thankes to him that sate on the seate whiche lyueth for euer and euer the foure and twentye elders fel downe before him that sate on the trone worshypped him that lyueth for euer cast their crownes before the trone sayinge thou arte worthye O lorde our god to receaue glorye and honour and power for thou hast created all thinges and for thy wylles sake they are were created One creature geueth euermore occasion to another to knowe and to honour by al meanes possyble the vnsearcheable highe maiesty power wysoome and mercy of the onely creatour and maker al the world knowledgyng al goodnes that can be founde or sene in all maner of creatures to come onely of God whiche is the well sprynge of all goodnes And for that cause he is onely to be honored inuocated and feared with all reuerence and submission as muche as euer is possible for al creatures to performe which haue all that they haue what soeuer it be lyfe power actiuite and altogether of god and can ascribe nothing that good is vnto them selues The .v. Chapter The texte ¶ And I sawe in the right hande of him that sate in the trone a boke wryten within and on the backe syde sealed with seuen seales And I sawe a stronge aungell whiche preached with a loude voyce Who is worthy to open the boke and to lose the seales therof And no man in heauen nor in erth nether vnder yâ— erth was able to open yâ— boke nether to loke theron And I wepte muche because no man was founde worthy to open to reade yâ— boke nether to loke theron And one of the elders sayd vnto me wepe not Beholde a lyon of the trybe of Iuda the rote of Dauid hath optayned to open the boke to loce the seuen seales therof THis boke in the hande of god is the holy scripture and doctrine of god inspired by the holy goost written thorowe the prophetes sealed vp and vnknowen vnto all men whiche wyll enterpryse to reade and interprete it after their naturall reason and after the capacyte of their owne suttyll wittes onely whether it be after the spirituall sence or after the very letter For yâ— which cause fewe of the cyuyll and polytique learned men geuen altogether vnto worldly wysedom dyd euer but lytle medle with this booke or beare any minde vnto it And therfore Ezechiel and Daniel were commaunded to set a locke vpon it notwithstandynge that this booke is the truth necessarye and profytable for al the electe children of god to beleue But that man alone and none els can open this booke at all tymes whiche hath the spirite of Christ neyther dyd any other euer open it from the begynnynge For lyke as Christ was alwayes present with the Patriarkes and Prophetes in al suche thinges as concerned his honour rulynge instructyng yâ— faythful churche thorow faythe Euen so was the spirite of god present in all the electe plentyfullye to directe them in al matters concerning the necessitie of their saluacion althoughe secretly not manyfestly Wherfore truly this booke is shut vp vnto all worldly and natural reason not onely vnto the heathen but also vnto the fleshely Iewes with their stony hartes as the most part of them were and vnto all suche as without the spirite of Christe doe enterpryse to medle with the wrytinges of holy scripture And therfore Iohn bewayleth the ignoraunce and blyndnes of the Iewyshe people and that not without a cause But yet this comforte hath he that it wyll amende and be better at suche tyme as the spirite of Christe thorowe the merytes of the death and passion of Christ shall take awaye the blyndnes of all maner of errours bothe of the heathen and of the Iewes And then thorowe the spirite of god in the apostles shall be opened the mysteries of the holy gospel which were hidden in tholde testament not onely vnto the good Iewes but also vnto the heathen whersoeuer they dwel in yâ— world This hath Iesus Christ yâ— sauiour of yâ— world deserued brought to passe with his lyonyshe might with his shepâ—she symplicitie mekenes with his pacience wyllyng passion eueÌ„ according as the prophetes dyd tell signifie long before And specially Iacob in his blessing ouer the trybe of Iuda For the which cause Christ is called a Lion of yâ— tribe of Iuda And he is also named of Esay and of other prophetes of Dauids stocke As S. Mathew declareth in the genealogie of the birth of Christ yâ— he is not onely the sonne of Abraham and Iacob but also the sonne of Dauid The texte ¶ And I behelde lo in the myddes of the seate of the foure beastes in the myddes of the elders stode a lambe as thoughe he had bene kylled hauynge seuen hornes seueÌ„ eyes which are the seuen spirites of god sent inâ—o al the world And he came toâ—e the boke our of the right hande of him that sate vpon the seate And when he had taken the boke yâ— foure beastes .xxiiii. elders fell downe before the lambe hauyng euery one of them harpes golden vyalles full of odoures which are the prayers of sainctes and they songe a newe longe saying thou art worthy to take the boke to open the seales thereof for thou wast killed and hast redemed vs by thy bloude our of al kinredes tonges people nacions and hast made vs vnto oure god kynges and priestes and we shall raygne on the earthe By the declaracion of the wordes before maye this that foloweth wel euideÌ„tly be vnderstande Euen as yâ— foure euangelistes haue described Christ to be the lambe yâ— was woryed slayne ful of the giftes of yâ— holy goost accordynge vnto the nomber of yâ— seueÌ„ principal articles of our christen faith coÌ„cerning Christ namely of his manhode his passion his buriall his resurreccioÌ„ his ascensioÌ„ the sendynge of the holy goost his coÌ„mynge at the latter daye to iudge the whole worlde All whiche articles are spred a brode knowe vnto the whole world and once receyued thorowe the gospel preaching of the Apostles And thus is the desyre of al the holy patriarkes prophetes fulfilled whiche desyred nothinge more hartely thaÌ„ the manifestacion of the honour of god the true knowledge loue religion of the very true onely one god Whiche thing is come to passe thorow the spreadyng abrode of the gospel thus is the swete smellyng oblacioÌ„ of thanckes geuynge institute begon in al the world all maner of old stynekyng ydolatry is abolyshed And thorowe Christe his holy Apostles the true honour and religion of god is spred abrode preserued And the synne of al the world is cleane wyped away thorow the bloude of Christ once offered vpoÌ„ the crosse And the errors and supersticion of al people with all false seruice of god is vtterly suppressed the rightuousnes of the true faith is restored the
Christ ought to sytte Compare therfore all maner doctrine of men vnto the scripture and se whether they agre or not And commytte thy selfe whole and all together vnto Christe and so shall he with his holy spirite and with all his fulnes dwell in thy soule The summe and whole cause of the wrytynge of thys epystle is to proue that a man is iustified by fayth onely which proposicion who soeuer denyeth to him is not onely this epistle and al that Paul wryteth but also the whole scripture so locked vp that he shall neuer vnderstande it to hys soules health And to bringe a man to the vnderstandinge and felynge that faith onely iustifyeth Paul proueth that the whole nature of manne is so poisoned and so corrupte yea and so dead concerning godly liuing or godly thinkinge that it is impossible for her to kepe the lawe in the sight of God that it to saye to loue it and of loue and lust to do it as naturally as a man eateth or drincketh vntill she be quickened again and healed thorow faith And by iustifying vnderstand none other thing then to be reconciled to God to be restored vnto his fauour to haue thy sinnes forgeuen the. As wheÌ„ I say God iustifieth vs vnderstaÌ„d therby that God for Christes sake merites deseruinges only receaueth vs vnto hys mercy fauour grace forgeueth vs our sinnes And when I say Christ iustifieth vs vnderstand therby that Christ onely hath redemed vs bought deliuered vs out of the wrath of God damnacioÌ„ hath with his workes only purchased vs the mercy the fauour grace of God the forgeuenes of our sinnes And wheÌ„ I say that faith onely iustifieth vnderstand therby that faith trust in the truth of God in the mercy promysed vs for Christes sake for his deseruing workes only doth quiet the coÌ„science certify her that our sinnes be forgeuen we in the fauour of God Furthermore set before thyne eyes Christes workes thine owne workes Christes workes only iustifie the make satisfaccion for thy sinne and thyne owne workes not that is to say quieteth thy conscyence and make the sure that thy synnes are forgeuen the and not thine owne workes For the promise of mercye is made the for Christes workes sake not for thine owne workes sake Wherfore seinge God hathe not promysed that thyne owne workes shall saue the therfore faithe in thine owne workes can neuer quyet thy conscience nor certifie the before God wheÌ„ God coÌ„meth to iudge to take a reconing yâ— thy sinnes are forgeuen the. Beyond all this mine owne workes caÌ„ neuer satisfie the law or pay her that I owe her For I owe the law to loue her with all mine heart soule power might Whiche thing to paye I am neuer able whyle I am compassed with fleshe No I cannot once beginne to loue the lawe excepte I be fyrste sure by fayth that God loueth me and forgeueth me Finallye that we saye fayth only iustifieth ought to offende no man For if this be trewe that Christ only redemed vs Christ only bare our synnes made satisfaccion for them purchased vs the fauour of God then must it nedes be true that the trust only in Christes deferning in the promyses of God the father made vs for Christes sake doth onely quiet the conscience certifie her that the sinnes are forgeuen And when they say a man must repent forsake sin haue a purpose to sin no more as nye as he can loue the lawe of God Ergo fayth alone iustifieth not I aunswere that al like argumentes are nought like to this I must repent be forye the Gospel must be preached me I must beleue it or els I cannot be partaker of the mercye which Christe hath deserued for me Ergo Christ only iustifieth me or not Christ onely hathe not made satisfaccion for my sinnes As this is a naughty argumeÌ„t so is the other Now go to reader according to the order of Paules wryting eueÌ„ so do thou Fyrst behold thy selfe diligeÌ„tly in the lawe of God se there thy iust damnacion Secondarely turne thyne eyes to Christe and se there the exceading mercy of thy most kynde and louinge father Thirdly remembre that Christe made not thys attonement that thou shouldest anger God againe nether dyed he for thy synnes that thou shouldest lyue styll in them nether clensed he the that thou shouldest retourne as a swyne vnto thyne olde puddell againe but that thou shouldest be a newe creature and lyue a newe lyfe after the will of God and not of the fleshe And be diligent least thorowe thine own negligence and vnthankfulnes thou lose this fauoure and mercy againe ¶ Fare well The vvhole matier and argument of sainct Paules Epistle to the Romaines by Eraâ—mus of Roterodame AL the beginnyng to make the matier more plaine this shal bee briefely to declare the summe and contentes of this presente Epistle And fyrst to beginne with the authors name albeit I knowe that sainct Hierome in his commentaries he wrote vpon the Epistle to Philemon is of the minde that Paul was fyrst called Saule and afterwarde called him self Paule in remeÌ„braunce of the great and victorious acte wherby he wonne vnto Christ Sergius Paule lieuetenaunt of Paphos in Cipres as it is wryten in the .xiii. chapiter of the Actes of thapostles And though againe I knowe that other some be of the mynde that Paule for the tyme wherin he liued vnder the Iewes lawe was called Saule that at the fyrst beginnyng of his newe religion he chaunged his name yet the one opinion semeth vnlikely forsomuche as S. Luke in the chapiter before rehersed then Saule vvhiche is also called paule beyng full of the holy goste plainly by these wordes declareth that he had two names before Sergius Paules conuersion the other opinion semeth more vnlikely as it appeareth as well by that some els where as especially in the same chapiter euen at that tyme when he preached Christes gospel he is called Saule the holy gooste speakyng these wordes deuide me Barnabas and saule Me thinketh therfore that Origens opinion is in this point nigher yâ— trueth For as in the bookes of the olde testament we fynde some whiche had diuers names as for exaÌ„ple one in one place is called Idida whiche in an other is called Salomon likewyse an other is in some place called Ozias whom scripture elswhere calleth Azarias in the gospel of Luke he is called Leui whiche in his owne gospel calleth him selfe Mathewe so is it to be supposed that Paule had two names though that in his Epistles he neuer vseth to call him selfe Saule but in euerye place Paule peraduenture because yâ— name of Paule was more familiar among them that he wrote vnto I meane the Romaines and Grecians Now is the Latine worde Saulus after like sorte deriued out of this Hebrue worde Saul as the Grecians fourme
