If anye man haue an eare lete hym heare 13. he that leadeth into captyuyte shall go into captyuyte 14. He that kylleth with a swerde must be kylled wyth a swerde 15. Here is the pacyence and the faythe of the Sayntes ¶ The Paraphrase 1 To this beast sayth Iohan was geuen a mouthe not of God but of Sathan to speake great mightye thinges and blasphemies So well is this spoken of the one as the other so manye as hath done vpon the Antichristes lyuerye title power auctorite or name Whan the veryte of the lorde was opened before them they gaue no thankes for it but became vayne in their thoughtes wherfor God gaue them ouer into a lewde mynde darkenynge their hartes So that now thynkinge them selues wyse they apere more folyshe than afore 2 Now speake they great thynges in theyr conuocacyons seanes and sermons and all are sore blasphemyes agaynst God his Crist. Now must they serue God by most streyght commaundement with olde Romyshe beggerye though he most hyghlye abhorreth it aÌ„d no scrypturs maye be red in the tyme therof For the scripturs must onlye passe as we wyll haue them How shuld the Beastes head els be healed agayne or how shuld our churche be knowne els to be his owne Image Oh beastlye abhomynacion and most hellyshe decre Now must Christ be taken for no sauer at all without owr deseruynges The supper of the lorde that was sumtyme a mutuall pertycypacyon of Christes bodye and bloud must now be a newe crucyfyenge of him one traytoure playnge all partes Iudas Annas Cayphas Herode Pylate and the Iewes Matrimonye must be iudged vnclennesse thowgh it be the ernest institucyon of God No Popyshe vowe maye be dissolued though it be well knowne a matter so deuilyshe as hath made an hondreth thowsande Sodomytes The Eucharystye maye not be receyued in both kyndes thowgh it be the expresse commaundement of Christ so to be vsed Without the blynde bussynges of a Papyst maye no synne be soluted for that is the vpholdynge of theyr kyngedom wyth manye other lyke blasphemyes Certen other great thynges are vttered by this mouthe which now I passe ouer least I shuld be tedyouse to the reader How be it thys one great blasphemye that ys spoken I can not leaue vntowched Where as they boast theÌ„selues yet styll alone to be the holye churche by the onlye vertu of their vnccyons and shauynges receyued first of the pope the layte secluded And vndre thys most falselye vsurped tytle they wyll styll be takeÌ„ for the redemers of meÌ„nes sowles For they saye that their Masses are satysfactorye sacryfyces for the quycke and the dead iustyfienge releuynge and sauynge theÌ„ both from dampnacyon ex opere operato And ouer that abhominable swarme of Antichristes fylthye mynysters make they now their kynges the heades most blasphemously onlye to be by them vpholden now in all their myscheues Truthe yt is that a kynge is the â—polytyque head supreme gouernour aÌ„d great staye vndre God of the peple to hys charge commytted after that sort their myghtie monarke also by the scripturs which they haue afore thys tyme denyed worshyppinge them for most holye sayntes which haue most presumptuouslye rebelled in that behalfe But ouer that whoryshe churche of theirs whom Chryst neuer planted is Sathan the onlye head by the holye Ghostes fore iudgementes here For to that beastlye brode gaue the Dragon hys power hys seate and hys myghty auctoryte God forbidde therfor that anye Christen prynce shuld at their false suggestyoÌ„s admitt so blasphemouse a tytle The deuyll sayth Iob ys the onlye head ouer all the chyldren of pryde That voyce therfor maye be blasphemouse as commynge from the mouthe of the serpent yf yt be not take good hede to 3 * And power was geuen to the Beast to do these thynges for the space of .xlij. monethes which is the .iij. years and an half of Helyas the tyme tymes aÌ„d half tyme of Danyell aÌ„d the thowsande two hondred
