his worde the lantarne to hir very footesteps Indued is she here with the graces of the spirit and after this shall possesse these benifites of immortalitie Lyke shall she be to hir spouse to his latter appearaunce and shall see God as he is in déede when she is like fashioned to his glorious similitude 11 And this hir shining light or wisdome in the spirit saieth the Angell was like vnâ—o a stone most orient and precious For more precious is the verytie than Golde in hys most purenesse 12 And of all thinges in the worlde most rightly might it séeme to be compared to a fine Iasper resemblinge a pure Cristall in clearenesse For not onely is it here in faith cleare as the cristall high incomperable and inestimable But also in the regeneration it will be to the eyes of the gloryfied saincts as the gréene Iaspar most amiable fresh and desirous The doctrine of the Lorde is here all pure expelling the darknesse of errours and lies He that foloweth me saieth Christe wandereth not in the darke but shall haue the light of lyfe And there shall neither their eies be sore nor yet their sight bleared by any impediment but they shall be made able to behold him face to face being of most inestimable brightnesse 13 The wals of this citie betokning the manifolde strengthes of God were inestimable great and high meruilous and glorious Great is the Lorde saieth Dauid and mighty is his power He compasseth his people round about from this time forth and for euer A wall of fire is he vnto Hierusalem a defence of stéele vnto Iuda Their kéeper protector sauiour and defender is he most stedfast perfect constaunt and sure Stronge is the Citie of Sion for she sauer is both hir wall and Bulwark 14 Twelue gates hath this Citie to open and to speare Yet is ther but one opening vnto them which is Christe Diuers are they called for the diuersitie of nations peoples languages kindredes From all quarters of the world rounde about commeth people to Christes congregation yet enter they not but through him no man saieth he commeth vnto the father but by me I am the dore into the shepfolde He yâ— entreth in by me shall be saued 15 Twelue angels are set at yeâ—ntes of this citie which are both the Angels in déed the godly preachers signified by them The angels of yâ— Lorde saith Dauid pitched their tents rouÌ„d about those yâ— feareth him to preserue them WatchmeÌ„ hath he sâ—t saith Esay vpoÌ„ the walles of HierusaleÌ„ to preach his glorious name So that it is now become inexpugnable The diuel with his whole army caÌ„not preuaile against it None is he able to pluck out of his hande 16 Names were gloryously written ouer the gates of this citie And none other were they but the names of the xii tribes of the children of Israell As are Iuda Ruben Gad Aser Neptalim Manasse Simeon Leuy Isachar Zabulon Ioseph and Beniamin For this consideration were their names there in sight and none other 17 Onely was the heritage promysed vnto Abrahams séede Onely commeth saluation from among yâ— Iewes Christ was the onely séede of AbrahaÌ„ and we are now become the children of promise in him In the scripture are their names registred And not the names of them alone but of so manye els as haue brought vnto vs the true worship of God As were Moyses Samuel Dauid Helias Esay Hieremy Ezechiel and Daniel with the xii inferior prophets Iohn Baptist Ioseâ—h Simeon such other For the number of xiâ— is a viniuersall number comprehending all 18 Upon the East part of this beautyfull citie were three gates So were thrée gates also vpon the North side 19 Towardes the South were thrée gates And on the West side iii gates to performe vp the number of twelue Such a Citie is the true Churche of Christ as is spred the worlde ouer What so euer they be that wyll approche vnto this Citie which way so euer they come necessary is it for theÌ„ to enter into it through an only faith in the father in the sonne and in the holy ghost Behouing is it saith Paul for him that wil resort vnto god faithfully to beléeue Through faith haue we entraunce into his fauour Baptise them that beléeue saith Christ in the name of the father and the sonne and the holy ghoste Excéedinge great is the multitude of those iuste beléeuers which hath come from these iiii quarters of the worlde and hath entred into this citie through this faith Uery many shal come saith the Lord from the Easte and the Weste which includeth the other two partes and shall reste with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of God From the East come the Iewes inhabiting the mid parte of the worlde From the iii. out quarters els as are Asia Aphrica and Europa came the Gentiles and after this sort through one faith in the trinitie became one citie of the Lord hauing .xii. fayre gates Prefygured was this in the passage of the children of Israell out of Egipt In the wildernesse of Sinay at the Lordes commaundement were the tribes of Iuda Isachar Zabulon with their hostes of a C.lxxx and syxe thousand and foure hundred vpon the East side Ruben Simeon and Gad with their armies of a C.li. thousand foure hundreth and fyftye vppon the South side Ephraim Manasse and Beniamin vpon the West part with their C. and eight thousande and one hundreth Dâ—n Asser and Neptalim vpon the north with their C. and lvii thousand and six hundred also Where as the tribe of Leuy was onely appointed to minister in the tabernacle of witnesse in the midst of the hostes and therfore was not at that time nuÌ„bered among the children of Israell 20 Finally sayth the Angel the wal of this beautyfull Citie whiche is the power of God vnto saluation for them that beléeueth hath xii strong foundations surely couched vpon the vnmouable and hard rock Christe For vpon hym was the Christian Churche firste grounded Adam Noe Abraham Moyses Dauid Helias and Iohn Baptist with all the other fathers prophetes builded vppon him though they were long before hym For all they trusted surely in the promises that God had made them in hym All they being vnder the cloude dyd eate of one spirytuall meate and dronk of one spirituall rock folowing them in the flesh which was Iesus Christ. No man can lay any other foundation than is layde alredy which is Christ Iesus 21 Upon this one foundation perpetually strong and durable were layde these twelue foundations agréeing to the same And in them were the names of the Lambs .xii. Apostles or faithful messengers As Peter Iohn Iames Andrew Philip Bartilmew Thomas Mathewe Iames the lesse Symon Thadeus and Mathyas These are figured in the xii stones that Iosua raised vp in Galgala for a remembraunce of the dry passage of the children of Israell through Iordane So are they signified also by the xii other stones wher
for hys shousholde seruauntes enioying the swéet coÌ„modyties mencioned in thys booke as pertayning to hys peculyar people 8 Lyke as are the bewtyfull trée of lyfe wyth his manyfolde fruites and leaues of wholsomnesse the swéet running ryuer of the lyuing waters and the holy citye sufficiently discribed afore with such other els None that contendeth for a mastry saith Paule shal be crowned vnlesse hée contende lawfully Arrius toke away from the tenth of Iohn this setence I the father are one Photinus added this clause to the gospell as a voyce froÌ„ the father I giue vnto Iesu his original of Mary And both their inteÌ„tes were to destroy our faith concerning christs godhede lyke as the papystes doth also our iustificacyon in hys bloude vnlesse we haue theyr lowsie masses merites A lyke adiuratioÌ„ to this hath Hireneus in the ende of his octonarie requiring al them that shal coppy out that booke to doo it truly as they will aunswers it béefore god their rightuous iudge In like case doth saint Hierome before the abreuiacioÌ„s of Eusebius chronicle coÌ„mauÌ„d that in anye wyse the veritie therof be dilygently reserued So doth also Cyrillus the Gréeke in the preface of his prophecy vnto Ioachim Abbas desiring the writings therof in no case to be corrupted of il writers which diuers other 9 In confirmatioÌ„ of the I haue sayd afore saith S. Iohn the eternall son of god which hath ratified these former things with his mighty word saith here also as one subscribing to it 10 Yea it is so or els thus Like as thou hast said Iohn shal these blasphemers here after finde it the presumeth eyther to adde or to deminish froÌ„ these scriptures for any carnall purpose 11 And to perform the promyse of thyne I wyll not long tarry I come by by to reward the wicked which swift dampnatioÌ„ for not beleuing the truth For nowe are the last dayes the endes of the worlde yea the very laste houre Ready is the Lord sayth saint Peter to iudge the quicke and dead and the ende of all things is at hande 12 Sainct Iohn hearing this of hys mercifull Lorde and sauiour lifte vp his heade and handes towardes heauen as one desirous of the perfourmaunce of Gods appoynted will and of the full deliuerance of the faythfull he sayde Amen Or be it fulfilled in effect For that is the thing which my soule dayly desireth and inwardly coueteth to the full manifestation of thy glorious kingdome 13 Consequently in the voyce of the whole congregation cryeth Iohn as did Symeon the iust Yea euen so might it be as thou hast here promised that thou mightest come out of hande 14 Oh come most merciful redemer gracious Lord Iesu Christ to iudge the vniuersall worlde Come come or hie thée hether apace to seperate the wheate from the chaffe and the lambes from the Goates so bringing them into thy eternall tabernacle Wo is mée that my banishmeÌ„t endureth so long I dwelling in the tabernacles of the sorowfull My soule hath a thurstie desire for God the fountaine of lyfe Oh whan shall I come and beholde hys face Lyke are we to those faythfull seruaunts which wayte for the return of their Lorde from the wedding very ready to open at his knocking 15 The grace of our mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ sayth saynct Iohn wherby commeth saluation to them that truly beléeueth bée with you all so many as are of that godlye expectation and desire 16 Or the fauour mercy and acceptation of God the father through his blessed death euermore preserue you in the vnitie of his godly spirite that yée may hereafter in this holye citie bée partakers of his gloryous heritage in the worlde to come 17 Let all them say Amen vnto this which myndeth the glory of the Lorde vnfaynedly So be it A conclusion of the vvhole vvorke HEre hast thou good christian reader to thy soules consolation from the eternall Trinitie the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost three distincte persons in one euerlasting godhead the vniuersall estate of the church from Christes ascencion to the ende of the world in wonderfull mysteries discrybed directed vnto thee of him by the most holy Apostle and Euangelist Saint Iohn Wherein it is fully by all due circumstances manifested of the sayde holy Ghost what the innocent Christian church is with all hir iustifications blessings to the singular comforte of the Lords true electes and what the proude Synagoge of Antichrist is with hyr filthy superstitions and plagues to their fore warning also This is specially done here of the sayde holy ghost that no true beleuer should professe him selfe a citizen of this wretched world with Cain Nemroth other reprobate vessels at the execrable doctrine of men but at the pure voyce of God with Abell and Abraham to seeke for that heaueÌ„ly heritage which is purchased for them in Christes bloud Marke heere the condition of Iohn being in most paynefull exile for he in misterie through all this booke representeth euery godly beleuer By this shall ye well knowe in this reuelation the one church from the other for the one is mayntayned by the onely preaching of Gods pure worde the other by all kyndes of Iewishe ceremonyes and heathenish superstitions And by this they also differ that Christ wold haue all of loue Antichrist of tyrannous constraint as euidently appeareth in Mahomete and the Pope For that only cause are many necessary thynges here written in mysterie that they should bee hid from the worldly wyse Hypocrites and that the iust or Gods meeke spirited seruauÌ„ts should aske them of their Lorde in fayth and prayer In the which dayly prayer is that most worthy minister of God Kyng Henry the eight afore all other to thée remembred which hath so sore wounded the beast that he may before his departure or Prynce Edwarde after him throw all his supersticions into the bottomlesse lake agayne froÌ„ whence they haue commen to the comforte of his people The grace and peace dyrected from God the Father his Son Iesus Christ with the holy Ghost in the beginning of this reuelatyon be vnto all them which vnfaynedly loue hys veritie Amen ¶ Printed at London by Thomas East Apoc. 22. 1. Cor. 6. Rom. 12 Apoc. 1. Apoc. 22. Apoc. 4. 1. Iohn 5. Mat. 16. Apoc. 14. Hebr. 7. Apoc. 1. Iohn 7. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 18. Apoc. 15. Ephe. 5. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 17. Apoc. 2. VVhy this booke is called the Image of both churches Apoc. 11. Apoc. 18. 2. Pet. 3. 2. Timo. 3. Eccle. 2. 1. Pet 5. Ephe. 6. A brief sum is this boke of the whol scriptures Luc. 24. Esay 9. Apoc. 21. Ephe. 4. Iohn 16. Hebr. 2. Apoc. 18. Col. 1. Apoc. 4. Apoc 12. Apoc. 21. Ephe. 3. August Apoc. 21. Hier. 50. Iohn 5. Mat. 7. Mat. 13. Rom. 15. Luce. 10. Iohn 21. Apoc. 1. Iohn 12. Apoc. 22. Gilbertus porreâ—a Mat. 25. Lucc 11 Mat. 5. Mark 4. Iacobus faber super Dionisium VVhat
Bloxam Anglus lib. i. De apparicione septem sigillorum Ioannes Elyne Anglus li i. Secundum Isidorum ethimolo Ioannes Tilneye Anglus li. i. Septem ecclesijs in Asya Henricus Winchingham Anglus li. i. Apertum est templum Dei Ioannes Thorpe Anglus lib. i. Ioannes Egidius Gallus lib. i. Apocalip c. Ioanni Euangeliste Ioannes Haynton Anglus lib. i. Beatus qui legit verba Ex Augustinianis Augustinus de Auchona Italus lib. i. Iordanes Saxo Germanus lib primo Bertrandus parayte Tholosanus lib i. Augustinus de Roma Italus li primo Philippus de Mantua Italus li. primo Ioannes Capgraue Anglus li. primo Syluester Meoccius Venet. lib. i Promaiori intelligentia Ex dominycanis Iordanes Botergius Germenus li. i. Hugo Bar chinonensis Gaillus lib. i. Asser pinguis panis eius c. Albertus Magnus Germanus lib. i. Confiteor tibi pater Stephanus Bisuntinus Gallus lib. i. Nicolaus Gorham Gallus li. i. Bernardus de Trilia Narbonensis li. i. Paganus Bergomensis lumbardus li. i. Aluarus de Caturco Tholosanus lib. i. Fredericus de Venecijs Italus lib pri Ioannes Annius Viterbiensis li prim Hieronymus Sauanarola Italus lib. i Ex Franciscanis Alexander de Hales Anglus lib. primo Helias de Hanibalis Italus lib primo Petrus Ioannis Cathalanus li. primo Ioannes Walleys Anglus lib. primo Petrus Aureolus Tholosanus libro 1. Nicolaus Lyranus Germanus libro ij Oportet te iterum prophetare Astesanus Astensis Lumbardus li. i. Bernardinus Senensis Italus li. i. Beatus qui legit et audit Theodoricus Andree Tholosanus lib. i. Ioannes de Rupe scissa lib. i. Franciscus Titelmannus Germanus li. ii Superioribus diebus eruditis Ex neotericis Martinus Lutherus Germanus lib. i. Varias prophecias inuenimus in Sebastianus Meyer Bernensis li. i. De lib. Apocalipseos cum Georgius Aemilius Germanus lib. i. Mira quedam inest auiditas Franciscus Lambertus Gallus li. vii Israelitiâ— a Mose Dei lege Huldricus Zwinglius Heluecius lib. i. Ioannis Brencius Sueuus lib. i. Ioannes Caluinus Gallus li. i. Melchior Hofman Germanus lib. i. And many other more Of these Commentaries haue I taken both example to doe this thing and also couÌ„sell to vnderstande the text to none of them wholly addict but as I perceiued them alwayes agreinge to the Scriptures What chronographers historianes I haue herein folowed for the tymes and ages of the christian church besides the Scriptures it will euidently apeare to the reader in the margeÌ„t of this volume I know there will be great thonderings lyghtninges and earthquakes at the comminge foorth thereof for so is it here oft promised of the holy ghost The boystuous tyrauntes of Sodoma with theyr great Nemroth Wynchester and the execrable citizens of Gomorra with theyr shorne sinered captaines wyll sturre aboute them Much payne haue they of long tyme taken and many haue they cruelly burned as was seene of late yeares in Couentrie London in other places more to obscure the knowledge thereof Who can suppose theÌ„ that they wyll now sit styll theyr mischeues made so manifest Our worldly wyse brethren also which are neither hote nor colde wyll starcle a course at the matter I know somewhat is to be suffred at theyr handes also For they alwayes tarry theyr tymes wyll not wake the shrewed curre for hurting themselues Graciously hath the Lorde called them specially now of late but his voyce is nothing regarded His seruauntes haue they imprisoned tormented and slayne hauinge his veritie in muche more contempt then afore We loked for peace sayth Hieremye the Prophet and we fare not the better at all We wayted for a tyme of health and we fynde here nothing els but trouble And no marucile consideringe the beastes head that was wounded is now healed vp againe so workemanly as the .xiii. chapter here meÌ„cioneth The abhominable hipocrisie Idolatry pryde fylthinesse of those terrible termagauÌ„ts of antichrists holy household those two horned whoremouÌ„gers those coÌ„iurers of Egipt and lecherous locustes leapynge out of the smoke of the pitte bottomlesse which dayly deceyueth the ignoraunt multytude wyth theyr sorceryes and charmes must be shewed to the worlde to theyr vtter shame and confusion They knowe as dyd Balaam the sorcerer that ouer a gorgious glittering whore euery fleshely man is inordynatly wanton ferce greedy Folowinge hys wayes therefore they haue alwayes for lucres sake gloriously garnished theyr holy mother the madame of myschife and proude sinagoge of Sathan wyth golde siluer pearle precious stone veluets silkes miters copes crosses cruetes ceremonies sensinges blessinges bablinges brawlynges processions popetts and such other madde mastryes whereof the church that Christ left here behinde him knewe not one iote to prouoke the carnal idyotes to hir whoredome in the spyryte The Lorde hath longe suffered them of mercy and wythhoulden from theÌ„ his rightfull hande of theyr deserued vengeaunce yet wyll they not fall to repentaunce nor amende theyr dayly mischifes To tell them freely of theyr wycked workes by the scriptures I haue exyled my selfe for euer from myne owne natiue countrie kyndred fryndes acquaintaunce which are the great delyghtes of this lyfe am well contented for Iesus Chrystes sake and for the comforte of my brethren there to suffer pouertie penury abiection reprofe and all that shall come besides A commaundement the Lorde hath giuen in this booke vnto them whome hee hath called of mercye from their wretched beggeries to spare no rebukes but to powre out double vpon that bloudy â—awde malicious mother of theirs Neuer was this commaundement more effectually to be folowed then now hys holye worde of saluation so presently set at nought despised and persecuted of hir madde moodie mynisters Unto heauen are hir sinnes gone vp in these latter dayes as S. Iohn heere witnesseth requiring vengeaunce for the innocents bloud that shee hath so cruelly shed And the Lord hath remembred hir wickednesse accordyng to his promyse as partlye hath bene seene in this realme and in diuers other more I doubt not but within short space she shal be wholly turned ouer into the bottomlesse pit again with all hir heathenish ceremonies superstitions and sorceries and neuer return hetherwarde no more then the great mightie mylstone that is throwne into the seas bottom Christ so restored vnto his right spouse WoÌ„ders wil appeare coÌ„cerning this such other matters to him that shall diligently examine the scriptures historyes alleged in the margent For only minister I an occasion heere vnto them of a farther serch Nothing wil be hidden from him that asketh with meekenesse seeketh in fayth and in prayer desyreth the glory of the Lorde Euident will those secrete mysteries be vnto him whiche are priuely hidde vnto other vnder dark ambages and parables Though this heauenly treasure of health be vnder locke and keye of vnknowne similitudes and so bee shutte vp
longeth for to be deliuered from this bodie of death shée coueteth to be dissolued and to be with Christ yea ferueÌ„tly she desireth to rest in the armes of hir almightie spouse 2 Tell hir therefore that these sayings hath he which holdeth the vij starres in his right hand walketh in the middest of the vij golden Candelstickes which hath in his power all ministers of his worde to retain theÌ„ or to cast theÌ„ out remaineth among the congregations to beholde their actes and reward them according to their doings 3 I know thy workes sayth hée I perceue thy labour thy anguish thy affliction thy payne for vnto me nothing can be hid I consider also thy pacient sufferance in aduersitie and thy troublous crosse for my wordes sake thy constant fayth and thy vnbroken spirite 4 And I ponder thy feruent and godly zeale wherin thou canst in no wyse forbeare theÌ„ that are wicked and euill but thou hatest blasphéemers abhorrest the enemies of god 5 I much commend thée for that thou diligeÌ„tly examinest them which call them selues Apostles and are none which boast theÌ„ selues to be christian teachers and are nothing lesse 6 And by thy diligent searche hast not only proued them false and deceiptfull Antichristes but also thou hast expelled theÌ„ least they shuld do harm 7 And though thou haste bene gréeuously vexed and persecuted of those false Prophets yet hast thou paciently suffred and firmly stand by the truth for my names sake Thou hast taken paynes and not faynted in thy labours so strong hath the spirit of God bene with thée And all these pointes in thée I greatly allow 8 Yet haue I somewhat agaynst thée for so much as thou arte fallen from thy first charitie the fruites of true faith not being so abundant and plentifull in thée as they were in the beginning of the Gospell nor thou so effectuall in working mercy pittie 9 Call therefore to thy remembrauÌ„ce from what perfectioÌ„ thou art fallen and repent thy slipper weakenesse and slothfull negligence which hath not suffered thée to perseuer in thy first calling 10 And return to thy first works agayne walking in that ferueÌ„t faith in that godly spirite and in that swéete loue of thy neighbour that thou diddest walke in before diminish not but increase euermore in al goodnes 11 Els wil I come shortly vnto thée as a straight looker vpon thée 12 And except thou repent from the hart with ful purpose of amendmeÌ„t I will remoue thy Candelsticke out of hir place I shall take away from thence the sincere doctrine and pure preaching of my word suffer mens fantastical traditions olde womens dreames the spirites of errour the doctrine of diuels the lyes of hypocrites with all blyndnesse darknes abhominatioÌ„ and idolatrie there to remayne For where as my word is not sincerely taught beléeued and obserued but vncharitably dispised hated and persecuted there shall not my church remayne but in hir place shal stand vp the Sinagoge of Sathan with blyndnesse and induration For that congregatioÌ„ is not myne which hath not my worde No longer is it my church then it hath my veritie Turne back againe therefore to Abraham Isaac Iacob to the Prophetes and Apostles and exercyse the first workes leauing all papistrie 13 This warning hast thou of mée for that thou hatest the vnséemely déeds of the Nicolaytanes so called of one Nicolas a proselitie of Antioche and one of the vij Deacons ordayned by the Apostles Whose corrupte custome was among other to defile holy wedlock in making their wyues common in boasting them selues lawfully so to do by the example of the sayde Nicolas 14 Whose vncomely actes I hate and abhorre also hauing matrimonye in honor and the chamber therof vndefiled This premonishement haue I giuen thée also least thou in processe of tyme shouldest fall to Apostasie vtterly decline froÌ„ the truth 15 Let him that hath eares sayeth the Lord which is iudgement and discretion in the spirit diligeÌ„tly heare and earnestly marke what the holy ghost speketh what premonishmeÌ„ts he giueth what reward he promiseth to the faithfull congregations 16 To him that by the spirit of Christ and by faith victoriously ouercoÌ„meth the world sin hell death the diuil I wil giue to eate of the trée of lyfe to haue reioyce here in the holy ghost to haue comfort peace and gladnesse in mée 17 And after this life eternall beatitude which is in the midst of the beautiful paradise or the triumphant church of my Lord my God and my celestial father yours also by mée THE TEXT 1 And vnto the Angel of the congregation of Smyrna wâ—yte 2. These things saith he that is the first the last 3 which was deade and is aliue 4. I knowe thy works and tribulatioÌ„ 5. And pouertie but thou arte rich 6. And I knowe the blasphemie of theÌ„ which call theÌ„selues Iewes and are not but are the congregation of Sathan 7. Feare none of the things which thou shalt suffer 8. Behold the diuill shal cast some of you into prison to tempt you 9. And ye shal haue tribulation ten dayes 10. Be faithfull vnto the death 11. and I will giue thee a crowne of lyfe 12. Let him that hath eares heare vvhat the spirite saith to the congregations 13 He that ouercommeth shall not be hurt of the secoÌ„d death THE PARAPHRASE 1 Apply thée also my friend Iohn with all festination to write vnto the faithfull mynister of the congregacion of Smyrna which trauaylyng in thys vayle of myserie as the odoriferous myrrha giueth forth the swéete smell of all good christian workes and distrybuteth fréelye the precyous treasure of godly examples Shée beleueth in God shée séeketh his onely glorie shée foloweth his word shée rebuketh sinne with pacieÌ„ce she openeth hir haÌ„ds to the poore she giueth meate to the huÌ„gry drinke to the thirstie lodging to the straunger clothes to the naked comfort to the sicke and reliefe to the prisoner Shée is méeke gentle obedyent pacient and mercifull 2 Infourme hir therfore that these things sayeth he which is the fyrst and the laste the maker and redéemer the founder and restorer of all creatures 3 Which was once dead to redeme hir from eternall death and now is alyue to restore hir to lyfe euerlasting Let hir not doubt therefore to suffer héere lyke as hée hath suffred For as he is now immortall hath the ouer hande of death so shall shée be and haue the same 4 I know thy works saith the Lord to spring onely of fayth and to bée fashioned according to the word of God I perceyue thy manyfolde trybulations how thou arte outwardly afflicted by continuall persecution of enimyes and inwardly crucyated in conscience to beholde the damnable errours frowardnesse blindnes and vtter contempt of Gods trueth which raigneth in the wicked 5 I consider thy pouertie in the spirite that
