were cast out with him which is not els but that they are reserued to eternall damâ—nacion For seruynge the creature rather than the lorde that made all God hath forsaken them and geuen theÌ„ ouer to their owne shamefull lustes All grace aÌ„d goodnesse hath he takeÌ„ froÌ„ them and in all darkenesse hath he lefte them Nothinge is now behynde but helle fyre prepared for the deuyll aÌ„d his angels The churche thus first bryngynge forth Christ amonge the Iewes aÌ„d so by their cruelte dryuÌ„e out into the wyld desert of the Gentyles hath bene there fedde of God in persecucyon euer sens aÌ„d shall be styll tyll the terme come out of the aforesayd thowsande two hondreth and thre score dayes whose ende is in the lordes handes The text 1 And I harde a loude voyce which sayd 2. In heaueÌ„ is now made saluacioÌ„ and strength 3. aÌ„d the kyngedome become our Gods 4. â— the power his Christes 5. For he is caste downe which accused them before God daye night 6. And they ouer came hym by the bloude of the lambe 7. and by the worde of their testimonye 8. And they loued not theyr lyues vnto the deathe 9. Therfor reioyce ye heauens and ye that dwell in theÌ„ 10. No to the inhabyters of the earthe and of the see 11. for the deuyll ys come downe vnto yow 12. whych hath great wrathe 12. bycause he knoweth that he hath but a short tyme. ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I harde a myghtye great voyce sayth saynt IohaÌ„ which is the whole agremeÌ„t of all the sacred scripturs And the voyce sayd thus vnto me 2 Now is there in heaueÌ„ saluacion In the churche is the helthe of sowle now that the Idolatrie with other abhominacions is throwne forth she cleane delyuered froÌ„ their beggerie Now apereth the power of the lorde that his gospell is trulye preached 3 Now is it become our Gods kyngedome that their doctrine is not of menne 4 Now hath yt the whole srengthe of hys a noynted All Christes labours merytes and deseruynges hys natyuyte passyon resurreccyon and ascencyoÌ„ ys now her owne good Christes vyctorye ys theirs hys crowne hys scrpture hys seate kyngedome ys theirs Yea the possessyoÌ„ of hys fathers ryght hande vs theirs 5 For the enemye of oure bretherne is throwne downe which cruellye accused theÌ„ before God daye and nyght The adÌ„uersarye SathaÌ„ which quareled before the lorde agaynst pacieÌ„t Iob and vexed hym sore in hys substauÌ„ce and fleshe neuer ceasynge to thys daye to troble the ryghtouse with Antichristes and tyrauntes ys now ouer comen by the vyctorye of faythe and hys power greatlye demynyshed in hys members Now is the kingedome of God increased moche peple beinge vnfaynedlye coÌ„uerted vnto Christ 6 Conquerred hym they haue by no power of their owne neyther merytes nor workes but through the inestimable streÌ„gthe which ys in the bloud of the immaculate laÌ„be Iesus Christ and through the in vyncyble worde of hys veryte which they to the worlde haue testyfyed 7 In the wytnesse therof haue they constauntlye suffred and through faythe in them haue they with hym aptayned vyctorye ouer the worlde synne helle deathe the deuyll Not their owne bodyes haue they spared to wynne this coÌ„quest 8 But moche more haue they loued Christ and hys truthe thaÌ„ themselues accountynge yt auauntage to geue theyr lyues for hym 9 Therfor reyoyce ye heauens and all yow that in them doth dwell Ye angels a boue ordayned for mannes confort ye sayntes departed from the mystâ—yes of this worthe ye faythfull beleuers remayâ—inge in this lyfe and ye feruent fauorers of the lordes veryte be glad that your bretherne hath gote the vyctorye of the deuyll and his angels to the glorye of Christ. 10 But woo vnto the wreched inhabitauntes of the earthe and of the see No small daunger is towardes them that hath harde the voyce of the lorde and styll yet wyll folowe the course of thys wordle No light parel haÌ„geth ouer thier heades that are inconstaunt fickle and wauerynge geuynge backe with euery blast for the plesure of their fleshe 11 Take hede of yt therfor for vnto yow that are soche the deuyll ys come downe with hys subtle suggestyons aÌ„d craftes with hys wylye cauteles and ingyns â—monge yow doth he remayne watchynge to haue his praye as he ded amonge the chyldren of Israel whan they were become vnfaythfull 12 Tares wyll he sowe to destroye the good sede for his wrathe is great to se him self thus deiected aÌ„d his hate is excedinge beholdinge his kingedom decayed Amonge yow must he wreake his anger for he caÌ„not harme the faythful Through his enuye same deathe first in to the worlde If ye wyll escape his snares loke ye geue no place vnto hym but in faythe resist him manfullye 13 He wexeth now madde and fretteth with him self He mindeth to make hauock and to do moche myschef because he knoweth that his tyme is shorte No longe season shall he haue from hence forth to deceyue The latter daye he perseyueth not to be farre of wherin great tormentes abydeth both him his And that maketh him so wode That maketh him so insaciablye desyerouse to noye not carynge what spyght he worketh agaynst God And no wycked wyle leaueth he vnsought to perfourme his cruell intent Woo vnto them therfor that in these dayes taketh no hede Woo