they vpholde Antichristes kyngedome and not hys a worldlye glorye and not hys for hys kingedome ys not of thys worlde No longar are they hys wordes hys lawes nor hys testimonyes thaÌ„ they maynteyne hys ryght honoure No newlye practysed worshyppynges alloweth he for hys but vtterlye abhorreth theÌ„ all as thynges rawe aÌ„d vnsauerye 4 And therfor yt foloweth that thys Beast spake as ded the Dragon The doctrynes and teachynges of these false Apostles and deceytfull masters are lyes in Hipocresye and the verye doctryne of deuyls vnder tytle of the veryte repugnaunt to the same Not vnlyke to that the Serpent sayd vnto the woman ye shall not dye yf ye eate of the forbidden frute but ye shall be surely as Goddes knowinge both good euyll They do as ded Sathan in the desart Alwayes they perswade vs eyther of stones to make bread or els to throwe our selues downe warde or els to worshyp the deuyll That is to change the good creaturs of God from their ryght vse as trees into Idols sylkes veluettes clothe golde and syluer into superstyciouse ornamentes chast Marryage into stynkynge whoredome and Sodomye with soche lyke To declyne from the dewtyes coÌ„maunded of God to their Idle obseruacyoÌ„s so makynge hys commaundementes of non effect for the bayne tradycyons of menne And fynallye to fall vnto forbidden worshyppynges or abhomynacyons of Idolatrye of whome they are full And for these they haue with Sathan also their mangled scripturâ— to laye for theÌ„ to proue that the helpe of dead sayntes ys necessarye their masses merytes workes more than nede expedyent the fyre of purgatorye a fearefull thynge with the deuyll and all of soche fantasyes These are the prelates of Antichristes churche the iâ— horned monsters or great bellyed Byshoppes ryghtelye described here of the holye ghost in this two horned beast These beastlye bushardes are not ashamed both to saye and to wrytte that in their myters they beare the fygure of both testamentes whose veryte they impugne with â—oâ—he and nayle Verye trulye they saye that they carrye the fygure for in dede yt ys but a shaddowe they bere Not to gloryfye God but their owne beastlye bodyes with golde pearle stone lyke Mahowndeâ— in a playe for hys truthe they most cruellye persecute These are the verye false Prophetes the instrumeÌ„tes of Sathan the deceyuers wolues wagelynges Iudasses dreamers lyers Idols aduersaryes adders whelpes foxes destroyenge the lordes vyneyarde deceytfull workemenne desperate shepeherdes blynde watchemenne dumme dogges deuyls incarnate wycked sede vnsaciate beastes whose God ys their bealy glory their confusyoÌ„ To all these to manye other soche doth the Holye Ghost compare them for that they haue with their errours and lyes turned the swetnesse of the scripturs into bytternesse scarselye leauynge one place therof vndefyled with their fylthye dregges 5 Thys Beast sayth Saynt Iohan ded all thynges that the first Beast coulde do euen be fore hys owne face The same lyenge power to deceyue in Hypocresye hath thys beastlye brode that the great Antichrist hath the same wylye craftes and the same beastlye kyndes of Idolatrye and so doth vse theÌ„ The same abhominacyons maynteyne they the worlde ouer that the pope maynteyneth at Rome and Mahomete in barbarye of Turkeye Yea the same supersticyons aÌ„d sorceryes the same execrable tradycions beggeryes The same ceremonies haue they that he hath the same vnccioÌ„s the same orders and the same Masses The same idle obseruacions with vnknowne cloynynge clatteringe and wawlinge are styl vsed in Englande lyke as they were vsed afore with no lesse blasphemy to God 6 To do soche thinges in the first Beastes presence is to do them where his power and auctorite is raygnynge or where as is the seate of Sathan which is euerye place that admitteth straunge worshippinge 7 Both the earthe and them that dwell in the earthe coÌ„pell they to worship this first Beast Not onlye enforce they theÌ„ to wycked Idolatrye that neuer wolde knowe the truthe but also manye of those which hath great knowlege in the same Oh how manye are in Englande and in other regions also that in these dayes worketh agaynst faythe knowlege and the holye ghost admittinge the prestes abhominacioÌ„s Rather had they to dwell styll in the earthlye beggerye