the lawes of theyr fathers by the eatyng of meats dedicate to vncleane Idols but also fall into the high displeasure of god for committing with them most vile fornication Suche vnholsome teachers are among thy people take héede if thou list 8 Thou arte also verye familiar with such vngodly Apostates false Apostles as mayntayne the vncomely examples teachings of the Nycolaytanes which corruptyng godly maryage not only permit their own wyues to be common but also they abashe not to defyle the wyues of other men Whose damnable doyngs I detest and abhorre 9 I counsell thée therefore to repent in tyme and to bee conuerted frō the errors of those couetous gluttōs rauenous lechours which cōdemyning holy matrimony permit all kyndes of vncleannesse and nothing more gréedily deuour thā that is offred vp to Idolles in their dedycations and feastes Call backe these abuses with swéete teachings exhortations desires and patient rebukes els will I within a while visite thée to thy displeasure 10 Yea and I will valiauntly fight agaynst those Balaamitanes which giue false coūsel for filthie rewards and agaynst those Nicolaytanes that chaunge holy wedlocke for whoredome And with the swerde of my mouth which is the inuincible veritie shall I iudge them condemne them and vtterly distroy them with all those shauen Madyanites that with their whorishe inuentions paynted traditions and ceremonyall supersticions hath takē from me my most deare Israelytes bought with my precious bloud With the breath of my mouth shal I consume thée and bring thée to naught 11 Let him that hath but one eare of iust vnderstandyng take gentle warnyng by such charitable premonishments as the holy spirite of God giueth vnto the christen cōgregations 12 To him that through constante fayth in the name doctrine of God neither feareth the world sin death hel nor the diuil will I giue to tast eate and sauer an hidden manna a secret sweetnesse a wisdome in the spirite that he shall féele the goodnesse thereof and reioyce to knowe how swéete the Lord is and what an heauenly treasure it is to trust in him Which manna is hid from the wyse of this world 13 I will also giue him for a token of perpetuall peace and loue that pure and precious stone Iesus Christ so white as the lillie floure innocent and cleane frō all contagious vices to be his only whole wisdom rightuousnesse light health and redemption 14 And in the said white stone Iesus Christ which is also the booke of lyfe will I gyue him a newe name written I shall register him for the chyld of God and the heyre of lyfe euerlasting For in him alone must ye be accepted saued and glorified 15 Of this no man is certayne but he that is taught of the spirit of God No man can say Iesus is the Lorde but in the holy ghost By the spiryte of adoption ye cry Abba father The onely spirit of the Lord ascertaineth your spirit that ye are the sonnes of God THE TEXT 1. And vnto the Angell of the congregation of Thiatyra vvryte 2. This saith the sonne of God vvhich hath his eyes lyke vnto a flame of fyre 3. vvhose feete are lyke brasse 4. I knovve thy vvorkes and thy loue and thy seruice and thy faith and thy pacience and thy deeds 5. vvhich are mo at the last then at the first 6. Notvvithstanding I haue a fevv things agaynst thee 7. that thou suffrest that vvoman Iesabell vvhich calleth hyr selfe a Prophetisse 8. To teache and to deceyue my seruauntes to make them commytte fornication and to eate meates offered vp vnto Idols 9. And I gaue hir space to repent of hir fornication and shee repented not 10. Beholde I will caste hir into a bed 11. And them that commit fornication with hir 12. Into great aduersitie excepte they turne from their deedes 13. And I wil kil hir children with death 14. And all the congregations shall know that I am he which sercheth the reynes and hartes 15. And I will giue vnto euerie one of you according to your workes THE PARAPHRASE 1 Delay not cōsequently my louing friende Iohn sayeth the Lorde expresly to manifest with penne vnto the pastour of the elect congregation of Thiatyra which is frō these low partes here a sweete smellyng sacrifice vnto God of labour and contrytion in the olde aged man and bodie of death For shee detesteth the vanities of this world shée forsaketh the fruites of the fleshe shée renounceth the cōcupiscēce of the eyes shée mortifieth hir mortall mēbers she slayeth hir sensuall affects and rendreth vp hir selfe vnto hir Lord God as a lylyuing holy and acceptable offering 2 Geue vnto that contrite and feruent congregacion this comfort Tel hir that this saythe the dearely beloued and natural sonne of god which hath his eyes of godly wysdome and knowledge so lyuely effectuall as a flame of fyre that he séeth all thinges and nothing can passe from his righteousnesse in iudgement 3 Whose féete or charitable affections towardes man are lyke vnto Brasse brent in a fornace For his most innocent manhoode by his own agréement suffred here for his sake manyfolde affllictions and paines 4 For so much as all thinges are open to myne eyes and nothing can be hid from me saith that lord I perceue thy fruitefull workes I sée thy neighbourly christen loue I cōsider thy liberall heart and hande to the poore thy faythfull exhortacions thy feruent spirit in the Lorde thy pacient sufferaunce in aduersitie for the truethes sake and thy other godly déedes beside 5 I marke it also that thou shrinkest not in them but rather goest forward with increase For now at the last are they more effectual plēteous then they were at the fyrst which greatly delighteth mée 6 Neuerthelesse yet I haue somewhat to say against thée For though I iudge thée much to be cōmended yet finde I thée not without faulte 7 Thou peaceably permittest without resistance that cruel woman and abhominable strūpet Iesabel which is the malignaunt church and Sinagoge of Sathan which is not ashamed to boast hir selfe a prophetisse a publisher of the truth and maynteiner of Gods seruyce yea the mother of holy church hir selfe 8 Under that pretence to set foorth diuilish doctrine to aduaunce pernicious errours and colour false lyes in hypocrisie To the intent shee might therewith not only deceyue my faithful seruaūts but also bring them into such trade of wyckednes that they should not force to commit whoredome in the spirite by fallyng vnto straunge worshippings and to eate of Idoll offerings in consenting to wicked lawes and blasphéemous tradytions of olde dotyng Hypocrytes 9 I haue giuen to that wicked congregatiō many holsome premonishments and warnings with conuenient respyte to remember hir follie and repent hir detestable wayes of liuing least she should perish but she will in no wyse bee sorie repent
word 8. and hast not denyed my name 9. Beholde I shall giue some of the congregation of Sathan which call them selues Iewes and are not but doe lye 10. Beholde I will make them that they shall come and worship before thy feete 11. and shall knowe that I haue loued thee 12. Bicause thou hast kept the wordes of my pacyence therefore will I keepe thee from the houre of temptacion 13. which will come vpon all the world to tempte them that dwell vpon the earth 14. Beholde I come shortlye 15. Holde that vvhich thou hast that no man take away thy crovvne 16. Hym that ouercommeth vvill I make a pyller in the temple of my God 17. and he shall go no more out 18. And I vvill vvryte vpō him the name of my God and the name of the citie of my God nevve Hierusalem 19. vvhich commeth dovvne oute of heauen fro my God 20. And I vvill vvrite vpon him my nevv name 21. Let him that hath eares heare vvhat the spirite sayth vnto the congregacions THE PARAPHRASE 1 Moreouer differ in no wyse my trustie discyple Iohn sayth the Lord Iesus by wryting to signifye or make mencion to the tydings brynger bishop or ouerséer of the déerely beloued Churche of Phyladelphya which as beséemeth a Christian congregation in this life is neuer without brotherly charitie and loue but alwayes hath a swéete compassion vpon the poore the néedie the symple the desolate the forsakē the disdayned and myserable people of this world Shée hath also in hir harte a wofull pittie and a lamentable dolour when shée séeth men wicked vayne blasphéemous hatefull beastly ydle couetous supersticious and full of other vngodlinesse 2 Let this be knowne to hir first of all that these are the fauorable sayings of him which is holy of himself and alone maketh other holy which is only true and the veritie it selfe without whō no truth can be had 3 Which hath also in his hand and power the keye of the house of Dauid which is the faithfull kingdom or congregation of God 4 Where as hée openeth to the faithful beleuers by the gospel preaching no man can speare them out of the kingdom of God by no excommunicatiō nor cursse Where as he doeth losen from the bandes of sinne by the holy Ghost no man can bynde to dampnation by no interdictiō nor sentence haue he neuer so great power giuen hym And agayne if hée shutteth vp the kingdome from the vnfaithfull hypocrites no man can admit them to it by blessings remissions nor a thousand yeares of their pardon If he seclude them from it no man can able them to it agayne by no auctoritie nor power 5 I know sayth that Lord thy dooings from the verie roote and from whence thy workes doeth spring euen from a sincere faith in my word wherefore they are to my mynd and pleasure 6 For so much therefore as I finde thée thus grounded in fayth be thou certayne and sure of it I haue sette before thée an open dore I haue illumyned thy sences and cleared thy vnderstandyng to knowe the holye scriptures and perceyue the hyghe mysteries therin written so admittyng thée to my kingdome And this dore can no man shut vp again Neither shall the power of this world nor yet the gates of hell bée able to preuayle against this opening 7 And this hast thou of mée partly for thy méekenesse For where as the wicked doth séeme to them selues beautifull strong learned rich righteous religious and holie spirituall fathers thou estéemest thy selfe but an abiecte of the worlde wretched weake blynde poore sinfull a myserable dooer as concernynge the fleshe 8 But thou arte she that hath kept my sayings and by such strength as I haue giuen thée obserued also my lawes and commaundements It is thou that haue stande by my trueth stedfastly and not denyed my name in the time of troublous persecution Wherefore thou canst in no wyse perish before mée 9 And as concernyng the wicked behold howe I shall order them I shal not only set thée cléere from the filthie traditions of that false congregatiō or sinagoge of Sathan but I will also take a certen from thēce of the best learned conuerting them from their errours and giuing them vnto thée Which afore tyme called them selues Iewes or the chosen children of Abraham and were not so in déed They boasted them selues very much to be the anoynted Israelytes the consecrate sonnes of promisse and the holy spirituall people of God lyke as the residue doth yet still to this houre but they lyed full falslie They were for that time false dissembling hypocrites and cruell aduersaries to the trueth as theyr companions are still 10 Be sure that these will I so inwardly moue and effectuallye prouoke that they shall come vnto thée to be of thy congregacion They shal gladly submitte them selues to thy doctryne they shall worship God not in outward shadows with bondage but in spirite and truth with lybertie At thy féete after thy holsome instructions and godly admonicions 11 And where as they haue thought thée afore tyme of me to bée hated when thou hast béene in persecutiō they shall nowe well perceyue and know my spirite speaking in thée and such heauenly secrets comming from thée that thou standest much in my loue art greatly in my fauour 12 And for so muche as thou haste cōstantly holden and manfully stand by that word for the which I haue suffred much not only in mine own fleshe but also in thée and in other my seruauntes for no aduersitie falling from it I will preserue thée in the houre of temptation Thou shalt for no violence decline from the truth thou shalt for no tormēt forsake the veritie So mightie a stomake and so strong an hearte shall I giue thée for the time of thy temptations that thou shalt not be once moued 13 For no doubte of it thys fierce temptation and cruell handeling of the boystuous Antichrists Mahomet standing in the way of sinners and the Romish Pope sitting in the most pestilent seate of errours will come vpon all the world by execrable sects of false Prophets lyars hypocrytes blasphemers and teachers of diuilish doctryne to tempt and allure them which dwell here vpon earth sometyme by flattering promotiōs sometyme by threatnings and penalties to renounce that veritie and denye that word to the vtter dampnation of their soules 14 But in any wise take héede and watche in prayer for I come shortly as a righteous iudge giuing to euerie one according to their hartes inuencions Consider the life but short in this world the rewarde great if thou perseuere in thy Christen profession Holde faste that godly fayth which thou hast taken with hir holsome fruites 15 Sticke sure to that heauenlye word which thou hast receyued least thou falling from it loose the crowne prepared for thée I haue done my parte
though he had ben killed 13 which had seuen hornes 14 and seuen eyes which are the seuen spirits of God sent vnto all the worlde 15. And hee came and tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the seat The Paraphrase AFter the forsayde vysion I saw saieth saint Iohn in the right hande or mighty power and wyll of hym that sate on the throne with maiestye a wonderfull Booke in the which both man and Angell were desirous to looke This booke is Gods heauenly ordinance contayning not onely all that hath bene created of God visible and inuisible but also the vniuersall contents of the holy scripture This boke hath the mercifull Lorde prouided that men should know him partly by his creatures partly by his Scriptures This booke he hath in his right hand For heauen he measureth with his spanne and the whole world he comprehendeth vnder his three â—ingers In his hande or power is the vniuersal earth bothe hills valleyes At his onely wil pleasure is the sincere vnderstanding of the scriptures and true interpretacion of the same 2 This booke is written within without The world coÌ„tayneth creatures visible and inuisible powers open hidden that men in theÌ„ should reade and vnderstand that there is a liuing God and that they should acknowledge him and worship him as the Lorde and creator of all The holy scripture hath hir figure history hir mistery and veritie hir parable plaine doctrine her night and day her letter and sence her voyce and word her flesh and spirit her shadow and cleare light her death and lyfe her law and gospell her Moyses and Christ to bring all men also vnto the knowledge of God 3 But that Booke is surely sealed with seauen stronge seales from the fleshlye vnderstanding of man not hauinge the spirite of Christ that he can neither vse the creatures of God a right nor yet perceiue the Scriptures according to their true meanning Muche hath the doctours fantasied of these seuen claspes or spearynges of thys booke wythout the aucthoritie of Gods word calling theÌ„ all maner of obscurities darkenesses Where as in verie déed they are nothing els but the strong and vnuariable decrée or set diffinition of God before the constitucion of the world that none should be able to read rightly therin nor know the iust meaning therof without the spirit of his sonne and vnles it be méekly asked in faith And this one decrée of god so oft locketh vp these heaueÌ„ly secrets froÌ„ maÌ„ as it findeth hym carnall couetous wilfull blinde malicious proude and false with such other lyke The number of seuen doeth onely respect the opening of the seales in all ages For in euery age hath God opened the trueth vnto some Godly men by his spirite with Abell and Enoch with Noe and Sem with Abraham and Iob with Moyses and Samuel with Dauid and Helias with Hieremie and Daniel with Iohn Baptist Peter 4 And I sawe sayeth S. Iohn a strong Angell which betokeneth euerie faithful minister of gods word coueting all men to be taught of god and sending them only vnto Christ for they are the Angels of the Lorde of hostes Which Angell cryed with a loude voyce with an earnest zeale of the glorie of God and with a feruent desire of his neighbours health 5 Who is worthie to opeÌ„ this booke and to vndoo the claspes thereof As though he should say None but he alone Séeke him therfore that he may open it vnto you els are yée lyke alwayes to be blynde foolishe and vnlearned lyers before the Lord séeme ye neuer so wyse eloquent and well learned in the sight of men 6 And in déede no man was founde able to doe it neyther in heauen nor in earth nor vnder the earth yet was there a diligent search made many did attempt it The Angels that by apostasie fell from God when they were in heauen wrought maistryes about it And in the earth héere the Philosophers among the Gentiles the religious fathers amoÌ„g the Iewes the Pharisies and Scribes the lawyers and priests and amoÌ„g the Christians the false Apostles Antichrists the Sophisters and Papists the sectes and scoole doctors with all the worldly wyse hath craftily compassed the thing Yea the messeÌ„gers of Sathan whose dampnation is certayne subtily to perswade and fraudelently to deceiue the innocent soules haue also done their parte But what hath folowed After their vayne enterpryse they haue bene so astonyed at the maiestie or sight of the booke that neyther were they able to open it nor yet to looke thervpon So high were the mysteries thereof so vnserchable the iudgements so inuestigable the wayes therevnto 7 And I fell in sore wéeping sayth Sainct Iohn muche dolour was it to my heart to see that none was found worthie no creature able neyther Angell nor man good spirit nor diuil to open and to read the booke which is cléerely to know the will of God therein nor yet once to looke therevpon that is sincerely to perceyue the least veritie coÌ„tayned therin No creature vnderstanding could attayn vnto it All were ignorant all darke all blynde 8 And as I was thus mournyng one of the elders euen Iacob by name comforted mée with his prophecie of Iuda Esay Micheas Esdras bearing witnesse to the same 9 These with other ascertained me that he was the Lyon of the Trybe of Iuda which should ouercome the world haue the victorie ouer death and hell for in déed they with Abraham sawe it a farre of and much reioysed He is the strong inuincible Lyon that subdued the prince of this world tooke from him the pray and hathe deuyded the spoyle 10 He is the verie roote of Dauid the ground and originall cause of all godly promises made vnto him of deliuerance victorie and raygne and alone in him are they fulfilled Only hath he obtayned by his death resurrection and ascension to make open the hydden mysteries of thys booke or whole ordinaunce of God and to loose the seuen seales thereof or to take away the vniuersall impediments wherby the said booke could in no case be séene as is carnalitie ignorance darkenesse blindenesse wilfulnesse couetousnesse malice hypocrisie lyes with such lyke So was it afore speared by the decrée of God that none could reade in it till he remoued the vntowardnesse from their heartes 11 All this I beheld saieth S. Iohn and as I looked further I sawe that in the midst of the seate which is the vniuersall congregation of God of the foure beasts which are the constaunt ministers of his worde also in the middest of the auncient elders whych hath bene the sincere witnesses of hys veritie since the beginning 12 There stood a fayre méeke most innocent Lambe as though he had bene newly slain I knew that Christ was this Lambe for he was wounded for
our offences tooke away the sinnes of the world He was that méek Lambe prefigured in the law whom the faithfull fathers so earnestly desired He was that gentle Lamb that was caried away to be slayne and that opened not his mouth before the shearer This Lambe standeth vp euermore for vs before God as our onely medyator aduocate peace maker Sauiour helper counsellour defender and teacher 13 This Lambe had seuen hornes which betokeneth his stronge and infinit power vertue victory kingdom glory bounteousnesse and maiestie with such lyke and in the whole his vniuersall reigne 14 He had also seauen eyes whiche are all the powers graces fruites of the holy ghost called héere the seuē spirits of God For so much as they are the singuler gifts of him whiche is his essenciall spirit And them he hath sent by his apostles other godly preachers into the seuen climates of the erth or vniuersal world the people with them to be replenished These are wisdome vnderstandinge counsell strength knowledge pittie the fear of god These are also loue ioy peace pacience gentlenesse goodnes fayth méekenesse long suffering cleannes and temperance with diuersitie of tongues interpretacion prophecie cures healings miracles and iudgement of spirits 15 And the sayd Lambe came foorth as one through méekenesse hauyng victorie ouer sinne death hell hée reuerently tooke the sayd booke from the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne Which made me anon to consider that the heauenly father had giuen vp vnto him the whole admynistration of his spirituall kingdom with all aucthoritie power in heauen and earth to open or to speare to choose or to reiect to take or to refuse to saue or to loose to rewarde or to dampne For he it was that first opened the vnderstanding of men that they might perceyue the scriptures He it was that sent the holy spirite of God to deduce them into all veritie and gaue them grace to instructe all people He it is also that shall thorowe them into euerlasting fire with the diuil his Angels that resist the same THE TEXT 1 And when he had taken the booke the liij beastes and the .xxiiij. elders 2. fel dovvn before the Lambe hauing harpes 3. golden vialles full of odours vvhich are the prayers of the Saincts 4. they sung a nevv song saying 5 Thou arte vvorthie to take the booke 6. and to open the seales therof 7. For thou wert killed 8. and hast redemed vs by thy bloud out of all kinreds tongs and people and nacions 9. and hast made vs vnto our God Kings and priestes 10. and vve shall reigne on the earth The Paraphrase 1 And when he had receyued the sayd booke of the hande of God with full authoritie and power the iiij beasts or the present protestours of the veritie here liuing in the world and the xxiiij Elders or auncient witnesses of the same departed cleane from thys worlde as were the olde fathers the Patryarkes Prophetes and Apostles méekly submitted them selues before the Lamb much reioysinge in his triumphant victorye for them 2 They fell downe before him they praysed hym they worshipped hym they gaue thanks and recognised him for their mercifull Lorde and Sauiour hauing in their handes harmonious harpes which there represented the melody of their faithfull soules or the inward reioyce that they had in faith of the eternal verytie of god For that is the agréeable concord and swéet harmony that he most delighteth in And as well had they harpes that were long afore Christe as had they that folowed hym the effecte of hys death being equall to them both So wel reioysed Abraham which saw him a farre of as did Iohn Baptist which shewed him persent 3 Each one of them had also in hys hand a golden viall full of swéete odours whiche is a faithfull harte to God full of swéete desires and wholsome praiers whiles they liued here And these vessels of prayer or harts of the faithfull beléeuers couetinge mercy to themselues and all other were very precious pleasaunt and beautifull in the sighte of the Lorde which onely desireth the harte 4 They sang also with their instruments a new songe of reioyce recording the great benefit of God They vttered the glad tidinges of peace They published the Gospel of Christ. They told of his comming They declared him present past This songe was euer new vnto flesh bloud It séemed very strange yea and folish to the children of this worlde yet is it the power of God vnto saluation for euery one that beléeueth Now it is also for so much as it nothing alloweth in our aged man of sinne but alwayes calleth vpon renouation in the spirite 5 This was the conclusion of that song Thou alone swéete Lord sayde they art founde worthye to take the Booke to receiue power and administration of the kingdome of God 6 Thou only art able to opē the seale◠thereof to take from vs all impediments of darknesse hypocrisie lyes ignoraunce wilfulnesse blindnesse and sinne and to deduce vs into all godly knowledge 7 For thou wert not only despised and wounded but most cruelly slaine for our offences whereby thou hast obtained our perpetuall peace and attonement with god 8 Thou hast clerely redéemed vs out all spirituall bondage by the price of thy bloude and by the vertue of thy passion and death thou hast gathered vs together into one kingdom of God from all the nacions of the world and hast chosen vs out of all kinreds languages peoples of the vniuersall earth Thou hast made vs also pertakers with thée in thy peculyer vnction that we are now called Christians 9 Thou hast annoynted vs Kinges by the gift of true faith to haue victory ouer sinne death the deuil and cōsecrate vs priests by the grace of thy holy spirite to offer vp our selues and vndefiled sacrifice vnto our euerlasting God So that we are now the chosen kinred the kingely pristhoode the holy generation the peculyer peple that should manifest the workes of thée which hast called vs out of darknesse into the merueilous light 10 And by the benifit of thy onely grace and goodnesse we shall raigne prosperously on the earth not héere wher as is sorow care penury scarsnesse and death but our porcion shal be in the pleasant land of the lyuing where as is the peace ioy tranquilitie comfort and life euerlasting THE TEXT 1 And I behelde 2. And herde the voyce of many angelles about the throne and about the beastes and the elders 3. And I harde thousand thousandes saying with a loude voyce 4. Worthye is the Lambe that was killed to receaue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honoure and glorye and blessinge 5. And all creatures vvhiche are in Heauen 6. And on the earth 7 And vnder the earth 8 And in the sea and all that are in