so diligent to coÌ„tinue aduaunce their popyshe pryuate masses other straunge tounged seruice to passe awaye the tyme to kepe both theÌ„selues the people blynde styll yet myne vnfeyned hope trust is that lyke as yâ— almyghtie euerlyuing God the father of our lorde Iesu Christe by Christe of al perfite christians hath of his owne vnspeakeable mercye to this mooste Emperiall Realmewarde geuen so gracious so godly so vertuous so learnedly toward and so faythful a Christen Kyng and most worthy supreme head eueÌ„ our most soueraine lord king Edward yâ— .vi. to rule gouerne nourishe defend it who by thaduise ministery and trauaile of his victorious most noble vncle the Lorde Protectours grace other of his moste honourable Counsayll seketh the kyngdome of heauen and the righteousnes therof aswell in free settyng forth of the most holy sacred scriptures by iniunccions and visitoures as in diligent placeing and sendyng abroade of moste excellently learned readers and preachers to instructe his subiectes in the true knowledge of them selues and of God and in theyr bounden dueties to theyr superiors and also in christian charitie to their neighbours so he will also of his moste haboundaunte ryches of mercye and inscrutable power contynue wyth daylye encreace suche forewarde hertynes and hertye forewardenes of earnest godly procedynges in the Kynges moste Roial Maiestie by the aduise ministerie and trauayle foresayed as the ignoraunt ministers being charitably amoued from their ecclesiasticall cures hauyng competent in other trades of lyfe to rest vpon and reasonable necessarie prouision for the honest mayntenaunce of learnyng good ministers beyng had that father of mercies and Lorde of glorye whose waies are vnsearcheable and iudgementes incomprehensyble by whose wisedome all thynges are swetely disposed and ordred wyll in case we be seruent in hearâ—â—e prayer and not slacke in rendryng thankes vnto him for his excedynge manifolde benefites sende conuenient wâ—llyng and lâ—stye forewarde workemen into this his most copious great haruest of Englande aswel to the extirpacion banyshement and â—oâ—yng out of popyshe faythe false religion cankred opinions heathnyshe rites idoiatrous worshyppynges supersticious deuoucions disguysed myssall sacrificeinges aduouterous conuersacion and other grosse vile iniquities arysyng and growing to the contempt and dishonour of the liuyng God as braunches out of the roote of the Romyshe Antichristian religion as also to the plantyng settyng forth and glorifyeng of the moste vndefyled lawe of the Lorde that conuerteth soules from naughtynes to godlynes to the syncere teaching of the most sacred religion of Christ and the true wourshyp of God to the reformacion of maners and also to the expressyng of godly behauiour in outwarde conuersacion both in the ministre and parisheneâ— to walke in loue as Christ hathe loued vs in Christen almose dedes in scripturely fastyng in ghospellike prayer in rendryng thankes in lifting vp pure handes in pacience long suffryng perfite charitie temperaunce sobrietie chastitie brotherly compassion and true obedience towardes the Kynges maiestie and all other set in autoritie vnder hym and in other offices workes dedes and vertues that God requireth and commaundeth by his actes proclamacions and decrees most earnestlye and straightely mentioned in his mooste holy perfite boke the Byble so as God I doubt not shall vouchesafe long to preserue vnto thys Realme yâ— most vnspeakable worthy Iewel yâ— kynges hyghnes and defendyng it froÌ„ the daungerous plagues curses due vnto the wicked children of vnbelefe shall vouchesafe also to powre vpon it the mercies blessynges in most pleyntuous habundaunce that he hath promised by the same boke to the beleuing chyldren of obedience Vpon these respectes hope consideracion and seing thaforenamed seuen Epistles whiche in dede are as necessarye requisite pieces of scripture to the furtheraunce of Christes religion christen maners as yâ— rest of the newe testameÌ„t is to be left vntraÌ„slated I toke in haÌ„de to traÌ„slate theÌ„ at such seldome leasures as I possiblie could froÌ„ mine other prophane trauailes incideÌ„t to my drudging vocacioÌ„ spare now at last haue finished theÌ„ not doubting albeit I coÌ„fesse my self eueÌ„ froÌ„ yâ— botome of mine heâ—t as vnmete for this kinde of office as a cartes of husbaÌ„dry to be a caruer at a noble mans table yet yâ— this my rude traÌ„slacioÌ„ is bothe accordyng to yâ— texte in euerye sentence agreably to the Paraphrastes mynde and playnlye Englished to the vnderstandyng of the moste vnlearned Englyshe men for whose erudicion I did take vpon me thys laboure For althoughe curious soughte termes of Rhetoricall Englishe in thys translacion woulde better please the delicate eares and fyne wyttes of men fynely broughte vp in trickynge of termes and tounges yet in asmuche as these translated Paraphrases are set forth for the informacion and playne teaching of the Kynges maiesties playne Englyshe subiectes that vnderstande none other but theyr owne natiue barayne tongue I thoughte it rather better to seke the edification of the playne vnlearned by playne termyng of wordes than by tedious circumâ—ocucion to make a Paraphrase vpon a Paraphrase and by that meanes not onelye to leaue the simple vulgare people vntaught or neuer the better but also in vayne sekynge after curiositie to be iustly laught to scorne for bunglyng at the thyng that is ferre aboue my capacitie Therefore where vnnecessary fynesse wanteth accept true meanyng playnesse And good reader be not of the noÌ„bre of those men whiche leade and get an easye and a wealthye lyfe almoste altogether by deprauinge comptrollyng querellyng mysreportyng and fault fyndyng at other mennes doynges whose studye is to doe some good and loyter the tyme them selues and do no good at all But in case thou chauncest to fynde any notable faulte in this my grosse translacion whiche hathe escaped me either for lacke of leasure or learnynge I beseche thee correcte it charitably with aduysednes so as the readers and hearers thereof maye the better and more expressely perceaue the Paraphrastes mynde â–ª considrynge howe profitable doctrine for these oure present daungerous dayes the Paraphrases doe importe aswell in teachynge Christ sincerely and in settyng forthe of Christen manners playnlye as in rebukyng vice wicked customes sharpely I ment not by thys my translation to hunt after worldly commendacion or temporall rewardes God is my witnes but to do good to the best of my poore vnlearned talente vnto the symple vulgare sort who I perceiued by most euident experience at yâ— kynges highnes visitacion wherin I vnworthye was a wayting ministre were glad conformablye willyng to heare the pure word of God obedient to receyue the Kynges most godly iniuÌ„ccions traynyng them to yâ— same so they would contynue in case theyr ordinaries Curates ministers were not tryâ—lers and hynderours therof and if they were not seduced and taught by sedicious earewhisperours contrary to the worde of God the Kynges hyghnes mooste godly gracious procedinges onely for pelfe belycheare ease and lucre But take me not that
of the churche and to the true vnderstandynge of the truth in all landes and nacions of the earth than euer they dyd in their lyfe tyme as it is euydent that it so happened vnto the holy prophetes and martirs And than shal all the wicked enemies and contemners of the worde of god and of Christes true religion treÌ„ble and feare the iudgement of god not vnworthely and they shall vndoutedly receiue their due rewarde that they haue deserued for the extreme cruelty whiche they haue shewed and declared against the faythfull ministers and seruauntes of God Whiche rewarde they shal receyue with feare tremblynge sorowe smart and paine despaire and with euerlasting shame and confusion folowing Whether any suche thinge hath hitherto or maye hereafter happen let euery true christen harte that trusteth in the mercye of god well consyder and wey by him selfe ¶ The .xii. Chapter The texte ¶ And the seuenth angell blewe and there were made great voyces in heauen saying the kyngdoms of this worlde are our lordes and his Christes he shall raygne for euer more And the .xxiiii. elders whiche syt before God on their seates fell vpon their faces worshipped God sayinge we geue the thankes O Lorde God almightye which arte and wast and art to come for thou hast receaued thy great might and hast raigned And the nacions were angry and thy wrath is come and the tyme of the dead that they shoulde be iudges and that thou shouldest geue rewarde vnto thy seruauntes the prophetes Sainctes and to them that feare thy name small and great and shouldest destroye them whiche destroye the earth AL this maye be well referred vnto the texte and vision that went before to this purpose that after all matters before mencioned once past there shoulde be an vniuersall godlynes and christen order eyther thorowe the generall preaching of the gospel thorow out yâ— who le world or els thorow the godly lyfe peace and felicitie whiche maye be at that tyme vpon earth As it is possible inoughe thorowe the grace of god and many good christen heartes doe trust and hope that it shall come to passe Or els it maye be vnderstande after the last iudgement of our sauiour Christ of the quietnes whiche shall than immediately folowe after the cruell persecucion of Antichrist as this blessed and comfortable angel preacheth and declareth with his trompet For sure it is that before the latter daye the kyngdome of Christ shall appeare and be receyued of all nacions and yles of the earth euen of the Iewes also whiche at length shal receyue knowledge of their errour and shall confesse their obstinacy and the wickednes of their belefe and conuersacion whaÌ„ they shall see the grace and knowledge of God manifestly reueled in all tongues and speches thorowe the holy worde of god and shal perceyue the kyngdome of Christ the true Messias not to consist in the strayght and narow corner of Canaan nor in the vnhappy citie of Ierusalem whiche is vnhappye by reason of the dyuision and vnquietnes that is in it but in the whole wyde worlde wherin shall be one onely felowshyp and congregacion of the seruauntes of the onely one and almyghtie god whom alone all the holy prophetes of whose faythe the Iewes haue alwayes made so highe boast haue honoured and praysed and lyke wyse the whole regiment and