with the blasphemye of God thaÌ„ eyther to be out of fauer or to loose ther offices to haue their goodes hindred or to hasarde their lyues so swete are these waÌ„ton worldlye pleasurs Rather had they to peryshe with the sonnes of Helâ— and Samuel for abusynge the ordinaunces of the lorde and with Core Dathan aÌ„d abiron for rebellinge agaynst them to synke vnto hell than with Christ to take peynes in pouerte But let not them thynke to be worthye of Christ that better loueth their owne carnall commodyte than his heauenlye veryte 8 Well the Beast must they worshyp whose wounde is made whole His olde rustye rewles newe bournished and his olde Romishe ragges new patched by a newlye confermed auctorite must they enbrase in peyne of deathe The lambe shall not yet be suffred to apere Styll for a tyme must these terrible teâ—magauÌ„tes haue more worship thaÌ„ God their tradicioÌ„s preferred to his most pure worde And whye shuld it not be so haue they not now a newe refourmed churche in whom the Beastes wounded head is newlye restored So longe as it is lyke the popes churche it must folowe his rewles and cleaue to his ordynaunces It shall not folowe Christ in faythe and in doctryne tyll it apere lyke that churche which he left here behynde him whan he ascended And that is not lyke to be yet 9 First must there be wrought great wonders Fyre must be compelled to come downe from heauen in theÌ„ syght of menne by this twohorned Beast The discyples of Antichrist with their byfurked ordinaries must violentlye pluckâ— from the true christen churche whose regne is not of this worlde the eternall worde of the lorde 10 Then must they take from them the consumyge fyre that Christ sent downe into the earthe of meÌ„nes hartes to drye vp all malyce and synne Yea they must depriue them of the clouen fyerye tonges which the holye ghost poured vpon the Apostles to the confort of all the worlde The treasure that Christ hath left here to socoure vs they must hyde vnder the grounde and the candle that he lyght vs to se ouer the howse coÌ„uaye vnderneth the bushell 11 And these wonders shall they worke in the presence of menne All redye haue they taken in Englande from the Bybels the annotacions tables and prefaces to perfourme this their dampnable enterpryse They haue streyghtlye forbydden the readynge therof for tyme of their Romyshe seruyce Some haue they burned and some put to sylence and all in the face of the peple Yea they reysed the maydes of Ippâ—swhyâ—e aÌ„d of kente to worke wonders maruelâ— and now of late the folyshe Northâ—n menne to fyght for their churche What practyses they haue
ministers of his worde vnlesse they betokened afore with the holye sprete of his promes and so predestinate to the lyfe euerlastinge 14 Non can syncerelye do that godlye office to the profight of other vnlesse he be whollye taken from all fleshlye and worldlye affectes No manne canne come vnto me sayth Christ vnlesse it be geuen him of my father 15 The wilfull Iewes beleued not because they were not the shepe of his marke Neyther is it of him that willeth noâ— of him that ronneth but of the only martyr of the lorde Necessarye is it therfor that his sprete draweth moueth and inâ—meth the hart Els can not the songe be swete neyther in hym that singeth nor yet in the hearer The notes of thys newe songe are Gods heauenlye verytees regestred in the faythfull hartes 16 And they that ded synge them to the prayse of the lorde were not defyled with women Wyth no straunge doctrynes nor yet Prophane worshyppynges ys their faythe contamynate that vnfaynedlye haue done on Iesus Christ. Noâ— the spowsage of their sowles haue they broken by no fylthye tradicyons of meÌ„ne Onlye haue they with Dauid sought the Testymonyes of God and thought non lyke vnto them Onlye ded they cleaue to hys precyouse lawes estemynge all other but chaffe and verye whoredome in the sprete 17 Therfor are they virgins marryed vnto Christ in faythe as were the Corynthyanes by Paules preachynge whom he wyshed to continewe a chast virgine vnto Christ. Neuer ys the maydenhede of