vnto them that Rombreth in wanton pleasurs whan most daunger is and the deuyll most bysye not attendynge to the call and warnynge of God The Text. 1 And whan the dragoÌ„ same that he was caste vnto the earth 2. he pursued the womaÌ„ which brought forth the man chylde 3 And to the womaÌ„ were geuen two wynges of a great Egle. 4 that she myght flye into the wildernesse 5 into her place where she is noryshed for a tyme tymes and halfe a tyme. 6. from the presence of the Serpent 7. And the DragoÌ„ caste out of his mouthe water after the womaÌ„ as it had bene a ryuer 8. that he myght cause her to be caught of the floode 9. And the earthe holpe the woman 10. and the earthe opened her mouthe 11. and swalowed vp the ryuer whych the Dragon caste out of hys mouthe 12. And the Dragon was wroth with the woman 13. and went and made warre with the remnaunt of her sede 14. which kepe the commaundementes of God 15. and haue the testymonye of Iesus Christ. 16. aÌ„d he stode on the sâ—esande ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And whan the Dragon or most furyouse serpent the deuyll the head master of pryde and father of lyes sawe that he was throwne downe vnto the earthe by the valeaunt hoâ—te of God Or soche tyme as he perseyueth the Idolatrye superstycyon pompe Hipocresye aÌ„d other abhominable fylthynesse destroyed by the worde of God in hys malygnaunt Synagoge of proude paynted prelates 2 ThaÌ„ persecuteth he the poore woman whych brought forth the manchylde Than vereth he the true congregacyon that teacheh noÌ„ other but
he gaue them by theyr lyfe tyme as charyte stedefastnesse loue ioye peace mekenesse ryghtousnesse and soche other lyke fell downe flatte vpon their faces 6 Most humblye haue they euer submytted them selues referrynge vnto God the father the benefyght of theyr creacyon and vnto Iesus Chryst hys sonne the fre gyfte of theyr redempcyon Yea specyallye at thys tyme beynge vnder the aulter of God and knowynge by his mere goodnesse the nombre of theyr bretherne shortlye to be fulfylled and them selues wyth them to be at a gloryouse lyberte after their ghostlye sort they lawde hym saynge 7 From the verye depeth of owr spyrytuall hartes we render vnto the most hygh thankes Lorde God almightye eternall father Sonne and holye Ghost which art one essencyall God and werst without begynnynge and shalt be without endynge 8 For thu hast taken vpon the thy grete myght Now hast thu shewed thy wonderfull powre Euer hast thu raygned amonge thy peple but neuer so gracyouslye so plentuouslye and so gloryouslye for owr behoue 9 The heythen euermore were angrye whan thy tâ—wthe apered Madde were the wycked Antychrystes whan thy glorye shyned and their pryde demynished They fretted for anger they swelled for wodenesse yea they sâ—ewe thy seruauntes and burned vp thy peple 10 But now is thy wrathe towardes theÌ„ Now will thy aÌ„ger breake out now wyll thy veÌ„geauÌ„ce apere Now shall thy terrible iudgemeÌ„t without mercye be declared froÌ„ heaueÌ„ vpoÌ„ all vngodlinesse of those cruell enemies that with-holde thy truthe in vnryghtousnesse 11 Now shortelye enseweth the tyme of the dead wherin they shall be iudged some to ioye some to heuynesse some to glorye some to peyne 12 Now approcheth the glad season wherin thu hast appoynted to rewarde the true seruauntes the prophetes and the faythfull beleuers made sayntes by the onlye deathe of thy sonne and all them that yet feareth thy name wyth eternall felicyte 13 Non wylt thu seclude from this thy lyberall goodnesse for no weakenesse nor pouerte But so well the small as the great the lowe as the hygh the poore as the ryche the sycke as the whole the vnlerned as lerned shall tast of thy inestimable clerenesse 14 Onlye shalt thu destroye them that destroyed the earthe compellynge both it and all that therin is not to serue the their heauenlye creator but theyr owne stynkynge desyres lustes and corrupt affecâ—yons thy glorye not ones estemed nor regarded Herin maye we coniecture that the seuenth seale ones opened aÌ„d the .vij. trompet blowne the last iudgement daye is not farre of Blessed is he that watcheth for the lordes commynge The Text. 1 And the temple of God was opened in heauen 2. and there was sene in hys temple the Arke of hys Testamente 3. And there folowed lyghtenynges and voyces and thondringes and earthquake 4. and moche hayle ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the temple of god sayth Saynt Iohan was opened in heauen EuydeÌ„t wyll the godlye and spirituall estate of the true Christen churche seme in those dayes the gospell syncerelye preached In faythe shall menne seke their lyuinge father and not in dead Images nor other corruptible thinges In sprete and veryte shall they worshyp hym and not in dumme ceremonyes nor outwarde shaddowes Speared is Gods temple whan hys true worshyppynge is hydde And opened it is agayne whan that is clerelye seane Tyll Chrystes commynge in the fleshe nothynge therof apered With the keye of Dauid opened ke the misteries therof Wherbye throwgh faythe the conuersacyon of manye is now and hath bene euer send in heauen 2 This temple thus open anon the Arke of Gods holye testament was seane therin Christ sheweth