flocke of theirs and the whole worldes Messias and Sauiour whiche was before the creation of the worlde and hath appeared in the worlde in al humylite more than .xv. hundreth yeares almoost longer than the lawe of Moyses dyd endure and continue among the Iewes from the tyme of their delyueraunce out of Egipte vntyll the commynge of Christ whan he toke his manhode in the tyme of the reygne of Herode whan as their regiment and gouernaunce toke an ende What lyes soeuer they feyne of their lande and regyment in Vtopia whiche they name Caspâ—a wherof they must shortly be a shamed and holde their peace and confesse their deceyte falsehede presumpcion damnable lyes of their Talmude of all their false myserable blynde guydes and Rabbynes whose falsehede is nowe open and manyfest vnto all the worlde for as muche as their bokes are made common thorowe the benefyte of printynge vnto all men of learnynge and knowledge So that this myserable people as the holy apostle S. Paule prayeth hath that thing fulfylled vnto them whiche they hoped for and whiche was promysed of God in their tyme vnto their generacion Euen so maye it come to passe vpon earth and that right sone that the honour and glorye of the kyngdome of Christ and of God shall appeare which shal rule for a tyme vpon earth and after yâ— latter iudgement in heauen in euerlastynge blisse As than al holy patriarkes prophetes apostles and all the martirs that euer haue bene shall haue honour and glorye whiche they shall offre vp vnto the euerlastinge and very true God in the sight of all Goddes electe in euerlastinge blisse in yâ— kyngdome of God and of his Messias our sauiour Iesus Christ according to the doctrine of the infallyble moost true word of god But the wicked and vngodly heathen shall haue no part of this honour glorye and blisse but shall suffer and be damned euerlastingly in eternall wrath enuy hatred malyce and despayre For suche is the righteous iudgement of God ouer all men bothe quicke and deade good and bad Euery one shall be rewarded accordyng to his workes and desertes after the iust iudgement of almyghtye God without all maner of parcialytie or respecte of persons whether they be of high or lowe estimacion in the worlde whether they be riche or poore and of what lande or contrey so euer they be For than the holy and faithful shal receiue of Christ euerlasting saluacion for their trust faith and loue towarde God and contrarye wyse the wicked and vngodly tyrannes aduersaries persecutours of the faithfull seruantes of God for their obstinate blyndnes infydelitie and contemninge of Goddes holy wyll and worde shall peryshe for euer and shall remayne euerlastingly cursed and damned withal wicked spirites Thus farre as semeth vnto me doe the visions and prophecies reache that are hetherto past and mencioned in this boke But nowe that whiche foloweth is another reuelacion pertayning to an other tyme. For a man must not seeke any other order of yâ— scripture in this boke whiche is compact together of many and diuerse visions without any obserued order than in other writinges of the prophetes as they that are learned doe knowe well ynoughe The texte ¶ And the temple of god was opened in heauen and there was sene in his temple the arcke of his testament and there folowed lyghtnynges and voyces and thondrynge and earthquake and muche hayle Here might the .xii. chapter well begynne and these wordes myght be vnderstande and taken for a preparacion vnto the very glorious and newe reuelacioÌ„ which is nowe as I sayde before opened vnto
the spirit and the bryde say come And let him that heareth say also come And let him that is a thirste come And let whosoeuer wyll take of the water of lyfe free Lyke as almightie God saieth vnto Moyses I am the God of thy fathers â–ª c. euen so saieth the angell here in the person of Christe by the inspiracion of Christes spirite that this prophecy was opened and reueled euen of Christ him selfe thorowe the angell vnto holy Iohn and therfore all men ought to credyte and beleue all these sightes visions and reuelacions And they ought also to be propouned and preached vnto the congregacions for their edifienge that the faithfull maye take diligent hede and beware of the terryble and shameful perels daungers and euyls which shal preuayle in the christen church and shortly aryse and beginne as is alredy happened and shall daylye be fulfylled more and more one after a nother as is before sayd But now howe Christ is yâ—â—oole of Dauid marke this wel for as much as for his sake Dauids kingdom was preserued and his posterite also was preserued in the extreme and troblesome affliccions of the Iewishe nacion vntyll suche tyme as Christ our lorde sautout was borne of the stocke and progeny of Dauid For not withstandynge all the synnes wherwith Dauid dyspleased God and dyd in maner greater and more heynous synnes than Saule dyd yet coulde he vse the helpe of no nother thing fauynge onely of faith in the promes of God whiche assured and promised him that Christ the lorde and promised Messâ—as should be borne of his seede wherin he might well reioyse bothe for him selfe and also for al his posteritie other Kynges and Lordes And therfore our lord sauiour Christ is the tooâ—e and generacion of Dauid by reason of his manhode but concernyng his godheade he hath an vnknowen rysinge vp and begynnynge and an vnknowen commynge furthe of an euerlastinge birthe And lykewyse Christ accordynge to his manhode is a bryght mornynge starre whiche should drawe and allure the eyes of al men vnto him as vnto the risyng vp vnto blisse and vnto all saluacion All this is the voyce of Christ â–ª the brydegrome And now foloweth the voyce and desyre of the bryde and spouse whiche out of a true faithe and an heartye desyre and zeale in all faithfull and electe desireth and wyssheth after the seconde comminge of Christ vnto the latter iudgement and so consequently to inioy the participacion of the blessed and perfyte kyngdome in heauen with all faithfull electe bothe with bodye and soule For all the electe children of God doe hunger and thirst after the honour and glorye of Christ in the kingdome of heauen as well they that are vpon earthe as they that are already in heauen â–ª for they wyshe and desyre in their spirite the fulfyllyng of gods wyll and pleasure wherunto with all humblenes and submission they doe vtterly submitte their wyll for they knowe that his wyll is best and moost perfyte And this desire and wyshe of the faithfull electe â–ª pleaseth God well And althoughe he wyl not heate them at suche tyme as they desyre euen at the very same Moment yet he dothe promyse vnto them his gracious ayde and mercye in the meane tyme whiche he wyll doutles performe And all of mere grace and mercye without any maner of deserte The texte ¶ I testifye vnto euery man that heareth the wordes of the prophecye of this booke yf any man shall adde vnto these thinges God shal adde vnto him the plages that are written in this booke And yf any man shall minishe of the workes of this prophecye God shal take awaye his patre out of the dooke of lyfe and out of the holy â—â—â—â—e and from the thinges whiche are written in this boke He whiche testifieth these thinges saithe be it I come quâ—â—ly Amen Euen so come Lorde Iesu The grace of our Lord Iesu Christe be with you all Amen In this place first after the speakynge of Christ and againe after the speakynge of the holy bryde and of the christen churche maye the holy Apostle S. Iohn speake these wordes in his owne parson as he dyd in the begynnynge of the booke to warne and exhorte al men there by yâ— no man adde any thing vnto this booke as a new vision no more than to any other booke of holy scripture nor take any thing there from as thoughe any thing might be mysunderstande therin and so refused as vnholy and not good For God wyll not suffer any suche thing to be vnpunysshed nor vnaduenged this is the very intent meanyng of these wordes And therfore such men doe amysse and synne very greatly whiche doe refuse this whole booke as thoughe it were not autentical where as it is euident yâ— it hath bene alwayes songe and reade in yâ— holy churche from the begynnynge to the ende Now are those bookes called Apocripha and vnautenticall whiche men might well reade out of the churche priuately by them selues but not in the churche and congregacion Nor it is not lawfull to confirme and mainteyne any maner of doctrine concerninge our faithe and relygion by the auctoritie of any suche vnautenticall bookes except it were in all pointes conformable vnto other holy scriptures And now that that foloweth here after where as he sayeth he which testifieth these thinges saieth c. These wordes maye be referred vnto that that goeth before where Christ speaketh of the callynge of the bryde Euen the same Christe sayeth here at the last ende againe yea I come without doubte take no thought nor thincke it not long the tyme is not long vnto me whiche am that I am Amen that is to saye without any doubt After this dothe holy S. Iohn conclude and ende this booke after the maner of the apostles desiring eâ—nestly the commynge of the kyngdome of Christ â–ª very quickely as all faithfull Christians doe The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ be with all faithfull electe Christians whiche shall be vntyll the ende of the worlde and specially with them whiche reade this booke with faithe and an holy Christen desyre and mynde Amen ¶ The ende of the Reuelacion of S. Iohn thus brefely expounded by the seruaunt of Christ Leo Iude a minister in the churche of Tigury and translated out of the high Duche by Edmonde Alen. Num. xii Eccle. xlv Hebr. iii. Marke xii Luâ— xxi â— Cor. viii Put aparte for yâ— gospel By whoÌ„ we haue receiued grace and Apostleship c. Grace be with you c. For I loue to see you that I might c. I am debter bothe to the grekes and vngrekes For I am not ashamed of the gospel Abacuâ— â—â— Which withhold yâ— truthe â—n vnrighteousnes c. Because that whan they knew god c. And as they regarded not to knowe God c. Whiche men though they knewe the righteousnes of God c. But we are sure that the iudgement of God c. Either dispisest thou