the sowle lost tyll erronyouse doctrine be receyued from the massengers of Antichrist the Byshoppes and Hipocrites 18 The virgins or vncorrupted beleuers doth folowe the lambe whersoeuer he becoÌ„meth They go after Christ that beleuynge hys worde doth fashion their lyues vnto yt Lyke as they folowe Antichrist that fashion their workes to hys doctrine They walk in hys steppes that forsake themselues with him that beareth the crosse of persecucyoÌ„s with him or that suffreth death for the truthe with hym And not they that seke theÌ„selues lyuynge here in all pompe voluptuousnesse and Tyrannye From thys place fatche the blinde Papistes a great argument for their wyuelesse chastyte and that noÌ„ foloweth Christ but they in this muster because they are vnmarryed Neyther maye Abraham Moyses nor Dauid Zacharye Peter nor Philip walke in this NoÌ„bre because they had wyues So parelouse a thynge yt ys to haue a wyfe It ys great maruele they adâ—itt Marye Christes mother to yt because she had a husbande Oh ignoraunt Assee and verye beastlye Idiotes I thynke yow folowe Iudas which had neyther wyfe nor chylde vnlesse he had theÌ„ syttynge by other mennes fyers as manye of yow haue yet at thys same daye What is virginite before God more than is marriage No more than is circumcysyon in comparyson to vncircuÌ„cysyon And that ys nothynge No more maketh the one than the other to a ChristeÌ„ lyfe Onlye ys yt faythe effectuallye workynge by loue that the lorde requyreth of vs. Onlye respected he the faythe of Marye and not her virginite They which lyue in matrimonye after the worde of God are accepted afore him for virgyns and so are named of Saynt Paule An other caâ—illacion they haue that non which hath offended afore can be of this nombre But they consyder not what is spoken here afore that they were redemed from the earthe and that the sprete of the lorde hath puryfyed their hartes through faythe Neyther haue they grace to remember that Christes innoceÌ„cye is rekened for an whole perfight rightousnesse vnto them that beleue in him but they must bringe in soche tryfles as are their owne beggerlye merytes 19 And therfor it foloweth also These faithfull beleuers sayth Saynt Iohan were redemed from menne beynge the fyrst frutes to God and to the lambe By non other were they redemed than by Christ â–ª For of all the elect nombre he is the onlye rightousnesse wysdome holynesse and redempcioÌ„ From the corrupt blynde and frowarde multitude hath he called them taken them aÌ„d clered them And of deformed synners hath he made them fayre of vyle pure of wreched gloryouse of blinde perfyghtlye seynge of lyars true sayers of obstinate gentyll of yll good of vnfrutefull profytable For he yt is that taketh awaye the stonye harte and geueth a softe harte for yt so makynge vs Abrahams children Thus are we redemed from menne whâ— we are taken by hys goodnesse from soche corrupt vsages as mannes nature is inclined vnto 20 And for non other purpose but to be the first frutes vnto god as were the aulter offeringes in the olde lawe in the haÌ„des of the high prestes For so moche as the elect Nombre are but a fewe or a serten taken out from the vnyuersall multytude are the porcyon of the lorde as were the seyd offerynges perteyninge vnto Christ the onlye byshop of our sowles they are his first frutes Yea aÌ„d hys owne verye mysticall members and all but one offerynge vnto God the father by hym For he is the onlye lambe that dyed for them hys owne bodye beynge the onlye oblacyon and sacrifice 21 And in their mouthes was founde no gyle For non other wordes vttered they but hys pure testymonyes Non other taught they but hys vndefyled lawes Non other perswaded they to be obserued of other but hys immaculate Gospell or easye burden of Christ. No importable yokes layed they vpon mennes shulders neyther of Ceremonyes fastinges nor masse heaâ—ynges 22 For they are without spotte before the trone of God Both before them that are faythfull and haue right iudgement in the spâ—eâ—e which are the verye seates of God apereth their doctrine pure and