hym self in his owne colours whan the gospell is truly receyued which is that Arke wherin all the ryches of Gods couenauntes and the preciouse treasure of his promes is reposed to mannes behoue And speciallye those by whome we are reconcyled and saued By him are we onlye brought to Gods fauer agayne and graciouslye redemed Yea all the sort of vs haue receyued of his habundaunt and ouerflowynge fulnesse The syght of this Arke in the temple is non other than a clere knowlege of hym in hys congregacyon So oft are his mysteries euydent as this temple is opened So manye tymes are they knowne as his worde is truly tawght 3 And no small frute is to be thought to come therof For there folowed lyghteninges voyces thonderinges and earthquakes Dyuerse respectes hath the veryte of God accordynge to dyuerse audyences In maner of lightenynge it moueth some makynge of earthe heauen and of synners godlye people A sownde or a noyse onlye it is to some menne not regardynge the frutes therof To some it is an occasyon of anger spyght and madnesse and to some of open blasphemye agaynst the Holye Ghost For what els doth the clergye malycyouslye withstandynge it but wylfullye worke agaynst knowlege And what doth the vndyscrete â—ayte blynded by them but Bable they woote not what 4 And a great hayle also folowed which betokeneth the vehement and sharpe iudgementes of Godâ— towardes soche enemyes of his veryte The most terryble tempest of his Iâ—e abydeth them The Lorde shall breake into the lande sayth the Prophetâ— Esaye lyke a sore rempest of hayle that breaketh downe stronge holdes or castellâ—s And the proude crowne of the dronken Ephraemytes shall be troden vnder fote Not onlye ys the last age appoynted to these thonderynges and earthquakes but they beganne also so sone as Christ apered in the fleshe No sonner was the yonge babe borne but Herode for madnesse sought to slee hym in hys verye infancye The Pharisees aÌ„d Scribes the byshoppes prestes and lawers swelled at hys preachynge and neuer left tyll they had slayne hym And this rewle with the prelates and hypocrytes hath contynued euer sens and styl shall do tyll the latter daye Onlye ys there and shall be a moderacyon that somtyme yt ys not so extreme as at some For yf yt were alwayes a lyke there shuld non be left The Text. 1 And there apered a great woÌ„der in heauen 2. A woman clothed with the Sunne 3. aÌ„d the Moone vnder her fete 4. and vpon her head a crowne of .xii. Starres 5. And she was with childe 6. and cryed trauelynge in byrthe 7. and payned redye to be delyuered ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And there apered sayth Saynt IohaÌ„ a great token in heauen â–ª For no wonder ys thys token here to be taken as in other places of the Scripture but for a type or fygure contayninge vnder mysterye greate thynges 2 A woman was seane clothed with the sonne yea of Iohan â–ª For to Gods onlye electes ys the veryte shewed to auauntage Not Marye Christes mother ys this woman though manye hath so fantasyed in their commentaryes But yt ys the true christen churche of whom Marye ys a most notable member 3 Thys woman the churche as Salomons cantycles specyfyeth ys fayre louelye plesaunt swete wholsome dilectable vndefyled as the Mone excellent in clerenesse as the
enuyouse manne The whole bodye foloweth the heades As the deuyll ys malycyouse wycked ferce cruell tyrannycall falâ—e execrable and deceytfull â—o are all hys members In the prudence of the fleshe after him they walke in Idolatry hipocreyse aÌ„d all other fylthynesse And lyke as a fore Christes 〈◊〉 these heades were in the Serpe 〈◊〉 the golden Calues in the kyngedome of Babylon in Nemroth in Pharao in antiochus and in the pharisees and Sâ—ribes byshoppes lawers and prestes so haue they bene sens hys tyme vnder the vâ— seales openynge and the. vij trompettes blowynge after the same 〈◊〉 Under the first he had a Serpentes head in the Iewes most malycyouslye and subtyllye withstandinge Christ and hys Apostles preteÌ„dynge the zele of God hys lawes Under the seconde he had a calues head in the Idolatours which slâ—we the consâ—eunt wytnesses of Christes veryte Under the thirde the head of a proude lyon in the bolde rable of heretykes presumynge agaynst Gods worde to afferme vngodlye thynges Under the forth the head of a Beare in the gredye multytude of holye hypocrites and spirituall Antichristes which hath rauyshed vp the substaunce of thys worlde vsurpinge the empyre of the same For then begonne the papacye with Mahometes myscheff Under the fift the head of a leoparde in the dyuersyte of pestilent sectes or execrable locustes of whome euerye one reioyseth in hys owne colour and inuention For then ded they sore increase Under the sixt the head of a Beast vnlyke to all other in the Tyrannye of wycked gouerâ—â—â—â—â— blynded and perswaded by the Prestes to flee Gods seruauntes for the vpholdynge of their stynkinge generacyon For then was and ys yet done moche murther vpoÌ„ soche as confesseth the truthe Under the seuenth or last seale openynge shall he haue yet styll the head of a maÌ„ne in fleshelye polycyes and falshede of the pope and hys prelates in the doctours and prestes tyll God vtterlye shall