trusting vpon longer continuance whan they sée his heade restored agayne in their rulers the godly teachers burned and the preachers put to silence 5 They worship also the beaste so many as worshipped the DragoÌ„ For as they which worship Christ worship his father also so they the worship Antichrist agréeing to his lawes and decrées doth also worship the diuil of whom he receiued his pryde They wonder with the Iewes that séeketh cauilations to coÌ„teÌ„pne Christes doctrine as doth the filthie family of the dotyng dodipolles priestes vnlerned lawyers They worship with the HeatheÌ„ that admitteth their power and alloweth their faces as doeth the foolysh multitude that neuer will be godly wyse None other iudgement remayneth in these dayes to these wonderers and worshippers of the newlye restored head of the beast then did vnto them that with double deuotioÌ„ agréed to the abhominatioÌ„s of Mahomet the pope 6 And this will be their saying as foloweth in the text spoken in the time past for the certaintie of the thing as the maner of the scripture is 7 Who is lyke vnto the beaste in outward glittering workes or in the externo obseruations of counterfayt religion 8 Who is able to war with hir the worldly powers now so déeply maintainiÌ„g hir quarel All seketh the papists that they can in the world imagine to vpholde the glory magnificence and beautie of their holy whorish church or malignauÌ„t muster No cautels nor craftes leaue they vnsought nor vnsearched out to cause the people to estéeme hyr of incoÌ„parable power No small labour tooke standyshe in hand in Whittington College when he made his more theÌ„ foolish booke of reproch against Barnes being dead Nor no lesseÌ„ diligeÌ„ce the wise poet Iohn HuÌ„tiÌ„gtoÌ„ wheÌ„ he registred in his genealogy of heritikes with out grace wit learning the names onely of such godly men as were the Popes enimyes no heretike agaynst God once mentioned No more dyd Thomas Smith Richard Dallison WilliaÌ„ Stawne SteueÌ„ Prowet Fryer AdriaÌ„ Quarrie the Pardoner with suche other blynde Popish Poetes and dyrtye metristes when they vttered theyr shitton rymes and poesies And sure I am that many moe be yet abroade of the same wicked zeale and spirite to the great blasphemie both of God and his trueth now that the beastes wounde is made whole agayne by so many new actes so many new titled Bishops so fresh sale of benifices maisterships and dignities spiritual offices degrées and aucthorities as pleÌ„tuous as euer was in Rome And least we should be depryued of our new pleasaunt Euphrates and so bée compelled by the word of God to follow the Monks Chanons Nunnes and Fryers in theyr banyshments We haue procured certaine actes to be made for our commoditie and those only to be published among the people once in a quarter or so oft as shall please vs to blemishe all Godly preachings of the scriptures Thus séeke we our selues and not God our owne strength and not his our owne glorie and not Iesus Christs But let vs not thynke that he sléepeth with Baall the false God knowyng the most hydden thoughtes of the harte but that he will within shorte space sende foorth his lightnyngs and scater vs brynging our heathenishe deuises to nought For the kyngdome of one faith in vs and the Pope thus manifestly in certayne points deuyded must surely decay THE TEXT 1 And there vvas giueÌ„ vnto him a mouth 2. to speake great things and blasphemies 3. And povver vvas giuen vnto him to doe xlij moneths 4. And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his Tabernacle and them that dvvell in heauen 5. And it vvas gyuen vnto him to make vvarre vvith the Sainctes 6. and to ouercom them 7. And povver vvas giuen him ouer all kinreds tongue nacion 8. And all that dvvelt vpon the earth vvorshipped him 9. vvhose names are not vvritteÌ„ in the booke of life 10. of the lambe 11. vvhich vvas killed from the beginning of the vvorld 18. If any man haue an eare let him heare 13. he that leadeth into captiuitie shall goe into captiuitie 14. Hee that killeth vvith a svvearde must be killed vvith a svvearde 15. Heere is the patience and the faith of the sainctes The Paraphrase 1 To this beast saith sainct Iohn was giuen a mouth not of God but of Sathan to speake great mightie things and blasphemies So well is this spoken of the one as the other so many as hath done vpon the Antichrstâ—s liuery title power aucthoritie or name When the veritie of the Lord was opened before them they gaue no thankes for it but became vaine in their thoughts wherfore god gaue them ouer into a leude mynde darkening their hartes So that now thinking them selues wise they appeare more foolish then afore 2 Now speake they great thyngs in their conuocations seanes sermons and all are sore blasphemyes against God his Christ. Now must they serue God by most straite commaundement with olde Romish beggerry though he most highly abhorreth it no scriptures may be reade in the time thereof For the scriptures must onely passe as we wil haue theÌ„ How shuld the beasts hed els be healed again or howe should our church be known els to be his own Image Oh beastly abhominatioÌ„ most hellish decree Now must Christ be takeÌ„ for no sauior at all wtout our deseruiÌ„gs The supper of the lord that was somtime a mutual perticipatioÌ„ of Christes body and bloud must now be a new crucifying of him one traitour playing al parts Iudas Annas Caiphas Herode Pylate the Iews Matrimony must be iudged vncleanes though it be the earnest institutioÌ„ of god No popish vow may be dissolued though it be well knowen a matter so diuilish as hath made an huÌ„dreth thousaÌ„d Sodmites The Eucharisti may not be receiued in both kindes though it be the expresse commaundement of Christ so to bée vsed Without the blynde bussings of a Papist may no sinne be soluted for that is the vpholdyng of their kyngdome with many other lyke blasphemies Certayne other great thyngs are vttered by thys mouth whiche now I passe ouer least I shoulde bée tedious to the reader How be it thys one great blasphemy that is spokeÌ„ I can not leaue vntouched Where as they boast them selues yet still alone to be the holy church by the onely vertue of theyr vnctions and shauings receiued first of the Pope the laitie secluded And vnder thys most falsely vsurped title they will still be taken for the redéemers of mens soules For they say that their masses are satisfactorie sacrifices for the quicke and the deade iustifying reléeuing and sauing them both from dampnation ex opere operato And ouer that abhominable swarme of Antichristes filthie ministers make they nowe their Kyngs the heades most blasphemouslye onely to be by them vpholden now in all their mischiues Truth it is that a king is the politique head supreme gouernour great stay vnder God of the people
sturdye and dysobedyent nacion The vncircumcised giauntes sayth Ezechiell wyth theyr weapons are gone downe to hell whose swerdes are layed vnder theyr heades theyr wyckednesse vpon theyr bones Of the wycked onely is all thys spoken héere if ye marke well the text and in no wyse of the Godly what though many of them hath bene drowned in the sea burned béeheadded and hanged vpon the lande and buryed quicke in the earth 17 For it foloweth also that they were iudged of the iudge and receiued euery one accordynge to theyr deseruinges Accordynge to the fleshely fruites of theyr owne inuentions shall they bée rewarded theyr vnfaythfulnesse iustly measured vnto them Theyr bodyes shall than take parte wyth theyr wretched soules in the euerlastynge cursse of dampdamnacion the elect numbre rewarded wyth perpetuall felicytye 18 And as concerninge death it self which is the vniuersall enimye of man it shal be destroyed for euer 19 Hell also whych is here taken for sinne shall neuer more be séene amonge the creatures of God 20 For both shal be throwne into the great lake of boylinge fyre and brymstone The victorie of death shal be swallowed vp and hys stinge done cleane away which is sinne That is nowe corruptyble shall put on vncorruptiō that is nowe mortall immortalitie Thus that the Lord at the houre make of all hys enimies hys fotestole according to his promyse by Oseas the Prophet O death I wil be thy death O hell I will bée thy destruction 21 This tirrible appoyntmēt of the iudge sayth saynt Iohn is the second death or perpetuall depriuation of the sight of God yea the vtter fall from his fauour grace and mercy This death is the whole vengeaunce of all innocent bloud which hath bene shed vpon earth from iuste Abell to the last faythfull witnesse Yea thys sentence is the stone that shall grinde the enimies to pouder the very eternall dampnation both of body and soule 22 Now for a conclusion of the whole matter whatsoeuer he be king or Emperour Priest or prelate laye or religious that shall not be founde writtē in the booke of lyfe which is the eternall predestination of god for that he hath worshipped the beast and his Image he shal be cast by the irreuocable sentence of the iudge into the stynking lake of fyre perpetully there to burne with the Diuell and hys Angels So that he which hath had no parte in the fyrst resurrection shal be sure to taste of this seconde death which is dampnation 23 He that beléeueth not the gospell whan it is faythfully taught hym repenting hys former lyfe but refuseth the grace thereof fréely offered shall for euer be damned Neuer shall his sin be remitted neither in this worlde nor in the worlde to come that reststeth the holy ghost withstanding the open verytie Onely remaineth a fearfull expectatiō of iudgement vnto thē that here treadeth Christ vnder fote not regarding his bloud shedding but doeing iniury to the spirite of grace for their owne inuention The .xxj. Chapter In thys laste vision of Iohan is both discribed the prosperous estate of the true church or kingdōe of Christ here and also the perpetuall Sabboth of the chyldren of God All the other visions were mixte with labours afflictions and paynes This is full of peace tranquilitie and ioye incorruption glorie and felycitie THE TEXT 1 And I savve a nevve heauen 2. a nevve earth 3. for the first heauen 4. and the firste earth vvere vanished avvaye 5. and there vvas no more sea 6. And I Iohan savve that 7. holy Cytie 8. nevve 9. Hierusalem 10. come downe from God out of heauen 11. prepared as a bryde 12. garnished for hir husdande 13. And I hearde a great voyce from the seate saying 14 Beholde the tabernacle of God 15. is wyth men 16. and he vvyll dvvell vvith them 17. And they shall be hys people 18. and God hym selfe shall be vvith them 19. and shall be theyr God 20 And God shall vvype avvaye 21. all teares from theyr eyes 22. And there shal be no more death 23. neither sorovve 24. neyther shall there be any more payne 25. for the olde thinges are gone The Commentary 1 Besides the afore rehersed reuelations I behelde now last of all saith saynt Iohan that heauen was cleane altered from that it was afore and became all newe and so was the earth also and became the same Not onely become they nowe spirituall by a true beléeue in the Gospell that afore were carnall but also in the ende of the world shall the whole bodyes of heauen and of earthe as golde in the fornace be purged from fylthynesse by fyre goyng before the yudge which both are nowe defiled wyth the wickednesse of the creatures 2 After both sortes shall they be delyuered from the corruption here of sinne and thereof death and dampnatyon and so be restored vnto the glorious lybertie of Gods children 3 The first heauen defiled through y◠pryde of Angell and the first earth also corrupted by the sinnefull vsage of manne shall vanyshe cleane away and no more be séene Not that the substaunce of them shall vtterly perysh but that theyr nature shape and figure shal chaunge into a much more pure and perfect similytude A custome it was amonge the prophetes whan thy aduertysed the afflycted Israelytes of prosperite peace or renouation of the glory of God cōming towards thē to promis al things new 4 Beholde sayth the Lorde in Esay I make you new heauens and a new earth and as for the olde shall neuer more be though vpon Newe is the true church of Christ so are the people pertayning to the same In no poynt are they lyke to the Popes holy orders nor yet vnto Mahometes religion Clere are their hartes which haue rereceiued the verytie from all supersticions and theyr outwarde lyues from idell obseruations perfect are theyr consciences and theyr conuersacions godly And thys in the regeneration shal be fully accomplished Not onely shall that which is now mortall becō immortal the is now corruptible than incorrupted as the very Angels of the Lorde but also the vniuersall heauen shal be than renewed so shall the whole face of the earth and appere more beutyfull than now 5 And from that tyme fourth shall there be no more sea whych signifieth people vnstedfast vaine and fickle Whereas the peace of Christ is surely grounded no more is there anye troubled conscience No more is there any diffydence wan hope or dispayre Al bitternesse sorow anguish is turned into swéetnes ioy in the holy ghost We knowe sayth saynt Paule the all thinges are taken to the best in them that loue God Frō the Apostles whō Christ fyrst also called from the Sea vanished this waueringe Sea away whan they went from the mallicious counsell of the Bishoppes reioysinge that they were founde worthy to suffer rebuke for hys names sake In lyke case all impediments and néedes all daungers and doubtes all fearefull mouings and outragings
though he had ben killed 13 which had seuen hornes 14 and seuen eyes which are the seuen spirits of God sent vnto all the worlde 15. And hee came and tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the seat The Paraphrase AFter the forsayde vysion I saw saieth saint Iohn in the right hande or mighty power and wyll of hym that sate on the throne with maiestye a wonderfull Booke in the which both man and Angell were desirous to looke This booke is Gods heauenly ordinance contayning not onely all that hath bene created of God visible and inuisible but also the vniuersall contents of the holy scripture This boke hath the mercifull Lorde prouided that men should know him partly by his creatures partly by his Scriptures This booke he hath in his right hand For heauen he measureth with his spanne and the whole world he comprehendeth vnder his three â—ingers In his hande or power is the vniuersal earth bothe hills valleyes At his onely wil pleasure is the sincere vnderstanding of the scriptures and true interpretacion of the same 2 This booke is written within without The world coÌ„tayneth creatures visible and inuisible powers open hidden that men in theÌ„ should reade and vnderstand that there is a liuing God and that they should acknowledge him and worship him as the Lorde and creator of all The holy scripture hath hir figure history hir mistery and veritie hir parable plaine doctrine her night and day her letter and sence her voyce and word her flesh and spirit her shadow and cleare light her death and lyfe her law and gospell her Moyses and Christ to bring all men also vnto the knowledge of God 3 But that Booke is surely sealed with seauen stronge seales from the fleshlye vnderstanding of man not hauinge the spirite of Christ that he can neither vse the creatures of God a right nor yet perceiue the Scriptures according to their true meanning Muche hath the doctours fantasied of these seuen claspes or spearynges of thys booke wythout the aucthoritie of Gods word calling theÌ„ all maner of obscurities darkenesses Where as in verie déed they are nothing els but the strong and vnuariable decrée or set diffinition of God before the constitucion of the world that none should be able to read rightly therin nor know the iust meaning therof without the spirit of his sonne and vnles it be méekly asked in faith And this one decrée of god so oft locketh vp these heaueÌ„ly secrets froÌ„ maÌ„ as it findeth hym carnall couetous wilfull blinde malicious proude and false with such other lyke The number of seuen doeth onely respect the opening of the seales in all ages For in euery age hath God opened the trueth vnto some Godly men by his spirite with Abell and Enoch with Noe and Sem with Abraham and Iob with Moyses and Samuel with Dauid and Helias with Hieremie and Daniel with Iohn Baptist Peter 4 And I sawe sayeth S. Iohn a strong Angell which betokeneth euerie faithful minister of gods word coueting all men to be taught of god and sending them only vnto Christ for they are the Angels of the Lorde of hostes Which Angell cryed with a loude voyce with an earnest zeale of the glorie of God and with a feruent desire of his neighbours health 5 Who is worthie to opeÌ„ this booke and to vndoo the claspes thereof As though he should say None but he alone Séeke him therfore that he may open it vnto you els are yée lyke alwayes to be blynde foolishe and vnlearned lyers before the Lord séeme ye neuer so wyse eloquent and well learned in the sight of men 6 And in déede no man was founde able to doe it