also their lyfe innocent before God him self Neyther are they spotted with fylthye tradicions nor yet with vncomlye examples And as concernynge their former synnes they shall not be imputed vnto them They are remitted in Christ and so forgotten afore God Though this that here hath bene spoken be concernynge the whole Christen multytude and her preachers yet doth it most specially touche the Iewes or Israelytes that shall in this latter age be conuerted vnto Christ. And so do I counsell the reader to vnderstande it For the mounte Syon after the fleshe was theirs Not defyled are they wyth vnmarryed wemen which are the whoryshe lawes aÌ„d vncleane Supersticions of the Gentyles vpon non other harpe haue they commonlye harped but vpon the scripturs though it hath not bene to the pleasure of God tyll now in thys latter age wherin they shall whollye turne vnto Christ. The Text. 1 And I sawe an Angell 2. flye in the myddes of heauen 3. hauynge an euerlastynge gospell to preache vnto them that sytte and dwell on the earthe 4. and to all nacyons kynredes aÌ„d tonges and people 5. saynge with a lowde voyce 6. feare God 7. and geue honoure to him 8. For the houre of his iudgement is come 9. And worshyp hym that made heauen and earthe 10. and the see and the fountaynes of
vnyâ—ersall worlde makynge them dronken wyth the cuppe of all abhomynacyons 13 And all this shall they do to gather them togyther by their wycked counsels and to brynge them into one cruell consent of battaylynge agaynst Christ and his members to receyue the penalte therof in the great daye of the lorde almyghtye 14 Most busylye they gather them to battayle whan they moue them to persecute the iust beleuers wyth full vngodlye actes as now most of all in owrage whych God hath promysed in short space to reuenge Of this wyll more be spoken in the .xix. chapter folowynge Least anye manne knowynge the truthe shuld tangle his owne conscyence with their spirituall sorceryes for feare of princes lawes vnder the vayne hope of repentaunce in the ende of theyr lyues yt foloweth in playne sentence 15 Beholde sayth the lorde Iesus Christ or ernestlye take hede vnto it for I come daungerouslye vnloked for as commonlye doth the thefe to thy hyndraunce yf thu watche not in faythe but lyue in superstycyon Though thys not wythout reasonable cause maye be taken in a geueralte for the last iudgemeÌ„t daye yet is it here spoken partycularlye of euerye mannes departynge As a premonyshment he geueth this here of loue least anye manne shuld peryshe without warnynge 16 Blessed is he sayth that Lorde which watcheth in the true christen beleue and lyueth not in the vayne but in the sure hope of lyfe sealed with the iust promyses of God For all that he â—oth shall prospere and turne hym to great aduauntage in the conclusyon 17 Happye is he also that holdeth fast vnto him his garmentes or workes of Gods prescripcion whych are the frutes of the sprete or that hath done on the Lorde Iesus Christ gyrdynge him sure vnto him self by faythe 18 Least he be fownde a naked hypocrite without faythe veryte iustyce charyte wyth soche lyke or least the ryghtouse nombre at the latter daye se his filthinesse vncouered and reioyce at his condempnacion 19 He ys blessed whych at that daye shall be couered with the whight garment of the lambe not hauynge his sinnes imputed vnto him 20 To shewe the certente of the aforesayd battayle Saynt Iohan sayth thaâ— the deuil gathered together those wicked newlers into a serten place called in the Hebrâ—â—â—onge Armagedon The vncleane spretes that afore are named thre of â—heir dyuerse workinge in the Dragon Beast false propheâ—e are here brought into one as all of one lyenge sprete whoÌ„ Christ calleth the father deuill This one lyenge sprete which hath bene a murtherer from the begynnynge comprehendynge in him all vncleane spretes lyke as doth the Beast all Antichristes hath coÌ„byned together into â—n exeâ—rable zele of fatherlye tradicyons all vayne gloryouse and vngodlye mynded gouernours agaynst God and his Christ. And this hath not bene without