destroye them with the breathe of hys mouthe 4 The seyd dragon had also .x. hornes or all subtle wayes wherwith to impugne the feble weake nature of manne or to prouoke hym euermore to rebell agaynst Gods commandementes 5 Upon hys seuen heades he had .vij crownes sygnyfieÌ„ge therbye that both he and hys members hath not onlye possessed the afore named vices but also they haue ouer the worlde reigned in theÌ„ and yet do to thys daye In pryde falshede malyce crafte cruelte wyckednesse all other myscheues triuÌ„phe they yet 6 And hys tayle drue towardes hym the third part of the starres in conclusion shrewe them downe to the â—arthe By worldlye promocyons lucre fauer and other flatterynge fanâ—asyes hath he tangled manye lerned menne and plucked theÌ„ cleane from Christes true churche and from the lyfe of the gospell so pronoâ—â—ynge them whollye to geue them selues to the stodye of erronyouse doctryne and lyenge prophecyes to seduce the worldlye multitude and kepe them in perpetuall blindenesse 7 So that they are now cast into the earthe They are become all carnall fylthye and vngodlye in al their wisdome stodye aÌ„d workes in all their counsels preachynges and teachinges Now are they the wycked Apostles of Sathan no longar maye they shyne in the fyt mament The Text. 1 And the dragoÌ„ stode before the woman which was redye to be delyuered 2. for to deuoure her childe as sone as it were borne 3. And she brought forth a man chylde 4. which shulde rule all nacyons with a rod of yron 5. And her sonne was taken vp vnto God and to his seate 6. And the woman fled into wyldernesse 7. where she had a place prepared of God 8. that they shulde fede her there 9. a thousande two hundred and thre score dayes 1 Before the afore seyd trauaylinge womaÌ„ stode thys dragon redye to deuoure her childe so sone as it were borne Euer more â—s the deuyll waytinge his praye where as the gospell is syncerelie taught least anye therbye shuld become the children of God 2 He selâ—eth all craftes polycyes and ingynnes to take the worde from the harâ— least they beleuynge yt shuld be saued Thus Tought he to deuowre Christ after the letter appoyntinge Herode to slee hym sone after hys byrthe and whaÌ„ he se that waye wolde not take yet left he not of tyll the Iewes had slayne hym Not thus yet satisfyed he laboured by the byshoppes to extynguishe the faythe of hys resurreccyon least that shuld profyght vnto lyfe More ouer where as the Apostles aÌ„d other godlye meÌ„ne hath geueÌ„ Christ vnto other in maner as they receyued hym he hath left no cauteles vnsought by hys malygnaunt members euer sens to depryue Gods people therof 3 Soche a man chylde sayth Saynt Iohan brought thys woman forth as with an yron rodde shuld rewle all nacyons Neuer ys the true churche Idle but conceyueth Christ at the gospell preachynge retayneth hym in faythe and bryngeth hym forthe in teachynge other the same No woman chylde ys he impotent weake and feble but a manchylde brynginge with hym alwayes a strange myghtye and inuincyble sprete wher as he is vnfaynedly receyued For he is the mightye lorde that ys valeaunt in battayle 4 With the yron wande of hys worde inuyncible shall he gouerne hys meke spreted flocke that non other lawes shall they require With the same also shall he subdue al powers which are not of hym and dryue them downe to the bottom of helle For by faythe onlye in him to the victorye gotteÌ„ ouer the worlde 5 This childe was also takeÌ„ vp to God and vnto his trone Where as the deuyl thought to deuowre hym and to wrappe hym vp for euer vnder deathe he put hym besyde hys purpose Uyctoryouslye he arose vp from deathe to lyfe he ascended vnto heauen and now sytteth vpon the ryght hande of God the father almyghtye And where as he ys now there shall hys faythfull folowers and mynysters be here after for that is hys is also theirs byrthe lyfe deathe resurreccion and ascencion 6 The womaÌ„ fledde after this into the wyldernesse What els doth te iust people of God but flee the coÌ„tagiousnesse vanyte tumulte fornicacioÌ„ Idolatrye and fylthinesse of this worlde sekynge God in the solytarye hart aÌ„d not in outwarde fantacies I gote me awaye farre of sayth Dauid and remayned in the desert Monkes nonnes chanons fryres hath fledde into monasteries couentes aÌ„d howses but nothynge after this sorte For in all voluptuouse pleasurs haue they there lyued The vnfayned solitarye manne after Hieremye continueth peceablye with him self aÌ„d hath his hart aboue 7 In the sayd wildernesse had she a place prepared of God Which is noÌ„ other but Gods proteccioÌ„ defence sauegarde promised in the scripturs That the lord shuld preserue vs as he ded his chosen peple of Israel whan he wente before them in a clowde vpon the daye and in the nyght in a pyller of fyre Dauid boasted hym self that God was his refiuge and that he dwelled vnder