neyther in heauen nor in earth nor vnder the earth yet was there a diligent search made many did attempt it The Angels that by apostasie fell from God when they were in heauen wrought maistryes about it And in the earth héere the Philosophers among the Gentiles the religious fathers amoÌ„g the Iewes the Pharisies and Scribes the lawyers and priests and amoÌ„g the Christians the false Apostles Antichrists the Sophisters and Papists the sectes and scoole doctors with all the worldly wyse hath craftily compassed the thing Yea the messeÌ„gers of Sathan whose dampnation is certayne subtily to perswade and fraudelently to deceiue the innocent soules haue also done their parte But what hath folowed After their vayne enterpryse they haue bene so astonyed at the maiestie or sight of the booke that neyther were they able to open it nor yet to looke thervpon So high were the mysteries thereof so vnserchable the iudgements so inuestigable the wayes therevnto 7 And I fell in sore wéeping sayth Sainct Iohn muche dolour was it to my heart to see that none was found worthie no creature able neyther Angell nor man good spirit nor diuil to open and to read the booke which is cléerely to know the will of God therein nor yet once to looke therevpon that is sincerely to perceyue the least veritie coÌ„tayned therin No creature vnderstanding could attayn vnto it All were ignorant all darke all blynde 8 And as I was thus mournyng one of the elders euen Iacob by name comforted mée with his prophecie of Iuda Esay Micheas Esdras bearing witnesse to the same 9 These with other ascertained me that he was the Lyon of the Trybe of Iuda which should ouercome the world haue the victorie ouer death and hell for in déed they with Abraham sawe it a farre of and much reioysed He is the strong inuincible Lyon that subdued the prince of this world tooke from him the pray and hathe deuyded the spoyle 10 He is the verie roote of Dauid the ground and originall cause of all godly promises made vnto him of deliuerance victorie and raygne and alone in him are they fulfilled Only hath he obtayned by his death resurrection and ascension to make open the hydden mysteries of thys booke or whole ordinaunce of God and to loose the seuen seales thereof or to take away the vniuersall impediments wherby the said booke could in no case be séene as is carnalitie ignorance darkenesse blindenesse wilfulnesse couetousnesse malice hypocrisie lyes with such lyke So was it afore speared by the decrée of God that none could reade in it till he remoued the vntowardnesse from their heartes 11 All this I beheld saieth S. Iohn and as I looked further I sawe that in the midst of the seate which is the vniuersall congregation of God of the foure beasts which are the constaunt ministers of his worde also in the middest of the auncient elders whych hath bene the sincere witnesses of hys veritie since the beginning 12 There stood a fayre méeke most innocent Lambe as though he had bene newly slain I knew that Christ was this Lambe for he was wounded for
our offences tooke away the sinnes of the world He was that méek Lambe prefigured in the law whom the faithfull fathers so earnestly desired He was that gentle Lamb that was caried away to be slayne and that opened not his mouth before the shearer This Lambe standeth vp euermore for vs before God as our onely medyator aduocate peace maker Sauiour helper counsellour defender and teacher 13 This Lambe had seuen hornes which betokeneth his stronge and infinit power vertue victory kingdom glory bounteousnesse and maiestie with such lyke and in the whole his vniuersall reigne 14 He had also seauen eyes whiche are all the powers graces fruites of the holy ghost called héere the seuē spirits of God For so much as they are the singuler gifts of him whiche is his essenciall spirit And them he hath sent by his apostles other godly preachers into the seuen climates of the erth or vniuersal world the people with them to be replenished These are wisdome vnderstandinge counsell strength knowledge pittie the fear of god These are also loue ioy peace pacience gentlenesse goodnes fayth méekenesse long suffering cleannes and temperance with diuersitie of tongues interpretacion prophecie cures healings miracles and iudgement of spirits 15 And the sayd Lambe came foorth as one through méekenesse hauyng victorie ouer sinne death hell hée reuerently tooke the sayd booke from the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne Which made me anon to consider that the heauenly father had giuen vp vnto him the whole admynistration of his spirituall kingdom with all aucthoritie power in heauen and earth to open or to speare to choose or to reiect to take or to refuse to saue or to loose to rewarde or to dampne For he it was that first opened the vnderstanding of men that they might perceyue the scriptures He it was that sent the holy spirite of God to deduce them into all veritie and gaue them grace to instructe all people He it is also that shall thorowe them into euerlasting fire with the diuil his Angels that resist the same THE TEXT 1 And when he had taken the booke the liij beastes and the .xxiiij. elders 2. fel dovvn before the Lambe hauing harpes 3. golden vialles full of odours vvhich are the prayers of the Saincts 4. they sung a nevv song saying 5 Thou arte vvorthie to take the booke 6. and to open the seales therof 7. For thou wert killed 8. and hast redemed vs by thy bloud out of all kinreds tongs and people and nacions 9. and hast made vs vnto our God Kings and priestes 10. and vve shall reigne on the earth The Paraphrase 1 And when he had receyued the sayd booke of the hande of God with full authoritie and power the iiij beasts or the present protestours of the veritie here liuing in the world and the xxiiij Elders or auncient witnesses of the same departed cleane from thys worlde as were the olde fathers the Patryarkes Prophetes and Apostles méekly submitted them selues before the Lamb much reioysinge in his triumphant victorye for them 2 They fell downe before him they praysed hym they worshipped hym they gaue thanks and recognised him for their mercifull Lorde and Sauiour hauing in their handes harmonious harpes which there represented the melody of their faithfull soules or the inward reioyce that they had in faith of the eternal verytie of god For that is the agréeable concord and swéet harmony that he most delighteth in And as well had they harpes that were long afore Christe as had they that folowed hym the effecte of hys death being equall to them both So wel reioysed Abraham which saw him a farre of as did Iohn Baptist which shewed him persent 3 Each one of them had also in hys hand a golden viall full of swéete odours whiche is a faithfull harte to God full of swéete desires and wholsome praiers whiles they liued here And these vessels of prayer or harts of the faithfull beléeuers couetinge mercy to themselues and all other were very precious pleasaunt and beautifull in the sighte of the Lorde which onely desireth the harte 4 They sang also with their instruments a new songe of reioyce recording the great benefit of God They vttered the glad tidinges of peace They published the Gospel of Christ. They told of his comming They declared him present past This songe was euer new vnto flesh bloud It séemed very strange yea and folish to the children of this worlde yet is it the power of God vnto saluation for euery one that beléeueth Now it is also for so much as it nothing alloweth in our aged man of sinne but alwayes calleth vpon renouation in the spirite 5 This was the conclusion of that song Thou alone swéete Lord sayde they art founde worthye to take the Booke to receiue power and administration of the kingdome of God 6 Thou only art able to opē the seale◠thereof to take from vs all impediments of darknesse hypocrisie lyes ignoraunce wilfulnesse blindnesse and sinne and to deduce vs into all godly knowledge 7 For thou wert not only despised and wounded but most cruelly slaine for our offences whereby thou hast obtained our perpetuall peace and attonement with god 8 Thou hast clerely redéemed vs out all spirituall bondage by the price of thy bloude and by the vertue of thy passion and death thou hast gathered vs together into one kingdom of God from all the nacions of the world and hast chosen vs out of all kinreds languages peoples of the vniuersall earth Thou hast made vs also pertakers with thée in thy peculyer vnction that we are now called Christians 9 Thou hast annoynted vs Kinges by the gift of true faith to haue victory ouer sinne death the deuil and cōsecrate vs priests by the grace of thy holy spirite to offer vp our selues and vndefiled sacrifice vnto our euerlasting God So that we are now the chosen kinred the kingely pristhoode the holy generation the peculyer peple that should manifest the workes of thée which hast called vs out of darknesse into the merueilous light 10 And by the benifit of thy onely grace and goodnesse we shall raigne prosperously on the earth not héere wher as is sorow care penury scarsnesse and death but our porcion shal be in the pleasant land of the lyuing where as is the peace ioy tranquilitie comfort and life euerlasting THE TEXT 1 And I behelde 2. And herde the voyce of many angelles about the throne and about the beastes and the elders 3. And I harde thousand thousandes saying with a loude voyce 4. Worthye is the Lambe that was killed to receaue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honoure and glorye and blessinge 5. And all creatures vvhiche are in Heauen 6. And on the earth 7 And vnder the earth 8 And in the sea and all that are in
them heard I saying 9. Blessing honour glory and power be vnto him that sitteth vpon the seate 10. And vnto the Lambe for euee more 11. And the fowre beastes said amen 12. And the .xiiii. elders fell vpon their faces 13. and vvorshipped hym that liueth for euer more The Paraphrase 1 Furthermore saith Saint Iohn I saw an infinit host of Angels beholding the face of the heauenly father 2 I heard also the voyce of a great number of them about the throne of God geuing laude and prayse vnto hym and about the beastes and auncient elders For they are not onely the immediate ministers of God but also the seruantes of those men which shall be the heyres of saluation Where â—â—ould they be els than but about them that feare the Lord to sée to them and preserue them in all their wayes lyke as he hath geuen them in commaundement 3 And the number of them was a thousande thousandes or a number beyond our estimation And they cryed with a loude voyce signifiyng in their sort no corporall noyse but for so much as they are but spirits but a vehement zeale of most perfect loue and reioyce for the glory of God the victory of Christ the redempcion delyuerance and helth of man It betokeneth also their excéedinge gladnesse in the openinge of the veritie and conuertion of the sinner 4 Worthy is the most méek Lamb sayd they which was cruelly done vnto death and by his death ouercame the worlde hell death and the deuill to take vpon hym the title of all power heritage wisdom streÌ„gth honour glory and blessing and to be called of all creatures most mightye most rich most wise most valiaunt most worshipfull most gloryous and most blessed conueniente names for the king ouer al. Yea finally to haue â—he vniuersall aucthorytie in heauen and in the earth to gouerne euery where and al to be subiect vnto hym 5 I hard also saith saint Iohn all the creatures that God euer created as the angeles in heauen the sunne the Moone the planites the starres the fyrmament the fyre the water the ayre 6 And all that was vppon the earth as man beast foule fish mountaines valleys welsprings floudes windes wethers times trées herbs fruits 7 And al that was vnder or within the earth as rootes wormes serpentes vermine 8 And all that was in the sea or that moued in the waters with all that are conteined in these eche one in his kinde saying 9 The euerlastinge God whiche sytteth vppon the eternall throne with power and maiestie be euermore blessed worshiptfull gloryous and almightie 10 And vnto the Lambe which is his onely sonne Iesus christ be blessing honour glorye and power from him for euermore And in this al creatures desireth no longer to be subdued vnto the vanitie of the wicked nor yet to serue the same But to be wholy deliuered from the bondage of corruption and in libertie to serue the children of God to the glorye of of hym that made them 11 To this the fowre beastes or al the true seruants of God here liuing answered Amen or so might it be in effect as ye haue desired 12 And the .xxiiij. elders as the patriarks the Prophetes the Apostles with other that hath passed this life fell downe flat vpon their faces they submitted them selues 13 They worshipped lauded and gloryfied him that lyueth for euer and euer one God in thrée persons the father the sonne and the holy ghost This signified the Angels and Sainctes euermore to be ioyous as any thinge is done in the creatures to the manyfest glory of God The sixt Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I sawe vvhen the Lambe opened one of the seales 2 and I heard one of the iiij beastes say as it were the noyse of thunder 3. Come and see 4. And I savve and behold there was a whyte horse 5 and he that sate on him had a bovve 6. and a crovvne vvas giuen vnto hym 7. and hee vvent forth coÌ„quering for to ouercome The Paraphrase 1 COnsequently sayeth sainct Iohn as I was beholdyng these wonders I sawe that the Lambe which is the sonne of God opened the first of the seuen seales declaring the first misterie of the booke These openings betokeneth not onely the manifestation of Gods trueth for seauen ages of the world but also for the .vij. seuerall times and after vij diuers sortes from Christes death to the latter end of the world The first seale was remoued and the mysterie there vnder contayned made open when the Apostles disciples of Christ abouÌ„daÌ„tly replenished with the holy Ghost did coÌ„stantly preach the gospel ouer the vniuersall world 2 And at the openyng of the sayde seale sayeth hée I hearde one of the beasts in shape lyke a Lion by whom are signified the strong witnesses of Gods veritie by constancie of fayth resembling Christ the verie Lyon of the stocke of Iuda whose voice was mightie and strong as it had bene the noyse of a thundering and vehemently it sayde vnto me 3 Come hither and sée drawe nigh and be taught beléeue and thou shalt vnderstand 4 And anon I saw euidently that there was a white horse which signifieth the Apostles and first disciples of Christ for why the scripture doeth so call theÌ„ These horses were white they were made pure rightuous and cleane by Iesus Christ and bare him by their preaching the worlde ouer Such a whyte horse to the glorie of God was Paule whan he beare the name of Christ before the Gentiles the Kings and the children of Israell 5 He that sate vpoÌ„ this white horse which was Christ him selfe had in his hande a bowe which figured the hartes of the foresayd Apostles and disciples out of whom he fiercely seÌ„t foorth the arrowes of his word into his chosen people Their hearts were in his hand for that his verities myght the more effectually passe foorth and the more surely lyght vppon hys elects For without his spirit nothing could they doe 6 From God the father vnto hym was giuen a crown of magnificence honour worthinesse and victorie in his resurrection and ascention 7 And when he had stomaked them by the holy Ghost to shoote foorth hys word without feare he weÌ„t forward with them by his grace conqueryng in them the prince of this worlde in processe of tyme by their doctryne so to ouercome him and all his wycked armie Were the Antichristes neuer so madde torment they neuer so sore slea they neuer so fast Christ wil ouercome them Let them inhibit his trueth and forbid his Gospell take spoyle imprison exyle murther haÌ„g head drowne burne yet wil Christ haue the victorie ouer them though it otherwyse séeme to the fleshly children of darknesse In many couÌ„treis Cities and townes hath Gods word bene taught where as it is now forbidden vnder the payne of death Is Christ therefore the weaker which chose the weake to confounde the strong