them heard I saying 9. Blessing honour glory and power be vnto him that sitteth vpon the seate 10. And vnto the Lambe for euee more 11. And the fowre beastes said amen 12. And the .xiiii. elders fell vpon their faces 13. and vvorshipped hym that liueth for euer more The Paraphrase 1 Furthermore saith Saint Iohn I saw an infinit host of Angels beholding the face of the heauenly father 2 I heard also the voyce of a great number of them about the throne of God geuing laude and prayse vnto hym and about the beastes and auncient elders For they are not onely the immediate ministers of God but also the seruantes of those men which shall be the heyres of saluation Where â—â—ould they be els than but about them that feare the Lord to sée to them and preserue them in all their wayes lyke as he hath geuen them in commaundement 3 And the number of them was a thousande thousandes or a number beyond our estimation And they cryed with a loude voyce signifiyng in their sort no corporall noyse but for so much as they are but spirits but a vehement zeale of most perfect loue and reioyce for the glory of God the victory of Christ the redempcion delyuerance and helth of man It betokeneth also their excéedinge gladnesse in the openinge of the veritie and conuertion of the sinner 4 Worthy is the most méek Lamb sayd they which was cruelly done vnto death and by his death ouercame the worlde hell death and the deuill to take vpon hym the title of all power heritage wisdom streÌ„gth honour glory and blessing and to be called of all creatures most mightye most rich most wise most valiaunt most worshipfull most gloryous and most blessed conueniente names for the king ouer al. Yea finally to haue â—he vniuersall aucthorytie in heauen and in the earth to gouerne euery where and al to be subiect vnto hym 5 I hard also saith saint Iohn all the creatures that God euer created as the angeles in heauen the sunne the Moone the planites the starres the fyrmament the fyre the water the ayre 6 And all that was vppon the earth as man beast foule fish mountaines valleys welsprings floudes windes wethers times trées herbs fruits 7 And al that was vnder or within the earth as rootes wormes serpentes vermine 8 And all that was in the sea or that moued in the waters with all that are conteined in these eche one in his kinde saying 9 The euerlastinge God whiche sytteth vppon the eternall throne with power and maiestie be euermore blessed worshiptfull gloryous and almightie 10 And vnto the Lambe which is his onely sonne Iesus christ be blessing honour glorye and power from him for euermore And in this al creatures desireth no longer to be subdued vnto the vanitie of the wicked nor yet to serue the same But to be wholy deliuered from the bondage of corruption and in libertie to serue the children of God to the glorye of of hym that made them 11 To this the fowre beastes or al the true seruants of God here liuing answered Amen or so might it be in effect as ye haue desired 12 And the .xxiiij. elders as the patriarks the Prophetes the Apostles with other that hath passed this life fell downe flat vpon their faces they submitted them selues 13 They worshipped lauded and gloryfied him that lyueth for euer and euer one God in thrée persons the father the sonne and the holy ghost This signified the Angels and Sainctes euermore to be ioyous as any thinge is done in the creatures to the manyfest glory of God The sixt Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I sawe vvhen the Lambe opened one of the seales 2 and I heard one of the iiij beastes say as it were the noyse of thunder 3. Come and see 4. And I savve and behold there was a whyte horse 5 and he that sate on him had a bovve 6. and a crovvne vvas giuen vnto hym 7. and hee vvent forth coÌ„quering for to ouercome The Paraphrase 1 COnsequently sayeth sainct Iohn as I was beholdyng these wonders I sawe that the Lambe which is the sonne of God opened the first of the seuen seales declaring the first misterie of the booke These openings betokeneth not onely the manifestation of Gods trueth for seauen ages of the world but also for the .vij. seuerall times and after vij diuers sortes from Christes death to the latter end of the world The first seale was remoued and the mysterie there vnder contayned made open when the Apostles disciples of Christ abouÌ„daÌ„tly replenished with the holy Ghost did coÌ„stantly preach the gospel ouer the vniuersall world 2 And at the openyng of the sayde seale sayeth hée I hearde one of the beasts in shape lyke a Lion by whom are signified the strong witnesses of Gods veritie by constancie of fayth resembling Christ the verie Lyon of the stocke of Iuda whose voice was mightie and strong as it had bene the noyse of a thundering and vehemently it sayde vnto me 3 Come hither and sée drawe nigh and be taught beléeue and thou shalt vnderstand 4 And anon I saw euidently that there was a white horse which signifieth the Apostles and first disciples of Christ for why the scripture doeth so call theÌ„ These horses were white they were made pure rightuous and cleane by Iesus Christ and bare him by their preaching the worlde ouer Such a whyte horse to the glorie of God was Paule whan he beare the name of Christ before the Gentiles the Kings and the children of Israell 5 He that sate vpoÌ„ this white horse which was Christ him selfe had in his hande a bowe which figured the hartes of the foresayd Apostles and disciples out of whom he fiercely seÌ„t foorth the arrowes of his word into his chosen people Their hearts were in his hand for that his verities myght the more effectually passe foorth and the more surely lyght vppon hys elects For without his spirit nothing could they doe 6 From God the father vnto hym was giuen a crown of magnificence honour worthinesse and victorie in his resurrection and ascention 7 And when he had stomaked them by the holy Ghost to shoote foorth hys word without feare he weÌ„t forward with them by his grace conqueryng in them the prince of this worlde in processe of tyme by their doctryne so to ouercome him and all his wycked armie Were the Antichristes neuer so madde torment they neuer so sore slea they neuer so fast Christ wil ouercome them Let them inhibit his trueth and forbid his Gospell take spoyle imprison exyle murther haÌ„g head drowne burne yet wil Christ haue the victorie ouer them though it otherwyse séeme to the fleshly children of darknesse In many couÌ„treis Cities and townes hath Gods word bene taught where as it is now forbidden vnder the payne of death Is Christ therefore the weaker which chose the weake to confounde the strong
vij hollow trumpettes the ministracion of his worde was vnto them committed They ran not foorth vnsent they spoke not vncommauÌ„ded They blew their trumpettes one after an other As the seales were opened the misteryes they declared as came to theyr course 6 And another Angell sayeth sainct Iohn of a much higher nature then these came forth yea euen the Angel of the couenauÌ„t that was so sore longed for came to hys holye Temple 7 He stood before the aulter he humbled him selfe hée became man hée tooke the shape of a seruaunt 8 He had in his hande a golden censer This Lorde Iesus Christ the soueraygne messenger of our saluacion tooke it vpon him alone to be our mediatour our aduocate before God and the onely attonemente for our sinnes 9 And much incense of odours was giuen vnto hym by the great fayth of Abraham Iohn Baptist and of all the sanctified number 10 That he shoulde offer vp vnto God so much of the prayers of all the faythfull beléeuers vpon the golden aulter or in his glorifyed nature as was right afore him 11 Which aulter is now before the throne of God He hath an euerlasting priesthood he is able to saue them that come vnto God by hym and lyueth â—mmortal standing on his right hand as one euer readie to make interpelâ—acion for vs. All they consented in â—ne that hée should be theyr generall â—ttourney consideryng he was their â—nely sauiour and redéemer 12 And the swéete smoke of the odorous incense which came of the wholsome and feâ—uent desires of them that had fayth ascended vp before God out of the Angels hande By his onely meryte was their fayth accepted and for his deaths sake their works pleased God 13 The sayd Angel tooke the censer he prepared his godlie spirite He filled it with fire of the aulter whych was his eternall charitie 14 And he cast it into the earth with poure he sent it downe in clouen fyerie tounges vpon hys Apostles of whose plentuous aboundauÌ„ce all wée haue receyued 15 And as it was come down there were noyses thunderings and fearefull lightnynges for it rebuked the world of sinne of rightuousnesse and of iudgement It reprooued the world of vnfaythfulnesse for contempnyng the light of Gods veritie It threatened it for supersticions hypocrisie and outwarde obseruacions And vtterly it condempned it for obstinacie of corrupte interpretacions â—6 There was also a terrible earthquake as it was comen into the world The vngodly rulers were mooued the ambicious prelates were vexed â—he couetous lawyers fretted the hypocrites and priestes waxed madde yea they are not yet quyeted to thys day They still lye prate they blaspheme and accuse they persecute and kill they hange burne and drowne their malice hath none ende â—7 And the sayd vij Angels sayeth Iohn which are the vniuersall preachers of Gods veritie hauyng theyr vij trumpettes or full aucthoritie giuen them of the Lord. â—8 Prepared them selues by power of the holy Ghost to execute their offices to blow ech one in his course THE TEXT 1 The first Angell blew 2. And there was made hayle and fyre vvhich vvere mingled vvith bloud 4. and they vvere cast into the earth 5. And the third part of the trees vvas brent 6. and all greene grasse vvas brent The Paraphrase 1 The first Angell first stoode foorth and blewe his Trumpet The Apostles after the first seale opening which was at the comming of the holy ghost went forward with the gospell and taught it the worlde ouer And when they had beléeued and throughly receiued the word which were predestinate of God to bée partakers of the glorie with Christ the residewe still blynd obstinate perseuered in theyr infidelitie and so perished 2 For vpon them came hayle fyre which were myngeled with bloude Their wickednesse ouer went them their stubborne stomakes sturred vp their furie their fiercenesse kindled euer more and more theyr madnesse made them blynde 3 And these they coupled alwais with crueltie murther For when Christes disciples had preached the Gospell the wicked sort of the Iewes and Gentiles in no case would beléeue it but their obstinacie so blinded them and their malice so inflamed them that they sought their death and procured the effusion of their blood Ouer all the Actes of the Apostles this is euident 4 And they were cast into the earth So occuppied their earthly hartes this wilfulnesse and anger with thirstynge of innocent bloude that all grace in them was extinguished and all goodnesse cleane consumed 5 The third part of the trées was brent and all the gréene grasse came to nought Though the chosen people were euer the lesser number and the wicked the much greater as in Zacharie yet are they not héere so noted for so much as in the sight of the Lord the infinite rable of infidels are nothing to the smal flock of faith Consider also that in Zacharias time the Iewes were the people of God which were nothing in comparison to the Gentiles But now are the Gentiles his people which euer excéeded them in number The thride part of the Trées wythered in their wickednesse were founde without fruit in the Gentiles 6 All the Iewes which somtime were the gréene grasse by the manyfolde gifts of God and by Christes comminge of them were then brent vp cleane True faith went from them and their owne malice blinded them Though this were veryfied of them onely which were at the first Seale openinge and the fyrste Trumpet blowinge yet doth it touche the bloodye Antechristes Hypocrites and vngodly rulers withstanding Gods word to this present day the poore Christians beinge gréene and bringinge foorth fruit in pacient sufferaunce THE TEXT 1 And the second Angell blevv 2 And as it were a great mountaine burning with fier 3 Was cast into the sea And the thirde parte of the sea turned to bloude 5 And the thirde parte of the creatures vvhich had lyfe dyed 6. And the thirde parte of the shippes vvere destroyed The Paraphrase 1 The seconde Angell blew his Trumpet at the seconde Seale opening which signifieth the preachers declaringe the secrete misteries of Gods verytie immediatly after the Apostles time 2 And as they were at the pleasure of the Lorde so doynge a monstrous thinge in manner of a great mountayne burninge with fier was cast into the sea A cruell sorte of false disciples and wicked brethren arose vp froÌ„ among them all earthly minded to couetusnesse puffed vp with pride and ambicion inflamed also with anger spight vengeaÌ„ce they boysterously entred in among the people so mutable and fickle as the sea which chaungeth with euery winde These are the mountaines that swell vp thinkinge much of themselues These are the rysing hylles that boast so much of their good workes of whose ouerthrow by Gods word both Esay and Iohn Baptist dyd prophesie Such fyery mountaines were
gréeue them with their curses and to torment theÌ„ with their threatenings of their purgatorie and theyr hell Though they blynded for want of the scripture erred in all popishe diuilrie and for lacke of true knowledge had not the token of fayth yet perished they not wholly no more theÌ„ did Nicodemus and Gamaliell which were but carnal men But their ends the Lord reserued to his own mercyfull goodnesse for confessing the name of Iesus Christ. 5 Yet were they sore vexed for the tyme and theyr payne was as the stinging of a Scorpion when he hath hurte a man A prickyng of a more then halfe desperate mynde a feare of a wonderfully troubled conscience yea and a great doubt of saluacioÌ„ haâ— they till God shewed his mercy vpon them opening their faint hartes and streÌ„gthning theÌ„ with his inward power 6 And in those dayes shall men séeke death and yet shall not fynde it For the gréefe of their loaded consciences they shall in confessyons take counsayle of them which is very poyson and death yet shall God so preserue them it shall be no death vnto them For no dampnacion can be vnto them which are in Christ Iesu. Loth dwelled in Sodome yet peryshed he not with Sodome 7 They shall desire to dye and yet death shall flée from them WheÌ„ they féele the terrible gnawing of inward fearefulnesse they shal séeke vp their stinking remedyes and require their dyrtie merytes which is cleane to dye from Christ and to forsake his liuing waters for their filthie puddels of hypocrisie and diuilishnesse Yet by the singular grace and vnspeakeable mercie of God that they séeke shall flée cleane from them and that they haue not sought for shall saue them which is the onely bloud and death of Iesus Christ. Thus shal they haue life vnlooked for and be taken vp with Enoch from the wickednesse of thys world and sée the God of Gods in Sion without their deseruing THE TEXT 1 And the similitude of the locustes vvas lyke vnto horses prepared vnto battayle 2 And on their heads vvere as it vvere crovvnes lyke vnto gold 3. And their faces vvere as it had bene the faces of men 4. And they had hayre as the hayre of vvomen 5. And theyr teeth vvere as the teeth of Lions 6 And they had habbergyons as it vvere habbergions of yron 7. And the sounde of their vvinges vvas as the sounde of charettes 8. vvhan manie horses runne togither to battayl 9. And they had tayles lyke vnto Scorpions 10. and there vvere stings in their tayls 11. And their povver vvas to hurte men fyue monethes 12. And they had a Kynge ouer them vvhich is the Angell of the bottomlesse pitte 13. vvhose name in the Hebrue tongue is Abadon but in the Greeke tonge Appollyon 14. One vvo is past and beholde tvvo vvoes come yet after this The Paraphrase 1 And the locusts in similitude were lyke vnto horses prepared vnto battayle full of stomake stryfe contencion anger and hate rygorous in examinacions fierce in excommunicacyons moodie in disputacions mad hastie and cruell agaynst the veritie and euermore grudging among them selues one secte agaynst another 2 Upon their heades they had counterfect crownes in maner of gold Glorious names of dignitie had they and shynyng tytles of hyghe prehemynence vndeserued Most holy fathers most gracious Lordes and moste reuerende maysters commonly were they called They made large theyr phylacteries set abroad their skirts they sought the highest places in the sinagoges and salutacions of reuerence in the stréetes They were not as other men be The simplest holy water priest amoÌ„g them was sir at the least which is no lesse than Lord. By presumptioÌ„ pride and ambicion they exalted them selues aloft as the Ceader trées of Lybanus aboue Emperours Kings and Prynces Yea they set their seates in heauen became Gods vicars to dampne and saue at their pleasure But wâ— be to the proude crown of thys dronken generacion whose God is theyr belly and whose glorie is but duste and shal be their shame confusion 3 Their faces were not vnlyke to the faces of men And outwarde pretence they had of wisedome grace and godlines yet was there nothing lesse with in them Uerie prudent wyse learned they séemed in theyr commoning discréet in behauour and sober in their lyuing yet were they but paynted combes full of all sinne and filthinesse The counterfait goodnesse they shewed outwardely was onely to be séene of the world 4 Hayre they had on theyr heades most lyke to the hayre of women All wauering were theyr myndes inconstaunt fickle and foolyshe Theyr harts were geuen to vncleanesse their fleshe to voluptuous desyres and pleasures so that in them rayned all beastly abhominations All execrable lustes flowed in them as the water of the Occean sea 5 Their téeth were as the téeth of Lyons For they were wholy geuen to gréedinesse rauine fiercenesse and cruelty not sparing but deuouring the flock not sauing but loosinge not helpinge but destroyinge These were those wilde beasts that trod downe the viniarde of the Lord those vnresonable Bores that hath rooted vp all and those blood thirstye woulues that hath rente the poore Lambs in péeces 6 Habbergyons had they vpon them lyke Iackes of Iron mayle which signifieth their obstinate malice their harde frowarde stubborne hartes against the verytie of God For wilfully they resisted it blaspheminge the holy ghost with the Pharisées and Scribes whose sinne shal neuer be remitted in this world nor in none other 7 And the sounde of their winges was as the stout noyse of charrettes when many horses busâ—le together towardes a battayle The wings of these abhominable locustes that set them aloft so farre aboue them selues are their dignities offices ryches liberties Priueleges Lawes and such lyke whiche boldeneth them in all thinges be it neuer so vniust 8 The noyse of these is greate the note the rumoure the fame is mightye the worlde ouer as well in Cromeles and writings as in the speache of the people Yea vnder the title of God they bolster their wickednesse to make it the stronger All must be Gods dignities Gods seruice Gods lawes Gods religions when it is stark deuillishnes They make what lawes they lyst they commaunde and forbid they set vp and pluck downe they both cursse and blesse yea they doe all mischiefe and all in his name Be it neuer so vngodly cruell and false yet must it forth in the name of god Thus mightier winges they haue then had the great Eagle in Ezechiel Neyther could Pharo in Egipt nor Nabuchodonosor in Babilon nor Antiochus in Iury do that they might do héere in christendome 9 For they had tayles lyke vnto Scorpions and there were sharpe stinges in their tayles Theyr study labour and practises was euer for a false conclusion The ende of their faire compassed crafts was alwaies to maintaine their errours and lies 10 And