The seconde tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the newe testament conteynyng the Epistles of S. Paul and other the Apostles Wherunto is added a Paraphrase vpon the Reuelacion of S. Iohn Impriented at London in Fletestrete at the signe of the Sunne by Edwarde Whitchurche the xvi daye of August Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Anno do 1549. ⧠To the most Excellent Prince our moste deare Soueraigne Lorde Kyng Edwarde the sixte by the grace of God Kyng of England Fraunce and Irelande defender of the faith and in erth vnder Christe of the Churche of Englande and Irelande the supreme head SO mercyfully dyd almightie God poure his manifolde benefites vpon hys people of Israell in the tyme of theyr deare Soueraigne Moses that in consideracyon of so gracyous a god who so louynglye had chosen them to himselfe afore all other people done so greate thinges for them euen in the myddes amonge their enemies so wonderfully deliuered them from the tyrannye of Egipte so fatherlye noryshed them in the wildernesse yea and not only gaue them the deare lyght of knowlege by openyng vnto them his holy lawe but also sent them suche a gouernor as aboue al other Princes of the erth in his time scripture witnessing the same bare the name of faithfulnesse and louyng kyndnesse For as he was moste feruente and erneste in the cause of God so was he also moste gracyous toward hys subiectes They I saye considering such euident demonstracyons of gods inestimable loue and fauor toward them thought themselues moste bound as the trueth was euen of veray loue to serue hym agayne whiche thing they notably declared whan at the commaundement geuen them by theyr Soueraigne they shewed them selues so willing so glad so cherefull and so fre harted to further the worke and settyng vp of the Tabernacle To the whiche worke who so brought that he had though it were but brasse fyrre tre or suche other thynges farre vnder the estymacyon of golde siluer or precious stone was yet welcome and accepted for his vnfained hert and good willes sake As was also the poore wedow with her two mytes For as the holy Apostle Paul witnesseth yf the mynde be willynge it is accepted accordynge to that a manne hathe not accordynge to that he hathe not Whiche cherefull readynes of minde in those subiectes as it came onely thorowe the mocion of the holy gooste Euen so dyd it greately reioyce the heart of noble Moses In so muche that as the texte sayeth whan he sawe how vniformely they brought theyr gyftes and endeuored them selues to perfourme euery thing in the Tabernacle according to the coÌ„maundement of the Lorde he blessed them that is to saye commended and praised them for theyr labor So well lyked he theyr doynges and so well was he pleased withall For suche godly prynces are so wedded to almighty god so feruent in settinge forthe his honor so ready to take paynes in redressing such thinges as are amysse so desyrous to haue the house of god repayred hys tabernacle set vp his trewe seruice worship restored his people brought to the vnitie of faythe and loue in hym and amonge them selues that it is theyr onely studye delyte and pleasure to haue suche a louyng sorte of subiectes who beholding and consideringe so greate godlynes and gracious diâ—posicion in theyr Soueraigne muste nedes not onely aknowlage suche infinite kyndnesse of god in him but also at the remembraunce thereof laboure and studie in theyr vocacion to shewe them selues agayne and that gladlie aswell thankefull to so mercifull a god as obedient to so louynge a Prynce and consequently of veray loue to serue them both and to be charitably disposed to theyr neghbours yea moste willynge to brynge that they haue to the furtheraunce of gods honoure to the repayringe of his house and to the edifiyng of his true congregacyon and church And though some laboures of such true subiectes be but rude homely and vnperfecte yet proceade they of a mynde that is both willing to geue that it hathe and deâ—irous also to do more then it yet is able to do Your highnesse as high and chiefe Admirall of the great nauy of the lord of hoostes amongst vs Principall Captaine and gouernour of vs all vnder hym the moste noble ruler of his shippe euen our most comfortable Noah whom the eternal god hath choseÌ„ to be the bringer of vs vnto rest and quietnesse in him your most Royall Maiestie I say going before in your Imperiall office hauyng after you your most intierly beloued vncle the Lord Protectours grace with the residue of your highnes worthy counsailours your nobilitie your clargie your deputies and officers in all estates with al other youre louyng subiectes hath set vp your sayle already and is so well forward on your most godlie iourney the gracious winde of the holy gost seruing you that it maketh many a faythfull subiecte of youres according as his calling requireth to come after a good pase yea and to be aswel occupied as he canne and to do as good seruyce vnder you as to him is possible within the feare of god and your graces obedience Your Royall Maiestie to whome the high gouernaunce of youre realmes and dominions is committed being most godly occupied with the prudent and wholsome aduyce and ministerie of your noble vncle and counsail continueth stil in stopping vp the gappes that Antichriste and his false doctryne hath made into the byneyarde of the Lorde and to buyld agayne the walles of hys house whiche thorowe ydolatrie superstycyon euel custome and horryble abuses hathe bene broken downe Truly youre noble actes and statutes your proclamacions and iniunccions testifie the same The godly Homelies and notable worke of Erasmus Paraphrasis vpon the holy Euangelistes if they be distinctelye red and practised with suche discrecion as youre highnesse hathe commaunded they are worthy to be compared to the ryche Iewels that Moses vsed to the pleasauÌ„t garnishing of the Tabernacle And as for the sacred Byble and volume of gods holy boke set forth by your Maiesties appoyntment to be dewly practised in all holy exercyses within your churches like as it is the fayrest floure of the garden most precious perle of gods iewel house eueÌ„ so because your Maiestie as gods high minister in yâ— behalfe hath so graciously made vs partakers therof thorow your most vertuous proceadinges we againe acknowlege our selfes no lesse bouÌ„d to your Maiesty as yâ— trueth is i dede theÌ„ yâ— Israelites were first to their soueraigne Moses for briÌ„ging theÌ„ out of Egipt c. for setting vp of the tabernacle And afterward to noble king Iosias not only for restoring theÌ„ againe the boke of yâ— law that was cast aside but also for abolishing so great ydolatrie and sinne from among them Who then would not be veray loth to bryng nothing to this moste excellent worke wherin youre Maiestie so godly proceadeth like as youre moste noble
holy scriptures whiche are able to make the learned vnto saluacyon thorowe the fayth whiche is in Christ Iesu All scripture geuen by inspiration of God is profitable to teache to improue to amend to instruct in righte wisues that the man of god maye be perfecte and prepared vnto all good workes But see that thou continue in those thynges whiche thou hast learned of me and be vpright in the office coÌ„mitted vnto the in asmuche as thou knowest the doctrine and ordinaunce that thou hast to be vndoubted in case thou remeÌ„brest both of what autor it proceded and of what teacher thou learnedst it and if thou hast not forgotten the holy scriptures which thou learnedst long a go of thine elders in the tender yeares of thy fyrst childehode whiche scriptures beyng rightly vnderstanden euen without our autoritie are hable to make the learned as ferre as belongeth to the obteynyng of saluation which the gospel promyseth vs not through the obseruacion of Moses lawe but throughe the assured faith wherby we beleue in Christe Iesu â–ª That whiche the gospel partly teacheth to be al ready done the same the olde testament telleth and expresseth before hande shall come And yet it teacheth none other thynge than the ghospell doeth howbeit after an other sorte if it haue a godlye a learned reader There is no reason why we should esteme the bokes of the Prophetes or Moses to be of none effecte after the gospel is published yf through a spirituall vnderstandyng they be applyed vnto Christe and vnto godlynes But al the whole scripture that is set forth vnto vs not by mans witte but by inspiration of the holy gost hath greate profyte eyther to teache the thynges whiche are not vnknowen but with perill of saluation or to reproue them whithe are agaynste the veritie or to correcte and call agayne them in to the waye that erre of ygnoraunce or elles to ordre and informe not in Iewishnes or humayne Philosophie but in true innocencie and vprightenes of lyfe and is so muche auaylable for al thinges that make to the offices of godlynes that the man dedicated to God can be behynde in nothing but to be perfite and fullye furnyshed to all the workes of a Christian lyfe The .iiii. Chapter The texte I testifie therfore before God and before the Lorde Iesu Christe whiche shall iudge the quicke and deade at his apperyng in his kyngdom preache thou the worde be ferueÌ„t in season and out of season Improue rebuke â–ª exhort with al long suffryng and doctrine For the tyme wyl come when they shall not suffre holsome doctryne but after theyr own lustes shall they whose eare itch get theÌ„ an heape of teachers â–ª shal wtdraw their eares froÌ„ the trueth shal be turned vnto fables But watche thou in al thinges suffre afflictions do the worke of an Euangelist fulfyll thyue office vnto the vtmost Be sobre MOreouer I beseche the eftesones by God the father and by Iesus Christ whiche shall iudge the quicke and the dead whose sentence no man shall escape and by his commyng where in he shall come to iudgement not in a lowe estate but myghtie and terrible whiche suffred him selfe here to be iudged and by hys kyngdome whiche no power shal be hable to resiste preache the worde of the ghospel stronglye nether beyng frayed with aduersitie nor lustles in prosperitie Be feruent and earnest in season and out of season For there shal be no tyme but it shall seme in season to the wherin thou mayest haue anye hope to do good in the ghospelles busines Reproue the offender exhorte the sluggarde checke him that still contynueth in errour so as he may be amended with seueritie whiche was not amended with curteous admonicion howbeit checke him so as with the sharpenes of chydyng thou myngle both all lenitie doctrine lest thou seme either to hate him in case thou thoÌ„dre at him with nothing but checkes or elles to chide him without aduisement if thou do nothynge but checke him and teache him not withal For with more ease he is obedient that is perswaded and with a better wyll a man doeth after him that loueth him than him that loueth him not This is rather to be had in vre that we confyrme the consciences of them that ours be forsomuche as herafter shal be as I sayed before a haynous and a perilous tyme wherin some shall departe from the profession of the ghospell and not suffre the true and holsome doctrine of Christe that is contrarie to the lustes of this worlde but lyke as they are of moste fylthie corrupt affeccions that of sondry sortes euen so shal they get lurkyng to themselues sondry new doctours not to teache godlines but that with Iewishe fables and mans inuentions shall â—icle their eares that shal itche with a folishe desyre rather to heare newfangles subtil fyne reasons than mater of profite Vnto their fables they shall conuerte theÌ„selues shal turne their eares froÌ„ the trueth of the gospel But endeuour thou thyself so muche yâ— more vnto yâ— cleane contrarie maner watche beare euery thing for yâ— ghospelles sake shewe thy selfe a right gospel preacher in dede For those that teache their own fantasies though they are named gospell preachers yet veryly they are none The texte For I am nowe ready to be offered and the tyme of my departyng is at hande I haue â—â—ught a good fight I haue fulfilled my course I haue kept the faith From hence forth there â—s layed vp for me a crowne of rightwysnes which the lorde that is a ryghteous iudge shall geue me at that day not to me onelye but vnto all them also that loue hys commyng Do thy diligence that thou mayest come shortely vnto me In the ministerie that thou exercisest in my rowme see thou behaue thy selfe so that thou mayest fullye perswade those matters that thou teachest and fasten them throughly in their consciences that they be not lyghtlye shaken out by them that shall goe aboute to teache contrarye thynges Whiche thynge standeth thee in hande so muche the more diligently to loke to in that I shall not helpe you in your trauaylles any longer For I as a sacrifice appoynted to Christ beginne euen now to be offered vp the day afmy death is not long to And I am willyng and glad to be offered vp bothe hauyng a good conscience of my former spent lyfe and beyng assured of my rewarde I haue foughâ—â—â— a ioylye fight I haue fynished a gospellike course I haue done that that was appoynted to the most throughly and faithfully I haue already played my partes nowe for that that is behynde I knowe it is in sauegarde I know that the crowne due to innocencie is layed vp in store for me which the Lorde â—â—all yelde vnto me euen the Emperour whose souldiour I haue bene But he shall not yelde â—â—â—o the in this lyfe wherein is the tyme of fyghtynge but in that daye