of Caunterburie with Antichristes sinagoge of sorcerers sate in coÌ„sistorie against Christes doctrine in Iohn Wycleue Mark the yeare day and houre and ye shall wonder at it 2 The Gospell once preached and the veritie sincerely opened whose nature is to condempne their supersticions the earthly and carnall Antychristes swell fret and waxe mad they threaten curse and blaspheme they runne vpon the faithfull mynisters with terror crueltie fiercens hauing at their hand the ayde of wicked princes and blynde gouernours Such a terrible earth quake was the general counsel of Constance against Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prage and here in EnglaÌ„d against the King when he set foorth the Gospell the sedicious rising of Lincolneshere and the traiterous vprore of Yorkshiere in their pylgrimage without grace where as neyther wanted the false counsayle of Byshoppes the riches of Abbeyes benifices nor yet the cruell harts of priests A thousand bowes and as many billes beside other weapons were there among priestes and religious to one poore Testament of Christ to subdue the veritie Yet hath the Lambe ouercomen them and declared their great wisedome in that enterpryce foolishnesse lyke as he did also in Germanie among them which maintayned the same spirituall quarell Yet is not this earth quake pacifyed but styll they ryse vp agaynst Christ and his word and dayly they counsayle togither to condempne his trueth that wée should know him to be the signe of contradiction the stumbling stone and the rock of reproch 3 The Sunne appeared so blacke as a sacke cloth made of heaire What though Christ being the cléere sonne of ryghtuousnesse and the shynyng Image of God can not bée darke in him selfe no more then can the materiall son in his owne nature yet may his clerenesse beholdeÌ„ from vs by the mystes of false doctryne lyke as is the sunnes brightnesse by the shadow of the cloudes For the more men delight in ceremoniall tradicions the blynder they are and the lesse knowledge they haue of God To them séemeth not Christ the fayrest amonge men well coloured and beutifull and gentle as a Lambe but ill fauored blacke and stubborne And therefore they haue no mynde to hym They rather séeke helpe health and light of other then of him They think it much better to pray to dead Sainctes and offer to Idolles then to call vpon God â—n spirite veritie and to helpe theyr â—oore neighbour at his néede More â—leasure they haue to followe mens â—reames theÌ„ the veritie of God For â—hat is to theÌ„ blacke as the heiry sacke doth It is dark rough foolishe vnto â—hem they can perceiue no beutie in 〈◊〉 â— The Moone became altogither as â—lud The church being somtime fair â—s the Mone taking hir light of christ 〈◊〉 now waxed all carnal Now is shée taught onely of flesh and bloud refusing the doctrine of God his spirite Now reigneth euerie where the corrupt fantasies of men a fewe places excepte And sure we are that neither flesh nor bloud shall obtayne the kingdome of God Neuerthelesse yet all the world hath not peryshed in thys bloudie church Alwayes hath there bene some that hath had the spirite of the childreÌ„ of God what though they haue erred sore in many thinges Though Benedict Bernarde Bruno Alberte Francis and Dominicke with many such other were farre out of square from the rule of Christes Gospell yet doubt I it not but the mercie of God hath saued theÌ„ through faith for Iesus Christes sake In the middest of false doctrine and diuilishe tradicions hee hathe preserued them lyke as hée preserued the thrée children in Daniell from the heate of the burning fornace Though all at that tyme were bloud through cruell decrées yet were not all men so taken afore God for then should none haue bene saued none should haue possessed his heauenly kingdome 5 And the starres from heauen fell downe vpon the earth The ministers of Gods word which should declare his rightuousnesse and be the lightes of the world were fallen from the heauenly doctryne of Christ and from the sincere scriptures to worldly learnyng and earthly fantasies Nothing can be more euident then thys specially to them that hathe redde the tryfling workes of the Sophisters sentencyoners schoole doctours Canonistes and summystes As are Dons Dorbell and Durande Thomas of Aquine Gerarde and Gyles of Rome Bonauenture BacoÌ„thorpe and Guido Caldrinus Bobius and Baldus Panormius Rosellus and Roxius with an infinite rable of such dyrtie dottages and filthie dregges Besides the great heape of the foolishe sermons of Barnardyne and Uincent Pomerij and Soccij Mallyard and Barlet De voragine and de Hungaria Discipuli and Dormi secure Uade mecunt and Rapiunt hinc inde with all such beastly beggerie and lousie learning 6 These stars hath thus myserably of a loÌ„g tyme fallen lyke as doth the infected figges when the figge trée is shaken of a mightie strong wynd FouÌ„d fickle vanities desire of worldly promotions feare to haue displeasure of friendes aduersitie vexation and trouble with such other blastes here hath caused the vnprofitable instructers of the people to fall from Gods heauenly veritie vnto fables lyes tryfles and most pestilent wicked errours 7 So that heauen hath vanished away from them as doeth a scroule when it is rolled vp togither True preaching of the word which is very heauen hath bene withdrawen the veritie hath bene closed vp Christ hathe take his leaue the spirite of God hath forsaken them the sincere faith hath fayled Christian workes hath decaied wheÌ„ their dark diuinity dead ceremonies crooked customes of their fathers hath bene in place Nothyng hath remayned spirituall Godly heauenly holy rightuous holsome nor worthie our christian vocacion among their solempne shadows and sacred sorceryes If it hathe it was neuer yet séene And that know they full well which hath vnfaynedly receiued Christes Gospell 8 All mountaynes and yles were remoued from their places Not onely the high mynded Antichristes but also the dyssembling hypocrites are enforced many tymes against their willes compelled by the open veritie and euident scriptures to deny that afore they highlye affyrmed and to graunt that afore they highly denyed The Bishop of Roome was afore Gods vicar head of the church hée is now neither of both They had somtyme a purgatorie nowe they haue none Pardons are forgotten pylgrimage is not spokeÌ„ of Faith in Christ now iustifieth without their vayne will workes They haue put man to death for that they now affyrme yet are they not ashamed of that cruell murther I hope in a while they shall out of more places and graunt will they nill they to more christian veryties though theyr selues be neuer the nigher saluacion for that they doe it not of good will but compelled 9 The Kings of the earth more looking for theyr owne prehemynence then for
hypocrites tyrauntes and cruell maiestrates no more perceiue at that day then they now decerne those poore creatures whom they spightfully persecute and kyll to be the true Churche of CHRIST When Helias thought no more true beléeuers but hym selfe left alyue almighty God shewed him of vij thousand more whom he knew not If he were then ignoraunt muche more these fowre Angels of darknesse which now sleyeth vp God seruants as the Iewes dyd Christ. Not for nothing hath god geuen so much knowledge in the Hebrue tongue The Iewes muste be sealed with the worde of veritie They must haue the sure signe of faith They must know and confesse Christ whom god afore promised by the Prophetes that twelue thousand of euery tribe may be sealed vnto saluation For that time must the Antichrists cease Their false interpretations of scripture their wicked traditions their doctrine of deuilles their lies in hypocresie their errours their stinking chastitie whom God and his angels abhorreth and the deuill most highly alloweth with all their other filthynesse they must lay aside Where as afore time they haue immagined other waies of the health and rightuousnesse then by Christe as by infinit sectes of perdition Idol worshiping pardons and other abhominations wtout number they must now be compelled against their wil to resigne them not onely by the manifest truthe but also by those which as yet are enemies both to them and also to the sayde veritie I can not sée it but it worketh euen now as it did in the primatiue churche When the Hethen perceiued the Apostles and Disciples expulsed out of Iewry for the Gospell preachinge for the hate they had to the Iewes they gladly receiued them which was vnto their saluacion though they thought nothinge lesse Not vnlyke is it in this age but that the true prechers and learned men compelled also by tiraunts to decline to the Saracens and Turkes may in lyke maner be accepted of them in spight of the Romishe deuill and his Church and so conuerte them to the true Christen faith whiche they before abhorred Such fauour may they finde amonge them nowe as did Ioseph Daniel Hester Mardocheus Zorababel Nehemias Esâ—ras Tobias and other amonge the infidels then And lyke as the Iewish sinagoge did at that tyme wholly perish for reiecting Gods word and neuer could recouer since so may that false counterfayte churche of Antychrist come to distruction for contempnynge the same and neuer ryse vp agayne Muche is it to be feared yf they stoppe GODS woorde as they haue begunne least that plague fall on them that lyghted vppon the IEWES at the Siege of Hierusalem by the TURKE nowe or by some other worse then he For though they suffer the Byble to be abroade in the mother tongue in BRABAND HOLLANDE FLAUNDERS FRAUNCE SPAYNE ITALYE and other places yet are they styll as they were Angelles of darkenesse Tyrauntes Persecuters Antichristes and Hypocrites forbiddinge the ryght course of it And not withstandinge their violence yet breaketh it foorth so that innumerable people are dayly sealed vnto GOD. THE TEXT 1 After this I behelde and loe a great multitude vvhiche no man coulde number 2. Of all nacions and people and tongues 3. Stoode before the seate 4. And before the Lambe clothed vvith longe vvhite garmentes 5. And palmes in their handes 6. And cryed vvith aloude voyce saying 7. Saluation be ascribed to hym that sytteth vppon the seate of our GOD 8. And vnto the Lambe 9 And all the Aungelles stoode in the compasse of the Seate 10 And of the Elders and of the fovvre Beastes 11 And fell before the Seate on their faces 12. And vvorshipped GOD sayinge Amen 13 Blessynge and glorye and vvisedome and thankes and honoure and povver and might be vnto our God for euermore Amen The Paraphrase 1 After this saith sainct Iohn I behelde an exceeding multitude of the Gentiles or Heathen marked into the felowship of Christe whom no man was able to number 2 These were of all nacions of the earth of al peoples of the world and of all languages vnder heauen Gréekes Latines Hebrues Caldeans Parthyans Medes Elamites Capadocians Asianes Phrigian Egiptianes Arabianes Syrians Affricanes and Indians 3 They stoode all before the imperyall seate of God It was giuen them by the holy ghost to sée him in faith reigning in hys true church and to take hym for theyr mercyfull Lorde and father 4 They stoode also in the presence of the poore Lambe beutifully cloathed with long whyte garmentes They beléeued Christ to be theyr only sauiour and redéemer and were moste highly accepted before hym for that beléeues sake They lyued purely according to his worde did all things of a sincere conscience taking him for their only health and comfort By hym onely they trusted to haue their sinnes forgiuen wherfore they were by him iustified and restored to perfect innocencie 5 Palmes had they in their handes large and beutifull in token of victorie ouer sinne hell death the diuill which they haue through Christ. 6 And they cryed all with a loude voyce In an earnest fayth they made this strong protestacion saying 7 No merite health nor goodnesse be attributed vnto vs nor yet vnto any creature in heauen nor in earth for vs. But all our whole saluacion lyfe and deliuerance be onely ascrybed vnto hym that sitteth vpon the throne of our God reigning by hys spirite not in the false counterfayte church but in the true christian congregacion 8 And vnto the swéete Lambe Iesus Christ which alone dyed for the same For health is onely the Lordes so is the eternall blessyng and neyther of our works nor yet of our good déeds for the best of them are defiled 9 And all the Angelles or ministers of heauen compassed the throne according to their offyce They assisted the true faithfull church which is the seate of God 10 The xxiiij elders they compassed also so dyd they the .iiij. beastes For ministers they are to the saincts departed and seruaunts to them that be yet aliue 11 They fell downe flatte on theyr faces before the throne They méekely acknowledged them selues the creatures of God and seruaunts to hys congregacion 12 And they worshipped not yâ— seate but God which sate on the seat Most highly they magnified him and praysed him for restoring their lost number saying So be it euermore as we shall now desire 13 Euerlastyng prayse and glory perpetuall wisedome and thankes continuall honour and poure wyth might which can not be measured be referred vnto our eternall God of all his creatures for euer and euer yea for all that he hath wrought in them Amen THE TEXT 1 And one of the elders answered saying vnto me 2. What are these which are arayed in long white garmeÌ„ts wheÌ„ce came they 3 and I said vnto hiÌ„ 4. Lord thou vvottest 5. And he sayd vnto me 6 these are they vvhich out of
are fallen from heauen Onely teache they the shining charytie of God the feruent zeale and burninge desyre towardes mans saluation Neyther aduance they ceremonies nor rytes holy dayes nor offeringes dirges nor masses purgatory nor reliques And as concerning their lyues more GOD desyreth not of the Christian minister then to expende hys whole study labour and time to the lyghtening of other He neyther commaundeth them to be shauen nor disguised to be popishe Prieste nor Monke to saye mattens nor Euensong to fast fryday nor vigill to abhorre maryage nor meates Onely he wylleth them to edyfye his flock with none other learninge then hys Godly trueth This is theyr onely office 6 The féete of this Angell were in similitude as pillers of fyer Stronge sustentacles and sure staies hath god made the vpholders of his true church Feruent affections hath he geuen them constant stomaks and so inuincible a power as no violeÌ„ce can resist Douty stronge is the administration where the verytie remayneth for it bringeth with it the magestie of God O how bewtifull saith Esay are the feete of the Embassadours of the Lord which bringeth the message of peace and the tidinges of health vnto Syon 7 He had in his hand a little booke open In their administration are the scriptures euydent and cléere opened by the Lambe and much godlye knowledge is receiued of other by them Blessed be the Lorde whiche hath opened the booke Now may the creple stand vp the blind sée their way the poore féede be satified Desire therfore with faithfull Dauid from the very hart to haue vnderstaÌ„ding to know the testimonies of god Are méekely and haue séeke wisely and finde knocke gently and the dore wyll be opened Uery lyke is it that the Lorde God doth minde plentuouslye to spreade the doctrine of his spirite in this sixt age of his churche this booke beynge thus opened And that all the worlde shall receiue it rebell the hypocrits neuer so sore When the Gospell appeared in Christes tyme the Iewes were the first that receiued it after the Greks and last of all the Latines Now in this later time it openeth to the Latines by the administration of this mighty Angel and his affinitie and from them is going to the Gréekes for many of them now of late hath graciouslye receiued it as we haue harde And laste of all it shall returne agayne to the Iewes as now very apt also to receiue it That Christes prophecye may be founde true The last to be the fyrst and the fyrst the last For he that hath dispersed Israell shall bringe him againe to his folde as Heiremy recordeth Thus shal the glory of God be within few yeares séene the world ouer to the comfort of many 8 This Angell set his righte foote vpon the sea and his left foote vpoÌ„ the earth As well shall the weake people receiue this verytie as the strong the poore as the rich the lowe as the high the sicke as the whole the sinner as the rightuous the begger as the king the vnlearned as the learned the laboring man as the priest and much rather For the right foote is towardes them The I le that is speared vp with the maine sea yea and they also which be vpon the sea shall so well haue it as the open wide country or as they which dwell vpon the most pleasaunt lande From none shall the Booke be speared Euery where shall the trueth be open as well by writings as wordes and as well by bookes as preachinges Upon both shall thys Angell treade Both sortes of people shall be subiectes to that verytie whiche those Godly messengers shall bringe submitting themselues as fooâ—sâ—ooles vnto it Some vngodly rulers there be both by sea and lande both in the Iles and the open countrye that wyll none of this Angell with this open Booke In no wise will they suffer hym to set footeinge within their regions but commaundeth vnder payne of death that no man teach his doctrine nor heare it that no man prynte his bookes bye them sell them reade them holde them fauour them nor beare them vpoÌ„ hym But al is in vayne Let theÌ„ wax mad swell and fret themselues to death yet wyll he treade vppon theyr ground Let them persecute fetter stock famish slea hange head burne drowne yea and buâ—y quicke with all other mischife and tyranny yet will the trueth abroad 9 For the Angell crieth with so loude a voyce as the Lyon when he roareth So mighty and strong is the worde that they preach and the verytie that they shewe as was the sharpe lyuinge worde that Christe spake which was the inuincible Lyon of Iuda And so mighty is that as made both heauen and earth so stronge as destroyeth the power of hell so sharp as deuideth the soule from the spirit and the ioyntes from the marye and so waighty as when it falleth grindeth to powder all pryde power magnificence wisedome ryches and vaine pollycye of this worlde none shall be able to abyde it 10 And when the Angell had cryed and vttered this terryble noyse seauen thounders spake their voyces The fearefull iudgementes of the wrath of GOD whiche are infinite and can neyther be numbered nor yet measured of the creatures opened their terrible misteries which shall at their times appoynted of hym light vppon the children of vnbeléeue The tyrauntes which hath resisted the heauenly verytie of the Lorde wyll once be punished as was the â—ost of Senacherih kinge of Assur Once wyll he fearefully visit theyr multitude in the thunder of hys yre Once shall the terrible sound of hyâ— crack stryk the earth smothe reuenging the contempt of his worde In Italye Spaine Fraunce Germany and other christian regions the Angell hath shewed the booke open and roared out the voyce of the Gospell with stomacke as doth the Lyon yet will it not be taken but some they haue beaten for it and some moste spightfully murthered Let them not thinke but after the lightning the thunderclap will folow The verytie opened and thus dispised most gréeuous plagues of derth warre or pestilence wyll shortlye fal by the great vengeaunce of God Principles hath bene séene in some quarters of the worlde let them not thinke but much more is comminge and wyll not cease tyll Chryste hath made of his enimies hys footeâ— stoole 11 And when the seuen thonders had spoken their voyces or shewed theyr certentie that they shoulde so surely as God lyueth come to passe at their time appoynted 12 I was about sayth Saint Iohn to take penne and inke in hande and to wryte them I thought to register them in a booke to the admonishmeÌ„t and warning of them that shoulde folow And anone I heard a very earnest voyce from heauen saying vnto mée in this maner 13 Seale vp those things which the seauen thunder spake and in no wise