chosen sake Thus after S. Paul also before the Lordes cōming There must be a departing The quier or chauncell must be cast out that the man of sin the sun of perdition the aduersary exaltinge hymself aboue God may be known in his colours It may not be motē or alowed by gods word but reiected as that plant which the heauenly father hath not planted that the mistery of iniqutye may be vttered and perceiued of thē which shal be saued It must be geuen to the gentiles or addict to their supersticions with al lying power signes and wonders in all deceiuable doctrine by the subtile working of sathan They must also be permitted to do al mischif in vnrightuousnes vpō the citizens of God til he vtterly consūe thē with the mighty breath of his mouth THE TEXT 1 And I wyll geue power 2. Vnto my two witnesses 3. And they shall prophecie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes 4. Clothed in sack clothe 5. These are two oliue Trees 6. And two Candlestickes 7. Standing before the God of the earth The Paraphrase 1 And I will geue powre saith the Lorde vnto my faithfull witnesses and they shall prophesye a thousande two hundred and lx dayes against those enimies to the comforte of my people So that though my citie be troden downe by their cruel lawes of persecution to death yet shall it not be forsaken And though my people be ouer loaded with their heathen supersticions and blasphemous worshippinges yet shall they not be lost nor left all wtout succour 2 They shal haue my two witnesses with thē to solace thē in their troubles to comfort them in their cares Both Moyses and Christ both the law and the Gospell both the Prophets and the Apostles shal stande vppon theyr side and be vpon their parte yea for so much time as their enimies shall vexe them and for so much space as their aduersaries sholl trouble them Euen a thousand two hundred and thréeskore dayes which maketh thrée yeares and an halfe and is more thē the two and fourty monthes by iiii skore dayes and fowre Which signifieth that the enimies shal not euermore kepe down his word but their daies shall be shortned for his electe sake The schoole Doctours with their sophestry hath fantasied the sayd two witnesses to be Enoch and Helyas and that they should come then frō Paradice terrestre for the same purpose because that Enoch was taken away of God and Helias was carried hence in a fyery Charet neither vnderstanding what Paradice is nor yet knowing what it is to be taken from hence Paradice is the swéete rest of God appoynted vnto them that departe hence in faith The peculier translations of Enoch and Helias were not only for a confirmation or strenthning of the faith of the fathers for their times but also that they shuld be figuers of Christes assention And what godly wise man can geue more to the figuer than to the verytie More were not they priuiledged frō death then was Christe though God wold not then haue it so openly knowen to declare his wonderfull power Unlike is it that god should cal witnesses frō the dead not promising it by his word hauing power also frō stones to raise vp Abrahās children and to geue the spirit of Helias to whō he pleaseth like as he dyd to Iohn Baptist as he doth now to many other more in our age as al the world may sée and heare These witnesses are two for so much as the truth of the Lorde in the mouth of two or thrée godly persons ought to stand 3 These two witnesses or faithfuli protestours of the aforsayde two testaments hath continued with the people of god since the death of Stéeuē for the more part secretly vnknowne to the world But now they are come abroade by the appointment of God to the vtter confusion of the great aduersary and man of sin as Paule doth call hym And vnto them in this sixt age of the church the Lord hath geuen the great power of his liuinge worde or the spirit of his inuincible verytie in much more ample wise then aforetime for the abatement of the sayd enimies or synagoge of perdition 4 Clothed they shall be in sackcloth sayth the Lord No pomp shal appeare in their apparrell no glorye of the world in their behauiour Neither shall they be accompanied with a garde of ruffelynge rutters Neyther shall they with Annas and Caiphas sit vpon life and death Neither shal they blesse in the streate with miter crosse and cope Neither claim the higher seates in side gownes shauen crownes and tippetes Neyther shall their be sack Fryers nor Franciscans monks Chanons nor Hypocrits They shall not disfigure themselues to séeme religious nor say long prayers to appere holy but in a sober conuersacion auoyding superfluitie they shall constantly witnesse the trueth of god to the vniuersall world to his glory and their edification For sackcloth in the scriptures is a signe of sobrietie sadnesse and temperaunce as in Helias and Iohn Baptist. 5 These witnesses are two swéete oliue trées shedding forth the fatnes of the scriptures and dulset sanour of the spirit God hath so blessed them that their lyps are full of grace He hath annoynted them with the oyle of gladnesse aboue their felowes of Myrre Bawme and Aloes they delectably smell None other thinges vtter thei but his infallible verities 6 They are also two shininge Candlesticks setting forth the light or clearly opening of the hidden misteries of the scriptures to the comfort of the gētiles glory of the Israelits They are not the light it self but only instrumēts ordeined to beare witnes of the light For there is but one light for al. Only are they the vessels of electiō as was Paule to carrie that lyght the world ouer 7 They stand in the presence of the God of the earth or the Lorde of all as men of moste high acceptacion before him readie to doe his will and to fulfill his commaundement and pleasure hauyng the oyle of hys spirite and the light of his eternall veritie THE TEXT 1 And if any man vvill hurt them 2. Fyre shall proceed out of their mouthes 3. cōsume their enimies 4. And if any man vvill hurte them this vvise must he bee killed 5. These haue povver to shut heauen 6 that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophesying 7. and haue povver ouer vvaters to turn them to bloud 8. and to smyte the earth 9. vvith all maner plagues as often as they vvill The Paraphrase 1 If any man will attempte to doe them scathe or presumptuouslie séeketh by craftie colours subtile reasōs and deceiptful arguments vpō daungers doubtes doctours old customes and aucthoritie of fathers to hynder their office blemishe their message and darken their light such fyre shall procéede out of their mouthes as shal consume their enimies 2 The eternall word of the Lorde that they shall declare which is the consuming fyre
the bold rable of heretiks presuming against gods word to affirm vngodly things Under the fourth the head of a Beare in the gréedy multitude of holy hipocrites spirituall Antichristes which haue rauished vp the substaÌ„ce of this world vsurping the empire of the same For then begone the papacie with Mahomets mischief Under the â—ift the head of a Leopard in the diuersitie of pestilent sectes or execrable locustes of whome euerie one reioyceth in his owne colour and inuention For then dyd they sore increase Under the sixt the head of a best vnlyke to all other in the tyrannie of wicked gouernours blynded and perswaded by the priestes to slea Gods seruaunts for the vpholding of their stinking generation For then was and is yet done much murther vpon such as confesse the truth Under the seuenth or last seale opening shal he haue yet still the heade of a man in fleshly polices falshoode of the Pope and his prelates in the doctours and priestes till God vtterly shall distroy them with the breath of his mouth 4 The said dragoÌ„ had also x. horns or al subtil waies wherwith to impugn the féeble weake nature of man or to prouoke him euer more to rebell against gods commaundements 5 UpoÌ„ his vij heads he had vij crouÌ„es signifying therby that both he his meÌ„bers hath not only possessed the afore named vyces but also they haue ouer the world raigned in them and yet doe to this day In pride falshood malice craft crueltie wickednesse all other mischies triumph they yet 6 And his tayle drewe towardes hym the third part of the starres and inconclusion threwe them downe to the earth By worldly promocioÌ„s lucre fauour and other flatteryng fantasies hath he tangled many learned men and plucked them cleane from Christes true Churche and from the lyfe of the Gospell so prouokinge them wholy to geue themselues to the study of erronius doctrine and lying prophesies to seduce the wordly multytude and kepe them in perpetuall blindnesse 7 So that they are now cast into the earth They are become all carnall fylthy and vngodly in all theyr wisdome study and workes in all theyr counsels preachinges and teachynges Now are they the wicked Apostelles of Sathan no longer may they shine in the firmament THE TEXT 1 And the Dragon stoode before the womaÌ„ which vvas ready to be delyuered 2. for to deuoure her child as soone as it vvere borne 3. she brought forth a manchild 4. vvhich should rule all nacions vvith a rod of Iron 5 And her sonne vvas taken vp vnto God and to his seate .6 And the vvoman fled into the vvildernes .7 Where she had a place prepared of God 8. That they shoulde feede her there .9 A thousande tvvo hundred and threescore dayes The Paraphrase 1 Before the aforesayde trauailyng woman stoode this Dragon redy to deuoure her childe so soone as it were borne Euermore is the deuill waiting his pray where as the Gospell is sincerely taught least any thereby should become the children of God 2 He séeketh all crafts polyces ingins to take the word from the hart least they beléeuing it shuld be saued Thus sought he to deuoure christ after the letter appoynting Herode to slea him soone after his birth And when he sée that way wold not take yet left he not of till the Iewes had slayne hym Not thus yet satisfied he labored by the bishops to extinguish the faith of his resurrection least that shuld profit vnto lyfe Moreouer where as the Apostles and other godly men haue geuen Christ vnto other in maner as they receued him he hath left no cautels vnsought by his malignant members euer since to depriue Gods people thereof 3 Such a man child saieth S. Iohn brought this woman forth as with an yron rod should rule all nations Neuer is the true church idle but conceiueth christ at the gospel preching retaineth him in faith briÌ„geth him forth in teaching other the same No woman child is he impotent weake féeble but a manchilde bringing with him alwaies a stronge mighty inuincible spirit wher as he is vnfainedly receued For he is the mighty Lorde that is valiaunt in battaile 4 With the yron wand of his word inuincible shal he gouerne his méeke sprited flock that none other lawes shal they require with the same also shal he subdue all powers which are not of hym and driue them downe to the bottom of hell For by faith onely in him is the victory gotten ouer the world 5 This childe was also taken vp to God and vnto his throne Where as the deuill thought to deuoure hym and to wrap hym vp for euer vnder death he put hym beside his purpose Uictoryously he arose vp from death to lyfe he ascended vnto heauen and now sitteth vpon the right hande of God the father almightye And where as he is nowe there shall hys faithfull folowers and ministers be hereafter for that is his is also theirs birth lyfe death resurrection and ascention 6 The woman fled after this into the wyldernesse What els doth the iust people of God but flye the contagiousnes vanytie tumult fornication idolatry and filthynes of thys world séeking God in the solytarie harte and not in outwarde fantasies I got me away farre of sayeth Dauid and remayned in the deserte monkes nunnes channons and fryers hath fled into monasteris coueÌ„tes and houses but nothinge after this sort For in all voluptuous pleasures haue they there liued The vnfained solytary man after Hieremy continueth peaceably with himselfe and hath his hart aboue 7 In the sayde wildernesse had she a place prepared of God Which is none other but Gods protection defence and sauegard promysed in the scriptures That the Lorde shoulde pieserue vs as he dyd his chosen people of Israell when he went before them in a cloude vpon the day and in the night in a piller of fyre Dauid boasted himselfe that God was hys refuge and that he dwelled vnder the defence and shadow of the highest So longe as the Lorde is my gouernour sayth he I can want nothing He fedeth me he sustaineth me I doubt no daunger for he is wyth me His staffe stayeth me hys worde and promise is my whole comfort 8 And there will the Lorde féede hir sayeth S. Iohn for the space of a thousand two hundred and thréescore dayes None other are fed with the scriptures and promises of God which is the bread of children not to be geuen to dogs but they which flyeth into the desert from the dragon forsaking both heade and tayle both suggestions and lawes both customes and constitutions For all are deuillish None other escaped the plague of Sodome but they whiche fled cleane from thence Lots wyfe but looking back only towardes it agayne was turned into a salt stoane 9 The numbred dayes héere are none other but the afore written time of the two witnesses the tyme of Helias preachinge the time of Iohns preachinge the
time of Christes preaching or the time of the gospell preaching from Christes assencion to the latter ende of the world That is the very time of the féeding of his Church And not open is this féeding here but in secret in the wildernes among a sort vnknowne to the worlde hauinge the pouertie of the spirit without shaâ—ing anoynting or hypocrits apparrell And not onely hath the Lorde thus nourished hys people in this spirituall respecte but also in body When they haue bene greuously handled spoyled of their goodes imprisoned and exiled graciously hath he reléeued them and prouided for them both solace and comeforte at the handes of them whom they neuer saw afore So that the iust hath not felt himselfe forsaken nor his children séeking bread THE TEXT 1 And there was a great battayle in heauen 2. Michaell and his Angels 3 Fought with the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels 4. And preuayled not 5. Nether was their place found any more in heauen 6. And the great Dragon that olde serpent called the deuill and Sathanas 7. was cast out 8. Whiche deceiued all the worlde 9. And he vvas caste into the earth and his Angelles were cast out vvith hym also The Paraphrase 1 And there happened at that time sayeth sainct Iohn a great battayle in Heauen In the Churche is euermore variaunce and strife wtout ceasinge betwixt the spirite and the flesh the good and the bad the faithfull and the vnfaithfull None other is this battayle but a very contradiction a diuersity in fayth study opinion wyll and worke aboute the lawes or commaundements of God and also about the lawes and tradycions of men This battaile is waightie in cause multitude and continuance The cause thereof is Christe the Gospell faith rightuousnesse mans health Gods high honour and such other lyke on the one partie Upon the other party the cause is errour hipocrisie lyes Idolatrye auarice pryde cruelty fylthynesse with al such other So great is the multitude that none is founde out of it None is there but are in this army Eyther they are good or bad faithfull or vnfaithfull rightuous or vnrightuous The rightuous are of the host of Michaell the vnrightuous are vppon the dragons side Continued hath this battayle from the firste beginninge and so shall styll to the latter ende Yea though the dragon be bound or tyed vp vnder the seauenth seale opening that he rage not then as he hath done afore Yet shall the spirit of wickednes and a mind to do mischief raigne inwardly styl in his members for Sathan can be but a Sathan and a Diuill a Diuill 2 Michaell and his Angels fought valyauntly with the dragon Spirituall are they whiche hath done on Christ after the minde of Paule and spirituall is their armoure Theyr gyrding is verytie their brest plate rightuousnesse their shielde a sure faith their wepon the word of God their helmet the hope of health and for stedfastnesse of their féete their shooinge the gospel By interpretation is Michaell to say who is as God or who is like vnto god And he betokneth the constant minister sincere teachers of the Gospell The Angels of Michael are al they that in a sure faith coÌ„fesseth the eternall magnificeÌ„ce of God and that none is lyke vnto hym Contrarywise the Dragons Angels are the hipocrits lying prophets and erronius teachers 3 These fight with the Dragon and the Dragon and his Angelles with them For he that is not with Christe is against hym With the rituous is Michael For ministring spirits are the Angels ordained for the coÌ„fort of theÌ„ which shall be saued And coÌ„maunded they are to wait vpoÌ„ the faithfull to preserue and defend theÌ„ The wicked sort haue the Diuil and his chaplaines to fight for them the rightuous haue Michael and his Angels The wicked fighteth with errours lyes the rightuous with the only verity of God 4 As vengeable as fierce as they are yet preuaile they not neither is their place found any more in heaueÌ„ Faith hath the victory by the promise of god though the blinde world séeth it not OuercomeÌ„ ar the wicked wheÌ„ their enterprises taketh not clene ouerthrowne wheÌ„ theyr beggery is conteÌ„ned And neuer is the full victory gotten no more theÌ„ it was in christ til the tabernacle of this body be laid aside At that day is the crown gotteÌ„ whom the Lord hath layde vp for the rightuous And lyke as there is dayly fighting so is therin some daily victory Dayly ar the angels of darknes ouerthrown daily are they cast out of heaueÌ„ which is the true church Daily are they coÌ„demned by the worde of God iudged for rebels against the holy ghost whose sin is neuer forgeuen 5 No place haue they any more with the chosen no electioÌ„ nor acceptation afore god The more light they haue had the more they haue tasted of the truth now forsaking it rebelling against it with the diuill the farther they are froÌ„ god the more nigh vnto daÌ„nation Neuer beléeued he truely that so had receiued the word Let none think to be saued vnlesse he perseuereth to the ende 6 And the great Dragon or capâ—tayne of all the vnfaithfull sorte that olde croked Serpent which deceiued Adam is called the diuill or malycious accuser yea and also Sathan the most cruell aduersarye with all hys clyentes and spirituall adherentes are certayne and sure to be cast out 7 With the rightuous they shall haue no porcion for all their gloryous tytles With the godly shall not their names be registred for all their holy vnccions But with the prince of this worlde they shall be throwne foorth 8 For he by them and they by him hath deceiued all the world in lying tokens and wonders and in the operation of errours to the vtter dampnation of all them that consenteth to their wickednesse 9 And he was cast into the earth his Angels also were caste out with him which is not els but that they are reserued to eternall damnation For seruing the creature rather than the Lorde that made all God hath forsaken them and geuen them ouer to theyr owne shamefull lustes All grace and goodnesse hath he taken from them and in all darknesse hath he left them Nothinge is now behinde but hell fyre prepared for the diuill and hys Angelles The church thus fyrste bringinge forth Christ among the Iewes and so by their cruelty driuen out into the wild deserte of the Gentiles hath bene there fedde of God in percecution euer since and shall be styll tyll the tearme come out of the aforesayde thousande two hundreth and thrée score dayes whose end is in the Lords handes THE TEXT 1 And I heard a lowde voyce whiche said 2. In heauen is now made saluation and strength 3. And the kingdome become our Gods 4. And the power his Christes 5. For he is cast dovvne which accused them before God day and night 6. And they ouercame him by
conclude like as in the body of Christ dwelth the whole fulnesse of the godhed corporally so dwelleth their in this body of Sathan the whole fulnesse of falshoode crafte sutiltye mallice with power to work al maner of mischife effectually really substancially and corporally THE TEXT 1 And I sawe one of his heades as it were wounded to death 2. his deadly wound was healed 3. and all the vvorld vvondered at the beast 4. And they worshipped the Dragon vvhich gaue povver vnto the beast 5. and they vvorshipped the beast 6. saying 7. Who is lyke vnto the beast 8. Who is able to vvarre vvith him The Paraphrase 1 And one of his heads saith Saint Iohn séemed vnto mée as it had béene wounded vnto death And it was not so indéed for his dedly woūd was healed againe Euident it is that in Iohns tyme Rome the mother of all whordome hadde subiecte vnto hir the .vij. clymates or vniuersall parts of the world with all their powers gouernours kinges possessiōs pōpes false worshippinges and such lyke Whom some wryters suppose méete to be takē here for the .vii. heads of this beaste But I finde an other thing in it the body of these .vii heads being but one stil cōtinuing so For though all were at that time vnder hir yet is it not so now yet stil remayneth this beast Therefore I doo take it for one vniuersall Antichrist as I did afore cōprehēding in him so well Mahomet as the Pope so wel the raging tyrant as the stil hipocrite all the wickedly worketh ar of the same body The .vii. heads of the beast may so wel be his presumptuous doings for the .vij ages of the church as any thing els yet no preiudice done to that hath ben said afore What should ayle this woūded head here not to signifie his supremite suppressed his vsurped authoritie power diminished his whole prodigious occupying cōdemned in this latter age of the church I suppose nothing more manifest vnlesse we haue eies will not sée Are not now in may parts of Germany in England also the Popes pardons layed aside His power put downe his name abolished his Purgatorye pilgrimages other peltries vtterly exiled and so lyke to be within short space in other regions also If this be not a deadly wounding of one of the beastes heads I think there is none If this be not an apparent likelihood of his fall there is none to be looked for 2 But the healing againe of this mortall wound is lyke to mar all make the last errour worse than the first In many places where as the Gospell hath béene preached the bishoppe of Rome deposed sectes shrynes sanctuaries destroyed monasteries priories and fryers turned ouer remayneth still theyr poyson with those same instrumentes wherewith they haue wrought all mischiefe Stil cōtinueth their more then Iewish ceremonies their priestybulous priesthoode theyr vowing to haue no wiues and their sodomitical chastitie Stil remineth their sale masses of all abhominations the principall their prodigious sacrifices their sensing of of Idoles their boyesh processions thieir vncōmaunded worshippings their confessiōs in the eare of all trayterie the fountayne with many other strange obseruatiōs whom the scripture of God knoweth not Nothing is brought as yet to Christes instituciō sincere ordinance but all remaineth still as the Antichristes left it Nothing is tryed by gods word but by the aūcient auctority of fathers Now passeth all vnder theyr title Though the olde bishops of Rome were of late yeares proued Antichristes and their names raced out of our bookes yet must they thus properly for old acquaintāce be called still our Fathers If it were naught afore I thinck it is now much worse for nowe are they become laudable cerimonies wheras before time they were but cerimonies alone Now are they become necessary rites godly cōstituciōs séemely vsages ciuill ordinances where as afore they had no such names And he that disobeieth them shall not onely be iudged a fellon and worthy to be hanged by their newe forged lawes but also condemned for a traytour against his king though he neuer in his lyfe hindred but rather to his power hath furthered the common wealth To sée this also with such like put in execucion the Bishoppes haue authoritie euery moneth in the yeare if they list to call a cession to hange and burne at theyr pleasure And this is ratyfied and confirmed by acte of Parliament to stande the more in effect If this be no healing of Antichristes wounded head neuer is lyke to be any Whan men shall defende frée wyll allow theyr popish masse to be a sacrifice satisffactory for the quick and the dead labour they any other thincks you than the healing of this wound He lykewyse that in an open audience mayntayneth our owne workes to iustifie by Dimitte nobis and other not rightly vnderstanded scriptures doth he any other than prepare a salue for the same Nay surely No lesse also dooth he that setteth men to open penāce at Pauls crosse for holy water making for processiō and sensing with other Popetish gauds constrayning them to promise the anauncement of the old fayth of holy church by such fantastical fopperyes as Bonner bishoppe of London dyd now of late to the lawhinge game wonderment of all the world Alas how is the people abused None other doo they but mock Christen Princes with flattery that giue them olde popish titles and blasphemous names of antichrist As to call thē most christen kinges and defenders of the catholike faith meaning the Popes old tradicions to heale the head of the beaste This is surely none other but with the sayde beast to receiue authoritie seate and power of sathan Lette them therefore take héede least they be founde the same antichristes that they haue condemned and so throwe thēselues double vnder the same plage Necessarye it is they beware what they drinke or what titles they take vpon them at their appointmēt least they forgetting them selues be foūde dronken by taking excesse of the Babilonish cup and so perishe with the wicked Marke here diligently thys word head and ye shal well perceyue how wonderfully the story agréeth wyth the mysterie 3 And all the world sayeth Sainct Iohn wondred at the beast All foolishe carnall and worldly people not vnderstanding the wisdome of Gods holy spirit dependeth all vpon theyr beastly baggage thinking all that they doe to be godly meritorious and spirituall They magnifie it prayse it and haue it in most hygh estimation yea they haue it in much more pryce than any thing that is of God In no wyse will they from theyr olde frenesie such is their excéeding blyndenesse For whan they heare tell their customes shall continue their gouernours agréeing to the same they clap their hands for ioye and sing Gaudeamus with the priestes 4 Yea they worship the Dragon which gaue such power to the beast With their hartes they reioyce