the secrete permission of God willynge to proue his electes by stronge sufferynges that they myght receyue at his hande the rewarde of stronge victorye or of his habundaunt ryches 21 This place here called in the Hebrue Armagedon betokeneth in misterye an hyll of dylectable frutes interpreted of some for the hyll of the Gospell and is commonlye taken of the Hebrues for that is swete or of value And this without fayle is the churche which oft tymes in the scripturs ys called the plentuouse hyll of God the hyll of Gods howse the hyll of myrhe the hyll of olyâ—es the hyll of Syon Carmelus and â—thanus with soche other lyke In thys mounte euermore are they bent to battayle There slee they the innocent lambes of Christ. All their power malyce and tyrannie is there extremelie vttred at the Antichristes laboure and desyre which are excedynglye dronken in the bloud of holye martyrs which hath bene shedde vpon earthe from ryghtouse Abell vnto this daye But whan the almyghtye setteth kynges vpoÌ„ the earthe it shall be clere euen in the darkenesse that the hyll of Basan is Gods hyll The Text. 1 And the seuenth angell poured out hys vyall 2 into the ayre 3. And there came a great voyce out of heauen from the seate sayenge 4. It is done 5. And there folowed voyces thoÌ„derynges and lyghtenynges 6. and there was a great earthquake 7. soche as was not sens men were vpoÌ„ earthe 8. so mightye an earthquake and so great 9. And the great cytye was deuyded into thre partes 10. And the cytyes of the nacyons fell 11. And great Babylon came in remembraunce before God 12. to geue vnto her the cuppe of wyne of the fearcenesse of his wrathe 13. And euerye Ile fled awaye 14. and the mountaynes were not founde 15. And there fell a great hayle 16. as it had bene talentes 17. out of heauen 18. vpon the men 19. And the meÌ„ blasphemed God bycause of the plage of the â—ayle 20. for it was great and the plage therof was sore ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Finallye the seuenth Angell went forth vnder the seuenth seale openynge as God had eternally determined throwynge out the content of hys vyall into the ayre For the seuenth age of the christen churche by the verye set purpose of God are manye conuerted to the truthe and become with Paule the vessels of eleccion that afore were wyth Iudas the vessels of wrathe vnder the great aduersarye of God Neyther is it anye blemishe vnto them to be called here that they were afore vyals of wrathe consyderynge that Simon leprosus beynge ones healed of his leprosye was euer after called a leper In case lyke Paule after his conuersyon was not ashamed to report hym self both a Pharyse and also the sonne of a Pharyse 2 These by the myghtye determynacion of Gods stronge iudgement are sent into the ayre Most effectuallye are they lyghtened wyth the sprete of God and prouoked stiflye to stande vp agaynst the aereall powers regnynge in the fyckle fantasticall Antychrystes and hypocrytes condeÌ„pninge by Gods worde their vnyuersall doctrines and deuyllyshnesse These powers are no lesse than deuyls whoÌ„ Christ calleth fowles of the ayre Peter aÌ„ IohaÌ„ mannis aduersaryes saynt Paule the gouerners of the esâ— darkenesses in spyrytuall wyckednesse 3 Whils these thinges are in doynge out of heauen which is the vnyuersall congregacion yea from the verye trone of God which is the electe faythfull nombre for they are onlye the seate of God came a voyce of reioysinge saynge after this sort 4 It is done All thinges are fynyshed Chrystes glorye ones manyfestlye knowne â—ke worlde is at an ende The wycked hath done all their myscheffes and the nombre of owr bretherne is fulfylled Thus shall they preache a full delyueraunce of the captyues and the peceable yeare of the lorde Thys ys the sylence of an halfe howre space mencyoned afore in the .viij. chapter and the returne of this worlde vnto Chryst in the .xij. Chapter Not that there shall in those dayes be no enemies for the remnaunt shall styll remayne but that they shall not then openlye dare rage persecute and kyll the worlde beynge at