the bloud of the Lambe 7 And by the worde of their testimonie 8. And they loued not their liues vnto the death 9 Therefore reioice ye heauens and ye that dvvell in them 10. Wo to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea 11. For the diuill is come dovvne vnto you 12. Whiche hath great vvrath 13. Because he knovveth that he hath but a short time The Paraphrase 1 And I hard a mighty great voice saith sainct Iohn which is the whole agremeÌ„t of all the sacred scriptures And the voice sayd thus vnto me 2 Now is there in heauen saluation in the church is the helth of soule now that the idolatry with other abhominatioÌ„s is thrown forth and she cleane deliuered from their beggery Now appereth the power of the Lord that his Gospell is truely preached 3 Now is it become our Gods kingdome that theyr doctrine is not of men 4 Now hath it the whole strength of his anointed Al Christs labours merits and deseruinges his natiuitie passion resurrection and ascencion is now hir owne good Christes victory is theirs his crown his scepter his seate and kingdome is theirs Yea the possession of his fathers right hand is theirs 5 For the enimy of our brethren is throwne downe which cruelly accused them before god day and night The aduersarye Sathen which quarelled before the Lorde against pacient Iob and vexed hym sore in his substaunce and flesh neuer ceasinge to this day to trouble the rightuous with Antichristes and Tyrauntes is now ouercome by the victory of faith and his power greatly deminished in his members Now is the kingdome of God increased much people beiÌ„g vnfainedli coÌ„uerted vnto christ 6 Conquered him they haue by no Power of theyr owne neyther merits nor works but through the inestimable strength whiche is in the bloud of the immaculate lamb Iesus Christ throgh the inuiÌ„cible word of his verity which they to the world haue testified 7 In the witnesse thereof haue they constantly suffered through faith in them haue they with him obtayned victorye ouer the worlde sinne hell death and the diuill Not theyr owne bodyes haue they spared to wyn thys conquest 8 But much more haue they loued Christ and his trueth than theÌ„selues accounting it auantage to geue their liues for hym 9 Therefore reioyce ye heauens and al you that in them in doth dwel Ye Angels aboue ordeined for mans comforte ye sainctes departed from the miseries of this worlde ye faithfull beléeuers remanyng in this life and ye feruente fauourers of the Lordes verytie be glade that your brethren hath gotten the victory of the diuill and his Angels to the glory of Christ. 10 But wo vnto the wretched inhabitaÌ„ts of the earth of the sea No small danger is towards theÌ„ that hath heard the voice of the Lord stil yet wil folow the course of this world no light peril haÌ„geth ouer their heads that are incoÌ„staÌ„t fickle wauerin giuing back with euery blast for the pleasure of theyr flesh 11 Take héede of it therefore for vnto you that are suche the diuill is come downe with his subtil suggestions and craftes with his wyly cauteles and ingines Among you doeth he remayne watchyng to haue hys pray as he did among the children of Israell when they were become vnfaithfull 12 Tares will he sow to distroy the good séed for his wrath is great to sée him selfe thus deiected his hate is excéeding beholding his kingdom decayed Among you must he wreak his anger for he can not harme the faithfull Thorowe his enuye came death first into the world If ye will escape his snares looke ye giue no place vnto him but in fayth resist him manfully 13 He waxeth now mad fretteth with him selfe He myndeth to make hauoke and to doe much mischief bicause he knoweth that his tyme is short No longe season shall he haue from hencefoorth to deceiue The latter day he perceiueth not to be farre of wherin great torments abydeth both hym and his And that maketh him so woode That maketh hym so insaciably desirous to noye not caring what spyght he worketh against God And no wicked will leaueth he vnsought to perfourme his cruell intent Woe vnto them therefore that in these dayes taketh no héede Woe vnto them that stumbreth in wanton pleasures when most daunger is and the diuill moste busie not attending to the call warnyng of God THE TEXT 1 And when the Dragon saw that he was cast vnto the earth 2. hee pursued the woman which brought forth the man child 3. And to the woman were giuen ij winges of a great Egle 4. that shee might flye into the wildernesse 5. into hir place where shee is norished for a tyme tymes and halfe a time 6. from the presence of the Serpent 7. And the Dragon cast out of his mouth vvater after the vvoman as it had bene a ryuer 8. that he might cause hir to be caught of the flood 9. And the earth holpe the vvoman 10. and â—he earth opened hir mouth 11. and svvalovved vp the ryuer vvhich the dragon cast out of his mouth 12. And the dragoÌ„ vvas vvroth vvith the vvoman 13. and vvent and made vvar vvith the remnauÌ„t of hir seed 14. vvhich kepe the commaundements of God 15. and haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ 16. and he stoode on the sea sande The Paraphrase 1 And when the Dragon or most furious serpent the diuil the head maister of pride father of lyes saw that he was throwen downe vnto the earth by the valiaunt hoast of God Or such tyme as he perceyueth the Idolatrie superstition pompe hypocrisie and other abhominable filthinesse distroied by the word of God in his malignauÌ„t Sinagoge of proud painted prelates 2 Then persecuteth he the poore woman which brought foorth the man chylde Then vexeth he the true congregation that teacheth none other but Christ and confesseth none other sauiour health and redéemer Them doeth he torment and punishe by hys mytred Mahounds and his shaueÌ„ Sodomytes subduyng vnto them for that purpose the power of Kynges and might of magistrates Then sitteth Annas in consistorie Cayphas in sessions vpon lyfe and death TheÌ„ bringeth the woman hir childe foorth in payne By the martirdom or death of godly witnesses is Christ deliuered left here behind in the harts of many 3 And vnto the woman were giuen two winges of a great Egle or the two testaments of God contayning the Prophecie Gospel with the loue of God and our neighbour And these mightie winges were giuen hyr that shée might flye with them into the wildernesse Euermore wheÌ„ dauÌ„gerous persecution is the meÌ„bers of Christes congregation which are left here behynde hath aucthoritie of the old lawe to flée from it with Iacob Moyses Dauid and Helias of the new lawe also with Christ and his Apostles If they pursue you in one citie saith the Lord flée you into an other Not onely to saue your bodies but to fructifie
to his charge committed and after that sort their mighty monarke also by the scriptures which thei haue afore this time denied worshippinge them for most holy saints which haue most presumptuously rebelled in that behalf But ouer the whorish church of theirs whom Christe neuer planted is sathan the onely head by the holy ghosts fore iudgements héere For to that beastly brood gaue the dragon his power his seat and his mighty aucthorytie God forbid therefore that any christian prince shoulde at their false suggestions admit so blasphemous a title The deuill saith Iob is the only head ouer all the children of pride That voice therfore may be blasphemous as comming from the mouth of the serpent if it be not taken good héede to 3 And power was geuen to the beaste to do these things for the space of xliâ— monthes which is the thrée yeares an halfe of Hilias the time times halfe time of Daniell and the M. two hundred lx daies of Iohn Not onely for this age of the church but also for all other ages and by other heades also hath the mouth of this beast vttered great things in blasphemy lies in hipocrisie wonders vnder a deceitful power But as coÌ„cerning this latter healed heade of the beast the time therof wil be short as herafter shal appeare in the xvii chap. 4 He opened his mouth saieth the text in reproues against god speking euill of his name of his tabernacle and of them that dwell in heauen This is in a manner all one with that was spoken afore in the xi chapter of the temple the aulter and of them that worship in the temple saue only that his name is héere for his temple In token that when his temple is blasphemed which is his coÌ„gregatioÌ„ his name is blasphemed by the same so is his tabernacle Iesus in whom bodyly dwelleth the fulnes of the Godhed so ar also they that dwel in heauen wherby is meÌ„t the true church from whom the angels are not secluded beiÌ„g their fellow seruaÌ„ts These dwellers be they that haue their conuersation in heauen vnder an vndefiled faith that séeke those thinges which are aboue not vpon earth that worship the father in spirit veritie the perseuereth true christians to the end Many entreth this heaueÌ„ of the Lord but all continueth not in it to the ende of their liues the more is the pitie 5 Power was also geuen vnto this beastly antichrist to make battel with the saints and to ouercome them CoÌ„tinually do they with violence vexe by their carnall policies auctority lawes the sincere witnesses or preachers of the Lorde sanctified of him throw faith in his holy word as were his apostles lyke as did the malitius clergy of the iewes yea thei did resist theÌ„ with their more theÌ„ tiraÌ„ous proclamatioÌ„s coÌ„missioÌ„s coÌ„mandemeÌ„ts with cruell Pharao Aman Antiochus to proue Christ in them the signe of coÌ„tradiction and stone of reproch They seeke héere the hunt there and neuer leaue raging til they haue closed theÌ„ vp in prisons 6 Yet are they not so contented tyl they haue ouercome them in the sight of the blinde world though not before God Either shall they be compelled shamefully to recant or if they persist in the veryty to suffer most painfull death By one way or other they must be ouercome to hold the people in errour The gardiner of winchester was not ashamed now of late as I hard it credibly reported to say vnto one that was accused of his malignant multitude when he was no leÌ„ger able to withstande the manifest truth Master SeitoÌ„ we know ye are lerned and plentuously endued with knowlege in the scriptures yet thiÌ„k not that ye shall ouercome vs. No no set your hart at rest and looke neuer to haue it sayd that ye haue ouercom the bishops for it shal not be so In déed it is trueth For neither Christe nor his Apostles did euer yet ouercome you Their victory ouer you is not in this world your kiÌ„gdom being here But be ye certen sure of it ye shal be ouercoÌ„ to your much more rebuke at the latter day when al wroÌ„gs iniuries shall be reueÌ„ged which is not farre of Your lordly estimatioÌ„ which may not be hindred here wil apeare there not very precious Yet doe ye well to hold vp a proude pecoks head as long as ye may Lose not an inche of your height hardly but with your gogle eyes looke vp like a man with a gard at your taile like a sort of tormentours in a play And with your lyinge iudgementes ouercome these beggerly vagabonds and burn them also rather then faile to fulfil the mesure of your holy fathers 7 And authority was geuen to this beast vpon euery kinred people tong and nacion For none these antchristes spare neither high nor low rich nor poore sick nor whole learned nor vnlearned But a iurisdiction they must haue ouer them though it be vsurped Once in the yeare must they haue them in confession to knowe which way they are bente That salue haue they gotten in agayne to heale vp their wounded head Be he natiue or be he straÌ„ger be he ruler or be he a commoner he must obey theÌ„ no remedy or els stande forth at the sessions with Christ among théeues Not in on regioÌ„ or wher as one maner of langage is vsed haue they this auctority but in euery land in euery shire in euery towne in euery famyly must they haue to do corruptiÌ„g euery mans faith 8 For al that dwel vpon earth must worship this beast They must agrée to the great things no remedy They must blaspheme god as they do But blessed be the Lorde none doth yâ— in their harts but they onely that dwel vpon the earth that haue their felicity here that séeketh the prosperitie of this world regardeth noÌ„e other life theÌ„ therin is The laÌ„bs of christs fold geueth héed to his voice thei regard his cal they folow his word they walâ—e in his light Thei séeke for no holines but only in hiÌ„ neither in water nor bread ashes nor palmes robes nor reliques masses nor anointings He is their only sufficient wisdom rightuousnes holynes redeÌ„ptioÌ„ His word is their liuing water the fode of their soules the lantarne that shal gyde theÌ„ and the life that wyll not faile them None other doctrine do they couet nor yet other precepts of liuing Though they be héere in the earth yet dwell thei not vpon it No continuing citie haue they here but they séeke vnto another of much more beauty pleasure not builded of meÌ„ And for that they are ready rather to render vp their liues then to renouÌ„ce the verity only they which dwel here doth worship the beast louing themselues better then god their flesh better then his trueth hauing their whole trust in the mangye merits dirty deseruings of these beastly hipocrites and nothing at all in his swéet