in him was the fulnesse of the veritie This beast hath but ii and yet they are but false couÌ„terfet They seme to be Christs are not These are the corrupted letter of the ii testaments falsly interpreted and for a carnall purpose alleaged And therefore it is but apparent hipocritishe and deceitfull yea and cleane repugnant to the Lordes meaning not hauing the iudgment of his spirit This letter without the holy ghost is death nothing pertaineth vnto Christ. He is the verytie life this is but a fable or ficcion His word is spirit and life this is but a brasse pot sounding or a latteÌ„ caÌ„delsticke tinkling fantastical faint sophisticall slaightye Though these séeme like Christs yet are they none of his but yâ— very horns of the beast For they vphold antichrists kingdom not his a worldly glory not his for his kiÌ„gdoÌ„ is not of this world no loÌ„ger ar they his words his lawes nor his testimonies thaÌ„ they maintaine his right honour No newly practised worshipinges aloweth he for his but vtterly abhorrith theÌ„ al as things rawe vnsauery 4 And therefore it folowith that this spake as did the dragon The doctrines and teachings of these false Apostles and deceitefull maisters are lyes in hipocrisye and the verye doctrine of deuils vnder title of the veriti repugnaunt to the same Not vnlyke to yâ— the serpent sayd vnto the woman ye shall not dye if you eate of the forbidden fruite but ye shall be surelye as Gods knowing both good and euyll They do as did sathan in the desarâ— Alwayes they perswade vs either of stones to make bread or els to throw our selues downward or els to worship the deuill That is to chaunge the good creatures of God from their right vse as trées into idoles silkes velvets cloth golde siluer into supersticious ornameÌ„ts chast mariage into stinking whoredome and sodomie with such lyke To decline from the duties coÌ„manded of God to their idle obseruacioÌ„s so making his commaundements of none effect for the vaine traditions of men And finally to fall vnto forbidden worshippings or abhominatioÌ„s of Idolatrie of whoÌ„ they are full And for these they haue with SathaÌ„ also their mangled scriptures to lay for theÌ„ to proue that the help of dead saincts is necessary their masses merytes works more than néede expedient and the fyre of Purgatory a fearefull thing with the diuil all of such fantasies These are the prelates of Antichrists church the two horned moÌ„sters or great bellyed Byshops rightly discribed here of the holy ghost in this two horned beast These beastly buszards ar not ashamed both to say write that in their miters they beare the figure of both Testaments whose veritie they impugne with tooth nayle Uery truly they say that they carrie the figure for in déede it is but a shadowe they beare Not to glorifie God but their owne beastly bodyes with gold pearl stone lyke MahouÌ„ds in a playe for hys trueth they most cruelly persecute These are the verye false Prophets the instrumeÌ„ts of sathaÌ„ the deceiuers wolues wagelings Iudasses dremers liers Idols aduersaries adders whelps foxes distroying the Lords vineyard deceitful workmeÌ„ desperate shephards blind watchmen dum dogs diuils incarnate wicked séede vnsaciate beasts whose God is their belly glory their confusioÌ„ To al these to many other such doth the holy ghost compare them for that they haue with their errors lyes turned the swéetnesse of the scriptures into bitternesse scarsly leauing one place therof vndefiled with their filthy dregs 5 This beast saith S. Iohn dyd all things that the first beast could doe euen before his own face The same lying power to deceyue in hypocrisie hath this beastly brood that the great Antichrist hath yâ— same wily craftes the same beastly kindes of idolatry so doeth vse them The same abhominations maintain they yâ— world ouer that the pope maintaineth at Rome Mahomet in Barbary of Turkye Yea the same superstitioÌ„s sorceries the same execrable traditions and beggeries The same ceremonies haue they that hée hath the same vnctions the same orders the same masses The same idle obseruatioÌ„s with vnknown cloyning clattering and wauling are still vsed in EnglaÌ„d like as they were vsed afore and with no lesse blasphemy vnto God 6 To doe suche things in the fyrst beasts presence is to do them where his power aucthoritie is raigning or where as is the seate of Sathan which is euery place that admitteth straunge worshipping 7 Both the earth them that dwell in the earth compell they to worship this first Beast Not only enforce they them to wicked Idolatry that neuer wold know the truth but also many of those which haue great knowledge in the same Oh how many are in EnglaÌ„d in other regioÌ„s also that in these daies worketh against faith knowledge the holy Ghost admitting the priestes abhominations Rather had they to dwell still in the earthly beggerie with the blasphemie of God than either to be out of fauour or to loose their offices to haue their goods hindred or to hazarde their lyues so swéet ar these waÌ„toÌ„ worldly plesurs Rather had they to perishe with the sonnes of Hely Samuel for abusing the ordinances of the Lord with Core DathaÌ„ AbiroÌ„ for rebelling against them to sinke vnto hel then with Christ to take paynes in pouertie But let not theÌ„ think to be worthy of Christ that better loue their owne carnall commoditie thaÌ„ his heaueÌ„ly veritie 8 Well the beast must they worship whose wouÌ„d is made whole His olde rustie rules newe burnished and his olde Romish ragges new patched by a newly confyrmed aucthoritie must they embrase in paine of death The Lambe shall not yet be suffred to appear Stil for a time must these terrible termagaunts haue more worship thaÌ„ God their traditions preferred to his most pure worde And why shuld it not be so haue they not now a new refourmed church in whom the beasts wouÌ„ded hed is newly restored So loÌ„g as it is like the popes church it must folow his rules and cleaue to his ordinauÌ„ces It shall not folow Christ in â—aith in doctrine til it appear like the church which he left here behynd him whan he ascended And that is not lyke to be yet 9 First must there be wrought great woÌ„ders Fyre must be compelled to come downe from heauen in the sight of men by this two horned beast The disciples of Antichrist with their by furked ordinaries must violeÌ„tly pluck from the true ChristiaÌ„ church whose reign is not of this world the eternal word of the Lord. 10 Then must they take from them the consuming fyre that Christ sent downe into the earth of mens harts to drye vp all mallice and sinne Yea they must depryue them of the cloueÌ„ fierie tonges which the holy ghost poured vpon the Apostles to the coÌ„fort of all the world The tresure that Christ hath left
the number of one seuenth be an infinit nuÌ„ber ther much more of many seuenthes 4 And I harde a voyce froÌ„ heauen saith S. Iohn which is all one with the aforesaid Sion is the vniuersal coÌ„gregacion of Christ all cleare froÌ„â— supersticions of men For from Sion commith the lawe of the Lord after Esay and the word of God from Ierusalem 5 This worde is as the noise of many waters whan it is in the mouthes of many diuers peoples of diuers nacions laÌ„guages one not vnderstanding an other yet knowing it eche people among them selues 6 Uery like is it also to a great thuÌ„der cracke mighty fearful and terrible to the fleshe Uery harde is thy word Lord sayde Christes disciples who is able to abide it 7 And the voice that I hard sayth Iohn was much after the noyse that the harpers make wheÌ„ they play vpoÌ„ their harps Ful of agremeÌ„t are the holi scriptures yea ful of swéet hermony concord more precious are the verities of the Lord than is golde and their melody more swéet than hony 8 With theÌ„ reioysed Dauid before the arke of the Lorde In them tooke Paule a stomake and coÌ„founded the Iewes at Damascus 9 And swéetly they vttered with their voyces a song that séemed all newe before the seat of the Lord before the foure beastes before the auncient elders This song is the word of the Lorde all new both to the good and to the il The faythfull it renueth in the spirit of their mynds prouoking them to do on a new man in Christ. The hartes of the vnfaithfull is so hardened that they in disdayn and spight doth call it new learning as did the ignoraÌ„t multitude at Caparnaum and the worldly wise men of Athens 10 Before the seate of the Lord was this song vttered which is the godly disposed multitude For like as the hart of an hipocrite is the very seate of sathan so is the harte of a faithfull man the seate of god and habytacle of the holy ghost 11 Before the iiii beasts was it opened also by this number of godly teachers which beasts ar the priuat coÌ„gregatioÌ„s of the Lord remaining here yet in the flesh in the iiii quarters of the world 12 Finally before the elders was it songe also For none other doctrine is it nor Gospell of glad tidinges than hath bin since the beginning nor than hath bene thankfully receiued of our old auncitors Patriarkes the Prophets the Apostles the faithful fathers 13 And no man could learne the new song but the aforesaide hundred and xliiij thousand which were redéemed from the earth Oh mighty wonderful yea tirrible sentence of the Lorde None that take them selues for the people of God can be accepted afore hym for the true féede of Abraham nor for the iust ministers of his worde vnlesse they be tokened afore with the holy spirit of his promise and so predestinate to the lyfe euerlasting 14 None can sincerely do that godly office to the profit of other vnlesse he be wholly taken from all fleshlye and worldly affects No man caÌ„ come vnto me saith Christ vnlesse it bée giuen him of my father 15 The wilfull Iewes beleued not bicause they were not the shéepe of his marke Neither is it of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of the onely mercy of the Lord. Necessarie is it therfore that his spirit draweth moueth inclineth the hart Els caÌ„ not the soÌ„g be swéet neither in him the singeth nor yet in the herer The notes of this new soÌ„g are gods heueÌ„ly verities registred in the faithfull hartes 16 And they that dyd signe them to the prayse of the Lord were not defiled with women With no straunge doctrines nor yet prophane worshippings is theyr faith coÌ„taminate that vnfainedly haue don on Iesus Christ. Not the spousage of their soules haue they broken by no filthy traditions of men Onely haue they with Dauyd sought the testimonyes of God and thought none lyke vnto them Onely dyd they cleaue to hys precyous lawes estéeming all other but chaffe and very whoredome in the spirite 17 Therfore are they vyrgines maryed vnto Christ in faith as were the Corinthians by Paules preachinge whoÌ„ he wished to coÌ„tinue a chast virgin vnto Christ. Neuer is the maydenhead of the soule lost till erronious doctrine be receiued froÌ„ the messengers of Antichrist the Bishops Hipocrites 18 The virgins or vncorrupted beleuers doth folow the lambe whersoeuer he becoÌ„meth They go after Christ the beleuing his word doth fashion their liues vnto it Like as they folow Antichrist the fashion their workes to his doctrine They walk in his steps that forsake theÌ„ selues with him that beareth the crosse of persecutioÌ„s with him or the suffreth deth for the truth with him And not they that séeke them selues lyuing héere in all pompe voluptuousnesse and Tiranny From this place fetch the blinde papists a great argument for their wiuelesse castity that none foloweth christ but they in this muster bicause they are vnmaried Neyther may AbrahaÌ„ Moises nor Dauid Zachary Peter nor Philip walk in this number bicause they had wyues So perillous a thing it is to haue a wife It is greate meruayle they admit Mary Christs mother to it bicause she had a husband Oh ignoraÌ„t asses very beastly Idiotes I think you follow Iudas which had neyther wyfe nor childe vnlesse he had theÌ„ sitting by other meÌ„s fyers as many of you haue yet at this same day What is vyrginitie before god more thaÌ„ is mariage No more thaÌ„ is circumcision in comparison to vncircumcision And that is nothing No more maketh the one thaÌ„ the other to a Christian life Only is it â—aith effectually working by loue that the Lord requireth of vs. Only respected he the faith of Mary and not hyr virginity They which liue in matrimony after the word of god ar accepted afore hiÌ„ for virgins so are named of S. Paule An other cauillatioÌ„ they haue that none which hath offeÌ„ded afore can be of this number But they consider not what is spokeÌ„ here afore that they wer redemed from the earth that the spirit of the lord hath purified their hartes throughe faith Neither haue they grace to remember the Christes innocency is reckened for an whole perfecte rightuousnesse vnto them that beléeue in him but they must bring in such trifles as are their owne beggerly merites 19 And therefore it followeth also These faithfull beléeuers saith sainct Iohn were redéemed froÌ„ men being the first fruites to God to the lambe By none other were they redemed than by Christ. For of all the elect nuÌ„ber he is the only rightuousnesse wisdom holinesse redemption From the corrupt blinde froward multitude hath he called them taken them and cleared them And of deformed sinners hath he made theÌ„ faire of vile pure of wretched gloryous of blinde perfectly séeing of lyars true sayers of obstinate gentle of yll good and
of the foure Beasts gaue vnto the seuen Angels 10. Seauen golden vials 11. ful of the vvrath of god vvhich liueth for euermore 12 and the teÌ„ple was ful of smoke 13. For the glory of God and for his power 14. And no man vvas able to enter into the temple 15. Tyll the seauen plagues of the seuen Angels vvere fulfilled The Paraphrase 1 And anone after that saith S. Iohn I loked yet more adâ—â—sedly And sodeÌ„ly as it were the euerlasting teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of witnes was opeÌ„ in heaueÌ„ 2 A mistery this is very earnestlye to be marked as a thiÌ„g of great waight The Lord almightye is this eternall temple he is the temple not made with hands vncreated gloryous and ful of maiesty coÌ„prehending in him al thiÌ„gs he within none againe comprehended He is the Lord of all He measureth heauen with his span he ouer reacheth all the world with his iii. fingers In him we liue we moue and haue our beyng The tabernacle of witnes is the lambe Iesus Christ. He is that very tabernacle of God that was here amoÌ„g men bearing that faithful witnes which geueth wisdom to babes He is the propiciatory or mercy seate wherin we are hard and forgeuen Neither was this tabernacle of this manner building but much more perfecte and greater This holy tabernacle is with in the aforesayd temple for Christ dwelleth in the father and the father in him 3 Open is this temple in heauen the tabernacle séene whan god is known by true preaching christs doctrine beléeued For he came into the world for that purpose was borne to beare witnesse vnto the truth whoÌ„ the father willed only to be hard concerning faith 4 This temple and tabernacle open or god and his worde once knowne in this latter age the seauen Angels coÌ„meth forth The eternall decrées of gods secret iudgemets apéereth are fulfilled in their times As Angels or messeÌ„gers of god thei haue in his eternitie theyr iust plagues in their season appointed to be exhibited 5 And therfore are they sayd to come out from the temple whiche is God Nothing hath he purposed to the world but he hath decréed it afore the worldes constitution For his purpose minde and pleasure is as he is euerlasting And as it falleth to the world by hys assignement it becommeth a messenger going out of the temple So many hath he sent out of such messeÌ„gers as he hath fulfilled decréed purposes And marueil not though they be here called angels considering that it is the commoÌ„ maner of the holy scriptures euermore to call them Angels which vttereth the will pleasure and commaundement of God as they doe here After this sort are the priests called Angels so is Aggeus the prophet so is S. Iohn Baptist so are Christes disciples also the publique preachers 9 What the plagues are that they shall shed out of their vials will be shewed clearly in the next chap. folowiÌ„g one after an other 7 These Angels are apparelled in pure whit linnen bright shininge as christal and girdels about theyr brests with girded of fine golde whiche betokneth their sincere cleannes their gloryous perfitnesse For what can be more pure precious than the eternall decrées of the lord What can be more perfit and glorious than his prediffined purposes The lawes of God are vndefiled the testimonies are true the statuts are right the waies are suer the commaundements are cleare the iudgements are godly the words are pure and precious Yea the gifts that come from the father of light are euer more perfit and good 8 The gyrding of their breasts is the streight spearing vp of the secret meaning of Gods iudgementes from our carnall vnderstanding till such time as he openeth theÌ„ vnto vs by his spirit for it belongeth not vnto vs to deserue such secrets as the father reserueth to his owne power 9 And one of the foure beastes or congregations saith S. Iohn delyuered vnto the aforesayde .vii. Angels .vii. golden vials replenished with the wrath full displeasure of God which liueth for euermore Though the congregations be in the first chapter .vii. in the fourth .iiii. vnderstanded by the foure beastes yet are they héere in this place brought all vnto one and called one of the iiii or els of the foure made one for so muche as the vniuersall christian church is of one consent one faith one baptim one god and pertayneth to one Christe For so much also as it confesseth beléeueth and teacheth one doctrine of health One is my doue saieth the holy ghost one is my dearelye beloued darlyng A beast is it here noted as liuing in the flesh and not yet mortified by death 10 The vials of Gods wrath are the vngodly reprobates fit onely for destruction Golden are thei here named because they appeare gloryous in the worldly iudgementes of men Uerye paynted tombs are the dissembling hipocrits within full of stinking bones A shining name of life haue thei yet are they inwardly dead For all that they do is to be séene of men 11 Full of wrath are they wherby is ment a sinfull vnderstanding with damnable doctrins For very swift ar thei to al vngodlynesse The .vi. properties haue they which the Lord hateth and the seuenth which he vtterly abhoreth A proud looke a dissembling tongue bloudy hands a wicked hart féet redy vnto mischife wayes to practise lyes sowings of dissencioÌ„ amoÌ„g brethren These are geuen of the true christen congregation to the vii Angels or decréed purposes of God to be iudged as thei haue eternally diffined For none other is their continuall prayer but that his wyll be fulfilled and that his predifined intentes againste the peruerse multitude be finished at theyr conuenient times None other is it to put into the Angels handes the vials of gods displeasure than thus to commit them by faithful prayer to his purposed decrées or fore set ordinaunces 12 Bâ—t because that commonly whan gods iudgements begin to wax knowen all thinges are commoned troubled therfore is it said here conseqently that the temple was full of smoke by reason of the maiestie of God and of his gloryous power This smoke are certayne misteries representing vnto vs the hidden maiestie of gods eternall presence Whose brightnesse can no frayle vnderstanding abide Not al the world could not sustaine it if all thinges were opeÌ„ playne coÌ„cerninge it In no wise could Moyses presently sée the face of God only might he be suffered to sée his backe partes for no maÌ„ can se God liue Only is he sene here in this life as in a glasse or vnder a dark speking He appereth vnto vs here in a mistical smoke like as he dyd to the patriarck Iacob in sléepe to Moises in the flaming bush to Helias in the horle winde to the Apostles in fyery toÌ„gs vnto Ananias in a secret visioÌ„ 13 Under the shadow of figurate locucioÌ„ is his glory for the elect persons and
ben one of theÌ„ my self And this is to this day a principal religion of the whorish Church called deuout pilgrymage or holy stations of prayer many greate pardons granted many false promises made to alure the people therevnto 9 But blessed be the Lord whose word in this age both admonished many as the Angell did Iohn and brought them also cleane from hir abhominatioÌ„s into a secret coÌ„sideration of the spirit vnknowen to the world there both to sée hir pride and also to vnderstand hir iudgement For it followeth in the text that the Angel coÌ„ueyed Iohn away into the wildernesse in the spirite 10 In mistery here the holye Ghost declared afore what the Lorde should worke in men hauing his grace at the latter dayes of the world Into the wildernesse flée they with Dauid which leauing the customed wayes of meÌ„ after the course of the scriptures séeke vp their Lord God in faith worshippyng him onely in spirite and in veritie THE TEXT 1 And I sawe a woman sit vpon 2. a rose coloured beast 3. full of names of blasphemy 4. vvhich had seuen heads and ten hornes 5. And the vvoman vvas arayed 6. in purple and rose eolour 7. decked vvith golde precious stone pearls 8. had a cup of golde in hyr hand 9. ful of abhominatioÌ„s 10. filthinesse of hir vvhordom 11. And in hir fotehead vvas a name vvritteÌ„ 12. A mistery 13. Great BabiloÌ„ the mother of vvhoredom abhominations of the earth 14. And I savv the vvife dronken vvith the bloud of saints vvith the bloude of the vvitnesses of Iesu. 15. And vvhen I savv hir 16. I vvondred vvith great meruayle The Pharaphrase 1 And I sawe saith Saint Iohn in mistery a woman for an whore at the first bloush semeth only a woman sitting vpon a rose coloured beast This beast is the great Antichrist that was spoken of afore or the beastly body of the diuil comprehending in him Popes Patriarkes Cardinalles Legaâ—es Bishops Doctours Abbotes Priors Pristes and Pardoners monks Chanons Friâ—rs Nuns so forth Temporall gouernours also as Emperors Kings Princes dukes Erles Lords Iustices Deputies Iudges Lawyers Maiers Bayliues Cunstables so forth leauing their owne dutied offyces as to minister rightly to serue their abhominacions 2 All rose coloured is this beast in token of tirannous murther blodshedding ouer those that will not agree to their diuillishnesse 3 Ful of blasphemous names is this beast also as your holines your grace your Lordeshippe your fatherhoode your mastership your reuereÌ„ce honor highnesse worship magnificence goodnesse Gods vicar spirituall syr ghostly father phisition of soules defender of faith head of the holy church and so foorth besides the names of theyr properties feates and pagents as procession bishopping anelyng purgatorie pylgrimage pardon masse mattens euensong placebo Candelmasse day Palm sunday Ash wednesday holy roode day S. Thomas day so forth 4 This beast had vij heads and ten hornes signifying his vniuersal crafts and suggestions to distroy the graces and giftes of the holy Ghost and also his falsely borrowed primacies tyrannous aucthorities to withstand the commaundements of God 5 Upon this beast sitteth a woman For what els auauÌ„ceth or beareth out this malignant muster in their copes crosses oyles myters robes relickes ceremonyes vygiles holy dayes blessings sensings and foolings but a waÌ„ton foolish and fantasticall religion a vayne glorious pompe and a shinyng pretence of holynesse in superstition callyng it theyr holy church Shée is sayd here to sit vpon this bloudy beast as to be stayed quieted and setled by them Marke what labours and paines that craftie and wyly Winchester taketh with Bonner Tonstall and other of his fashion as hyr own sworne souldyours to holde vp thys glorious whore in hyr olde estate of romishe religion Oh he grunteth and groneth he sweateth swelleth he fretteth and belleth he bloweth panteth calketh and canteth he sturreth neuer ceaseth to bring his matters to passe 6 In token that this hypocryticall church standeth in the murther of innocents this womaÌ„ is here gloriously apparelled in purple as giltie of theyr deathes which hath bene slayne and also in fresh scarlet as euermore fresh ready to coÌ„tinue in the same bloudshedding For if such tirrible slaughter wer not the true christiaÌ„ faith shuld increase to the great diminishmeÌ„t of hir glory 7 Shée is in lyke case florishingly decked with golde precious stone and pearles not onely in hyr manyfolde kynds of ornaments as in hyr copes corporasses chesibles tunicles stooles fannous and myters but also in mysterie of counterfeite godlinesse Many outward bragges maketh thys painted chuâ—ch of Christ of his Gospel and of his Apostles signified by the gold precious stone pearles which is but a glittering colour For nothing myndeth shée lesse than to followe them in conuersation of lyuing 8 Moreouer in hir hand which is hyr exteriour ministration shée hath a golden cup full of abhominations and filthinesse of hyr execrable whoredome This cup is the false religion that she dayly ministereth besides the chalice whoÌ„ hir marchaunts most dampnably abuseth And it contayneth all doctrine of diuils all beastly errours and lyes all deceiptfull power all glytteryng workes of hipocrites all crafty wisdoÌ„ of the flesh subtile practises of mans witte besides philosophy logick rhetorick and sophistry Yea all prodigious kynds of Idolatry fornicatioÌ„ sodometrie and wickednesse Outwardely it séemeth golde pretending the glory of God â—he holy name of Christ the sacred scryptures of the Byble perpetuall virginity of life and al are but counterfet colours shadows of hipocrisy in the outwarde letter and name 9 Ful of abhominacions is the drink of the excreable faith of that Romish religion receiued of other full of filthynes also for both retaineth the people therof innumerable kinds of Idol worsippinges vnder the title of Gods seruice and also their shauelinges of prodigeous beastlynes in lecherouse liuing vnder the colour of chastity Here were muche to be spoken of Sayncte Germayns euil sainct Sithes key sainct Uncombers otes maister Iohn shornes bote saint Gertrudes rattes saint Iobe for the pox saint Fyacre for ague saint apoline for toth ake sainct Graciane for lost thrift saint WalstoÌ„ for good haruest S. Cornelis for the foule euil al other saints els almost 10 Of the buggery boyes also among prelates pristes Gohstly fathers religious might much be sayde here were it not for infecting mens eies ears vnderstaÌ„dings For al these noiful nocuments are the holy frutes of the whordom of the holy whorish Chuche 11 In the forehead of this glittering whore which is hir outward shew is written a name expreslye declaring what she is By hir vngodly fruites is she knowen to the elect seruaÌ„ts of god hauing the light of the scriptures In their consiences appereth she none other than a pestiferous whore by the iudgements of the same 12 A very mistery is this shew to the infidels an hiddeÌ„ secret an vnknown