Christ coÌ„fesseth non other sauer helthe redemer Them doth he torment and ponnyshe by hys mytred Mahowndes hys shaueÌ„ Sodomytes subduynge vnto them for that purpose the power of kynges and myght of magistrates Then sytteth Annas in consystorye and Cayphas in sessyons vpon lyfe and deathe Then bryngeth the woman her chylde forthe in peyne By the martyrdome or deathe of godlye wytnesses ys Christ delyuered and lefte here behynde in the hartes of manye 3 And vnto the woman were geueÌ„ two wynges of a great egle or the two testamentes of God contayninge the Prophecye and Gospell with the loue of God and oure neyber And these myghtye wynges were geuen her that she myght flye with them into the wyldernesse Euermore whan daungerouse persecucyon ys the members of Christes congregacyon which are left here behynde hath auctoryte of the olde lawe to flee from yt wyth Iacob Moyses Dauid and Helias of the newe lawe also with Christ and hys Apostles If they pursue ye in one cyte sayth the lorde flee yow into an other Not onlye to saue your bodies but to fâ—uctifye in the peple Set ye into the desert Teache theÌ„ that were not taught afore Yf ye caÌ„ not be suffred openlye to preache instructe menne priuatelye in howses Playe not the sluggardes in the lordes vyneyarde Be not niggardes ouer his fre treasure But as ye haue pleÌ„iuouslye receyued it so liberallye distrybute it agayne 4 From the face of the dragon hath the woman thus power to flye into the wildernesse by the scripturs whan her chylde is delyuered and takeÌ„ vp to the trone of God for the vnthankefulnesse of the peple that they haue not in faythe receyued him And in moche daunger are they lefte hauynge the deuyll and his angels throwne downe amonge them wyth theyr wyles and craftye snares In moche more parell are they them they were afore 5 A place hath she in this desart apoynted of God wherin she is norryshed for a tyme for tymes and for the halfe tyme which is not els but his speciall proteccion amonge them that be poore in sprete and are iudged outcastes of the worlde There is the true churche norryshed wyth the pure worde not mixed wyth the leuen of Pharysees There is the faythfull congregacion at all tymes fedde without the tradicyons of hipocrites Onlye are they releued with the veryte satisfied with the lyuinge promâ—ses haue bene sens the tyme of Christ. Yea sens the tyme of Daniell and afore And thys fedynge tyme of the lorde in secretnesse hath bene somtyme shorter sumtyme longer and sumtyme shortest of all accordynge to the tymes of persecucyon and of blyndenesse in the enemies 6 To flee from the presence of the Serpente haue they euermore had commandementes of the lorde and to shurne the suggestions of hys angels Warned they haue bene in no wyse to go forth whan they saye Christ ys here and there for so moche as their craftes are soche as wolde yf yt were possible deceyue the verye electes 7 And the Dragon sayth saynt Iohan ded cast out of hys mouthe water after the woman Aâ— doctrine of Hypocresye errours and lyes hath alwayes passed from the Synagoge of Sathan Non other frutes hath gone from them than waverynge superstycyons Idolatry and Heythen ceremonies These hath â—lowed forth lyke a great ryuer Daylye haue they augmented and contynuallye increased Innumerable are the coÌ„berouse and vnprofitable burdens of their fantasyes and dreames wherwith they noye mennes conscyences drowne their small faythe ouerloade their sowles 8 Thys stynkynge water ded the Serpent vomete out by hys rauenouse Antichristes which are hys insacyable mouthe to stoppe the passage of the woman â–ª He powred yt forth in habundauÌ„ce that he myght cause her to be caught of the flood Soche ys alwaies the myscheuouse nature of the deuyll aÌ„d hys angels Vengeable assaultes haue they and innumerable craftes to deceyue the innocent not knowinge them Oure first mother Eua was thus trapped in the begynnynge so had bene drowned with Adam her husbande had they not had faythe in the promysed sede An innumerable multytude hath bene and are yet to this daye swallowed vp of this flood and without great difficulte non escapeth yt Excedinge ys the compasse stodye and practyse of this false generacyon Evermore powre they out their poyson they dyspute their matters with errours lyes with counsels and customes hauynge vpon their syde the darkened powers 9 Yet ys the lorde mercyfull to hys pore congregacyoÌ„ that they are not drowned with al this fylthye floude Non of yt ones toucheth their hartes No parte of their faythe doth all thys ryff raff hynder This dyrtye baggage accoÌ„breth not their sowles Onlye are they satysfyed with the wholsom doctryne of Christes sprete And the earthe ded helpe the woman sayth Saynt Iohan The carnall multitude the wyse menne of this worlde the verye reprobates from God all drye with out the true faythe dranke vp this fylthye water 10 They opened their mouthes wyde and swallowed vp the great ryuer cleane which the Dragon cast out of hys mowthe This erroniouse doctryne was euer more plesaunt vnto them Moche more haue they alwayes delyghted in lyes and olde wyues dreames than in Gods truthe Therto haue they geuen their eares with all auydyouse gredynesse and superstycyouse deuocyon haue they embraced them But the lyuinge waters of the lorde sauoreth not in their mouthes their owne broken cysâ—eâ—nes doth please them best Better ys to a swyne a fylthye puddle than a swete roÌ„nynge water No where wyll he drynke but where he maye wallowe hys earkas No doctryne pleaseth them vnlesse yt maynteyneth