Paule wrote vnto you so muche the more habundantly as God gaue him the more plenteous gyfte of wysedome and in almost all his epistles exhorteth you to loke for this daye sometyme speakinge after suche a sorte as though the daye of the lorde were already now at hande that he might the rather prycke you forwarde to the studye of godlynes where as that daye because it is vncertaine oughte to be loked for so as thoughe he woulde come this daye but yet after suche wyse that no man prescribe a tyme certaine These and some other matters Paule according to his high wisedom myngled in his Epistles And wheras he spake them most rightly that coulde be yet the ignoraunt and inconstaunt persons wrest them with a peruerse interpretacion as they doe the other scriptures to their owne destruccion that the thing whiche is healthe vnto the good maye be turned throughe their owne faulte in to venome vnto them Therfore brethren sence you are so many waies warned before hande bothe of me and of Paule take hede that you be not deceyued as other are with the fraude of abominable men and fall awaye from your substaunciall stedfastnes whiche you haue expressed yet hitherto but rather geue diligence that you maye continually encrease and goe forewarde in the giftes and knowledge of our lorde and sauiour Iesu Christe vnto whome be glorye bothe now in this lyfe and for euer worlde without ende Amen Thus endeth the Paraphrase vpon the seconde Epistle of thapostle S. Peter THE LYFE OF SAINCT IVDE after Saincte Hierome IVdas the brother of Iames lefte behynde him a litell epistle whiche is of the seuen catholike epistles And because be taketh witnesse in it out of the boke of Enoch which is Apocryphe that is to say without autoritie it is reiecte of many howbeit it hathe ben taken worthye autoritie bothe for the aunciencie and vse of it and is accompted among the holy scriptures ⧠THE ARGVMENT VPON the Epistle of Iude by D. Erasmus of Roterodame HE is vehemently displeased with many wordes agaynst them that being blynded in theyr owne couetous appetites were aduersaries to the Gospell whiche thyng notwithstanding ought to seme no newe matter inasmuch as they were predestinate to this ende and it was spoken of before by the Apostles that that kynde of men shall lutkingly crepe among the flocke of Christyanes Agaynste these sorte he so armeth them that they may forecast bothe to restrayne them eyther with blamyng or saue them by warnyng geuyng Which thing if they possiblye can not doo yet they prepare them selues readyly agaynst the commyng of Christ Thus endeth the Argument ⧠THE PARAPHRASE OF Erasmus vpon the Epistle of Sainct Iude thapostle The texte ¶ Iudas the seruaunt of Iesus Chryste the brother of Iames. To them which are called and sanctified in God the father and preserued in Iesu Christe Mercy vnto you and peace and loue be multiplied Beloued when I gaue all diligence to wryte vnto you of the commen saluacyon it was nedefull for me to write vnto you to exhorte you that ye should continually laboure in the faith whiche was once geuen vnto the saynetes For there are certayn vngodly men craftely crept in of whiche it was written afore tyme vnto suche iudgement They turne the grace of our God vnto wantonues and deuye God whiche is the onely Lorde and oure Lorde Iesus Christe My mynde is therfore to put you in remembraunce for as muche as ye once knowe thys how that the Lorde after that he had deiyuered the people out of Egypte destroyed them which afterward beleued nor The angels also which kepte not theyr first estate but lefte toeyr owne habitacion he hath reserued in euerlastynge chaynes vnder darckenes vnto the iudgement of the greate daye euen as Sodome and Gomor and the cyties aboute them which in lyke maner defiled them selues with fornycacion and folowed straunge sleshe are set forthe for an ensample and suffre the payne of eternall fyer Lykewise these beynge disceaues by dreames defyle the flesh despyse rulars and speake euill of them that are in auctorytie Yet Michael the archangell when he stroue agaynst the deuyll and disputed abouâ—e the body of Moses burst not geue raylynge sentence but sayde the Lorde rebuke the. But these speake euyll of those thynges which they knowe not and what thinges they knowe naturally as beastes which are without reason in those thinges they corrupte them selues Wo bee vnto them for they haue folowed the waye of Cayn and are vtterly geuen to the errour of Balam for lukers sake and perisshe in the treason of Chore. These are spottes whiche of youre kyndnes feaste together without feare fedynge them selues Cloudes they are without water caryed about of wyndes trees withoute frute at gatherynge tyme twyse deed and plucked vp by the rotes They are the ragynge waues of the sea fomynge out theyr owne shame They are wandring stertes to whome is reserued the myst of darckenes for euer Enoch the seuenth from Adam prophecyed before of suche saying Beholde the Lorde shall come with thousandes of saynctes to geue iudgement agaynst all menne and to rebuke all that are vngodly among them of all theyr vngodly dedes whiche they haue vngodly commytted and of all their cruell speakynges whiche vngodly sinners haue spoken agaynct hym These are mutmuters complayners walking after theyr owne lustes whose mouthes speake proud thynges They haue men in greate teuerence because of auauntage But ye beloued remembre the wordes whiche were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lorde Iesus Christ howe that they tolde you that there should be begylers in the laste tyme whiche shoulde walke after theyr vngodly lustes These are makers of sectes fleshly hauinge no spirite But ye dearely beloued editie your selues in your moste holy faythe prayinge in the holy ghoste and kepe your selues in the loue of God lokynge for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternall lyfe And haue compassion of some seperatyng them and other saue with feare pullyng them out of the fyre and haue compassion on the other and hare the fylthy vesture of the slesh Vnto hym that is able to kepe you fte from synne and to presente you fautles before the presence of hys glory with ioye at the commyng of oure Lorde Iesu Christe to God oure sauiour thorow Iesus Christe our Lorde which onely is wyse be glory maiestie domynion and power before all worldes nowe and euer Amen I Iudas Thadeus the seruaunt of Iesu Christe the brother of Iames write this Epistle not to the Iewes onely nor to other newly conuerted but to all men in commune whome the render mercye of God the father hathe of his owne free will sanctified and hathe also without the helpe of the lawe made godly of vngodly and of Idolatours obedient folowers of true religion whom also the bounteous goodnes of God had preserued in Iesu Christ to this ende that they shoulde not auaunt with other into the dongeon of euerlasting damnacion whom
clothed with a cloude and the raynebowe vpon his hed And his face as it were yâ— Sunne and his feâ—e as it were pyllers of fyre and he had in his hande a lytle boke open and he put his right fote vpon the sea and his lefte fote on the yearth And cried with a loude voyce as when a Lion roreth And when he had cried vii thonders spake their voyces And when the seuen thonders had spoken their voyces I was about to write And I hearde a voyce from heauen saying vnto me Seale vp those thinges which the. vii thonders spake and write theÌ„ not THis strong angel can sygnifye none other thing but our sauiour Iesus Christ whiche reueled suche a vision vnto S. Iohn for the profyte and comfort of the faithfull churche and congregacion and for a warnyng vnto the synfull world For he it is whiche in suche an euil tyme and in suche great perplexyte and dangerous warrefare of the christen churche vpon earth commeth downe from heauen to ayde and succour it according vnto his promes And he appeareth vnto S. Iohn euen as thoughe he were commynge downe from heauen clothed with a very manyfest and visible cloude whiche signifyeth his holy manhode euen as he went vp also vnto heauen and dwelleth with vs with his grace ayde and prouydence The raynebowe sygnifieth his heauenly imperious crowne and his gracious gouernauÌ„ce ouer his faithful electe for the whiche he is carefull and sorowfull with mercye and daylye ayde in all thinges necessarye and expedient for them His face and countenaunce is bryght pleasant and full of mercye euen lyke vnto the sonne For he himselfe is the sonne of the worlde that is to saye the comfort delyght ioye and felicitie of all faithful And againe mighty stronge and rightuous in all his iudgementes towardes yâ— godlesse and wicked whiche he stampeth in peces and burneth them with fire that can neuer be quenched This same Iesus Christ our Lorde and sauiour is come againe from heauen with his lytle meke euangelycall booke namely with the newe testament in the whiche the olde is also comprehended This booke is contemptuous and of no estimacion vnto the sage wyse philosophers highe lerned doctors and pompous proude prelates in so muche that it was cleane lost out of the tempelles for a great space euen as it was in yâ— tyme of Ieremye the prophete beyng songe yearely in their monasteries colleges as their vowes and rules wherunto they were sworne required but without all maner of vnderstandynge or feruentnes of the spirite whiche should be sought and necessarilie required in holy scripture This boke dothe Christ bring â–ª being garnisshed not outwardly with golde siluer and precious stones for a face and a shewe onely so that no man can reade in it as thoughe it were sufficient onely to kysse it but he shal bring it open that euery man maye reade and vnderstaÌ„de it in their owne mother tong and also in all scholes where children are taught He it is that is come into this worlde and hath set his feete vpon al the earth and also in the Iles of the sea whiche were before vnknowen â–ª euen lyke as the true faithe also was which was readyly ioyfully receyued of them whiche before knewe nothing at all and were more ignorant and vnlearned than they that came from the grecians and Romaynes Whiche thing maye be vnderstanden by the left and the right foote And what maye better be vnderstanden by the loude voyce than the great noyse which the holy Byble maketh at suche tyme as it is spred abrode in all speches and tonges ouer hundrethes and thousandes of people in so short tyme to the great wonder and meruell of all faithfull and to the hyghe furtheraunce and edyfieng of the christen doctrine and of the knowledge of God and to the vtter confusion and feare of the whole diuilyshe and hellyshe flocke and congregacion euen as a Lyon of the stocke of Iuda And immediately therupon came vii thonders that is to saye the moost godly and christen interpreters of holy scripture were famous throughout the whole worlde as were these Ambrose Austen Ierom Gregory Cypriane Hylarie and diuerse other whiche in our tyme haue written and taught as excelleÌ„tly and profytablye in the churche and congregacion of Christ as euer they dyd These haue taught and brought into lyght the worde of God very purely and sincerely notwithstandyng whatsoeuer the schole writers and sophysters the pompous byshops and monkyshe mumry haue many yeres decreed dyuised to the contrary with their vncerten and vnstable doctrine fayned ceremonyes fonde tradicions newe strange articles of the faythe whiche haue no grounde in gods worde and cleane contrarye bothe to the vsage and also to the doctrine of the holy auncient fathers in the prymatiue churche And where it is nowe added that it shoulde