wonder For they are so blinded with hyr foppryes tangled with hir toies that they iudge all that she doth holy religeous and perfect And al this suffereth God for their vnbeleues sake destroyinge neuerthelesse the wysdome of the wise and prudence of the prudent in his 13 Hir very name agréeing to hir fruites is this Great BabiloÌ„ in mischiefe far aboue the citie of the ChaldeaÌ„s and much more full of confusion For shée is the originall mother the cause the bginnyng the roote the spryng and the fountaine of all spirituall fornications and in a maner of all fleshly abhominations also done vpon the earth This is to the faithfull sort as a written name of hir euident cleare open and manifeste But to the vnfaithfull it is onely as a mistery hidden darke obscure and neclect For so are the secrets that God openeth to babes hydeth from the wise 14 And I saith Iohn perceiued it euidentlye in my fore vnderstandinge that this woman the very wife of the deuill and of his beastly body for the bysshâ—ps are the husbandes of theyr romyshe churches was all dronken in the bloudy slaughter of the Saincts or ernest christian beléeuers and in the excéedinge tyrannous murther of the faithfull witnesses of Iesu or sincere preachers of his word For neither of both she spareth Besides all Godlye wisdome is she and forgetfull of hyr selfe through this same blouddye dronknes so great exces hath she takeÌ„ 15 And when I perceyued and sawe hir with all hir adders whelpes so beastyshe sayth saynt Iohn with exceading wonder I marueyled Not only that she was thus ouerset with bloud drinking or outragious murthering of inocentes but also of hyr excéeding great abhominacions 16 And most of all I wondered that the almighty God could with so much paciâ—nce suffer hir in such mischiefe The texte 1 And the Angell sayde vnto me 2. Wherefore merueilest thou 3. I wyll shew thee the misterye of the woman and of the beast that beareth hyr which hath seauen heades and ten hornes 4. The beast that thou seeste was 5. And is not 6. And shall ascende out of the bottomlesse pit 7. And shall goe into perdicion 8. And they that dvvel on the earth shal vvoÌ„der 9 whose names are not vvritteÌ„ in the booke of lyfe from the beginninge of the vvorld 10. vvhen they beholde the beaste that was and is not The Paraphrase 1 And as I was thus with my selfe marueilynge the Angell or afore named decrée of the Lord sayde vnto me these words 2 Wherfore doest thou thus maruel thou mortall man 3 For thy gentle and méeke expectation I shall shew vnto thée the mystery of this wretched woman and of the cruell beaste that beareth hir whiche hath seauen heades and ten hornes By this shalt thou know the true churche from the â—alse the iust preachers from the hipocrites the sincere doctrine from their subtile sophismes their lawful authority from their cruelly vsurped presumcions For that sheweth the Lord vnto his electes that he will not haue knowne of all men 4 The execrable beast or carnal kiÌ„gdom of Antichrist which thou hast sene here in mistery was as concerninng his beginning in Caine first of al so continue forth in the fleshly children of men in the chaplaines of Pharao Hieroboam Baal and Bel in the cruell bishopes pristes and lawiers with such other like til the death of Christ and so forth 5 And now the said beast is not in power and authority as he hath bene For in Iohns time certayn yeares before the writing of this reuelacion was the proud clergy of the Iewes vtterly destroyed by Titus and Uespasian in the terrible siege of Hierusalem Notwithstanding yet shal this beaste rise againe in the Romishe Pope and Mahomet and in their false prelates and doctours 6 He shal assend out of the bottomles pit from the stinking denne of sathan exalting him selfe in worship aboue al that is called God But in the conclsiuon he shall haue an end 7 Into perdicion shal he go without fail The Lorde shall firste vtter his wickednesse as now in this age and than with the spirit of his mouth consume him and destroy him So that his high climing vp shal at the laste be the chefe cause of his fal Yet shal his wicked reÌ„nauÌ„t once again set vp their Christes persecute a fresh but that shal be no full raise vnto hym 8 And the rable of reprobates which dwel on the earth or for earthly commodities conteÌ„neth Gods truth shall wonder once again not without much inward reioyce that their Churche riseth againe out of the olde hipocrisyes 9 Whose names are not registred in Christe which is the large booke of life and hath bene both the life the lyght of men since the first constitucion of the mouable world No they are not numbred amoÌ„g those rightuous that shall raigne with hym in glory 10 These aduersaries of God and his worde shall haue much gladnesse in their wicked hartes whan they beholde the beast thus comminge vp agayne that was of such magnificence and now is but a thinge of noughte that was estéemed aboue GOD and now is proued dampnacion So longe is this beastly Antichriste as he worketh the misterie of iniquitie in the reprobate vesselles and whan he leaueth that workinge than is he no longer Marke in this processe past the nature of GODS eternall decrée for this age of his Church Fyrst it sheweth and than it condempneth the curssed Sinagog of the diuel In signification whereof the true preachers of our time haue manifeâ—â—ly opened hir wickednesse vnto all the worlde wherevpon her vtter destruction must shortely follow Watch good Christian Reader and pray earnestly THE TEXT 1 And here is a minde that hath vvisdome 2. The seauen heades are seuen mountaines 3. Whereon the vvoman sitteth 4. They are also seuen kings 5 Fiue are fallen 6 And one is 7. And the other is not come 8. Whan he commeth he must continue a space 9. And the beast that vvas and is not is euen the eight 10. And is one of the seauen 11. And shall go into destruction The Paraphrase 1 Here is a meaning which comprehendeth wisdom A sincere vnderstanding shal herein be requisit Necessary it is therfore to take héed lest thou holde the harlot and beast for that they boast them selues to be to thy dampnacion 2 The seauen heades of the beast aforemencioned by the plaine diffinicion of the holy ghost are here to be taken for seuen mountaines or the vniuersall princly monarchies of the .vij. climates of the world 3 Upon these the woman that Babilonish harlot Rome from whom hathe issued all spirituall whordome in moste proud maner sitteth hauynge ouer them a vnyuersall domynyon For in Iohns time to Rome was all the worlde subiecte Onder whose cruell reigne was Christe done to death so hath his faythfull members bene euer since by a new raised kingdome in the same 4 These heads are also vii kynges or
therefore I passe it ouer here Onely haue I rehearsed their names as I could doe yet many more to put â—ée in remembraunce that God hath alwayes had some in the world which hath not in all poynts coÌ„sented to their blasphemies though they haue not had the lyght of this trueth so open as wée haue it now Many godly Emperours and CouÌ„seilâ— general haue attemted this reformacion in the church but euermore haue they fouÌ„d vngodly princes against theÌ„ to houlde the Antichristes stil in their wickednes Yet doubt I not but Pharao with his hoast shall perishe in the sea and the proud Iewishe priestes in the cittie for theyr manyfolde blasphemyes at the tyme now appointed of the Lord. 5 For the sinnes of this whore or abhominacions without number of the false religion hyr stinkeing Idolatry and slaughter of InnoceÌ„ts are gone vp vnto heauen against hyr requiring the great vengeaÌ„ce of God The filthines of theÌ„ hath moued him to wrath and kinled his displesure towards hir putting hym in rememberaunce of his eternal decrée coÌ„cerning hir destructyon The greatnes of hir mischiefs hath touched heauen and hath axed with Sodome and Gomor the fearfull plages threatned hyr 6 And the merciful Lorde beholding the affliction of his people pittying their miserable thraldoÌ„ in the spiritual Egipt hath coÌ„sidered hir vngodly behauiour wayed hir wilfull wretchednesse and measured hir vnmerciful murther coÌ„maunding his appointed ministers to execute vpoÌ„ hir his iudgmentes without mercy 7 Rewarde hir nowe saith he in euery coÌ„dicioÌ„ as she hath rewarded you afore Measure agayne vnto hir lyke as she hath measured to you nowe that ye haue the iudgement seates Crye out vpon hir as she hath cried out vpon you Snare hir as she hath snared you Destroy hir as she hath destroyed you As she hath taken vengeaunce of you so take you vengeaunce againâ— of hir Lyke as she hath afflicted you Iudgeâ— you and condemned you by the lawes of meÌ„ so scurge you hir againe iudge hir an harlot and condemne hir to hell by the mightie worde of God 8 Sée that you giue hir two folde in punishment according to hir wicked deseruings Where as she hath taken from you no more but the life of the bodie take you away from hir againe the lyfe both of bodie and soule 9 Into the same bitter cuppe of sorowâ— that she hath filled vnto you in hir mallice powre you in double again to hir Where as she hath geuen you a temporal death giue hir the death euerlasting doubling vnto hir both the griefes and continuance of them 10 Yea consider how greatly she hath glorified hir selfe against God in blasphemous errours in pride in pleasures and in wanton liuing 11 And so muche let hir tast of moste terrible punishmentes sorowfull plages waylinges gnashinges of téeth An holy priesthod hath she pretended a regal dignitie hath she vsurped and both those powers moste shamefully hath she so abused therefore let hir haue the penalties dew vnto such presumption Take from hir hir plesauÌ„t Euphrates with the spoyles and profites wherein she hath inordinatlye delighted and throwe hir into mostâ— depe wretchednesse here besides that shal follow in an other worlde THE TEXTE 1 For she sayth in hir hart 2. I sitte beyng a queene 3. am no widovv 4. and shal see no sorovv 5. Therefor shal hir plages coâ— at on day 6. death and sorovv and honger 7. And she shal be brent with fyre 8. For stronâ— is the Lord God 9. vvhich shall iudge hyr The commentary 1 For hyghlye shée standeth in hyr owne conseit as yet boasting hyr selfe to be the great goodnesse of the earth 2 I sit here in wealth and pleasure saith she being a glorious quéene yea the holy church hir self hauing authoryty in heauen in earth and in hel with power to lose and bynd saue damne With me is it not as with them that are not of this world or haue no dwelling place here for all is at my wyll and pleasure 3 I am no desolate widow The powers of this world standeth by me The mighty princes and potentates defendeth me with the death of innocente peple Neuer was Nero Domicianus Traianus nor Marencius with other cruel tirrauntes more sure vpon my side in defence of supersticions than they are yet still to this houre 4 Therefore I can take no seathe nor yet féele of any sorrowe I shal be lady for euer Neuer shall my seate be remoued Neuer shall I fall nor any mâ—shappe light vpon me Such are the bold bragges of the papistes that Peters lytle shippe may well be moued with the tempest of heretiques but neuer shall it be ouerthrowen thynking therby the whorish church shal euermore continue and neuer come to naught 5 They coÌ„sider not how stroÌ„g the Lamb is against whoÌ„ they dayly fight And therfore shall the terrible plages which God hath appointed hir to suffer heauily light vpon hir and all in one day 6 At once shall he powre vpon that wicked congregation death sorowe hunger lyke as he did fyre and brimstone vpon the sinfull cyties Perpetually shall they be depriued of the lyfe which is in Christ Iesu. Continuall wéeping and téeth gnashing shall they haue their worme neuer dying Still shal they inwardly famish and neuer with felicitie be satisfied 7 With vnquencheable fire shall this whore be brent with hyr whole generation of hypocrites prepared for the diuil and his Angels 8 Effectual and trwe is the sentence for mightye is the Lorde that shall iudge hir condemne hir by his word 9 Iust is he in his promise true in his sayings gloryous in his works holye terrible and fearefull in his iudgements against the wicked None shall be founde able at that day to restrayne the least part of his purposed vengeance neyther Mary throwyng in hir beades into saint Michaels balaunce Iohn Baptist with his Lamb Peter with his key nor yet Paule with his long sword Though Moyses and Samuell the chosen Prophetes of the Lorde yea with Noe Daniell and pacient Iob should stand before hym at that day yet should they not be haâ—d THE TEXT 1 And the kings of the earth shall be vvepe hyr 2. and vvayle ouer hyr 3. vvhich haue coÌ„mitted fornication 4. and lyued vvantonlye vvith hir 5. vvhan they shall see the smoke of hir burning 6. and shall stand a farre of 7. for feare of hir punishment saying 8. Alas alas that great citie 9. Babilon 10. that mightie citie 11. For at one houre commeth thy iudgement The Commentary 1 Moreouer the carnally mynded kings of the earth sayth the aforesayde Angell which hath for hyr pleasure abused their aucthoritie and power shall take hyr sodayne distruction in thys lyfe very heauily 2 Yea they shall moste sorrowfully bewayle them selues ouer hir as men very ill contented with that ordinance of God They shall be sorie in their heartes that his worde is become so stronge agaynst hyr that they can resist it with
theyr bellyes and thys wyl be the tenour of their wofull tragedy 10 Alas alas that worthy citie that royall Rome that swéet Babilon that holye mother of ours in whom we were left so rich so mighty so strong that all the worlde feared vs we felt of no sorrowes 11 Specially all we that had ships in the sea or that had Bishopprickes benefices and other fat liuings amonge the wauering wanderers of the light laytie inconstaunt fyckle and foolysh where as GODS worde is not knowne 12 We became wealthy in all maner of pleasures by reason of hyr costly and profitable wares that those our shippes contayned whiche are to many to be now rehearsed 13 Full woe are we heauy at the hart remembring that famous citie for at one houre is she made desolat In this last age of his Churche wyll the Lord consume hir with his breth not leauing in hir one stone vppon an other Like as the shadow that passeth shal she vanish away lyke the dry thistle Floure or dust that is scatered with the winde Suche wordes sayeth the wise man Philo shall they speak in hell that haue sinned besides their desperate complaynt in this lyfe Some expsitours haue taken al these kings marchants vnd ship gouerners for one manner of people or generation of Antichrist And it may wel be for so much as they are all of the earth None of these are they iustlye by the authorytie of God but very tiraunts théeues and manquellers THE TEXT 1 Reioice ouer hir thou heauen 2. And ye holy Apostles 3. And Prophetes 4. For God hath geuen your iudgemente on hir 5. And a mighty Angell tooke vp a stone lyke a great milstone 6. And cast it into the sea saying 7. With such violence shall that great Citie Babilon be caste 8. And shall be founde no more 9. And the voyce of harpers and musitianes 10. and of pipers and trumpeters 11. shal be heard no more in thee 12. And no craftes man of vvhatsoeuer crafte he be shall be founde any more in thee 13. And the sounde of a mille shall be hearde no more in thee 14. And candell light shall be◠no more burning in thee 15. And the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde shall be heard no more in thee 16. For thy merchaūts vvere the Princes of the earth 17. and vvith thine inchauntments vvere deceiued all nations 1◠And in hyr vvas founde the bloude 19. of the Prophets 20. and of the saincts 21. and of all that vvere slayne vpon the earth The Commentary 1 With all myrth possible sayeth the text reioyce thou heauē or thou faithfull congregation of God to sée thys aduoutrous church of Antichrist ouerthrowen Be glad in thy hart not that thy quarell is reuenged but in that the rightuousnesse of God is fulfilled hys people being at libertie 2 Haue myrth conuenient ye holy Apostles or messengers of the Lorde with them that the Gospell hath called 3 Ioye with our brethren ye aunciēt Prophets or godlye teachers of the olde lawe 4 For your merciful God hath heard your pittious crye from vnder the aulter and hath perfourmed vpon the blasphemous whore the same selfe iudgement that you desired According to your owne request hath he reuenged all your innocēt bloud which hath bene shed vpon earth since Abell the ryghtuous The same dampnation haue they now iustly that they ministred vnto you vniustly Yea double for so muche as they haue it both in theyr bodyes and soules where as you had it but alone in your bodyes 5 And immediatly saith S. Iohn an Angell of great power betokening the true preachers of the latter age of the church strōgly indued frō aboue tooke vp a stone of exceding weight very like in simylitude vnto a greate milstone They shal gather vp out of Esay Hieremy Abacucke other Prophets the mighty tirrible iudgemēts of the Lord which are the heauy stone that shall grinde his enimies into pouder 6 This stone shal they cast into the sea They shal publish preach and declare vnto the people of this worlde which are as the mouable floud those heauy iudgements which shal light vpō that blasphemous churche of theirs at the tyme appoynted and thus shall they say vnto them 7 So vyolent and heauy shall be the distruction of that myserable citie that mysticall Babylon that prostibulous church of Antichrist with hir shorne citizens and smeared hipocrites as is the waightie fal of an excéeding great milstone in the bottome of the sea rysing vp no more agayn yea so tirrible and fearefull 8 With shame and confusion shall that wicked generation come downe and neuer more be foūd hereafter neither in the earth nor yet in heauen Though in their painted stories they put popes cardinals bishops monks chanōs shauen priests friers nuns and heremites in heauen amonge the saincts yet are there none such nor neuer shal be Their resting place is the bottome of the sea by the iudgements of God vnlesse they renounce those vaine supersticions and cleaue to the sincere verities of the Lord. Much haue they boasted in their writinges that their holy mother of predigious orders and disguised relygyons should euermore continue 9 But be certaine and sure thou myserable church saith the holy ghost that thou shalt no lēger enioy the cōmodious pleasures of a frée cittye all quietous without trubles The mery noyes of them that play vpon harpes lutes and fidels the swéet voice of musicians that sing with virginals vials and chimes the armony of them that pipe in recorders flutes and drums and the shirle showt of trumpets waits shawmes shall no more be heard in thée to the delight of men 10 Neyther shal the swéet Organs containing the melodious noyse of all maner of instruments byrdes be plaied vpon nor the great belles be rong after that nor yet the fresh discant prick song counter point and faburden be called for in thée which art the very sinagog of Sathan 11 Thy lasciuious armonye delectable musique much prouoking the weake hartes of men to meddle with thy abhominable whordom by the wantonnes of Idolatry in that kinde shal perish with thée for euer 12 No cunning Artificer Caruer Paynter nor Gilder Embroderer Goldsmith nor silk worker with such other like of what occupacion so euer they be or haue bene to thy cōmodity shall neuer more be found so agayne Copes cruettes candelstickes miters crosses sēsers crismatoris corporasses and chalices which for thy whorishe holines might not somtime be touched will thā for thy sake be abhorred of all men Neuer more shall be builded for marchāts of thi liuery mark palaces tēples abbeys collages couēts chauntries fair houses horcherds of plesure 13 The clapping noise of neyther wyndmil horsemil nor watermil shal any more be heard to the gluttenous féeding of thy puffed vp porklings for the maintenaunce of thine idle obseruacions ceremonies No more shal those idle belly gods swill vp
the sweate thâ—re of the labouring man nor deuour the poore widdowe fathereesse for strayning out a gnat 14 The continual light of lampes before the high aulter the burning cressettes at triumphes in the night the torches at burials solempne processions tapers at high masses and the candels at offeringes shall neuermore burne in thy sinful sinagog 15 No more shal the bridgrome desyre after thy folish ordenaÌ„ce to be Ioyned to his wife nor the bride to hir lawfull husbande No more shal that frée state of liuing be bound vnder yoke of daÌ„pnable dremes neyther for vowes vnaduised nor for popish orders nor yet for any gossiprye but be at full lyberty as the Lord hath ordained it No commodities prophets nor pleasures shalt thou haue any more of these nor yet of such like as afore time thou haste had of them in habundance 16 For thy mitred marchaunts were sumtime princes of the earth whan they reigned in their roialty Thy shorn shauelinges were Lordes ouer the multytude whan they held their priestly authority ouer the soules bodies of men 17 Yea and with thy priuy legardemaine with thy iugling castes with the craftes and inchauntmentes of thy subtile charmes were all nacions of the world deceyued With lies in hipocrisy were the great gouernours most miserably blinded with errours in supersticion the coÌ„mon people seduced And all was to satisfye thy voluptuous affectes Only remayneth to thée nowe the dwe rewarde of thy wickednesse which is an euerlasting dampnacion 18 All this is said here saith the holy Ghoste for that in this aduoutrous church is found the great slaughter of innocentes 19 Gilty appereth she afore God of al the blod of the holy prophets of the olde lawe As were Esaye Hieremy Ezechiel and Amos. 20 And of the sincere witnesses of the new lawe as were Steuen Iames Antipas and Paule 21 Yea and of all those Godly men that were slaine vpon earth from rightuous Abel vnto the end of the world for the faithfull testimony of God Among whom may they also be numbred which hath in battayles skirmyshes and vprores at the Popes appoinment in all Christian regions bene vnmercifully murthered for the fulfilling of his insacyable purpose The xix Chapter NOw foloweth in course the conuenyent prayse of thankesgiuing vnto God for rightuously condempnyng the blasphemous church of Antichrist and for graciously auenging the innocent bloud of his true seruaunts Here are two maner of peoples to be considered of whom the one is sorowful the other reioyseth all about one matter The fall of this malignauÌ„t church is to the one sorte a discomforte to the other a heauenly comforte The kings the merchaunts and the shippe gouernours of the earth most dolorously lamenteth the distruction of their mad vanities The vnregarded or forsaken number of those simple soules yâ— faithfully beleueth in Christ ar highly glad of it for his gloryes sake About thys one decay cryeth the one sort wo wo wo. The other sort singing wyfully in their harts vnto God so oft tymes Alleluia So much dyffreth the one from the other the children of darkenes froÌ„ the children of light they that séeke their owne glory from them that séeke the glory of god Not vnlike is Iohan vnto Aggeus Zacharias other holy prophetes which both shewed afore of the peoples return from the myserable captiuity of the Babilonians and also the réedyfying agayne of their new Hierusalem For here hath he first shewed the distructioÌ„ fal of the daÌ„nable whore the spirituall Babilon which manye yeres hath greuously vexed the people of God and now in this chapter their peaceable time in the Lord. Now are the precious vessels of God like to be restored into the temple the great Balthasar of Rome once ouerthrowen Now shall the swéet peace grow the plentuous quiet increase the pastures of the Lord waxe fat and the mightie verity of his worde flowe like a swéet running floud THE TEXT 1 And after that I heard the voice 2. of much people in heauen 3. sainge Alleluia 4. Saluation 5 glory 6 and honour 7 and povver 8 be ascribed vnto the Lord our God 9. For true and rightuous are his iudgementes 10. bicause he hath iudged the great vvhore 11. vvhich did corrupt the earth vvith hir fornication 12. and hath auenged the bloud of his seruaunts of hir hand 13. And agayn they sayde Alleluya The Commentary 1 After the destructioÌ„ of that whorish BabiloÌ„ which singnyfieth the wicked church I heard saith Saint Iohn in mistery the reroysing voyce of muche people in heuen which is that congregacion of faith wherin the Lord resteth 2 Uerye many were there amonge them which ioyously gaue thanks vnto God 3 Pronouncing this Hebrue senteÌ„ce Alleluia which is so much to sai as let vs together praise the Lordes name 4 Only is saluacion health deliueraunce of him Unto none other it is to be ascribed neyther in heauen nor in earth be there neuer so godly doers 5 Inestimable glorye vnspeakble honour incomprehencyble power belongeth vnto that Lord our God so doth the dewe commendacion thereof 6 He it is that only oughâ— of vs to be praised obeyed and magnified 7 For he alone hath ouerthrown the dragoÌ„ the beast and the glittring whore that deceyued all the worlde that proude churche of stynkeynge Sodomytes 8 And this hath he done for our saluacion Referre all the prayse vnto hym as to your conquerour most worthye 9 For verely moste true and perfecte is he in his merciful promises moste rightuous and iust in his godly iudgementes which hath bene of late most euydently séene 10 Specially in that he hath iudged according to his former promis the abhominable harlot the superstycyous church of Antichrist the filthy famelye of spiritual whoremongers gluttoÌ„s hypocrytes yea the execrable Sinnagog of Sathan in déede 11 Which hath most miserably corrupted not the true seruantes of God but the very earth or such men as were earthly mynded with hyr filthy fornycation of Idolatry superstition blasphemy 12 That mercifull Lorde hath most rightuously auenged the innocent bloud his faithfull seruauntes and constant witnesses of hir wicked hande From the tirryble crueltie spight and vyolence of hyr vnmercyfull ministers hath he graciously deliuered them 13 Yet once againe saith saint Iohn did this godly minded multitude break foorth into the prayse of God and cryed with a most ioyfull shought Alleluya or commeÌ„dation without end be vnto our most heauenly creator redéemer and comfortour Hys laude be euermore in our mouth for thus restoring his veritie the enimies thereof deposed THE TEXT 1 And smoke rose vp for euermore 2. And the xxiiij elders 3 and the foure beastes 4. feldovvne 5. and vvorshipped God that sate on the seat 6. saying Amen 7. Alleluya 8. And a voyce came out of the seate 9. saying 10. Prayse our Lorde God 11. all ye that are his seruauntes 12. and yee that feare him both small and great The Commentary 1 And the