their synne 11 In drynkynge vp this flood yet ease they this woman In seeke multytude ys chrystes smal flock not myssed noâ— loâ—ed for nor yet manye tymes in their abhominacyoÌ„s perceyued to be absent So gracyouse to them ys the lorde that in no wyse are they harmed with those vnwholsoÌ„ waters They are not caught of that pestilent flood It ouerwhelmeth not their faythe 12 And the dragon was wrothe with the woman sayth sayth Iohan frantycke and madde ys the Synagoge of Sathan whan their wanton ware is forsaken abhorred and despysed Than frette they for anger than swelle they for wodenesse Than wher they their tethe vpon the innoceÌ„t sowles and wolde teare them in peces for verye spyght ThaÌ„ Imagyne they newe cawteles and wyles and therupon procure they newe lawes to be made to trappe them in snares that they escape no waye 13 For the dragon in hys wrathe made warre with the remnaunt of her sede which kepte the commandementes of God All maner of wayes hath thys Serpente assayed to destroye Christes true churche The Apostles he vexed with the Pharisees aÌ„d Pâ—estes for the first age With false bretherne and tyrauntes trobled he their successours for the seconde age For the thirde with innumerable Heresyes ded he accoÌ„bre them For the fourth with daÌ„nable sectes of Hypocresye ded he oppresse them For
the tempest ys great and the suâ—â—feraunce therof excedynge paynefull As the lorde ys myghtye so are hys iudgeâ—mentes whan they fall VehemeÌ„t ferce and stronge ys the lorde sayth Esaye 〈◊〉 ys the tempest of hayle breakynge ou◠〈◊〉 euerye syde and bearinge downe stroÌ„ge holdes The .xvij. Chapter OFt hath occasyons be geueÌ„ me in this boke to speake of great Babylon and of the execâ—able Beast but here is place offred to describe theÌ„ more at large The Text. 1 And there came one of the seuen Angels which had the seueÌ„ vyalles 2. and talked with me 3. sayenge vnto me 4. Come I will shewe the. the iudgement 5. of the great whore 6. that sytteth vpon manye waters 7. with whom the kynges of the earthe haue commytted whoredome 8. and the inhabyters of the earthe are dronken with the wyne of her fornicacion 9. And he caryed me awaye 10. into the wildernesse in the sprete ¶ The Paraphrase 1 After this came sayth Saynt Iohan one of the .vij. Angels or vnuaryable decrees of the lordes eternall iudgemeÌ„tes which had the .vij. vyals of his wrathe as afore hath bene declared 2 And this Angell or sett purpose of God as an heaueÌ„lye massenger talked with me in mysterye 3 Of fauorable goodnesse in secrete maner he assertayned me therbye of this woÌ„derfull iudgement here folowinge to be fulfilled at the latter ende of the worlde And thus yt sayd vnto me 4. Come hyther frynde Iohan I wyll shewe the in secretenesse the terryble iudgement of the great whore or couÌ„terfett churche of Hipocrites as God hath appoynted yt Nedes must thys whore bâ— Rome for that which ys here after spoken that she ys the great cyte which reâ—neth ouer the kynges of the earthe Euident yt is both by the scripturs and cronycles that in Iohans dayes Rome had her domynyon ouer all the whole worlde And beynge infected with the abhominacyons of all landes ryghtlye ys she called Babylon or cyte of confusion not onlye in this reuelacyon but aâ—so in the first Epistle of Peter And lyke as in the scripturs oft tymes vnder the name of Ierusalem ys ment the whole kingedome of Iuda so vnder the name of Rome here maye be vnderstanded the vniuersall worlde with all their abhominacyons aÌ„d deuylyshenesses their Idolatries withchecraftes sectes supeâ—stycyons papacyes presthodes relygyons shauinges anoyntings blessinges sensings processions and the deuyll and all of soche beggeries For all peples seÌ„s Christes ascencyon hath this Rome infected with her pestylent poysons gathered from all Idolatrouse nacyons soche tyme as she helde ouer theÌ„ the monarchyall suppremyte And lyke as Babylon had the Israelytes captyue vnder a bodylye trybute so hath this Rome had the Christianes both in their bodyes aÌ„d sowles At the writynge of this Propheâ—ye felt Iohan of their cruelte beynge exyled into Pathmos an Ile of Lycya for the faythfull testymonye of Iesu. And so ded I poore creature with my poore wyfe and children at the gatheringe of this present Commentarye fleynge into Germanye for the same 5 No maruele though she be here called a great whore For no where were euer yet seane so manye Idolle wurshyppynges so many vayne obseruacyons so manye superslycyouse sectes so manye errours in Hipocresye so manye false Prophetes and so manye prodygyouse kyndes of fylthynesse no not in Sodome yt self nor yet in miserable Egypt 6 This Babylonyshe whore or disgised Synagoge of shorelynges sitteth vpon manye waters or peples that are fantasticall fyckle or folyshe For noÌ„ are in coÌ„science subiect vnto her that are constaÌ„tlye grounded in the sure doctryne of faythe Onlye alloweth her tradycyons the wauerynge witted multytude the slypper and vnstedefast noÌ„bre obeynge theÌ„ in their hartes of feare and not of loue so throwynge themselues into a most coÌ„fuse Chaos or vawte of doubtfull doâ—rage 7 With this stynkynge strompett haue the myghtye potentates of the vnyuersall