promises 9 And therfore are not their names written of the lamb in the booke of life which lambe was slaine from the beginning of the world Christ hath not alowed them by his word promise With the rightuous are they not regestred as members of one misticall body in hym In the similitude of hys death are they not grafted vnto hym as the braunches vnto the vine to be partners of his resurrection Their porcion is not in the lande of the lyuing with him They are none of those whom the father hath geuen hym to participate with hym in one spirit Predestinate they are not vnto life by hym nor so written vp in the foreknowledge of God Chosen they were not of the lord before the worlds constitution to be his vndefiled children in Christ. 10 He is the méeke lamb that was slaine He alone taketh away the sins of the world In hym only is the life for he is the life it self Yet is he the life of none other but of those that only beleue in him 11 In that he was killed from the worlds beginning is signified that he dyed for all them whiche were create to be saued and that his onely death is all their health raise and remedy by the promise of God For all they haue eaten of one spiritual meat and dronke of one spirituall rocke though it came in the fleshe longe after them He onely trode downe the head of the serpent Since the beginning hath he bene slaine in his membres also as manifest it is in rightuous Abell Hieremy Iohn Baptist such other like They that are not written of the lambe in the booke of life for the children of God are registred in the booke of death for the children of perdicioÌ„ reserued to eternal death for their infidelytie with the deuill his Angels 12 He that hath an eare sayeth the text let him take good héede He that hath an vnderstanding let hym be admonished by that which foloweth héere Or he that hath receiued the wisdome of the spirit let hym iudge hereof according vnto it Thus doth the holy ghost aduertise the faithfull to consider that whatsoeuer thinges are writteÌ„ they are writteÌ„ vnto our learning 13 He that leadeth into captiuity shall go into captiuyty And he that killeth with a sworde must with a sworde be slaine This warning geueth the lord take it if they lyst For he will haue his right iudgments known He that vexeth or aflicteth the iuste beléeuers in body by outward punishments he shall be aflicted in the spirit with an inwarde darknes or blindnes of the soule that he may be the more captiue to sinne and to sathan God wyll deliuer hym vp vnto a lewde mind and wyll geue him stronge delusion to beléeue all maner of lyes that he might be damned 14 He that killeth the poore innoceÌ„t for his faith with the yron sword or slaieth hym with any other torment with the sword of the spirit which is the Lords word shall he be both iudged condemned The word that I haue spoken saith Christ shall iudge them at the latter day And this is in manner all one with that was saide in the xi chapter afore If any maÌ„ wyl hurt them fyre shall procéede out of their mouthes and consume their enemies 15 Neuerthelesse to the christian is persecution necessary For héere in this lyfe is the pacience of the saints proued and their faith required Here was AbrahaÌ„ tempted Iob sore vexed and both they were founde Gods true faithfull seruants Here were the apostles contemned reioysinge that they were found worthy for christes sake to suffer rebuke The rightuous the lorde trieth as gold in the furnace He chasteneth euery seruant that he loueth and scourgeth euery son that he receiueth Onely is it faith that al the euils of this worlde by pacience ouercommeth so obtaineth the victory The fruit which riseth to eternal lyfe is peaceable sufferance in faith And that must be heare in this lyfe where as we are vnperfect to make vs perfect THE TEXT 1 And I beheld an other beast 2. comming vp out of the earth 3. and he had two horns lyke a lamb 4. and he spake as dyd the Dragon 5. and he dyd all that the firste beaste could do 6. in his presence 7. And he caused the earth and them which dwell therein 8. To worship the firste beaste vvhose deadly vvounde vvas healed 9. And he dyd great wonders 10. So that he made fyre come downe from heauen 11. In the sight of meÌ„ 12. And deceiued them that dwelt on the earth by the meanes of those signes which he had povver to doe in the sighte of the beast 13. Saying to them that dvvelt on the earth that they should make an image 14. Vnto the beast vvhich had the vvounde of a svvord and dyd liue The Paraphrase 1 And I behelde saieth S. Iohn in this secret reuelation of my Lord an other beast arising out of the earth A figure is this of al false prophets and vngoly preachers Beastly are they euermore vaine carnal and corrupt in their studies abhominable in the practisings of their wicked harts not séeking God but their belleyes not Christes glory but their owne pride and vaine glory 2 From the earth they aryse all geuen to erthly wisdome The only affectes of this worlde doth moue them to teach no good zeale of the truth Either are they tickled with ambition pricked with auarice or els stirred with mallice to inuei These are the common affects of the wicked This goinge vp haue they from wickednesse to wickednesse and shall haue still till the Lorde destroy them like as haue the iust beléeuers from vertue to vertue in the spirit till such time as they sée him face vnto face in the euerlasting Syon From the worlds beginning hath this beast risen vp in Cayne the first murtherer in the fleshlye Children of men in Cham the shamelesse childe of Noe in Ismael Esau in Iannes Iambres in Balaham Baals prophets in the Beniamits Bels chaplains in Phasur Semeias in Iudas Annas and Caiphas in Bariehu Diâ—trephes And now seÌ„s their time most of all in Mahometes doctoures and the popes queristers Yea stil they are aloft in their beastly beggerye will be till their mischif be finished Who séeth not now a daies that hath light in the spirit the malignite hipocrisy fraud craft deceit in certen fals prophets at pauls crosse in London in other places els 3 This beast had ii hornes like the lambe at a blush but all counterfet â— fals in very déede for he spake as did the dragon the hornes of Christ are his high kingdom in the world Only ariseth his Churche by faith in the glad tidinges and promises of god That word is the scepture of Christes power and the rod of right order wheras he reigneth None other strange sceptures are there neither tradicions nor customes Seuen hornes had Christ for
of vnfruitfull profitable For he it is that taketh away the stony hart and geueth a soft hart for it so making vs Abrahams children Thus are we redéemed from men whan we are taken by his goodnesse from such corrupt vsages as mans nature is inclined vnto 20 And for none other purpose but to be the first fruits vnto god as were the aulter offrings in the old lawe in the hands of the high priestes For so much as the elect number ar but a few or a certaine taken out from the vniuersall multitude and are the porcion of the Lord as were the said offerings perteyning vnto Christ the only bishop of our soules they are his first fruits Yea his owne very mistical members and al but one offring vnto God the father by him For he is the onely lambe that died for them his owne bodye beinge the only oblacion and sacrefice 21 And in their mouthes was found no gile For none other wordes vttered they but his pâ—er testimonies None other taught thei but his vndefiled lawes None other perswaded they to be obserued of other but his immaculate Gospel or easy burthen of Christ. No importable yokes laied they vpon mens shoulders neither of cerimonies fastiÌ„gs nor masse hearings 22 For they are without spot before the throne of god Both before them that are faythfull and haue right iudgment in the spyrite whiche are the very seats of God apereth their doctrine pure and also their life innoceÌ„t before god hiÌ„selfe Neyther are they spotted with filthy tradicions nor yet with vncuÌ„ly examples as coÌ„cerning their former sinnes they shal not be imputed vnto them They are remitted in Christ and so forgotten afore god Though this that here hath bin spoken be concerning the whole christen multitude and her preachers yet doth it most specially touche the Iewes or Israelyts that shal in this latter age be conuerted vnto Christ. And so doe I counsell the reader to vnderstand it For the mount Syon after the flesh was theirs Not defiled are they with vnmaried women which are the whorishe lawes and vncleane supersticions of the Gentiles vpoÌ„ none other harp haue they commonly harped but vpon the scriptures though it hath not bin to the pleasure of God tyll nowe in this latter age wherin they shall wholye turne vnto Christ. THE TEXT 1 And I savv an Angell 2. Fly in the midst of heauen 3. Hauing an euerlasting gospell to preach vnto them that sit and dvvell on the earth 4. And to all nacions kinreds and â—ongs and people 5. sayinge vvith a loude voyce 6. Feare God 7. And geue honour to him 8. For the houre of his iudgemente is come 9. and worship him that made heuen earth 10. And the sea the fountaines of vvater The Paraphrase 1 An other Angell sawe I sayeth sainct Iohn flye in the midst of heauen For Christ was the first angell or messenger of the euerlastinge couenaunt of the father This angell here mencioned is none other than he that had the seale of the lyuing god in the .vii. Chapter and he that was clothed with a cloude in the tenth chap. And he betokneth those feruent ministers whoÌ„ god hath sent in this latter time to admonishe his people to flye from the errours of antichrist returne to his heauenlye verities 2 He flyeth in the midst of heauen An earnest feruent faithful course take they in the middest of gods congregacion which is his heauenly kingedom here to whom this reuelation is written lyke as dyd Paulus Sylas and Barnabas Timotheus Titus and Clemens with other of the Apostles sincerely to declare his worde Mighty stomaked are they in gods cause both in their wordes and wrytings 3 An euerlastinge Gospell had this Angel to preach vnto them that sit dwell vpon the earth and to al nations kynreds and people His eternal testameÌ„t and couenant of peace hath the Lorde giuen vnto them to preach deliuerance to the captiue health to the wounded lyfe to the dead and remission to the sinfull Yea to vtter that word that is stronger thaÌ„ is heauen or earth and that shall neuer fayle hym that truely beléeueth 4 The sound of this gospell muste go the world ouer as in the apostles time Eueri wher must it be spred to the increase of faith AmoÌ„g al natioÌ„s of the earth among al kinreds of the Isralyts among all languages of the world and among all kinds of people of what sort so euer they be whether they sit vpon the earth or dwell vpon the earth whether they be high or lowe gouernours or subiects masters or seruaÌ„ts owners or fermers So that they sit not nor dwell not within the earth or haue theyr felicitie here For that is holy should not be geuen vnto dogs nor yet pearels layed before swyne 5 And he cryed with a loude voyce with a mighty feruent spirit do they beat it into the heades of men both by wordes writings and al they can make to haue the feare of God and to geue him his due honour And this is the doctrine they teache the counsell they geue 6 Feare ye God in all that ye doe for the first poynt of godly wisdome is to dread least we offende him Be constant in the worde and feare no displeasure of men For no more can they do in their anger but slea the body and bring it to the rest of god No power haue thei ouer the soule feare him only therfore that wheÌ„ he hath destroied both may throw theÌ„ into heâ— 7 Geue honor vnto hiÌ„ worship him serue him alone praise him glorifie him aboue al. But yet after 〈◊〉 other sort thaÌ„ he hath apoiÌ„ted which is in faith spirite veritie not 〈◊〉 outward shadowes with obseruation of tymes He truely honoureth him that trusteth in him the beleueth his word and that in spight of all antichrists coÌ„fesseth it afore al men after this sort therfore feare him worship hym nothiÌ„g douting the assalts of enimies 8 For the houre of his iudgemeÌ„t is come At hand is it that all the antichristes and hipocrits shal by the inuincible word of god be iudged condemned and destroyed From heaueÌ„ shall hys wrath be declared vpon al their vngodlynes With the spirite of his mouth shall the lorde consume them and not longe after wyll the great day of his indignatioÌ„ toward them light sodenly vpon them 9 With al faithful obsequi worship him therfore that created heauen earth in wonderfull streÌ„gth beuty 10 That made the sea the fountaines of water with all that in theÌ„ doth anone whose power is eternall knowledge none other god but him None other helper redemer nor sauior but christ for al other christs not seÌ„t of hiÌ„ ar but antichrists only bow your knées vnto him for only is hys strength euerlasting onely obey his lawes for only are his lawes clean THE TEXT 1 And there folovved an other Angel saying 2. She is fallen she is fallen euen
thrée vncleane spirits one comming out of the Dragons mouth which signifieth sathan the deuill an other out of the beastes mouth betokeninge the vniuersall Antichrist and the third out of the false prophets mouth compared afore to the two horned beast And all they séemed in maner as frogs both in their colours and fashions 7 Idolatry was that yll spirit which first went out from the serpent hath continued euer since in the world vnder the colour of good works as pilgrimage deuocion labour 8 Errour in abhominable filthynesse was the spirit whiche came from the beastly Antichrist defilinge the whole christianitie with innumerable superstitions vnder the colour of chaste lyuing in pristhod sacrifices and ceremonies 9 Hipocrisie was the foule spirite which issued from the false preachers poysoning the catholyque faith with false doctrine vnder the colour of religion pretending abstinence prayer and clennesse These thrée wicked spirits are not all vnlyke to the wilde fire smoke and brimstone whiche the terrible fierce horses euometed in the ix chapter of this present prophecye For cursed false and vnpure they are Their doctrine is wickednesse lies deuilishnesse and the execrable wisdome of the flesh In manner of frogs are they here described for their diuersitie of coloures in ceremonyes doctrine sects for their filthy dwelling in the dyrty tradicions of men and for crookelyng of theyr vnknowen Psalmodye and seruice disquietynge with their ydle customes the consciences of the symple multitude 10 These are the very spirites of deuyls the ympes of sathan workinge such signes and myracels as would deceiue the very chosen persons and bring them into erroure yf it were so possible But the Lorde euermore defendeth his 11 A stronge power haue they by the workynge of sathan to shewe lyinge wonders deceyuable signes amonge them that shal perish for detesting the truthe 12 These shal by the permission of god be suffered to go at large they shall strongly delude the kings of the earth and blynde the gouernoures of the vniuersall world making them dronken with the cup of all abhominatioÌ„s 13 And all this shal they doe to gather them to gether by their wicked counsayles to bring them in to one cruel consent of battailing against Christe and his meÌ„bers to receiue the penalty therof in the great day of the lord almighty 14 Most busely they gather them to battel when they moue them to persecute the iust beléeuers with ful vngodly actes as now most of all in our age which god hath promised in short space to reuenge Of this wil more be spoken in the xix chapter folowing Least any man knowinge the truthe shoulde tangle his owne conscience with their spirituall sorceryes for feare of princes lawes vnder the vaine hope of repentance in the end of their liues it foloweth in playne sentence 15 Beholde sayeth the Lorde Iesus Christ or earnestly take héede vnto it for I come dangerously vnlooked for as commonly doth the thiefe to thy hinderaunce if thou watch not in fayth but lyue in superstition Though this not without reasonable cause may be taken in a generaliti for the last iudgmeÌ„t dai yet is it here spokeÌ„ particularly of euery maÌ„s departing As a premonishment he geueth this here of loue least any man should perish without warning 16 Blessed is he saith that Lorde which watcheth in the true christian beléeue and liueth not in the vaine but in the sure hope of life sealed with the iust promises of god For all that he doth shall prosper and turne him to great aduantage in the concluston 17 Happy is he allo that holdeth fast vnto him his garments or workes of Gods prescription which are the fruits of the spirite or that hath done on the Lord Iesus Christ gyrdinge hym suer vnto himselfe by faith 18 Least he be founde a naked hypocrit witout faith veritye iustice charitie with such lyke or least the rightuous number at the latter day sée his filthines vncouered and reioyce at his condemnation 19 He is blessed whiche at that day shall be couered with the white garment of the Lambe not hauinge his sinnes imputed vnto hym 20 To shewe the certaintie of the aforesayde battayle Saint Iohn saith that the diuel gathered together those wicked rulers into a certaine place called in the Hebrue tonge Armagedon The vncleane spirites that afore are named thrée of their diuers workinge in the Dragon beaste and false prophet are here brought into one as all of one lying spirit whome Christe calleth the father diuell This one lyinge spirit whiche hath bene a murtherer from the beginning comprehendinge in hym all vncleane spirites like as doth the beast all Antichristes hath combined together into one execrable zeale of fatherly tradicions all vaine-glorious and vngodly minded gouernours against God and his Christe And this hath not bene withoute the secret permission of God wyllynge to proue his elects by stroÌ„g suffering that they might receiue at his hand the rewarde of stronge victorye or of his aboundant riches 21 This place here called in the Hebrue Armagedon betokneth in mistery an hyll of delectable fruites interpreted of some for the hyll of the gospell and is commonly taken of the Hebreues for that is swéet or of valew And this without faile is the churche whiche â—ft times in the Scriptures is called the plentuous hyll of God the hyll of Gods house the hyll of mirth the hyll of oliues the hyll of Sion Carmelus and Libanus with such other lyke In this mounte euermore are they bene â—o battaile There slea theâ— innocent Lambes of Christe All their power malice and tirannye is there extremely vttered at the Antichrists labour and desire whiche are excéedingly drunken in the bloude of holye martires whiche hath bene shed vpon the earth from the rightuous Abel vnto this day But when the almighty setteth kings vpoÌ„ the earth it shall be cleare euen in the darknes that the hill of Basan is Gods hill The texte 1 And the seauenth Angell poured out his vial 2. Into the ayre 3. And there came a great voyce out of heauen from the sate sayinge 4. It is done 5. And there followed voices thunderings and lightninges 6 And there was a great earthquake 7. Such as was not since meÌ„ were vpon earth 8. So mighty an earthquake and so great 9. And the great citie was deuyded into three parts 10. And the cities of the nations fell 11. And great Babtlon came in remembraunce before God 12. To geue vnto her the cup of Wine of the fiercenesse of hys wrath 13. And euery I le fled avvay 14. And the mountaines vvere not founde 15. And there fell a great haile 16. As it had bene talents 17. Out of heauen 18. Vppon the men 19. And the men blasphemed God beause of the plague of the hayle 20. For it vvas great and the plague therof vvas sore The Paraphrase 1 Fynally the seuenth Angell wente forth vnder the seuenth seale opening as God had eternali determined