shal she appeare as the beautiful bride prepared to the spouse accompanyed with the wise maydens the vnwyse neither hauing oyle nor light for euer reiected THE TEXT 1 And he sayde vnto me 2. Write 3. Happye are they which are called vnto the Lambes supper 4. And he sayde vnto me 5. These are the true sayings of God 6. And I fell at his feete 7. To vvorship him 8. And he sayde vnto me 9. See thou doe it not 10. For I am thy fellovv seruant 11. And one of thy brethren 12. And of them that haue the testimonye of Iesus 13. Worship God 14. For the testimony of Iesus 15. is the spirit of prophesie The Commentarye 1 And the Angell sayth saint Iohn which shewed vnto me afore the fall of the great whore sayde at this present time vnto me 2 Seriouslye register this sentence followynge that it may remayne to their comforte whiche shall followe thée 3 After a most happye and fortunable sorte are they blessed whiche hauing the wedding garmente the pure fine raines afore named are graciously prdestinate called and accepted of the heauenly father vnto the euerlasting supper of the vndefiled Lamb Iesus Christ there to perticipat with him the eternall refection both of soule body Satisfied shall I be saieth Dauid without end when thy glory shal manyfestly appeare Not of corruptible meates and drinkes shal this supper be but of vncorruptible delightes and of pleasures that shall neuer fayle Nothing shal be there prophane voide or vncomely but al things pure clean true stedfast godly perfect TheÌ„ shal the méetinges be heauenly and the clippinges wtout deformity The bride shal at that day reioyce with hir euerlasting spouse and the daughters of Sion shal beholde the true Salomon in full glorye accompained with hys holye how shoulde of Angelles and Saintes 4 And the aforesaide Angell sayeth S. Iohn sayd thus vnto me 5 These words whiche I last tolde thée frinde Iohn are not mine but they are the true sayings of gods owâ— mouth So much the rather they are to be beleued as most certayne and sure that they are of hym whosâ— vniuersall language is the veâ—itie â—nfayned 9 As I heard the Angell speake thus vnto me saith saynt Iohn I fel down by and by at hiâ— fete flat vpon the grounde myndynge to haue worshypped hym So wonderfull wer the secretâ—â— of god whome he ther declared vnto me and the misteries so ioyful vnto my soule that in a maner I clearly forgote my selfe 7 〈◊〉 hand I was at the poynt to haue worshipped the messeÌ„ger for the Lord and the Angell for the Laâ—be otherwise thâ—â— did Abraham not of ignoraunce but of forgetfull reioysing 8 But in no wise would the Angell suffer me so to doe but gently he sayd thus vnto me 9 Se thou do no such homage vnto me a creture as peculiarly belongeth vnto god the creator of all So great is thy selfe and such as thou art I am so excellente a creature of God Trueth it is that I am the aungel of the Lorde and so are you also so many as beare witnes of the same veritie 10 And as concerninge myne owne persone I am but thy felowe seruaÌ„t For he that is â—hy god is also my god and he that is thy Lord and master is also mine Indifferently are we bothe created for his seruauntes and admitted for his messengers 11 Of thy bretheren am I one by creation 12 So am I also both a brother and felow of al them that haue the faithful testimonie of Iesus For like as they by his godly appointment are messengers thereof to the world so am I now vnto thée here for the same 13 worship not me therefore which am but a creature but worshippe thy Lord god for sending by me this message of health vnto thée Though Loth Iacob Iosue Gedion Tobias other fathers of the olde law gaue worship vnto the Angels whom God sente vnto them in message yet shalte thou not do so vnto me now considerynge that at thys tyme Gods sonne hath taken the nature of man hath raised it from death hath sette it vpon the fathers right hand and therin hath sent from thence the spirite of reconciliation vnto men By thys are ye become no longer in feriours vnto vs but equall with vs infauour and dignitye No loÌ„ger are ye strangers foreners but citizens of heauen and the very househould chyldren of God 14 And as for the testymony of Iesus Christ which both I vnto you you to the world haue to vtter it is the very sprit of prophisi on message of helth committed vnto vs both The true spirit of god it is that beareth witnes of Christ both in the law prophets for none can saye that Iesus is the lord but in the holy ghost and in that spirit do we nowe make mencion also of him This is the spirit of adoptioÌ„ wherby ye ackonwledge god for your deare father Thys spirit assertaineth your spirit that ye are become his children beleuing in hys name 15 And in this spirit do I admonishe thée Iohn by this presente ReuelatioÌ„ which is a Prophicy in thée al them that haue the same faith to acknowledge worshyp and confesse the sayde Iesus Christ as we do nowe for the onely Lord sauiour of the world Not only shalt thou be by the plaine manifestation of thys prophesye an Angel but also by an excellent prerogatiue of singuler grace aboue all thy felowes a Ppophete After the maner of this Angel dyd Paule Barnabas vtterlye refuse to haue honour geuen them of the people at Listra Peter would in no case suffer Cornelius the noble Centurion to worshype hym Contrarywise the Antichrist of Rome not onely suffereth but also commaundeth straightly such homage of honour euermore to be geuen to his holy fatherhood Yea he is not ashamed to coÌ„straine noble Emperours to kâ—sse hys filthy féete kings with cappe knée to holde hys steroppes and the greatest princes of the world to wayte vpon his Mule Great pardons hath he geuen to the worshyppinge of Idols and of olde rotten bones threatning most terrible death vnto them that would not at his commaundement do the same At Geneua was honorablye worshypped an Asses tayle and at Tholosa a young boyes shoo great in dulgences graunted vnto them both But let not him and his mitred Mahomets thinke easely to auoyde the indignation so God whan he shal call them to accountes wyth theyr craftye distincton of Latria Dulia and hyperdulia whom the scripture knoweth not Notwythstanding in this is not vtterly inhibited mutual reuerence betwixt man man for so much as Paul willeth the faithful to preueÌ„t eche other in honor geuing Necessary it is that they first honour God and then for his sake that they procecute their neighbours with such christen beneuolence as the comlines of humanity requireth The gospel neuer forbiddeth such politike maner as norisheth mutual frendship yet â—oth it not geue them
there were of both sortes So well was he accepted that mortyfied the desires of the fleshe and offered himselfe a lyuinge sacryfyce vnto God as hée that gaue his life for the veritie 14 But the residue sayth saint Iohn or the other sort called the deade men for that they were not numbred with the ryghtuous neyther among them that sate vpon the seates nor yet amonge them that were slayne for the witnesse of Iesu lyued not agayne after they were once dead tyll the thousand yeres of their death was throughly fulfilled The time was whan they which wer dead through sin did heare the voyce of the sonne of God They fatihfuly beleued the word therof so it reuiued in him vnto the lyfe euerlasting which was both the life light of men Wher as the froward conâ—eÌ„ners of the lyuing word hauing their coÌ„scieÌ„ces sealed with the beasts marke remained stil in their infidelitie which is the very death of the soule so were by the right iudgemeÌ„t of God lost for euer For the sin against the holy ghost which is a resistaÌ„ce against the manifest truth shal neither be forgeuen in this worlde nor yet in the world to come 15 A time without end doth this word till cause this thousand here to be after the commoÌ„ vsage of the scripture Noe sent forth a Rauen out of the arke whiche returned not agayne tyl the waters were dryed vp that is to say he neuer returned again Ioseph knew not Mary til she had brought forth hir first borne sonne That is to say he neuer bodely knew hir Thou shalte not out of prison till thou hast payde the vttermost mite .i. thou shalte neuer out With an hundreth of suche places in the Bible THE TEXT 1. This is that first resurrection 2. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection 3. For on suche shall the seconde death haue no povver 4. But they shall be the prists of God and of Christ. 5. And shal raign vvith him a thousand yeares The commentary 1 This is the first resurrection vnto lyfe to ryse from sin to repentaunce from ignoraunce to godly knowledge and from darknesse to faith Through the offence of one man entred sin into the world and through sin death Necessary it is therefore to dye vnto sin and to liue vnto rightuousnesse And so to rise togither with Christ séekyng the things which are aboue not vpoÌ„ earth For neuer shal they come to the seconde resurrection which is vnto the lyfe euerlasting that will not ryse by repentaunce vnto a new lyfe in hym which is both resurrection and lyfe 2 Blessed is that man of the Lord yea holy iust and perfect may he be reported also of all men which hath porcion conuenient in the first resurrection with Dauid Magdalene Zacheus and Peter Happy are they which hearing the word of God retayneth it in theyr lyuing For they being renued with the glad tydinges of lyfe are depured by the spirite of Christ sanctified and so made the habitacles of the holy Ghost 3 Upon such Godly dysposed persons hath the seconde death of the soule which is eternal dampnatioÌ„ no maner of power nor effectual iurisdiction For no damnation can be vnto them which are in Christ Iesu not walking after the fleshe Though they haue bene great sinners yet shall not theyr sinnes be to them imputed but in the resurrectioÌ„ of the wrightuous shall they ryse to immortalyte and be as the very Angels in heauen He that hath taken froÌ„ theÌ„ the poore of death shall make theÌ„ sure of eternal inheretauÌ„ce with god 4 They shall surely bée the chosen priestes of God the euerlasting father and of his eternall sonne Iesus Christ whiche are of the firste resurrection Though they be here in the flesh yet fight they not after the flesh but they shall folow the gouernaunce of the spirit geue ouer their bodis for a liuing sacryfice holy and acceptable vnto God 5 And thus shall they reigne with christ their merciful sauiour redemer for the space of the thousaÌ„d yeres afore named None other toke they all that longe seasoÌ„ for theyr spiritual Messyas their eternall King their hygh Bishop for all their mayster their Lorde their gyde their lyght and the shepeherde of theyr soules None other wold they acknowledge but him for their mediatoure attonement maker neyther Moyses nor Samuell Noe Daniell nor Iob Iohan Baptist Mary nor Peter Hée onely was vnto them all wysedome ryghtuousnesse holynesse and redeÌ„ption In none other name coulde they fynde health and saluation but alone in hys Nothing pertayneth this vnto the Popes masse sayers for they call vpon many names wyth Ora pro nobis and are of a far other priesthode as we haue declared afore In christes kyngdoÌ„ is none outwarde Priesthode nor sacryfice to be made for sin For he hath with one oblacioÌ„ for all fully satysfied for the sins of his electe number for euer The office of a ChristeÌ„ man now is onely to offer vp himselfe by the deniall of himselfe and by the mortificatioÌ„ of his fleshe In the holy supper of the Lorde which is a mutuall participacioÌ„ of his bodi bloud is no new sacrifice to be made but onely a faithfull remembrauÌ„ce to be taught of that full and perfect sacrifice that he made once for all vnlesse we will betray him and crucifie him againe The dutie of a minister in Christes coÌ„gregation is with all study and diligence to labour in the holy worde of God be he bishop priest Chaplayne Pastour or preacher Hys ministration is great labour no dygnitie payne and not pryde or arrogancie And hauing his foode and rayment he ought to require no more THE TEXT 1 And vvhan the thousande yeares are expyred 2. Sathan shall be loosed out of prison 3. and shall go out 4. to diseeiue the people 5. vvhich ar in the foure quarters of the earth 6. Gog Magog 7. to gather them togither to battle 8 vvhose number is as the sande of the sea 9. And they vvent vpon the plaine of the earth 10. and compassed the tentes of the sayntes about 11. and the beloued Citie 12. And fyre came dovvne from God out of heauen 13. and deuoured them 14. And the Diuell that deceyued them 15. vvas cast into a lake of fyre and brymstone 26. vvhere the beast and the false Prophet vvere 17. and shall be tormented daye and nighte for euermore The Commentary 1 After the plentnous description of the true church of Christe which is vnknowen to the worlde for the glorious doughter of the eternall Kinge is from within sayth Dauid now foloweth in course the pernicious kingdome of Antechrist whan it was in the hyghest pryde so soone as the afore rehersed thousande yeares sayth saynt Iohn are fully accoÌ„plished or brought to an ende 2 Sathan the common aduersarie of man shal be loosed out of his darke pryson and so shal be set at large by the sufferance
that we nowe haue of the sea shall cease in that day of the Lorde whan we shall beholde hym face to face No longer shall it be subdued vnto vanitie no more than the other creatures but clerely depured from fylthy corruption No more shall it be the same to sée to being frō thens forth so claer◠as cristall though it styll be the same in substaunce 6 Heauen earth the sea wyth all other creatures in mistery thus renewed I Iohan the sonne of Zebede the same dysciple whom Christ loued being here in exyle for hys worde testimony perceyued in the saue mystery by the singular gyfte of the spirite the the selfe holy cytie or congregation of the Lorde whych is worthely called the new Hierusalem of peace descended downe out of heauen from hir omnipotēt creator God eternall 7 Holy is this cyty For both is she here the vndefiled spouse of the lambe and shal be hereafter more perfectly in the regeneracion Here admytteth she nothing in faithe that is prohpane and carnal but cleaneth to his only worde There shal she folowe his steppes in a much more pure estate clearly delyuered from all that is ill 8 Here is she newe in that she hath here by his godly spririte done of the olde man wyth hys fylthy workes And ther shal she also be new through hys gifte by throwinge awaye the bodye of sinne wyth death and corrupcion 9 Hierusalem is she called both here and there or peceable city of the Lord in that all hir cytizens are here of one faith and ther shal be of one glorious vnity and concorde Here are hir dwellers citizens with the saintes the househould seruants of god Ther shall they be both hys chyldren and heires togyther wyth Christ. 10 From God came she downe and out of heauen fyrste of all Neyther out of flesh nor bloud hath spronge hir Christen beléeue but frō the gracyous openinge of the father which is in heauē That Hierusalem saith Paul which is frée our mother is from aboue She is that Cytie whose builder and maker is God With none other lawes is she gouerned but with hys eternall testament and Gospell of peace With the constitutions of men hath she nothing to doe be they neuer so holy and precious For alone she dependeth on God and hys spirite 11 Of hym is she prepared through the gyft of fayth She is clensed with the fountayne of water in the worde of lyfe to séeme a glorious congregation without blemysh or wrincle From hir sinnes is she purely washed in his bloud 12 And so garnyshed as a beutifull bryde to hir husbande with loue ioye peace paciēce méekenesse long suffering other glorious fruites of the spirit Upon thy right hand Lorde sayth Dauid standeth a quene in a garmēt of most fyne golde compassed with diuersitie But euery man shall not se this hir apparell for it wil be rather a rayment of the harte than of the outwarde body Figured was this decking of hir at large in the wonderfull adourning of the temple and tabernacle of God in the dayes of Moyses and Salomon whose mysticall meting also he describeth in his cantycles How maruelous this newe Hierusalē wyll be in the regeneration whan shée meteth hir spouse in the ayre and how glorious hir countinaunce wyth him it lyeth not in vs to declare in all poyntes considering that neyther eye hath séene nor eare harde neyther can the hearte coniecture what God hath there prepared for them that loue hym but of this are we sure that wyth the glorye of him she shal be replenished Here is hir estate vnperfect and there perfect here mortall there immortal here sower ther sweet here harde there pleasaunt here paynfull there dilectable here Godly there inestimable glorious 13 And as Iohn had séene these wonderfull thinges and mused much vpō them a great voyce came vnto hym from the seate of God declaring the mistery thereof I hard sayth he in the middest of this last reuelation as I was in doubt what it ment a mightie voyce from the throne of my euerlasting Lorde saying thus vnto mée 14 Beholde Ihon beholde marke it both for thyne owne erudicion and also for the instruction of others The holy tabernacle or restyng place of the euerlastinge God of heauen is wyth men in the worlde beneth Not onely in that the eternall sonne of the Lorde toke vpon him the shape of a man callyng it the temple of hys body but also in that the soule of euery faythfull man is become the habitacle of the holy ghost He that loueth me sayth Christ obserueth my word In hym will both I and my father prouide vs a resting place He that is in loue abideth in god and God dwelleth in hym 15 This voice might Iohn well heare from the mouth of God in Esechiell I will make sayth he ther a perpetuall couenaunt wyth man to dwell with hym euermore My tabernacle shal be amonge them So that I wyll be their God and they shal be my people 16 For why it foloweth here in this voyce that he hath determined of fauourable loue mercy to dwell with them assisting them here in thys lyfe by hys spirite and in the lyfe to come shall he satysfye them by his eternall presence For here doe we sée hym in a similytude farre of there shall wee beholde hym lyke as he is in dede and shall eternally reioyce therein 17 Here are they his people through fayth for Israell is his heritage There shall they be his familiar housholde through loue and he their Lord for euer Here shall they be his chyldren and he theyr eternall father Ther shall they be his heyers Christ being the right heyer for them all 18 Thus God his owne selfe of hys inestimable goodnesse being presētly with them shall here by his grace and therby inestymable benefites shewe him selfe in all poyntes to be theyr moste mercyfull and louing God Here doth he strongly assist thē agaynst all temptations of enimyes There shall be endue them wyth full perfection and clerenesse 19 So shall he be theyr god that neither here nor yet ther shal they knowledge any other but hym alone Hée shall so comfort them here by his spirite and ther by his glorious presēce that neyther shall they here forsake hym nor there be deuyded from hym 20 And thys euerlasting god shall so wype away all teares from their eyes here that no vexacion shall make thē sorowfull nor yet aduersitie pensyue But all maner of slaunders and persecutions shall they take for most suffren consolations for his names sake For if he be wyth them who can preuaile against them 21 And after that day can no wepings be whereas shal be full ioye with immortalitie both of soule and body Beholde sayth the Lorde in Esayes prophecye I shall make a ioyfull Hierusalem yea and my selfe will reioyce there with them From thence forth shall neyther waylyng nor weping be harde in hir