earthe the Emprours Kynges Princes and other notable gouernours commytted most shamefull whoredome in the sprete by manye strauÌ„ge worship pynges agreynge amonge themselues to her wyckedlye decreed lawes and customes To longe shuld we stande here in this place yf we shuld describe them all seuerallye in their colours at large as they be 8 Through the craftye legardemayne of the Prestes on the one syde and the cruell constytucyoÌ„s of Princes on the other syde the dwellers of the earthe or worldlye mynded multytude are dronken with the wyne of her fornycacyon spyrituall or practysed worshypyynges besydes the prescripte rewles of Gods worde Not onlye they which haue bene couetouse carnall lewde and wretched hath folowed their abhomynacyoÌ„s but also an innumerable sort of the electe nombre hath beleued their lyes and errours Yea they haue bene so dased with their dottages and so tangled with their customes that as menne losynge their wittes without all godlye remembraunce reason wysdome dyscressyon vnderstandynge iudgement and grace the lawes of God layed a part the coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts neglected and the scripturs despised they haue noâ— onlye kneled crossed kyssed set vp lygâ—tes and holden vp their handes before rotten postes but also called them theiâ— fathers in heaueÌ„ Yea I axe God mercyâ— a thousande tymes I haue bene one oâ— them myself And this ys to thys daye â— principall religyoÌ„ of that whoryshe chuâ—â—che called deuowte pilgrymage or hoâ—lye stacyons of prayer manye great paâ—â—dons graunted and manye false promyâ—ses made to allure the peple thervntoâ— 9 But blessed be the lorde whose woâ—â—de in this age both admonyshed manyâ— as the Angell ded Iohan and broughâ— them also cleane from her abhominacyâ—ons into a secrete consideracyon of thâ— sprete vnknowne to the worlde therâ— both to se her pryde and also to vnderâ—stande her iudgemeÌ„t For yt foloweth iâ— the text that the angell coÌ„uayed Iohan awaye into the wildernesse in the spretâ—â— 10 In mysterye here the holye ghost dâ—â—clared afore what the lorde shuld workâ— in meÌ„ne hauynge hys grace at the latteâ— dayes of the worlde Into the wylderneâ—â—se flee they with Dauid which leauyâ—â—ge the customed wayes of menne afteâ— the course of the scripturs seke vp theiâ— lorde God in faythe worshyppinge hym onlye in sprete and in veryte The Text. And I sawe a woman sitt vpon 2. a rose coloured Beast 3. full of names of blasphemye 4. which had seuen heads and ten hornes 5. And the woman was â—rayed 6. in purple and rose coloure 7. and decked with golde precyouse stone and pearles 8. and had a cuppe of golde in her hande 9. full of abhominacions 10. and fylthynesse of her whoredome 11. And in her fore heade was a name written 12. A mysterye 13. Greate Babylon the mother of whoredome and abhomynacyons of the earthe 14. And I sawe the wyfe dronken with the bloude of Sayntes and with the bloude of the wytnesses of Iesu. 15. And whan I sawe her 16. I woÌ„dred with great maruayle ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I sawe sayth Saynt Iohan in mysterye a woman for an whore at the first blushe semeth onlye a
woman syetynge vpon a rose coloured Beast This Beast ys the great Antichrist that was spoken of afore or the Beastlye bodye of the deuyll comprehendynge in hym Popes Patriarkes Cardynalles legates Byshoppes Doctours Abbottes Pryors Prystes and Pardoners MoÌ„kes Chanons Fryres Nonnes and so forth Temporall gouerners also as Emprours Kynges Princes Dukes erles lordes iustyces deputyes iudges lawers mayers balyues constables and so forth leauynge their owne dewtyed offyces as to mynyster ryghtlye to serue their abhominacyons 2 All rose coloured ys thys Beast in token of tyrannouse murther and bloud shedynge ouer those that wyll not agree to their deuyllyshnesse 3 Full of blasphemouse names ys this Beast also as your holynesse your grace your lordeshyp your fatherhode your mastershyp your reuerence honor hyghnesse worshyp magnyficence goodnesse Gods vycar spirituall syr ghostlye father phesycyan of sowles defender of faythe head of the holye churche and so forthe besydes the names of their propyrtees feates and pagentes as processyon byshoppynge anelynge purgatorye pylgrymage pardon Masse mattens eueÌ„songe placebo candelmasse daye palme sondaye ashe wedynsdaye holye roode daye Saynt Thomas daye and so forth 4 This Beast had .vij. heades and ten hornes sygnyfyenge his vniuersall craftes and suggestyons to destroye the graces and gyftes of the holye ghost and also hys falselye borowed primacyes and tyrannouse auctorytees to withstande the commandementes of God 5 Upon this Beast sitteth a woman For what els auaunceth or beareth out thys malygnaunt muster â–ª in their copes crosses oyles myters robes rellyckes ceremonyes vygyls holye dayes blessynges sensynges and folynges but a wanton folyshe and fantastycall relygyon a vayne gloryouse pompe and a shynynge pretence of holynesse in superstycyoÌ„ callynge yt their holye churche She ys seyd here to sitt vpon this bloudye Beast as to be stayed quyeted and satled by them Marke what labours and peynes that craftye and wylye Winchester taketh with BoÌ„ner