abhominations of this whorish church till the words and promises of God by his Apostles and Prophets which can neuer fayle be wholly fulfilled in effecte and till his last iudgemeÌ„t doe finish all But thus doe not all they which haue done of the yoke of the Popes obedyence or blotted out his name For the greater number of them retaineth still the blasphemous obseruacions cerimonies of hys Romish relygyon some making new lawes of deth for the establishmeÌ„t of the same as is in England the acte of the .vj. Articles with diuers other more And for this remayneth here stil the beast as receiuing the rendred kingdome of the whore In whom is also comprehended the wicked remnant that shal worke the last mischiefe whom the Lorde shall ende with his saide iudgement This beast is not without his liuely Image still working the same féetes that him selfe wrought afore though his head be greuouslye wounded in diuers quarters of the world Neyther is he without craftye phisitions to minister life to the same Who euer forswore the Pope more ernestly than did Stokislye and Samson Gardyner and Tunstall Wylson and fryer Wattes with such other holy prelats yet labour they toth and nayle to haue BabiloÌ„ stil BabiloÌ„ Sodome Sodom and Egipt Egipt But maruail not of the ordinance of the Lord which all at on time prouyded Moyses to guide his people yet hardened Pharao against theÌ„ which sent his sonne Iesus Christ to saue them and yet suffered the pristes to murther him considering he is the potter which maketh both the vessels of honouer and dishonour 31 Brifly to conclud the whole of thys matter saith the angel the gorious aparreled woman or glittering church of Antichrist which thou sawest here of late in mistery is also in receÌ„blance the great citty BabiloÌ„ the mother of al the spiritual abhominacions Idolatries don vpon the earth For like as froÌ„ Sion hath the laue coÌ„men forth the word of god from HieruseleÌ„ so hath isswâ—d forth froÌ„ this Babilonish Rome such a false religioÌ„ into Emperours princes peoples as with filthy superstitions hath poysoned all the world 14 For a kingdoÌ„ she hath ouer the kings or noble gouernours of the earth a false power a vsurped authority a seat of very pestelence Alas for pitty that so worthy potentates shoulde bée in subiection to so stinking an whore to so vyle an harlot being so the seruaunts of sinne and captiue slaues to all wickednesse from the whiche the Lorde once deliuer them Amen Thus endeth the second part The Contentes of the seconde parte THe xj Chap. beginneth wherin Iohn measureth the Temple the Aulter and them that worship therein The .ij. witnesses doe their appointed offices the beast making warre against them and sleying them A great Earthquake followeth and the second woe is past The xij Chapter beginneth wherin the seuenth Angell bloweth his trompet In heaueÌ„ appeareth a woman all cloathed with the sun whom the Dragon diuersly vexeth Mychaell fighteth with the Dragon and ouercommeth him The woman flyeth into the wildernesse and there is preserued The xiij Chapter beginneth wherin a beast ryseth out of the sea with seuen heades and ten hornes receyuing authority of the Dragon One of his heades is wounded and healed agayne An other beast commeth out of the earth with .ii. hornes which deceiueth the earthly dwellers and raiseth vp an Image like vnto the beast In the ende is counted the number of the beast The .xiiij. Chapter beginneth wherin the Lambe standeth vpoÌ„ the mount Sion and the vndefiled congregacion with him An Angell sheweth the euerlasting Gospel an other declareth the fal of the great whore An other is commauÌ„ded with his sikle to cut down the grapes of the vineyard The .xv. Chap. beginneth wherein Iohn séeth the seuen Angels hauing the seuen last plages of the wrath of God On the glassy sea standeth men hauing the harpes of God they sing the song of Moyses and the songe of the lambe The tabernacle of testymony is séene in heauen The .xvi. Chapter beginneth where in the seuen Angels power out theyr vials of gods wrath The first vpon the earth The secoÌ„d vpoÌ„ the sea The third vpon the riuers The fourth vpon the suÌ„n The fift vpon the seat of the beast The vj. vpon the great floud Euphrates And the seuenth into the ayre The xvij Chapter beginneth wherin an Angell sheweth vnto Iohn the iudgement of the great whore which sitteth vpon the beast Hée discrybeth both hir and the beast at large Finally he sheweth the meaning both of hys heades and hornes with other great mysteries more The poore persecuted church of christ or immaculate spouse of the Lambe Apoca. 12. The DragoÌ„ was wroth with the woman which fled into the wildernesse and went and made warre with the remnaunt of hir séede which kept the commaundement of god and haue the testimone of Iesus Christ. The proude painted Church of the Pope or sinfull Sinagoge of Sathan Apoca. 17. I sawe woman sitte vpon a Rose coloured beast full of names of blasphemye decked with golde precious stone and pearles with whom the Kinges of the earth committed whordome and the inhabiters of the earth are dronken with the wyne of hir fornication ¶ THE THIRDE parte of the Image of both churches after the most wonderfull and heauenly reuelation of saint Iehn the Euangelist c. Compiled by Iohn Bale Apoca 1. ¶ I Ihon your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdome of pacience which is in Christe Iesu was in the I le of Pathmos for the worde of God A small Preface vnto the Christen Reader FOr so muche as this Image of both churchs or exposition vpon S. Iohns Apocalipsis seemed vnto me as it came vnto the printing to be farre to much for one volume I thought to deuide it by equall porcions into three smal bookes as I haue now done in deede Of whom the firste contayneth x. Chapter the second vii the third v. onely which maketh out the whole number of the xxii Some peraduenture wil maruel that the smaller nuÌ„ber of the chapters should comprehend so much of that commeÌ„tarie as the greater number But if they marke in the text the aboundinge of misteries euermore as the matter thereof aboundeth they will soone leaue their marueiling The nature of this reuelation is the further it goeth the more wonders it sheweth openeth vnto hym that after praier shal in faith reade it and deserne it Neuer therin are the principles well perceiued till the conclusion thervpon folowinge doth playnely with the other scriptures conferred declare them In these v. last chapters are the two churches wherevpon resteth the whole argumeÌ„t of this booke fully by all dew circumstaunces described theÌ„ turned ouer into a moste fearefull and terrible destruction vnder title of the olde whorish Babilon the other obtayning a moste glorious rayse vnder the name of the holy new Hierusalem In the xvijâ— Chapter is that execrable churche of
antichrist with hyr filthye wares and occupings painted out hereof the holye Ghost with hir most horrible fal in the end hir worldly fauours shewing gret heanies and the seruants of God an excedyng reyse In the .xix. Chapter is that reyoice of elect number ouer the tirryble iudgments of that whore much more highly discribed the deth of Christes holy witnesses most plentyously reuenged and how the Angel in no case will of Iohn be worshiped In the .xx. Chapter is the dragon tied vp for a thousand years the chosen sort reigning with Christ. Gog and Magog gather theÌ„ to battayle and are ouercoÌ„men The dead after that ariseth and receiueth iudgement In the xxi Chapter is the church of the chosen or the new Hierusalem prepared to to hir spouse That citie commeth downe from heauen and is of the holy ghoste here after most wonderfull circumstaunces in hir right proportion described In the xxii Chapter the riuer of lyuinge waters proceedeth from the throne of God Iohn sealeth vp the sayinges of this prophecy Christ concludeth what his kingdome is and who shall be therevnto receyued admonishyng that vnto his worde nothing be added of men in payne of dampnation Some hatefull and vngodly blasphemers there are and euer hath bene whiche wyll in no wise this Booke to be of equall authorytie with the other scriptures of christes testament But damnably wretched 〈◊〉 are they in the vaine imaginations of their sinful hâ—rts The most high Theologye and secret wisdome of God the eternall father is the blessed doctrine there of geuen vnto hys onely sonne in our humanytie and after that of him so coÌ„mited vnto Iohn by the holy ghost to be distributed taught by hym to the vniuersal christen coÌ„gregation which is a most sufficient argument of the authoritie therof what so euer mad Momus shall quarrell to the contrary Iames Faber Stapulensis in his preface prefixed to the woorkes of Dionise the Ariopagyt doubted neuer a deale to prefer this heauenly prophesie to all the other writings of the other Apostles confessing that in worthines it farre passed them all the due circumstances there of considered The more nigher saith he the light be to the sun the more strength it hath and the more clernesse it ministreth vnto men But Momus hath not yet done away the madde mistes of his monkery nor yet the darke dregges of his sophistry which both are great blemyshing vneo his eye sight The wisdom of Plato Homerus Cicero auaileth nothing in this Aristotle Uirgil if thei were aliue could herein do little or nothing In estimably more maketh the poore fishers learning to the vnderstanding of these misteryes theÌ„ the prowd painted eloquence or far set resoÌ„s of the philosophers The Lord geue vs grace from the barne of his most plentuous scriptures to fetche the fat feedyng of our feble hungry soules that we may by theÌ„ obtayne his strength into the lyfe euerlasting The third part of the Image of both chruches after the most wonderfull heauenly reuelacion of saint Iohn the Euangeliste Compiled by Ihhn Bale The xviij Chapter VNder the title of Babilon is here in this chapter folowing described the feareful iudgment of the malignant church with the ruinous fal of Antichrist and his kingdom prefigured afore in Esay and Hiremye THE TEXT 1 And after that I savve an other angell 2 Com dovvne froÌ„ heauen 3. hauing great povver 4. And the earth vvas lightned vvith his brightnes 5 And he cried mightely vvith a strong voyce saying 6. She is falen she is fallen 7 Euen greate Babilon 8. And is become the habitacion of Deuils 9. And the holde of al foule spirites 10. And a cage of all vnclene and hatefull birdes 11. For all nacions haue dronk of the vvine 12. of the vvrath of hyr vvhordom 13. And the kinges of the earthe haue commited fornicacioÌ„ vvith hyr 14. And hyr marchauntes are vvaxen ryche 15. of the abundance of hir pleasurs The Commentarie 1 After these manifolde visions sayeth S. Iohn was I yet ware of an other aungel or heauenly messenger of the Lord coÌ„myng downe from heauen whnch is the habitacle of God For from aboue al goodenesse coÌ„meth This Aungell betokeneth the faythfull preachers of our age and is all one wiih the Angel that had the seale of the liuing God in the vii Chapter wyth him that was clothed with a cloude in the x Chapter and with him thai procllamed the fal of Babylon in the .xiiii. chapter 2 In that he is sayd here to come downe from heauen is signified that they are sente 〈◊〉 God hauing great power with constaunt feruentnesse of spyrit strongelye to declare hys wil to the vtter destruction of the whore For like as the father hath lyf in hym selfe so hath his sonne Iesus and â—o hath in hym his Godlye ministers 3 His power is an euerlasting power retayninge both lyfe and death 4 With the brightnes not of this angell which was but a messeÌ„ger but of the power that was geuen vnto him was the vniuersal earth abundantlye lightned Full is all the world of the glory of God where as his word 〈…〉 his verity is once spred by yâ— true Godly prechers 5 In this strong power crâ—ed he mightâ—ly in this clere light was his earnest voice herd vttering this sentence to the world 6 She is falen clean down that was so proud she is turned ouer that was so glorious an whore yea euen the great BabiloÌ„ hyr self or blasphemous church of the Hipocrites 7 By the iudgement of God is â—he brought to vtter confusion Firste haâ— she a â—al by the death of Christ when the prince of this world was throweÌ„ forth Mark the distruction of Hierusalem wher the church of the Iews dyd cease the material temple of SalamoÌ„ and clearelye ouerthrowen not one stone vpon an other remayning Now shall she haue an other much worse by the playne â—â—nifestation of hys word to the comfort of all his elects And both are of one certenty though the one he paâ—te and the other yet to come Confer with this place the ouerthrowe of the monasteries in England Denmarke the free cities of Germany certaine other regions thinke that more sorowes are yet comming 8 These are the causes of hyr fall and occasions of hyr ruyne before the Lord. She is become the filthy habitacion of deuils much more than before hir first faâ—l for now they enter in by heaps yea seuen for â—n afore 9 Now is she the stinking hold of all vnclene spirites For ther haue al the kinds of Idolatry their earnest maintenance by hir spiritual occupiers the bishops priestes and religious There regneth Simony Sacrilege Usury fraud ambition mallice glotony auaryce pryde filthynes all mischiefes beysde 10 Now is she the corrupt cage of all vnclene fowles and â—atefull byrdes For in hyr dwelleth the aduouterous Cardinals the buggery bishops the prostibulous prelates and pristes the Gomorreane monks chanons friers and nonnes an