is in dede Than shall we perfectly know lyke as we are nowe knowen of hym Thā shal our measure be in al points as is the Angels measure Equal shall we be vnto them in full perfectyon vnderstanding and knowledge For as the Angels of heauen shall wée than be impassible immortall and glorious of equall number with thē The Text. 1 And the buyldynge of the wall of it was of Iasper 2. and the cytie vvas of pure golde 3. lyke vnto clere glasse 4. And the foundacions of the vvalles and of the citie 5. were garnyshed wyth all maner of precious stones 6 The first foundatyon vvas a Iasper 7. the seconde a Saphyre 8. the thyrde a Calcedonye 9. the fourth a Smaragde 10. the fifte a Sardonix 11. the sixte a Sardeos 12. the seuenth a Chrysolyte 13. the eyghte a Gerall 14. the nynth a Topas 15. the tenth a Chrisoprasos 16. the eleuenth a Iacynte 17. the tvvelfte an Amatist The Commentarye 1 The whole buyldyng of the wall of thys citye was of Iaspar stone Whych betokneth that in Christe it shal be most precyous pleasaunt delectable and sure For euer shall they be newe and gréene fresh and lyuely durable and beutyfull that perfectly beleue in hym and shall become sure stayes or pyllers in hys holy temple He that truely obserueth my worde sayth Christe shall neuer taste of death Upon a lyuynge foundacyon shall they be couched and so growe vp into an holy temple in the Lord and so together into the habytacle of God in the holy Ghost 2 And thys fayre cytie it selfe was of most pure golde so fine beutifull and clere as most pure glas possible With out spot or deformite is the true church of god hauing neither blemish nor yet wrincle and tryed it is throughly as gold in the fornace The clere lyght of thys cytie is Christ which neuer dyd sinne in worde nor in dede More precious haue his death bloudshedinge made it than is the most pure fine gold that euer was yet sene 3 A gloryous congregatiō haue he prouyded it to be and that will appere in the day of his visitatiō So far shall this excell the Hierusalem that Salomon builded as heauē exceleth the earth For that was but golde within thys is all golde throughly both within with out That was buylded by the handes of men thys is of a much hygher workemanshyppe An vndefiled heritage is this shal be chaunged frō clerenesse to clerenesse into the glorie of the Lord. 4 The strong foundations of the wall of this worthy citie which is the firme faith of the Patriarkes Prophetes the Appostles and other true teachers surelye grounded vpon Christ were beutifully adorned with all maner of precious stones or giftes of the holy Ghost 5 Diuerse were the graces which they had receiued and the fruites out springing from thē were also diuers glorious As loue ioy peace paciēce long suffering gentelnesse goodnesse faithfulnesse méekenesse tēperaunce and such other Nothinge fayre appeared these stones vnto this worlde whan they were hewen squared and made fyt foundatiōs by the manyfolde persecutions of tyrauntes no more than was the greate costly stone in the bottom of Syon vpon whome they were builded whyche séemed so deformed as a lypper Neuertheles yet was their death precious in the lords syght These are they shall theyr aduersaryes say at the day whom we sometyme thought fooles had in much derision But now they are counted among the children of god and haue their porciō among the saincts Here might much be spoken of fayth which diuersly wrought in Abel Seth and Enoch for the fyrst age In Noe Abraham Moyses Dauid Helias and other in their ages In Peter Iohn Iames with all the other Apostles syncere preachers since Christes time But let that suffise in this behalf that S. Paul hath written in the .xi. Chap. to the Hebrues which is also here after comprehended vnder the mystery of the .xii. precious stones whereof the foundacions are 6 In that the first foundacion is said here to be of a Iaspar or Dyamond Whose colour is grene is signified that the faythe of the fyrste fathers is not yet withered awaye Styll vnto this present daye is the example of Enos oryent fresh lyuely which firste called vpon the name of God and of many such other more Still perseuer they grene in the liuely Scriptures and fadeth not I haue earnestly prayed for thée Peter saith Christ that thy fayth should not fayle 7 The seconde foundacion was of a Saphire whose colour is as the Aire clere but not very precious in sight This betokeneth those simple soules which though they were as Iob and Ioseph the carpentour not precious to the worlde yet had they their dayly conuersations in heauen 8 The third was of a Calcedony which is yet more course to looke vppon than the Saphyre but in nature precious mighty and strong Of this nature were Helias and Iohn Baptiste whose conuersacion was in the wyldernesse rough harde and vnpleasaunt Yet apeared they precious at theyr tymes appointed mightely rebuking sinne drawinge vnto them the chaffe as the propertie is of the Calcedony which are the common people but vtterly throwing forth againe or condemning the Idolatours and hipocrites The word of Helias brent lyke a cresset and Iohn was a shining lanterne before the Lorde 9 The fourth was of a Smaragde or an Emerald which is not onely gren◠of his owne nature but he maketh all the ayre about him to seme greene also Of thys condicion was Hieremy and Paule whych hauing the doctrine of lyfe spared not to minister it vnto other for their eternall refreshing These with suche other throwen into the foundation of the church were very comfortable vnto other With the holy saith Dauid thou shalt be holy and with the pure innocent thou shalt be both innocent and pure 10 The fyfte was of a Sardonix which is compouned of a Sardeos an Onice and is beneth blacke in the middest white and aboue reade Such were those méeke spirited that confesseth themselues sinners wyth Dauid and Magdalene being through fayth both pure and orient afore god Though I be blacke sayth the true congregatiō yet am I fair wel fauoured We faint not sayth Paule for though our outwarde man be corrupte yet is he that is inwarde daily renewed 11 The syxt is a Sardeos which in simultitude is very lyke vnto redde earth And such are they as notwithstanding the great benefites of God thinking themselues the vnworthye children of Adam whose interpretaciō after Philo is red earth in déede Mary Christes mother was of thys sort confessing hir selfe after most high benefightes to be but an hand maide and hir spirite onely to reioyce in god hir sauiour So was Abraham calling himself but dust and ashes before the Lorde 12 The seuēth foundatiō is of a Crisolite or Turcas which shineth as gold and séemeth as it should sende forth sparkes Under thys are
mens imaginations can haue place where Christe is euer residente and his verytie manifest The nighte of infidelytie is cleane gone from theÌ„ which hath obtained the euerlastinge day The cloudes of filthy errours abideth not where the true sunne hath alwaies dominion The stronge powers of hel shall not be able to preuaile where as faith is perfect and sure So goeth the Lorde before his true Israelits in this piller of fire that the night is vnto them all one with the day That is vnto other darknesse in parables is vnto them the clere light and the euidentlye knowne misteries of Gods kingdome In the common translation that is dayly read in the Temple it foloweth that they shall bring the glory and honour of the heithen into the same citie which is not founde in the Gréeke And by this is it signyfyed that the apostles and other godly preachers sins their time conuerting the gentles haue not only brought into the christian Churche by theyr preachings many of theyr phylosophers whose glory hath bene their wisdome and learning but also theyr princely potentates whose honour consisted in power possessions magnificence Of this sort was the chamberlaine of Quéene CaÌ„dace to whom Philip declared the prophecie So was Cornelius the noble Centurion which was instructed and baptised of Peter So were also Dionisius the Areopagite Apollo of Alexandria and Aquila the Italiane with diuers other whom Paul conuerted in his progresse And after theyr dayes were of this company Iustinus the martyr Quadratus Aristides Tertullyane Origyne Cyryll Basyle Iohn Crysostome Augustyne Hieronimie with an infinite number els So was Lucius the firste Christian King of this region Philippus the Emperour with many other great gouernours which both builded almes houses for the poore and made other godly prouision els This is the precious spoile they brought out of Egypt and the fruite they haue planted in the Lords vyneyard As Esaye prophesied they enioyed the streÌ„gth of the paganes and tryumphed in theyr glory but not in their superfluous toyes and vanities as doo the Papistes 14 For into this citie saith the text or congregation which is from within vnknowen to the world shal nothing enter that is vncleane or that after any sort defyleth No rightuousnesse of men which is afore God but as the cloth stayned with meÌ„strue No tradicions merytes nor masses apere they neuer so holye For all that is done besides the prescriptes of his worde is plaine abhomination and filthinesse None that is gelded or â—oacted to chastitie by papisticall vowes None that is borne of a coÌ„cubyne or that maketh a new supersticious professioÌ„ No misbegotten Moabytes and Ammonites betokening all sectes of perdicion are allowed of the Lorde vnto this congregacion Onely are they accepted for Citizens thereof which are renewed in faith by the spirit of Iesus Christ. 15 Whatsoeuer it be that worketh abhominacion in vncommaunded worshippings or maketh lyes in Hipocrisie is clerely sequestred froÌ„ this vndefiled citie The constrayned virginitie of priestes which hath made so many Sodomytes Confession vnder a stole that hath bredde so many false traytors and théeues The two horned order of Bishops that hath hatched so many proud gluttoÌ„s and murtherers The anoynted priesthoode the hath so many Idolatours The vnholy profession of monkes that hath brought forth so many stinking hypocrits with suche other sedes of the diuell hath héere no place at al. For nether whormongers nor yet Idoâ—l worshipers nor buggerers nor Gomoreans nor extorcioners nor couetuouse brybers nor dronkardes nor blasphemers of the Lordes word nor cruel destroyers of innocentes can in any wise inherit the kingdome of God 16 But they onely shal possesse that which are writen in the Lambs booke of lyfe or that were predestinate ther vnto in Christ before the worlds constitution to be holy and vnspotted in his sight These are they whoÌ„ he hath a perpetuall remembrance whom he hath ordained of goodnes choseÌ„ of mercy called by the Gospell iustified thorough faith glorified in the perfourmaunce of hys commaundemeÌ„ts that they shoulde be lyke fashioned to the shape of hys sonne Though these of frailnesse offende many tymes as the fleshe can doe none other yet denye they not the verytie they abhorre not the scriptures But after they haue fallen they repent froÌ„ the hart they séeke the remedyes they hate their owne déedes they call vnto Christ they lament their chaunce they honger and thyrst continually for the rightuousnesse of God and such other like Now as concerninge thys citye in the regeneration or Sabboth to come all will be golde precious stone and pearle Theyr glorye wyll bée perfect their knowledge whole and theyr iudgement in the spirite full All wyll be there square euen and right nothinge shal be croked rough and frowarde All wil be newe and precious no maner of deformitie appearing in the creaturs The bewtie of the citie will bée wonderfull the lyght inestimable the dwelling most quietous and pleasaunt There shall we clerely beholde howe myghtie maruelous hygh bewtyfull glorious perfect stronge victoryous delectable and swéet our redemer Iesus Chryst is wyth hys father and holy Ghost Here haue wée but a small taste thereof but there shall we bée fully replenyshed there wyth The xxii Chapiter Styll doth thys Chapiter folowynge whych is the laste of thys Reuelacyon prosecute the spirituall and heauenly commodities of thys Cytie concluding wyth most excellent admonicions and Godly warninges The text 1 And hee shevved me a pure ryuer 2. of vvater of lyfe 3. cleare as crystall 4. proceedynge out of the seate of God and of the lambe 5 in the myddest of the streate of it 6. and of eyther syde of the tyuer 7. vvas theyr vvoode of lyfe 8. vvhych bare tvvelue maner of fruites 9. and gaue fruite euerye moneth 10. and the leaues of the vvoode serued 11. to heale people vvith all The Commentary 1 And the Angell saith S. Iohan or gracious purpose of the Lord which coÌ„moned with me al this time to bring me yet into a farder knowledge of his misteries shewed vnto me a most pure and commodious ryuer whych was the wholesome water of lyfe None other can I suppose thys ryuer to be by the serche of the scriptures but the flowing veritie the worde of saluacion or the effectuall doctryne of Christs holy spirit That is the swéet floud of Eden which pleasauÌ„tly floweth through Paradyse visiteth the .iiii. quarters of the worlde This is the wholsome dilectable water which daily coÌ„forteth preserueth the spirituall Hierusalem from all contagious maladies This ruÌ„ning flood with his ryuers on euery syde reioyseth the cytie of god which is the habitation of the highest 2 All full of quyckenesse is it springing into the lyfe euerlasting Here is it the spirituall coÌ„fort of gods children ther shall it be the enestimable glory of the sainctes To whoÌ„ shal we go lord saith Peter but vnto thée For onely haste thou the wordes of eternall lyfe 3 So cleare is
quiet shall hée lyghten them throughlye with his most glorious presence and with him shall they raigne for euer and euer in full felicitie and glory cōtinuing In this life beginneth the kingdome through fayth but there shall it be perfourmed in the perfecte sight of the godhead The proude raigne of tyrauntes is here but for a time the lesse it is to be feared The méeke raign of the rightuous continueth for euer the more it is to be sought for and desired The fruites that are here very harde and sower vnto them shall there bée inestimable swéete gentile beautiful perfecte and pleasaunt hauing theyr full rypenesse No neede shall it be thā to run by sea and lande for the wysedome power and glory of Christ for in that day shal they be with euery one present Here haue they but little pretie beames of the light very small drops of the water and a smel of the fruites a farre of Likelihoodes figures mysteries haue they only now of the beatitude to come But there shall they be sure to haue them in full sight tast and sauer and plentuously to be satisfied with them Scarse is it here in cōparison to that it shal be there as one droppe of water to the whole sea or as an hādful of sād is to the whole earth The texte 1 And he sayd vnto me 2. These sayings are faithfull and true 3. And the Lorde God 4. of the holy Prophets 5. sen◠his Angell to shev◠vnto his seruaunts 6. the things which shortly must be fulfilled 7. Beholde I come shortly 8. Happy is he that kepeth the saying 9. of the prophecie of this booke The Commentary 1 In the conclusion of these most wōderfull reuelations saith sainct Iohn the Angell that communed with mée all this time which was the very spirite of Christ sayde thus vnto me hys poore exyled seruaunt 2 It shall become no man to dispise these wordes nor to reiecte these sayings whome thou hast here séene and harde since the first beginning of thys reuelation For they are most faythfull and true sure and perfect shall without faile at their appoynted times in euery iote be fulfylled for the true churches commoditie and profit This is here spoken for the conseruation of the hygh mysteries of thys booke least any false Antichrist hereafter as many such hath bene in déede should cōdempne them depraue them and as of none aucthoritie reporte them As the most deare treasures of God therfore doth the holy Ghost here wrappe them vp togither to preserue them vnder hys power setteth vnto them the seale of hys owne witnesse that they should euermore be taken for his After this sort did the Prophets vse their prophecies concluding alwayes thus sayeth the Lorde of hostes So did the Lord his selfe whan he sayde Uerely verely I say vnto you we speake that we knowe My doctrine is not myne but his that sent mée Of my selfe I speak not the words that I vtter The father dwellyng in mée perfourmeth the workes I am not come of my self but he that sent me is true with suche other lyke Paule doth also name him selfe the Apostle of Iesus Christ. Not I commaunde this sayth he but the Lorde The gospell that I preache haue I learned of no man but by the shewing of Iesus Christ. The Lorde that is blessed for euer knoweth that I lye not and such like So is the ende of this booke as was the begynnyng sealed with many wonderfull strong sentences of the Lorde as his whole mynde perfect will and purposed decree concernyng hys church héere in earth 3 And the same Lorde God eternall sayeth Christ vnto Iohn which hath diuersly afore tyme spoken in the holy Prophets and fathers hath now laste of all sent the Angel of his euerlasting couenaunt by him to vtter the secrets of his mynde by whom he created the world Him hath he hither dyrected in these latter dayes of the world to shewe cléerely vnto his true seruauntes of whom thou arte in these dayes princypall those wonderfull things in mysterie which must within shorte space effectually come to passe and be fulfilled in déede As the manyfolde persecutions of his churche the prosperous raigne of the beast and his shorlings with the glorious rayse of the one and dampnable fall of the other That whan troublous crosses doe come they may be the more ioyfully taken cōsidering the tyme of them short the rewarde of their sufferaunce euerlasting 4 For none other cause is God héere called the Lord God of the Prophets but that they haue through his spirite truly beleued in him the same spirit declared his mynde and pleasure 5 In the beginning of this reuelation was this Angell sent vnto Iohn alone here is he sent also vnto his other seruauntes in token that the Lord in Iohn respecteth his congregation 6 The things that must shortly follow are his iudgements in rewarding the rightuous and condempning the reprobates For a thousande yeares are but as a day before him as the tyme that is in a maner past Let euery man take héede sayeth the Lorde leaste I come vpon him vnlooked for Let them watch in fayth and pray in spirite and veritie hauing theyr weddyng garmēts with the oyle of Christian loue in their lampes 7 For beholde whan I shall come eyther to the particular ende of anye man or to the latter iugdement I wil come sodainlye neyther the day nor yet the houre of my comming knowne afore least men as they are ill of nature should dryue of till that daye to liue according to faith Of this admonition may the faythfull sorte be glad being here in aduersitie consideryng their deliueraunce is at hande theyr crowne of immortalitie not farre of 8 Happy is that man whatsoeuer he be high or lowe rich or poore learned or vnlearned that obserueth in his cōuersation and lyfe the godly sayings contayned in the prophecie of thys present booke 9 Yea blessed is he that so receyueth the premonishments thereof that neyther false prophet can deceyue him nor yet any cruell Antichrist with terrour dryue him from the righte vnderstanding and followyng of Christes pure doctrine For neyther to dogges nor swine are they here lefte to be neglected or disdayned but vnto his faythful seruauntes to be reuerently followed and had in remembraunce The text 1 I am Iohn 2. which sawe these thinges 3. and haerde them 4. And vvhan I had hearde and seene them 5. I fell dovvne to vvorshippe before the feete of the Angell 6. vvhich shevved me these thinges 7. And he sayde vnto me 8. See thou doe it not 9. For I am thy fellovv seruaunt 10. and the felovv seruaunt of thy brethen the Prophetes 11. and of them vvhich keepe the sayinges of this booke 12. Worship God The Commentary 1 Consequently bicause ye shall not suppose this matter lyght sayth sainct Iohn as many thinketh that whiche hath not the testimony of men besides the aucthoritie of God I
conclusion compreheÌ„dyng his whole mynde in this reuelation concernyng the rightuous and vnrightuous Beléeue this necessarye doctryne sayth the Lorde Iesus christ for I which haue tolde it here vnto you am vnder the mistery of Alpha Omega the first and the last Greeke letters the originall beginning of all thinges and perfct ende of the same I am that mightie worde of god though I apere now in thys nature in whom he created all by whoÌ„ he shall perfourme finish al too the end they were created for 12 I am the first in that I am in one godhede equall with the Father and wyth the holy ghost I am also the last in that I shall so continue world with out ende I am he before whom there was neuer any god neyther shall ther be any after me I am onely the Lord for I am from euerlastinge In tâ—ken whereof I haue tolde you both things that are past and thinges yet to come Under this straunge Trope or similytude of Alpha and Omega which is a common Allegory vsed of the Gréekes is alwayes to bée vnderstanded the eternall diuinitie in Christes manhode Whych is here as are manye other thynges els ofte tymes repeated of none other purpose but as a most necessarye cause to bée had in remembraunce The text 1 Blessed are they that doe 2. hys coÌ„maundementes 3. that their power maye be in the tree of lyfe 4. and may enter in through the gates into the citie 5. For without are dogges 6. and inchaunters 7. and whoremongers 8. and murtherers 9. and idolators 10 and vvho soeuer loueth or maketh leasinges The Commentary 1 From henceforth doth the Lorde chaunge the maner of his speakynge representyng agayne the personage of an Angell or messenger Blessed are they sayth he or happy afore GOD that of a sincere fayth and Godly mynde doe dylygentlye obserue hys most iust coÌ„maundementes whych is a very washyng of their defyled garmentes in the bloude of the Lambe For perfectly pure innocent and cleane are they that walke faythfully accordyng to the preceptes of his heauenly doctryne Yea dooinge on the armoure of lyght they are very clearenesse in the Lorde and the shynynge bewty of the worlde 2 And as concernyng hys coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts gréeuous are they not but swéet pleasauÌ„t he setting hand to the fulfilling of theÌ„ which hath coÌ„mauÌ„ded theÌ„ he ministering hys Godly spirite may make of hym that was afore vnwylling a very willyng person lyke as he dyd of Saule whan he chaunged hym into a Paule He laying before their eyes the inestymable profite of the good thynges to come wyll cause them to forget these corruptible pleasures and alwaies to labour for them 3 Happy are they afore hande that shall mynde to doe these thinges that their power through a true beléeue may be in the trée of lyfe wherby they may worke them and so haue fruite of their labours For without that trée by whome is ment the souiour of the world they can doo nothing thervnto Without hys strength grace spirit doubtelesse they are al weake wretched and vnprofitable haue they neuer so many holy deseruings which faithfully desired is neuer denyed them as all the scriptures recordeth 4 Thys woulde bée sought therefore that they may thereby enter in peaceably wtout impedimeÌ„t through the clere gates of pearl afore meÌ„cioned in to the plesauÌ„te citie or the newly prepared Hierusalem By the which gates is none other signified here but he alone diuerslye opened by the Apostles doctryne He is the onely portall of rightuousnesse and the straight way vnto lyfe by whom they enter in from all quarters of the worlde None other would Dauid acknowledge in all hys godly prayses nor yet the Apostle Paule in his manyfolde exhortations Whatsoeuer they be that enter in by him be without perill euermore and shall haue the life euerlasting Thus is a true beleue in him and his worde with a iust following of the same a full doing of his commaundementes without any other traditions ordinauÌ„ces or ceremonies 5 And whilest this chosen flocke are thus entring into this citie the cruell dogges which barke against the veritie and teare the true seruauntes of God are still remayning without appeare they neuer so spirituall holy 6 So are the subtile sorcerers which with their holy charmes and inchauÌ„tments with their prophecies reuelations and false myracles both blynde the vnlearned gouernours and deceiue the prophane Idiotish multitude leading them both to the diuill 7 So are the consecrate whoremongers the defilers of all honestie and breakers of all godly ordinaunces as are in these dayes in the braggers out of Romish chastitie the bishops priests and religious vnder the title of vows mayntaynig Sodome and Gomorre 8 Lykewyse in the spightfull murtherers that of mallice and mischiefe flea the godly preachers and other poore innocent people for rebuking theyr corrupte customes are sequestred from theÌ„ce for euer 9 The supersticious Idolatours of all generations the moste execrable as masse mongers head bablers saint séekers Image lighters gadders to CoÌ„postell Rome Tryer Tholose with all their straunge worshippinges not commaunded of God shall haue no place there 10 Brieflye to conclude the whole what people so euer they are that delighteth in fables lyes and errours not regarding the right meaning of the scriptures or what holy hypocrites â—o euer they be that with famed sanctitie deceyuable wonders and false interpretations blemisheth the veritie of the Lorde for the vpholding of theyâ— pâ—yde lechery and lucre shall enioye no fréedome within this citie Bée yée sure of this sayth sainct Paule in dyuers places that no fornicatour nor vncleane person no couetous cloyneâ— deceiptfull hypocrite lyer for aduauntage filthy Idolatour malicious murtherer or such other like can haue any inheritaunce in the kingdom of Christ and God No porcion can they haue in the lande of the lyuing that hath bene partakers with aduouterers theues The Text. 1 Hesus haue sent myne Angell 2 to testifie vnto you these things in the congregatioÌ„ 3. I am the roote and generation of Dauid 4. and the bright morning starre 5. And the spirite and the bride say 6. Comely And let him that heareth say also 8. Come 9. And let hym that is a thyrst come 10. And let whosoeuer vvill take 11. freely of the vvater of lyfe The Commentary 1 Consequently if ye couer saith the Lord to know surely from wheÌ„ce thys doctrine doeth come and who is the chief authoritie thereof be you throughly ascertayned that I Iesus Christ the sonne of the liuing God haue directed foorth myne Angell which is the spirite of truth or the holy ghost whom I promised to witnesse here manifestly vnto you by my dere disciple Iohn these woÌ„derfull things hereafter to chaunce in the christian congregations 2 Thinke not that the contentes of this booke are either of Iohn or yet of any other man that euer was here lyuing for neyther hath he learned them of Prophet nor holy father but