not be written what these thonders spake let other vnderstande it as they wyll I thinke and coniecture that it is a prophecye of the noble and excellent gyfte of God yâ— science of Prynting geuen first vnto the Germaynes whiche were estemed the moost rude and barbarous people By and thorowe whome not onely the newe testament hath bene renewed interpreted translated euen out of the very naturall fountaine tong wherin it was wrytten but also the whole olde testament out of yâ— holy Hebrew tong Besydes this all these before named many other teachers and wryters of the holy churche went first out into the worlde and bothe with worde and deede noysed abrode the power of the gospell so that the renewynge therof can not be ascribed vnto those onely whiche preache and teache in our tyme but vnto the holy bysshops of the primatyue churche whiche preached and taught first of all throughout the whole christendome where as now all our bysshops for the moost parte are domme and blynde in all godly doctrine vtterly drowned in worldly pompe lustes pleasures and in all wicked dyssolutenes The texte ¶ And the Angell whiche I sawe stande vpon the sea vpon the earth lyfte vp his hande to heauen and sware by him that lyueth for euer more whiche created heauen the thinges that therin are and the sea and the thinges whiche therin are that there should be no lenger tyme but in the dayes of the voyce of the seuenth Angell when he shall begynne to blowe euen the mysterye of God shal be fynished as he preached by his seruauntes the prophetes Christe taketh anothe and sweareth by God his heauenly father euen with great earnest feruencye and holynes that the tyme of his glorious laste comminge to iudge all the worlde bothe quicke and dead is nowe alreadye nighe and at hande And whan the victorye that was prophecyed to be fulfylled of Antichrist which victorye the seuenth angel Christ him selfe or his spirite that was yet to come in Helyas before the last daye must blowe forth accordinge vnto his office were once past than
shoulde all together be fulfylled that all prophetes dyd euer prophecye of the kyngdome of Messias the sauiour of the whole worlde whiche is the hyghest misterye Of the whiche thinges all patriarkes and prophetes yea and the apostles also and Christ him selfe dyd speake namely of the tyme of the kyngdome of heauen that was commyng and of the commynge of Christ in his highest honour and glorye whiche shal be manifest and knowen vnto all men and vnto the whole world The texte ¶ And the voyce whiche I hearde from heauen spake vnto me againe and sayde go and take the lytle boke whiche is open in the hande of the angell which standeth vpon the sea and vpon the earth And I went vnto the angell and sayde to him geue me the lytle boke and he sayd vnto me take it and eate it vp it shal make thy belly bytter but it shal be in thy mouthe as swete as hony And I toke the lytle boke out of his hande and eate it vp and it was in my mouthe as swete as â—onâ— and assone as I hade eaten it my bellye was bytter And he sayde vnto me thou must prophecye againe amonge the people and nacions and tongues and to many kynges At this place myght the begynnyng of the .xi. muche more conueniently haue bene appoincted but it is no matter Iohn in the person of all faithfull christians and specially in the person of them whiche should be teachers in the churche of god as the holy bysshops and other apostolicall men heareth the voyce of God speakinge thus vnto him If thou wylt doe and performe thy office and vocacion truly and iustly than goe thy waye and appointe thy selfe therunto withall thy might and power and take in thy hande the holy open and mooste cleare cronicle booke of the holy gospell and worde of God receyue the same and the holy vnderstandinge therof from the holy goost thorow feruent praier And reade therin with faythe loue and moost earnest zeale of Christ hym selfe But he telleth him before that he shoulde not onely reade or synge it wryte or endyte it but that he shoulde with a moost gredy desyre euen deuoure it vp as a foode from God and as the heauenly breade of all faythfull beleuers and that â—e dygest it in to his bowels as a moost cleane and holsome foode Whiche thing can not come to passe with out bytternes of repentaunce and of sorowe and heuynes of the hearte and conscience And specially vnto him that knoweth so muche of the wyll of God and feleth that his spirite is so weake and frayle and his fleshe so wylde and dysobedient and his mynde so stubbourne and obstinate against the spirite of god Or els it may be thus vnderstandeÌ„ that whan a man vnderstandeth the worde of god and knoweth that it ought to be spred furth vnto other that is to saye to the whole churche of God and that the truth ought to be spoken vnto the blynde worlde and that it can not yet be done with out great perell danger of bodye and lyfe than is it doutles bytter vnto him But yet not withstandinge it is swete in the mouthe thorowe the comforte and ioye of the truth and thorowe the ioyful promes of the gospell of rightuousnes and holynes thorow Christ the sauiour of the whole world in al tymes Al this did Iohn in a vision and toke also further instruccion thereof as foloweth ¶ The .xi. Chapter The texte ¶ And then was geuen me a rede lyke vnto a rodde and it was sayd vnto me Ryse meat the temple of god and the aulter and them that worshyp therin and the quier whiche is within the temple cast out and meate it not for it is geuen vnto the Gentiles the holy citie shall they treade vnder fote xiii monethes And I wyll geue power vnto my two witnesses and they shall prophesye a thousande two hundered and .ix. dayes clothed in sacke clothe These are two olyue trees and two candelstyckes standynge before the God of the earth And yf any man wyll hurte them fyre shall procede out of their mouthes and consume their enemies And yf any man wil hurte them this wyse must he be kylled These haue power to shut heauen that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophesyinge and haue power ouer waters to turne them to bloude and to smite the earth with all maner plages as often as they wyll THe lorde doth teuele and shewe vnto Iohn that he wyll vysyte and reforme his churche beyng so sore fallen and decaied whaÌ„ tyme shal be thorowe apostolical men and godly parsons which haue eaten vp and dysgested the booke of god and with great swetnes and plesantnes haue bene feruent and earnest to further and to set furth the wyl of God And thus he geueth hym a â—eâ—wande in his hande as he dyd also vnto Ezechiell to measure to serche out the rightuousnes of the churches and the state of euery one And specially of them whiche by reason of their office and vocacion ought to haue a speciall respecte and regarde to the seruyce of god among the whiche the bysshops and the highe most speciall doctors and teachers of the churche whiche are vnderstande and ment by the quiere for as muche as they are maisters and rulers of the quiere were the mooste wicked and vngodly And they are compared and lykened vnto the heathen and were geuen and delyuered vp vnto them to be punysshed For the heathen and vngodly and supersticious people geuen to al ydolatrie whether they be spiritual or secular they shal treade down destroy and defyle the churche of Christ a long time whiche is to be vnderstande by the xlii monethes the is to saye .iii. yeares an halfe whiche might well sygnifye .iii. hundreth yeares an halfe from the tyme that muche false doctrine many supersticious ceremonies came first into the churche against the manifest worde of God Whiche thinges sprang vp thorow yâ— pompe pryde couetousnes and presumpcion of the spiritual prelates watchmen as they named them selues and so ought to haue bene in dede by their office callyng The two witnesses of repentaunce amendement of lyfe which should take the gospel in hande againe and should restore bryng forthe the booke againe are Enoche Elyas For in the wicked tyme of the Cainites before Noes floode Enoche studyed went about without doubte bothe with word dede to reforme the world to reduce them vnto the true faith in God perfyght loue to their neyghboure againe Wherunto he was moued by the holy goost whiche did worke speake in him yea parauenture also did write thorowe him For there were once bokes of Enoche whiche nowe are not to be gotten And lyke wyse did Elyas also in yâ— time of the lawe but with a wonderfull zeale feruentnes both in word deed thorow the mocion of the holy goost whiche worketh in the ministers
shall worke with the wicked and vngodly in the whole worlde according to his nature wickednes And he shall styrte his wicked armye warriers Gog and Magog of whom the Prophetes do muche speake And they are the greate and infinite nomber of the enemyes of God of the holy doctrine of the ghospel and of all holy congregations of true and faythfull Christians whiche are called and are in dede the very true Ierusalem whiche dwell vpon earth as citizens of a fortunate holy quiet and honorable citie and comunaltie Agaynste this holye citie and comunaltie shal sathan fyght a newe batell with his armye and men of warre with all his power myght and wyckednes and shall attempte and goe aboute to ouercome theÌ„ to deceyue them and to make them to forsake the trueth of God and shall worke all meanes to destroye soules And thys shall he doe in the whole worlde He shall spare no laboure to compasse aboute and to besege not the stony citie of Ierusalem in Iewry but as it is sayde before the holye christendome vpon earth the cytie of the faythfull citizins namely the godlye elect But the grace and mercie of God towarde his beloued and the promesse of Christ towarde his churche is greater and stronger than the wickednes and power of Gog and Magog the wycked warrieis agaynst Christ which shall consume them with fyre euen as he did stryke Senacharibs army vpon an hundreth thousande and .iiii. score and .v. thousand in one night thorough one of his aungels and brought them into asâ—hes with the fyre of Goddes vengeaunce and ryghtuous iudgement And euen vpon that shall folowe the generall iudgement of God by the whiche the deuil with all his hoost coÌ„panye shall be throwen into euerlastyng payne damnation which is resembled vnto a lake graue of fyre and brymstone in the whyche the dragon the beast al false prophetes shal be tormented day and nyght that is to say perpetuallye without ende And that shall be the seconde death The texte And I sawe a great white seate and hym that sat on it from whose face fled awaye both the yearth and heauen their place was nomore founde And I saw the dead bothe great and smale stande before God And the bokes were opened another boke was opened which is the boke of lyfe and the dead were iudged of those thynges whyche were writen in the bokes accordyng to their dedes and the sea gaue vp her dead which were in her and death hel deliuered vp the dead which were in theÌ„ they wer iudged euery maÌ„ according to his dedes And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire Thys is the seconde death And whosoeuer was not founde writen in the boke of lyfe was cast into the lake of fyre The great general ryghtuous most iust and last iudgement of God whaÌ„ as yâ— who le world shal be iudged is here described by the great and whit stoole Which shall be greuous heuy and intolerable vnto the rebellious disobedyent wycked and obstinate contemners of Gods holy worde the euerlastynge ghospell of Christ But it shall be ioyfull swete pleasant delectable welcome and acceptable as most hartely desyred and loked for vnto the godly faythful humble elcte of God The iudge vpoÌ„ the stoole is our sauiour Iesus Christ dreadful and feareful vnto al the world vnto such earthly meÌ„ which haue set their marke ende loue hope felicitie vpon the earth in those thinges wherin the worlde deliteth as are fleshely lustes pride of life al wickednes lack of loue both toward god the neighbour And therfore the earth sygnifieth yâ— men that dwel vpoÌ„ the earth the deuils which remayne in earth in the ayer which is also called heaueÌ„ which are thrust out of their places habitacions no more found therin but in the place habitacioÌ„ which the iust iudgemeÌ„t omnipotencie of God hath prepared for theÌ„ in the earth that is most wide distant from the kingdom of heauen Vnto this dredfull and terrible iudgement of God shal come stand before the iudgemeÌ„t seate of God and Christ all those whiche were deade both masters and seruauntes great and small hyghe and lowe myghtie and vnmyghtie men and women yong and olde none excepte Than shal the heartes consciences thoughtes and secretes of al men be opened and dysclosed not onely vnto them whiche shal and must than knowledge them selues giltye and worthye of eternall damnacion but also vnto the other For as than shal all wickednes of the conscience be open euydent and manifest For they shall accuse and condemne them selues without any cloke or excuse whan as they shall beholde all men and shall reade with perfyte vnderstandynge and with feare and tremblynge the other great boke of gods rightuousnes and equite of his warnynges doctrine instruccions and threatnynges whiche they haue had sufficiently in this worlde euery one in their tyme thorowe gods mercyfull and fatherly prouision and sendynge but they haue vtterly contemned and despysed them with all the righteousnes godlynes that they haue taught And they woulde nothing regarde nor esteme the holy worde of God which was geuen vnto the worlde in the holy scripture for a perfyte rule and square but they would neuer credyte nor beleue it but rashly against their owne conscience haue refused and contemned it And therfore shall they be wyped out of the regyster booke of the faithfull and of them whiche shall lyue perpetually with God and withal his peculiar electe in eternal ioy blisse And thus they shal remaine continually in the eternall indignacion of God in euerlasting hate enuy most painfull tormentes and great impacience and continuall sorowe in so muche that their eternall death shall also be with corporall payne and tormente of the bodye euen with the whole felowship of the deuyll and that without any ende or ceasynge This iudgement and heuy daye shall no man be able to escape and auoyde whether he be consumed in the earth in the fyre or in the see For all this standeth in the hande of yâ— almightie power of God whiche with one word wyll and commaundement made all elementes heauen and earth and all that is therin And where he sayeth that the hell shoulde geue vp her deade vnderstande therby as in many other places of holy scripture the graues in yâ— earthe or wheresoeuer they be out of the whiche the deade shall ryse vp and they that shall be than alyue as S. Paule saieth shall be changed in a shorte space in the twincklynge of an eye to stande together before the iudgement seate of God with them whiche shall be iudged to euerlastinge lyfe or death But euery one of them whiche shal appeare and shall know them selues manifestly shal iudge them selues accordynge as they haue done after or against the wyll of God in faith or infydelite in loue or contempt of god in the feare of God
speciall trust and loue towardes him he sheweth him his spouse and wyfe and nameth her the lambes wyfe but it is the christen churche the felowship of all saintes and holy electe This christen churche is in .ii. maner of states In the first state she is mylitant euer striuynge and fightyng euer in warrefare assaulted with much trouble and vexacion sorowfull vnperfyte and euer waxyng and increasynge And in the other state she is triumphant victorious euer triumphinge quiet free without care or sorowe for any vexacion perfyte heauenly blessed and euerlasting Of bothe these states for certen fewe properties the earthly Ierusalem the citie of the Iewes is set for a figure comparison example and counterpane Whiche Ierusalem of the Iewes lyeth vpon an hyll hath .xii. gates and great hyghe walles and lyeth on highe towarde the whole lande rounde about on euery behalfe Of the whiche they that wyll knowe more maye reade Iosephus which writeth largely therof Nowe here speaketh Christ of the spirituall Ierusalem in her double state It lyeth also highe for as muche as it is highly indewed with gods grace and glorious giftes for whose sake almightie God sent his onely begotten sunne vpon earth to clense and to make her pure to bylde her to bewtifie and to garnyshe her and to make her glorious euen for an euerlastynge kingdome and for a deare beloued spouse for him selfe This citie is great for it reacheth vnto all the endes and coastes of the worlde and it is also holy for it is sanctified with the holy and blessed presence of Christ with his precious hearte bloode which was shedde in the highest loue and obedience towarde god and mankynde and that washeth a waye the synnes of all the worlde in that are al the faythful purged clensed This descending of the heuenly citie Ierusalem or holy chrysten churche sygnifieth the comon felowshyp and participacion of the churche â—riumphant that reygnyth in victory with the churche mylytant that contyneweth and remaineth in battel and warrefare For they bothe are one churche deuided and sondred in .ii. onely in this worlde by reason of the tyme. For that churche whiche is nowe militant and lyeth in warrefare vpon earthe shal shortly be in heaueÌ„ victorious and triumphant This churche both vpon earthe and in heauen hathe one godly glorye al honour vertue prayse might and blisse commeth vnto her from God The light of this churche is the most precious stone namely vpon earth faythe with loue and in heauen trueth and saluacioÌ„ in Christ The walles which defende preserue and kepe this citie is the faith and belefe in the holy worde of god by the whiche the faithfull beleuers are kept and preserued The .xii. gates maye we take and vnderstande for the .xii. articles of the holye Christen faythe vpon the gates the xii apostles or patriarkes or prophetes whiche haue their glorious and holy names not onely written in heauen aboue all other holy saintes but also vpoÌ„ earth in the militant or warrefaring chutch These gates of the articles are wel and orderly set and appointed of the father of the sunne of the holy gost of the grace and rewarde of redempcion The .xii. foundacions of these walles maye be taken for the bokes of the olde and newe testament vpon the whiche the wall of the christen churche the holy faithe whiche is but one bothe of the christianes of the olde and of the newe testament bothe of the prophetes and of the Apostles is and ought to be founded and grounded And where as the Apostles are here more named than the prophetes it is done for this purpose for as much as thorow the Apostles the doctrine of the prophetes and the gospell promysed in the prophetes was spredde abrode and publyshed in the whose wyde worlde whiche gospell the prophetes dyd preache and wryte onely vnto the children of Israel and to their neighbours the people nexte about them of the lande of Israell and againe because the apostles were witnesses in their owne parsons of the slaying and death of the lambe The texte ¶ And be that talked with me had a golden rede to measure the citie with all and the gates therof and the wal therof And the citie was buylt foure square and the length was as large as the bredth and he measured the citie with the rede twelue â—â— furlonges and the length and the bredth the heyght of it were equall And he measured the wall therof an cxliiii câ—bytes the measure that the angell had was after the measure that man vseth And the buildyng of the wal of it was of Iasper And the citie was pure golde lyke vnto cleare glasse and the foundacions of the wall of the citie were garnished with all maner of precious stones The first foundacion was Iaspis the seconde Saphire the thirde a Calcedony the fourthe an Emeralde the fyfte Sardoniâ— the syrie Sardoes the seuenth Crysolite the eight Beral the nynth a Topas the tenth a Chrisoprasos the eleeuenth a Iaciute the twelue than Amâ—chist In the .xliiii. of Ezechiell and lykewyse in zacharie doe we reade of yâ— mystery of this holy citie whiche is here described as thoughe it shoulde be measured how long how brode and howe highe it were But it is done of Christ after the maner of a vision and as it were in a misterie For Christ knoweth his churche well inoughe and all whiche are the rin or belong therunto The golden reed is as it were a golden met wonde and it signifieth the right square of the holy scripture whiche onely declareth and sheweth certenly and truly what is ryghte or croked wel or amisse in the religion and doctrine ceremonies and dyscipline of the churche And where as the citie lyeth foure square it sygnifieth the .iiii. quarters of the worlde in the whiche the almightie God hath alwayes had his peculier electe faithful folowers and obseruers of the true loue of God and of the neighbour wherin consisteth the lawe and the prophetes and also the commaundement of Christ the sauiour of the whole worlde The length is from the east to the west the bredth is from the northe to the south and the higth is euen from the earth to the heauen So that heauen and earth and the whole churche both triumphant in heauen militant vpon earth are full of the glory of God of the power and kyngdome of Christ whiche the father gaue him whan as he dyd set him at his right hande in the moost hyghe honour glorye and blisse for a mirrour vnto all faithfull and holy electe An hundreth and .xliiii. is a full and a perfite nomber euen .xii. tymes .xii. And it signifieth all perfeccion of the grace of God the holy goost and of all true and perfite vertues whiche true faithe onely preserueth and maketh good and perfight and also acceptable vnto God The true faithe and belefe which hath alwaies bene preached and preserued in the holy churche as well by the Israelites as by the