Toâ—stall and other of hys faccyon as her owne sworne â—ouldy our to holde vp this gloryouse whore in her olde estate of â—omyshe religyon Oh he grunteth and groueth he sweteth aÌ„d swelleth he fretteth and belleth he bloweth and panteth he calkeâ—â—s and â—aÌ„teth he sturreth aÌ„d neuer ceaseth to brynge hys matters to passe 6 In token that this hipocriticall churche standeth in the murther of innocentes thys woman ys here gorgyouslye appareled in purple as gyltye of their deathes which hath bene slayne and also in freshe scarlett as euermore freshe and rydye to continue in the same bloud shedyng For yf soche terrible slaughter were not the true Christen faythe shuld increase to the great dymynyshment of her glorye 7 She ys in lyke case floryhshynglye decked with golde precyouse stone and pearles not onlye in her manyfolde kindes of ornamentes as in her copes corporasses chesybles tunicles stooles fannoms and myters but also in mysterye of couÌ„terfett godlynesse Manye outwarde bragges maketh this paynted churche of Christ of hys gospell and of hys Apostles sygnyfyed by the golde precyouse stone and pearles which ys but a glytterynge coloure For nothynge mindeth she lesse than to folowe them in conuersacyon of lyuinge 8 More ouer â—n her hande which ys hee exteryoure mynistracyon she hath a golden cuppe full of abhomynacyons and fylthynesse of her execrable whoredome This cuppe ys the false relygyon that she daylye mynistreth besydes the chalyce whom her merchantes most dampnablye abuseth And yt contayneth all doctryne of deuyls all Beastlye errours and lyes all deceytfull power all glytterynge workes of Hipocrites all craftye wysdome of the fleshe and subtyle practyses of mannes wytte besydes philosophye logyck rhetoryck and sophystry Yea all prodygiouse kyndes of Idolatrye fornicacyon sodometrye and wyckednesse Outwardlye yt semeth golde pretendynge the glorye of God the holye name of Christ the sacred scripturs of the Byble perpetuall virgynyte of lyfe and all are but counterfet colours and shaddowes of Hipocresye in the outwarde letter and name 9 Full of abhominacyons ys the drynke of the execrable faythe of that Romyshe relygioÌ„ receyued of other aÌ„d full of fylthynesse also For both retayneth the peple therof innumerable kindes of Idoll worshippinges vnder the tytle of Gods seruyce and also their shauelynâ—ges of prodygyouse beastlynesse in lechâ—â—rouse lyuynge vnder the coloure of chaâ—â—tyte Here were moche to be spoken oâ— Saynt Germanes euyll Saynt Sythe keye Saynt Dâ—câ—mbers ores masteâ— Iohan shornes bote Saynt Gertrude rattes Saynt Iob for the poxe Saynâ— Fyacre for the ague Saynt Apolyne foâ— totheâ—ake saynt Gracyane for lost thrifâ— Saynt walstone for good haruest saynâ— Cornelis for the fowle euyll and all oâ—ther Sayntes els almost 10 Of the buggerye boyes also amonâ—ge prelates and prestes ghostlye father and relygyouse might moche be sayde hâ—â—re were yt not for infectynge meÌ„nes eâ—â—es eares vnderstandynges For all thâ—se noyfull nocumentes are the holye frâ—â—res of the whoredome of that holyâ—whoryshe churche 11 In the forehead of this glytteryng whore which ys her outwarde shewâ— ys wrytten a name expresselye declaâ—rynge what she ys By her vngodlye frâ—â—res ys she knowne to the elect seruanâ—tes of God hauynge the lyght of thâ— Scripturâ— â–ª In their consciences aperetâ— she non other than a postyferouse whoâ—re by the iudgementes of the same 12 Averye misâ—â—â—ye is this shewe to thâ— infydels an hydden secrete an vnknoâ—ne woÌ„der For they are so blynded with her foppryes and tangled with her toyes that they iudge all that she doth holye relygyouse and perfyghâ— And all this suffreth God for their vnbeleues sake destroyenge neuerthelesse the wysdome of the wyse and prudence of the prudent in his 13 Her verye name agreynge to her frutes ys thys Great Babylon in myschete farre aboue the cyte of the Chaâ—deanes and moche more full of confusyon For she ys the oryginall mother the cause the begynninge the rote the sprynge and the fountayne of all spirituall fornycaâ—yoÌ„s and in a maner of all fleshlye abhominacyons also done vpon the earth Thys is to the faythfull sort as a written name of her euydent clere open and manyfest But to the vnfaythfull yt ys onlye as a mysterye hyddeÌ„ darke obscure and neglect For so are the secretes that God openeth to babes and hydeth from the wyse 14 And I sayth Saynt Iohan perceyued yt euidentlye in mi fore vnderstaÌ„dinge that this woman the verye wyse of the deuyll and of hys beastlye bodye for the Byshoppes are the husbandes of their Romyshe churches was all dronken in the bloudye slaughter of the Sayntes or ernest ChristeÌ„ beleuers in the excedinge tyrannouse murther of thâ— faythfull wytnesses of Iesu or syncereâ— preachers of hys worde For neyther oâ— both she spareth Besydes all Godlyâ— wysdome ys she and forgetfull of her self through this same bloudye dronkeâ—â—nesse so great excesse hath she taken 15 And whan I perseyued and sawe her with all her adders whelpes so beasâ—â—ty she sayth Saynt Iohan with excedynge wonder I marueled Not onlye thaâ— she was thus ouersett with bloud drinâ—kinge or outragyouse murtherynge oâ— innocentes