therefore I passe it ouer here Onely haue I rehearsed their names as I could doe yet many more to put â—ée in remembraunce that God hath alwayes had some in the world which hath not in all poynts coÌ„sented to their blasphemies though they haue not had the lyght of this trueth so open as wée haue it now Many godly Emperours and CouÌ„seilâ— general haue attemted this reformacion in the church but euermore haue they fouÌ„d vngodly princes against theÌ„ to houlde the Antichristes stil in their wickednes Yet doubt I not but Pharao with his hoast shall perishe in the sea and the proud Iewishe priestes in the cittie for theyr manyfolde blasphemyes at the tyme now appointed of the Lord. 5 For the sinnes of this whore or abhominacions without number of the false religion hyr stinkeing Idolatry and slaughter of InnoceÌ„ts are gone vp vnto heauen against hyr requiring the great vengeaÌ„ce of God The filthines of theÌ„ hath moued him to wrath and kinled his displesure towards hir putting hym in rememberaunce of his eternal decrée coÌ„cerning hir destructyon The greatnes of hir mischiefs hath touched heauen and hath axed with Sodome and Gomor the fearfull plages threatned hyr 6 And the merciful Lorde beholding the affliction of his people pittying their miserable thraldoÌ„ in the spiritual Egipt hath coÌ„sidered hir vngodly behauiour wayed hir wilfull wretchednesse and measured hir vnmerciful murther coÌ„maunding his appointed ministers to execute vpoÌ„ hir his iudgmentes without mercy 7 Rewarde hir nowe saith he in euery coÌ„dicioÌ„ as she hath rewarded you afore Measure agayne vnto hir lyke as she hath measured to you nowe that ye haue the iudgement seates Crye out vpon hir as she hath cried out vpon you Snare hir as she hath snared you Destroy hir as she hath destroyed you As she hath taken vengeaunce of you so take you vengeaunce againâ— of hir Lyke as she hath afflicted you Iudgeâ— you and condemned you by the lawes of meÌ„ so scurge you hir againe iudge hir an harlot and condemne hir to hell by the mightie worde of God 8 Sée that you giue hir two folde in punishment according to hir wicked deseruings Where as she hath taken from you no more but the life of the bodie take you away from hir againe the lyfe both of bodie and soule 9 Into the same bitter cuppe of sorowâ— that she hath filled vnto you in hir mallice powre you in double again to hir Where as she hath geuen you a temporal death giue hir the death euerlasting doubling vnto hir both the griefes and continuance of them 10 Yea consider how greatly she hath glorified hir selfe against God in blasphemous errours in pride in pleasures and in wanton liuing 11 And so muche let hir tast of moste terrible punishmentes sorowfull plages waylinges gnashinges of téeth An holy priesthod hath she pretended a regal dignitie hath she vsurped and both those powers moste shamefully hath she so abused therefore let hir haue the penalties dew vnto such presumption Take from hir hir plesauÌ„t Euphrates with the spoyles and profites wherein she hath inordinatlye delighted and throwe hir into mostâ— depe wretchednesse here besides that shal follow in an other worlde THE TEXTE 1 For she sayth in hir hart 2. I sitte beyng a queene 3. am no widovv 4. and shal see no sorovv 5. Therefor shal hir plages coâ— at on day 6. death and sorovv and honger 7. And she shal be brent with fyre 8. For stronâ— is the Lord God 9. vvhich shall iudge hyr The commentary 1 For hyghlye shée standeth in hyr owne conseit as yet boasting hyr selfe to be the great goodnesse of the earth 2 I sit here in wealth and pleasure saith she being a glorious quéene yea the holy church hir self hauing authoryty in heauen in earth and in hel with power to lose and bynd saue damne With me is it not as with them that are not of this world or haue no dwelling place here for all is at my wyll and pleasure 3 I am no desolate widow The powers of this world standeth by me The mighty princes and potentates defendeth me with the death of innocente peple Neuer was Nero Domicianus Traianus nor Marencius with other cruel tirrauntes more sure vpon my side in defence of supersticions than they are yet still to this houre 4 Therefore I can take no seathe nor yet féele of any sorrowe I shal be lady for euer Neuer shall my seate be remoued Neuer shall I fall nor any mâ—shappe light vpon me Such are the bold bragges of the papistes that Peters lytle shippe may well be moued with the tempest of heretiques but neuer shall it be ouerthrowen thynking therby the whorish church shal euermore continue and neuer come to naught 5 They coÌ„sider not how stroÌ„g the Lamb is against whoÌ„ they dayly fight And therfore shall the terrible plages which God hath appointed hir to suffer heauily light vpon hir and all in one day 6 At once shall he powre vpon that wicked congregation death sorowe hunger lyke as he did fyre and brimstone vpon the sinfull cyties Perpetually shall they be depriued of the lyfe which is in Christ Iesu. Continuall wéeping and téeth gnashing shall they haue their worme neuer dying Still shal they inwardly famish and neuer with felicitie be satisfied 7 With vnquencheable fire shall this whore be brent with hyr whole generation of hypocrites prepared for the diuil and his Angels 8 Effectual and trwe is the sentence for mightye is the Lorde that shall iudge hir condemne hir by his word 9 Iust is he in his promise true in his sayings gloryous in his works holye terrible and fearefull in his iudgements against the wicked None shall be founde able at that day to restrayne the least part of his purposed vengeance neyther Mary throwyng in hir beades into saint Michaels balaunce Iohn Baptist with his Lamb Peter with his key nor yet Paule with his long sword Though Moyses and Samuell the chosen Prophetes of the Lorde yea with Noe Daniell and pacient Iob should stand before hym at that day yet should they not be haâ—d THE TEXT 1 And the kings of the earth shall be vvepe hyr 2. and vvayle ouer hyr 3. vvhich haue coÌ„mitted fornication 4. and lyued vvantonlye vvith hir 5. vvhan they shall see the smoke of hir burning 6. and shall stand a farre of 7. for feare of hir punishment saying 8. Alas alas that great citie 9. Babilon 10. that mightie citie 11. For at one houre commeth thy iudgement The Commentary 1 Moreouer the carnally mynded kings of the earth sayth the aforesayde Angell which hath for hyr pleasure abused their aucthoritie and power shall take hyr sodayne distruction in thys lyfe very heauily 2 Yea they shall moste sorrowfully bewayle them selues ouer hir as men very ill contented with that ordinance of God They shall be sorie in their heartes that his worde is become so stronge agaynst hyr that they can resist it with
the sweate thâ—re of the labouring man nor deuour the poore widdowe fathereesse for strayning out a gnat 14 The continual light of lampes before the high aulter the burning cressettes at triumphes in the night the torches at burials solempne processions tapers at high masses and the candels at offeringes shall neuermore burne in thy sinful sinagog 15 No more shal the bridgrome desyre after thy folish ordenaÌ„ce to be Ioyned to his wife nor the bride to hir lawfull husbande No more shal that frée state of liuing be bound vnder yoke of daÌ„pnable dremes neyther for vowes vnaduised nor for popish orders nor yet for any gossiprye but be at full lyberty as the Lord hath ordained it No commodities prophets nor pleasures shalt thou haue any more of these nor yet of such like as afore time thou haste had of them in habundance 16 For thy mitred marchaunts were sumtime princes of the earth whan they reigned in their roialty Thy shorn shauelinges were Lordes ouer the multytude whan they held their priestly authority ouer the soules bodies of men 17 Yea and with thy priuy legardemaine with thy iugling castes with the craftes and inchauntmentes of thy subtile charmes were all nacions of the world deceyued With lies in hipocrisy were the great gouernours most miserably blinded with errours in supersticion the coÌ„mon people seduced And all was to satisfye thy voluptuous affectes Only remayneth to thée nowe the dwe rewarde of thy wickednesse which is an euerlasting dampnacion 18 All this is said here saith the holy Ghoste for that in this aduoutrous church is found the great slaughter of innocentes 19 Gilty appereth she afore God of al the blod of the holy prophets of the olde lawe As were Esaye Hieremy Ezechiel and Amos. 20 And of the sincere witnesses of the new lawe as were Steuen Iames Antipas and Paule 21 Yea and of all those Godly men that were slaine vpon earth from rightuous Abel vnto the end of the world for the faithfull testimony of God Among whom may they also be numbred which hath in battayles skirmyshes and vprores at the Popes appoinment in all Christian regions bene vnmercifully murthered for the fulfilling of his insacyable purpose The xix Chapter NOw foloweth in course the conuenyent prayse of thankesgiuing vnto God for rightuously condempnyng the blasphemous church of Antichrist and for graciously auenging the innocent bloud of his true seruaunts Here are two maner of peoples to be considered of whom the one is sorowful the other reioyseth all about one matter The fall of this malignauÌ„t church is to the one sorte a discomforte to the other a heauenly comforte The kings the merchaunts and the shippe gouernours of the earth most dolorously lamenteth the distruction of their mad vanities The vnregarded or forsaken number of those simple soules yâ— faithfully beleueth in Christ ar highly glad of it for his gloryes sake About thys one decay cryeth the one sort wo wo wo. The other sort singing wyfully in their harts vnto God so oft tymes Alleluia So much dyffreth the one from the other the children of darkenes froÌ„ the children of light they that séeke their owne glory from them that séeke the glory of god Not vnlike is Iohan vnto Aggeus Zacharias other holy prophetes which both shewed afore of the peoples return from the myserable captiuity of the Babilonians and also the réedyfying agayne of their new Hierusalem For here hath he first shewed the distructioÌ„ fal of the daÌ„nable whore the spirituall Babilon which manye yeres hath greuously vexed the people of God and now in this chapter their peaceable time in the Lord. Now are the precious vessels of God like to be restored into the temple the great Balthasar of Rome once ouerthrowen Now shall the swéet peace grow the plentuous quiet increase the pastures of the Lord waxe fat and the mightie verity of his worde flowe like a swéet running floud THE TEXT 1 And after that I heard the voice 2. of much people in heauen 3. sainge Alleluia 4. Saluation 5 glory 6 and honour 7 and povver 8 be ascribed vnto the Lord our God 9. For true and rightuous are his iudgementes 10. bicause he hath iudged the great vvhore 11. vvhich did corrupt the earth vvith hir fornication 12. and hath auenged the bloud of his seruaunts of hir hand 13. And agayn they sayde Alleluya The Commentary 1 After the destructioÌ„ of that whorish BabiloÌ„ which singnyfieth the wicked church I heard saith Saint Iohn in mistery the reroysing voyce of muche people in heuen which is that congregacion of faith wherin the Lord resteth 2 Uerye many were there amonge them which ioyously gaue thanks vnto God 3 Pronouncing this Hebrue senteÌ„ce Alleluia which is so much to sai as let vs together praise the Lordes name 4 Only is saluacion health deliueraunce of him Unto none other it is to be ascribed neyther in heauen nor in earth be there neuer so godly doers 5 Inestimable glorye vnspeakble honour incomprehencyble power belongeth vnto that Lord our God so doth the dewe commendacion thereof 6 He it is that only oughâ— of vs to be praised obeyed and magnified 7 For he alone hath ouerthrown the dragoÌ„ the beast and the glittring whore that deceyued all the worlde that proude churche of stynkeynge Sodomytes 8 And this hath he done for our saluacion Referre all the prayse vnto hym as to your conquerour most worthye 9 For verely moste true and perfecte is he in his merciful promises moste rightuous and iust in his godly iudgementes which hath bene of late most euydently séene 10 Specially in that he hath iudged according to his former promis the abhominable harlot the superstycyous church of Antichrist the filthy famelye of spiritual whoremongers gluttoÌ„s hypocrytes yea the execrable Sinnagog of Sathan in déede 11 Which hath most miserably corrupted not the true seruantes of God but the very earth or such men as were earthly mynded with hyr filthy fornycation of Idolatry superstition blasphemy 12 That mercifull Lorde hath most rightuously auenged the innocent bloud his faithfull seruauntes and constant witnesses of hir wicked hande From the tirryble crueltie spight and vyolence of hyr vnmercyfull ministers hath he graciously deliuered them 13 Yet once againe saith saint Iohn did this godly minded multitude break foorth into the prayse of God and cryed with a most ioyfull shought Alleluya or commeÌ„dation without end be vnto our most heauenly creator redéemer and comfortour Hys laude be euermore in our mouth for thus restoring his veritie the enimies thereof deposed THE TEXT 1 And smoke rose vp for euermore 2. And the xxiiij elders 3 and the foure beastes 4. feldovvne 5. and vvorshipped God that sate on the seat 6. saying Amen 7. Alleluya 8. And a voyce came out of the seate 9. saying 10. Prayse our Lorde God 11. all ye that are his seruauntes 12. and yee that feare him both small and great The Commentary 1 And the
They fashioned thē selues to the example that was shewed thē in the mount 3 None other are these horses then their corruptible bodyes prepared to battail They which are of Christ doth mortifie the vices and lustes of theyr flesh they tame their carnall affectiōs Like perfect men they brydle their bodies to the obedience of the spirite So to become the true seruantes of rightuousnesse and no more to do seruice vnto sin White are these horses for the pure word of the Lord which gouerneth thē No meruaile though these myghtie souldyers foloweth the Lord cōsidering he is so oft in the scriptures called the lord of hosts A like similitude dyd the seruant of Helizens the Prophet behold in a vision throug Gods permission in Dotham 4 This army of the Lord here were appareled preciously with pure white silk or fine raynes betokening the pure innocensy which they haue in Christe theyr general captain Not carnal is this armour but euermore spirituall after the doctrine of S. Paule Though we walke in the flesh saith he yet do we not fight after a fleshly maner For the weapons of our warre are not carnal things but things mighty in God Bewtifull fayre is my welbeloued saith the eternall Salomon for hys soule pleaseth his Lord and is loued agayn of him His fauour his mercy is vpon his holy ones he hath a louing respect vnto his chosen number A notable singe of victory in the faithfull are also these white horses vestures for afore they ar called iustificacions of the saintes 5 And out of his Godly mouth sayth the Text proceded forth a two edged swerd which is the fearce iudgement of his mighty word By this effectual swerd are the faithfull beleuers woūded vnto life and the vnbeleuers to the death of dampnacion For vnto some it is the sauour of life and vnto some againe the sauour of death vnto death By this swerd also shal the dead braūches be cut from the vine and the corrupted members from the whole body The gotes shal be deuided from the lambes and the euil from the rightuous Oh how sharp fierce and tirrible wil this sentence of the lords indignaciō be at that day Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fyre Yet shall it be vnto the faithful a perpetuall power victory triumphe ouer their enymies 6 Ouer besides all this goeth that swerd frō his eternal mouth to the intēt he should therw t correct their Heathē or reform◠thē of their heathinish life So that if they wil not at the wholsome admonishmēts of his word repent and amend their olde conuersacion that than they should be condemned by the same for their wilful contempt If men wil not turne saith Dauid he shall whet his swerde against them He wil sharpen it as the lightening and aquite his enymies their wickedmes 7 This mighty Lord shal rule them with a strong rodde of yron which is the inuincible veritie This is the rod of right order the septure of the kingdome and the wand of power whom the Lord sent frō Sion to haue sway among our enymies So strong is this septure that it wil not bowe No place wil it geue to the contrary parte If they will not therewith be ordred he shall breke them in peces as the potter doth his pot in such maner as they neuer shal recouer agayne 8 The winefat of the great fiercenesse and sore displeasur of almighty God shal he tred downe with power More greuously shal they be opressed at this latter comming by his set sētence thā they wer afore at Hierusalē by Uespasianus and Titus The vineyarde of the Lord of hostes was the house of Israell This brought he out of Egipt by strong hande Thereof looked hée to haue had grapes and it brought hym foorth bryers and thistles Their vines were as the wilde vines of Sodome Bitter were their grapes as the poyson of Dragons and as the cruel gaul of Adders Therfore will he break the hedge and throw downe the wal that it may be troden vnder foote 9 Great anguishe shall bée vpon the earth in his fury and wrath vpō that people in his anger They shall fall on the edge of the swerd and be dispersed Both here shall they haue griefe and also in the world to come 10 This victorious horse man hath vpon his white vesture besprinckeled with bloud which is his innocent māhood crucified 11 And vpō his tender thigh whom some call his churche some his scriptures as flesh of his fleshe or spirite of his spirite this name of magnificence written 12 In both of them is it manifestlye expressed that he is both king of kinges and also Lorde of Lordes the great guide of right gouernours and that monarke of godly magistrates By kings is his generation discribed of Mathew in the posteritie of Dauid and of Luke by faithfull fathers vnto Adam which had the first promise of health Both doth the godly actes of his natural māhood and also the holy spirite whom he left here to the comfort of all true beléeuers declare that he is the eternall attourney of God his Apostles true seruaunts affyrming the same And these are his garmente and thigh By hys death is our nakednesse couered which are his misticall members Of his spirite is our strength which are the generation séeking the Lord of Iacob 13 Both hath he giuen hym of God the high seat of Dauid his father and also the vniuersall power in heauen and in earth as he by whom all things were first created For his power is an euerlasting power and his kingdome such as shall neuer perishe And all this is comprehended in that he is called the sonne of the highest and in that he alone hath immortalitie inhabyting the light that no man can attayne to whom be honour and euerlasting empire Amen In this vesture and thigh are his titles written as to hys onely behou e that no man shuld of presumption vsurpe them neither by supremite nor vycarage his church and posteritie acknowledging the same euermore THE TEXT 1 And I savve an Angell 2. stande in the sunne 3. and he cryed vvith a loude voyce 4. saying to all soules that flye by the middest vnder the heauen 5. Come and gather your selues togither 6. vnto the supper of the great God 7. that ye may eate the fleshe of kynges 8. of high captaine 9. the flesh of mightie men 10. and the flesh of horses 11. and of them that sit on them 12. and the flesh of all free men bondmen 13. both of small and great The Commentary 1 After this reuelation I sawe saith sainct Iohn a beautifull Angell betokening not onely the Apostles but all other faithfull ministers in the word els hauing the Apostles spirite 2 In the sunne stedfastly stoode thys Angell which signifieth Christ that cleare sunne of rightuousnesse the bright morning star in the middest of the cloude the expresse Image of God substance of his