also all that is abhominacion vnto the lorde as ydolatry abhominable blasphemies forged lyes false doctrine shall haue no place in the right churche For vnto the right holy churche which is knoweÌ„ onely vnto God and inuisible vpon earthe doe onely the electe children of God perteyne whose names are wrytten in heauen in the booke of the lyuynge ¶ The .xxii. Chapter The texte ¶ And he shewed me a pure ryuer of water of lyfe clere as Christ all procedyng out of the seate of God and of the lambe In the myddes of the strete of it and of eâ—her â—yde of yâ— ryuer was ther wood of lyfe which bare twelue maner of frutes gaue frute euery moneth and yâ—â—eues of the wood serued to heale the people with al. And ther shal be no more cuâ—se but the seate of God and the lambe shal be in it and his seruauntes shall serue him And they shal se his face his name shal be in their forheades And ther shal be no night there and they nede no candle nether lyght of the sunne for the Lorde geueth them lighte and they shall raygne for euermore CHrist openeth vnto Iohn his deare beloued disciple the secrete misteries of the kingdom of heaueÌ„ expoundeth the visions of the other prophetes as farre furth as is requisite necessary for the christen doctrine And thus Iohn seeth here a pure ryuer of water very clere whiche is the holy scripture the worde of god the doctrine of Christ the holy gospel of our saluacioÌ„ That same is clere vnto al them that haue a pure heart mynde not defyled nor blemished with transitorye loue care of yâ— worlde nor with any temptacions of the flesshe This holy doctrine procedeth commeth out froÌ„ the holy spirite of god and of Christ For he is one God with yâ— father the sonne He is the seate of glorye of omnipotencie of the godheade He procedeth out from the welspring of all wysedom grace mercye and floweth throughe the myddes of al streates of Christes churche which is the citie of god of the lambe And of both sides of yâ— riuer doe staÌ„de glorious bewtiful trees of lyfe which receyue their increase their leaues and frute of the moysture of the riuer And these trees are the holy fathers of the faithful christen churche of the olde new testament whiche by their faith and by their vnderstandynge and readyng of the holy scripture of the lawe of the prophetes and of the gospell haue lyued taught and wrought very frutefully in the holy citie of the churche and haue brought forthe twelue maner of frutes that is to saye many frutes and haue serued god without ceasynge with muche frute and profyte in right and true good woâ—kes and vertuous exercises The leaues frute and sappe of these holy trees were very holsome and soueraine as were also the frutes of the dysciples of the prophetes and apostles For the holy bysshops and preachers of Gods worde dyd make repentance faithfull holy and christen people by their preachinge â—eachinge wrytinge prayers and christen example of lyfe of them whiche were before very hethen And in this churche there is no cursed frute and no meate is vncleane vnto the faithfull For they shall receyue and inioy all maner of frutes and meates with thanckes geuynge and with all temperatenes and measure Neyther shall the holy goost be extingwysshed in the holy churche of God but he shall prouyde ministers of God and shall incorage and comforte them with his ayde and assystence that they shall profyte goe forwarde and procede frutefully in all goodnes and thorowe true faithe they shall knowe the face of God his gracious and mercifull wyll and pleasure in this militant warrfarynge churche but in the heauenly Ierusalem they shall knowe him face to face euen as he is and shall laude and prayse him euerlastingly And these ministers and seruantes of God shall not be ashamed to knowledge and to confesse the name of god the christen faith the holy gospel They shal beare about preache and glorifie the name of Christ openly with ioy delyght and pleasure And neyther Sunne nor Moone shal helpe or adde any thing to this cleare and bright daye of gods knowledge for the spirite of God shall doe all together And the blissed soules in heauen haue their Sunne and Moone the glasse of the godheade the excellent bewty of the glorified and exalted manhode of Christe wherby they shall reygne in blisse for euermore The texte ¶ And be sayde vnto me these sayinges are faithful and true And the Lorde God of saintes and prophetes sent his angell to shewe vnto his seruauntes the thinges whiche must shortly be fulfylled Beholde I come shortly Happy is he that kepeth the sayinge of the Prophecy of this boke I am Iohn whiche saw these thinges and hearde them And wheÌ„ I had hearde sene I fell downe to worship before yâ— fete of the angel which shewed me these thinges And he said vnto me sâ— thou â—â— it not for I am thy felow seruaunt the felowe seruaunt of â—hy brethren the prophetes and of them which kepe the saynges of this booke But worshippe God Christ speaketh vnto Iohn and geueth witnesse and testimonye vnto this booke of Reuelacion of secrete misteries that al whiche is written in this booke is certen and true and not to be contemned and taken as any trifle or fable For this booke was ordeyned of God to be spoken thorow an angell vnto Iohn that he should write it and should leaue it behynde him in yâ— faithfull and holy churche of Christ Euen yâ— same god whiche reueled vnto other holy prophetes and men of God thinges that were to come the very same God hath now sent his angel geuen him in commission to open reuele vnto Iohn these visions and prophecies of thinges to come whiche should happen come to passe be fulfilled very shortly yâ— is to say they should shortly begin so happen and come to passe one after another vntil they be all fulfylled Beholde with certen thinges wil I come very shortly The comming of Christ is prophecied vnto vs after suche sorte forme yâ— we should carfully diligently wayte for it continuallye lyke as true faithful seruantes doe waite watche vpoÌ„ yâ— returning of theyr masters doe neuer slepe as Christ teacheth in yâ— gospel And because this boke shoulde not be contemned nor lyghtly estemed in the christen churche therfore Christ sayethe by his messenger and angell that he is happye that is to saye he is the seruaunte of God and pleaseth the Lorde well and shall be partaker of grace and saluacion whiche beleueth this booke â–ª taketh all thinges that are written therin for true holy and estemeth yâ— prophecies of this boke whiche are many and diuerse no lesse than other holy bookes of the prophetes and euangelistes other holy prophecies And where as he saieth â–ª I
am Iohn it is as muche to say as thus yf ye beleue my preaching of Christ in other matters because I am the same Iohn whiche was conuersaunte and lyued with Christ than beleue me in this booke also because of the visions syghtes and sayinges which I haue seene hearde my selfe and haue written in this booke And I knowe also and am assured that this angell was an holy angell and therfore I for feare and reuerence woulde haue worshipped him as a seruaunt and minister of God and I dyd also worship him and fell downe at his feete to worship him that I might seme to shewe thankefulnes vnto him for the infinite benefite and grace that he reueled and opened vnto me suche highe and holy secrete misteries But he woulde not accept and receyue suche honour and worship at my handes nor was not content therwith wherby I am taught that I should vtterly honour and worship none but onely the almighty God And althoughe the nature and dignitie of angels be higher than the state and dignite of man yet by the reason of the manhode of Christ and by the reason of the saluacion of mankynde thorowe Christ the nature of man is exalted aboue all angels And therfore from hence forthe the angell wyll not be hygher estemed than as a felowe seruaunt of all men vnto the lorde And lykewyse our sauiour Christ nameth himselfe a felow brother of his disciples and that also after the resurreccion And also the angel nameth Iohn in this place a brother and felow of yâ— apostles onely for this booke and sheweth how acceptable they are vnto the lorde namely reputed euen as the brethren of Christe whiche doe esteme this booke and beleue the wordes whiche are written therin And therfore no man ought to esteme this booke lightly nor to contemne it for as much as in many places it teacheth the misteries of Christ very euidentlye Althoughe in dyuerse thinges prophecied in this booke whiche haue not yet beue sene to be fulfylled because they concerne this tyme of ours the latter tyme it is somewhat darke and obscure The texte ¶ And he sayde vnto me seale not the sayinges of the prophecye of this boke For yâ— tyme is at hande He that doeth euyll let him do euil styll and he whiche is fylthye let him be fylthye styl and he that is righteous let him be more righteous and he that is holy let him be more holy And beholde I come shortly and my rewarde is with me to geue euery man according as his dedes shadie I am Alpha and Omega the begynnyng and the ende the first and the last Blessed are they that doe his commaundementes that theyr power maye be in the tree of lyfe and maye entre in thorowe the gates into the citie For without shal be dogges and inchaunters and whoremongers and murcherers and ydolaters and whosoeuer loueth or maketh leasynges In the olde testamente before the commynge of Christe the Prophetes were partly commaunded to seale their prophecyes for lyke as the fulfyllynge of suche thynges as were prophecyed and promised was fatte of euen so myght many dyuers opynyons be amonge the interpreters But here in this place the angell commaundeth Iohn that he should not seale the boke for as muche as suche matters as are prophecied therin shoulde be fulfylled very shortly As it is euydent that dyuerse of them were fulfylled immediately yea euen the great and notable vision of the subuersion and destruccion of the citie of Ierusalem and of the death and banyshment of the Iewes was alreadye fulfylled for the whiche cause he dyd prophecy nothing of it but of dyuerse other thinges which were yet to come he dyd prophecye And therfore also after this booke he wrote his holy gospel of the godheade of Iesus Christ against certen heretikes And therfore he saieth the tyme is at hande for the whiche cause men must suffer the wicked to worke accordynge vnto their wickednes for they shall not practyse it long Men must suffer the wicked Iewes and hethen whiche so wylfullye and maliciouslye doe noye and persecute the faithfull christians to take theyr pleasure Let the false apostles heretikes and hipocrites whiche pretende great holynes althoughe they be shamefully defyled as well inwardly as out wardlye let them remayne defyled and wicked it shall shortely haue an ende the iudgement of God hangeth ouer their heades But he that doeth well and rightlye nedeth not to feare the iudgement and comming of Christ He that is holy thorowe true faithe and loue towarde Christ the same desiereth ernestly from day to daye the commynge of Christ vnto the last and generall iudgement And as sone as he seeth any of those tokens happen which haue any lykelyhode of the approchinge of the end of the worlde and whiche shoulde come to passe before than he lyfteth vp his heade and sygheth and wysheth for the commynge of Christ most desierously that he might be sone rid and delyuered from yâ— myserp and wretchednes of this worlde But now thou Iohn marke and take good hede I wyll come shortly and bringe the rewarde with me for al them that haue laboured and done eyther good or euyll For the tyrannes and workers of iniquite wyll I punyshe with dystresse plages and all other blasphemers lykewyse I am the begynnynge of all thinges I haue created the worlde because I am the worde by the whiche God hath created all thinges And I am also the end for the last daye shall be my daye whan as I shall come to iudge the quicke and the deade They performe and doe gods commaundementes which in true faith and loue indeuour themselues with al diligence to doe the wil and pleasure of God with holy workes vertuous exercises whansoeuer they haue any trouble or a ouersite than they call and praye vnto god for grace and mercye for Christes sake whose rightuousnes they take for the oblacion and ransome for their synnes offerynge vp vnto him the sacrifice of thankesgeuynge with a true and perfyte faythe in the mercye of God thorowe Christ Iesus Suche true faithfull men are lyke vnto a frutefull tree that begynneth to budde out whiche in due tyme bryngeth furthe muche fruite And suche true faithfull beleuers can onely enter thorowe faythe into the Christen churche here vpon earthe and whan the tyme commeth they shall also enter in to the heauenly churche But the vnfaithfull doe shewe and declare also theyr frutes of all wyckednes and fleshely lustes wherin they defyle them selues euen lyke swyne and become shameles in theyr synnes lyke very dogges For the whiche cause they can not enter in to the righte christen churche and congregation neyther sorcerers inchanters whoremongers murtherers worshippers of ydols nor any suche as make lyes of malyce and of an euyll conscience The texte ¶ I Iesus sent myne angell to testifie vnto you these thinges in the congregacions I am the rote and the generacion of Dauid and the bright mornynge starâ—e And