according to hys deades 18. And death 19 and hell vvere cast 20. into the lake of fyre 21. This is the second death 22. And vvhosoeuer vvas not found vvritteÌ„ in the booke of lyfe 23. vvas caste into the lake of fyre The commentary 1 A none after this I behelde saith Saynt Iohan in secrete mysterye an imperiall throne or seat of estate faire splendaunte and bewtyfull None other is this than the iudgement seate of the Lorde 2 Great it is for the Maiestie and power of hym that shall syt therevpoÌ„ is of inestimable magnificence greatnesse Fayre and whyte both for the celestyall cléerenesse that shall at that houre apere with hym and also for the purenesse equitie and ryght of his vniuersal iudgementes 3 From the aspect of whose fearefull countenaunce shall both the earth beneath and the other elemeÌ„tes aboue flée awaye All the creatures of his creacion shall wyth reuerence tremble quake at his mighty aperaunce The SuÌ„ne shall thaÌ„ be darkened the Mone shall not giue hir lyght The Starres shall fall downe from aboue the powers of heauen shal be moued The elementes shall melte wyth heate and the whole earth shall teare in péeces lyke a ragge 4 A terryble fyre shall go before the iudge to burne vp hys enimyes on euery syde The places of them that lyued here supersticiously and voluptuously shall no more after that be founde Neuer shall they resort agayne hither to theyr olde wantoÌ„ pleasurs Of their bewtyfull Cyties shall not one stone be lefte vpon an other Their proude paynted Synagoges as duste in the wynde shal be scattred away from the earth Neither shall the skye nor yet the ground beneth be as it was but both they shal be renewed chaunged They shal be deliuered from corruption and so appere both a newe heauen and a newe earth according to the expectation of the creatures 5 Immediatly after that sayth saint Iohn the iudge thus sitting vpoÌ„ the scaâ—e of his eternall Maiestie I sawe styll in mysterye after the blast of the truÌ„pet that all they which were deade arose out of the earth And that both hygh and lowe great and small good and badde King and begger prelate and plough man tirant and perscecuted innocent Yea the sucking babe the died in the cradell so well as the aged maÌ„ 6 All they séemed vnto me to stande before their generall iudge Iesus Christ to whome the euerlasting father had giuen ouer his whole iudgementes which there appeared as hée was in dede a verie omnipotent god All we shall appere sayth Paule before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery one of vs maye receyue according to that he hath done be it good or ill 7 And the bookes of reckennings which are the seuerall consciences of men were open before the iudge That afore was hidde will thaÌ„ be manyfest and that was secret wyll than come to light be disclosed Euident it wil be vnto him who hath fulfilled the commaunded works of mercy who hath left them vndone their owne constences bearing witnesse to the same For what can be hid from him which seeth both the inwarde reynes and the secret thoughtes of the harte In this generall rekening yet shall prayse with the eternall rewarde redowne vnto them from the mercyfull Lorde whose walking here hath bene accordinge vnto fayth There shall they be reproued to haue bene pitiful to the poore hongry thursty nedy naked sicke in prison 8 After this was an other booke opeÌ„ed of a farre diuerse nature froÌ„ the other bokes for it was the swéet boke of lyfe wherin be regestred al that were predestinate to be saued froÌ„ the worlds beginning And this boke is the eternal predestinatioÌ„ of God 9 Before the worlds fouÌ„datioÌ„ saith s. Paule the lord predestinate vs into the addoptioÌ„ of his childreÌ„ through Iesus Christe Of this booke made Moyses mencion whan he said Eyther pardon thys people or els race me out of thy booke which thou haste written And Christ also to his seuentie disciples Be glad sayth he that your names are written in heauen Moreouer Iosue called this the booke of the ryghtuous and Iohn here the boke with seuen claspes This sheweh the holy ghost here vnto vs much after the custome dayly vsed among vs. For of the most notable men and women our maner is bothe longe to remember the names and also to speake of them as occasion giueth So equall is thys eternall iudge that no personage respecteth he in iudgment neither of Emperours nor Pope Kinge nor Byshope Lorde nor prieste But as he is ryghtuous of himselfe so iudgeth he rightuously 10 For they that were dead sayeth saynt Iohan or that had ledde their lyues here without fayth and the spirite of Christ were iudged of hym there according to the thinges which were regestred in the bokes of their coÌ„scieÌ„ces 11 That is to say according to the fylthy workes wherof their desperat coÌ„ciences accused them Onely are the wicked to be takeÌ„ here for the dead For the rightuous shall thaÌ„ haue nothinge wherof their coÌ„scieÌ„ce may accuse them Neyther shall the euill doers as witnesseth Dauid be of couÌ„sell with theÌ„ at the day They hauing the lyfe euerlasting shall not than be iudged though they than appere but shall sit with Christ in iudgement and reioyce in the condempnation of the vngodly blasphemers The rewarde of their vnfaythfulnesse shall thaÌ„ be powred vpon theÌ„ to their perpetuall care At that daye shall none bée absent but all shal be séene eyther to honour or els to reprofe 12 Neyther shall the depth of the sea nor the darkenesse of death nor yet hell that is bottomelesse bée able to hide any froÌ„ the face of this iudge For the sea sayth saynt Iohn that is myghty and greate shall at that daye delyuer vp cleane hir deade or those whome the Lorde suffered hyr to swallowe in for their outragious sinnes 13 Lyke as were the giauntes in the floude of Noe the great host of Pharao in the red sea and such other more 14 So shall gréedy death doe also which after many strange sortes hath consumed the enimies of God As for an example Cain by a chaunce vnsought Nadah and Abyn by fyre Achan by standing Holofernes Saull by the swerde Naball by excesse of wyne Iesabell by treading of horses Daniels accusers by the lyons Menelaus by breaking his necke Iudas by hanging himselfe Herod by wormes the children of Israell by swerd fyre serpentes and soden death and such other lyke 15 Hell whych is insaciable shall in lyke case render vp the innumerable swarme of the dead whom he wyth open mouth hath swallowed in quicke for their abhominations 16 Of whose number were Chore Dathan and Abiron with their affinitye the Cytyes of Sodome and Gomorre the vncircumcised gyauntes the ryche rourer and the ryche glotton in Luke Symon Magus wyth dyuerse other Hell hath gaped meruelouslye wyde sayeth Esaye and hath rauenouslye deuoured the hygh mynded
readeth they that hear the vvords of the prophecie keepe those things vvhich are vvritten therein 7. for the tyme is at hande The Paraphrase OF Iesus Christ the sonne of the liuing God this is the wonderfull reuelation concerning the diuers and doubtfull estate of the Christian church from the Apostles tyme to the latter ende of the world 2 Which reuelation with all iudgement and power God the euerlasting father hath wholly giuen vnto hym now takeÌ„ vp from the earth glorified and set aboue all the workes of hys handes 3 Euidently to declare yea to make manifest and knowne vnto hys true faythfull seruauntes beleuing in hys words and walking in his wayes the tokens signes marueils which must by hys vnchaungeable ordinaunce shortly in this latter tyme folow in effect without premonishment or warning taken of the wicked sort 4 And the sayd Iesus Christ sittyng on the right hande of the maiestie of God and being muche more excellent then the angels hath according to his former promise sent forth his spirit of truth most specially vnto his déerely beloued Apostle and peculyar dyscyple sainct Iohn the Euangelist not only to deduce him into all knowledge and veritie but also to manifest vnto him the secrete misteries of thinges to come 5 Which Iohn hath already as an earnest doer in his masters cause most constantly wytnessed his eternall godhead in the euerlasting worde against the Hebionites which denied him to com in the fleshe and hath faithfully affirmed his naturall manhode in all that he sawe being conuersaunt with him agaynste Carpocras and Cerinthus which blasphemed the same in the vtter confusion of all such Antichristes 6 Blessed is he saith Saint Ihon which after méeke prayer and godly meditacyon hauinge the gyfte of vnderstanding and grace of interpreting the scripturs doth sincerly faithfully without crafte or coloure publyshe declare the mistycall wordes of thys heauenly prophecye Blessed are they also which in a feruent faith hongeriÌ„g thristinge for the rightuousnes and with Simeon and Anna desirous of the glorye of God doth louingly heare and earnestly marke the wholsome words of the same sayd godly prophecye and that will deligently applye theÌ„ selues to obserue the rules and take the premonishementes of Godly doctrine ther in written 7 For the perelous dayes are come that the disceytfull swarme of Antichrist peruertinge the trueth shal bring the world into pernicious and dampnable errours And the Ieopardous time is at hande that the wrath of god shal be declared from Heauen vpon all vngodlynesse of these seducers that with hold his trueth in vnrightuousensse set hiâ— coÌ„maundementes at nought for their owne vile traditions The texte 1 Ihon vnto the seuen congregacions which are in Asia 2. Grace be vvith you 3. And peace from him wich is and which vvas and which is to come 4. from the seuen spirites which are present before his throne 5. and from Iesus Christe vvhich is a faythfull vvytnesse 6. and fyrst begotten of the dead 7. and prince ouer the kinges of the earthe 8. Vnto him that loued vs and vvashed vs from our sinnes in his ovvne bloud 9. and made vs kinges and Priestes vnto God his father 10. euen vnto him be glorye and dominion for euermore Amen The Paraphrase 1 Iohn the electe Apostle of Iesus Christ sendeth these greatinges to the vii churches or christian congregations which are in the land of Asia the lesse 2 Grace which is the mercy fauour and acceptacion of God be with you 3 And also peace which is the trauquilitie of conscience in them that beleue in Christ dwel euer among you from god the father euerlasting which is essencially in and of himselfe and which was before the constitucion of the world and which shall be after the worlde be finished for euer and euer without ende 4 The same grace and peace agayne be vnto you from God the holy Ghost here mencioned vnder the tytle of .vij. spirites for that he is manifolde and plentuous in gyftes 5 The thyrd tyme also the same said grace and peace be vnto you from the Lorde Iesus Christ the onely sonne of God which being the eternall veritie it selfe was in preaching his Gospell a wytnesse therof both faythful true and perfect and in no wyse could lye that ye should the rather beleue him 6 He was the fyrst of all men that euer were in this mortall nature or body of death recouering againe the fauour of God lost in Adam and that with victory ouer sinne hell deathe and the diuell ascended into Heauen and became in that fleshe glorifyed the sonne of God that ye should bée the bolder of him and the rather take him for your onely aduocate 7 He is also a mâ—ste mighty Lorde ouer the kinges rulers and magistrates of this worlde hauing now all power geuen him in heauen in earth with a wryting vpon his vesture that he is Kinge of Kinges and Lorde of Lords and that of his kingdome ther shall be no ende that the wicked tyrauntes should the rather feare least they féele him a terryble iudge at the latter day 8 For so much as he hath so intyrely loued vs as to be smytten and wouÌ„ded for our offencest and as to geue his lyfe for our wycked wretchednes yea for so much as he of most natural kyndenesse would be cruelly slayne to washe vs purifie vs and clense vs in his owne most innocent bloud from the moste cankred vylenesse of our sinnes to prouoke vs to loue him agayne 9 For so much also as he hath made vs a liuing kingedome to god through fayth in him and consecrate vs priestes to offer vp our bodies by a newe Christian life as a sacrifyce holy and acceptable vnto God his euerlastinge father 10 Unto him wyth the said father with the holy ghost be perpetual praise glorye power and dominyon for euermore Amen The text 1 Beholde he commeth with cloudes 2. and all eyes shall see him 3. and they also which pearsed him 4. And all kynredes of the earth shall vvayle 5. Euen so Amen 6. I am Alpha and Omega the beginninge and the ending sayth the Lorde almightie 7. vvhich is vvhich vvas and vvhich is to come The Paraphrase 1 Take hede for moste certayne it is though Christe in his fyrste comminge as a merciful sauiour apered here vpon earth poore simple ignominious yet shal he in his latter comminge appere in the cloudes of heauen with maiestie power and glorye accoÌ„panyed with the infinite hoste of angels as a rigorous iudge 2 And vpon him shall all eyes looke both man and angell shal behold him and stande before hys terrible iudgemente seate no creature good nor bad exempt 3 Yea thâ—se cruell tyrauntes also shal at that houre appeare befere him which did not only flée his moste innocente body but also
the seate vvhich lyueth for euer and euer 9. The xxiiij elders fell dovvne before him that sate on the trone vvorshipped him that lyueth for euer 10. and cast their crovvnes before the trone saying 11. Thou art vvorthie Lord to receyue glorie and honour and povver 12. For thou hast created all things and for thy vvilles sake they are and vvere created THE PARAPHRASE 1 These iiij beastes hath iiij diuers exteriour similitudes which are not els but the outward tokens testimonyes and signes of faith or the fruitfull workes thereof only procéeding For fayth is neuer without hir holesome fruites The first beast was in similitude lyke vnto a Lyon strong and mightie in power And that are they which hath layde asyde the olde man of sinne with his féeble faynte workes and conuerted them selues into the ghostly image of Christ which is the mightie stronge Lyon of the Trybe of Iuda for that they myght haue the victorie ouer sinne 2 The seconde beast was fashyoned lyke vnto a Calfe much vsed in the olde lawe to bée offered vp in sacryfice And suche are they which forsaking them selues and mortifying the corrupte lustes of theyr fleshe doeth walke in a newe Christian lyfe and offer vp them selues vnto God as a lyuing sacrifice readie to suffer all kyndes of persecution and death for his names sake 3 The third beast had a face in fauour lyke a man hauing reason wit and discrecion And those are they which through pollicie of fayth and prudencie in the spirit so wysely and discretely order them selues in that they goe aboute that nothyng is against the glorie of God but al things worketh for the best in them 4 The fourth beast was lyke vnto a flying Egle which buyldeth hir neast very highe in the harde rocke stone Which are those godly persōs that liuing héere in this mortall bodie by the counsell of the holy Ghost haue their conuersation in heauen They séeke for those thinges which are aboue where as Christ is sitting on the right hand of God In whom only as in the sure rocke they buylde all their whole hope and trust By these foure similitudes is the true congregation of God knowne from the painted sinagoge and coūterfaict church of Sathan glorifiyng hir selfe in vaine glorie pompe crueltie rape simonie lyes hatred sectes murther Idolatrie sedition and tirannie with other fruites of the flesh whose God is their bellie and theyr ende dampnation And though these iiij simylitudes be diuers yet doe they respect one congregation after Ezech. which euer more applyeth all .iiij. vnto one beast And euerie one of the sayd iiij beastes had .vj. winges about him 5 The winges whereby Gods people are raysed vp vnto him is fayth hope charitie iustice mercie veritie with such other vertues as euer more accompanyeth them By these are they lifted vp vnto heauenlye thinges By these auoyde they the common mischieues of the world By these obtayne they a plentuous quyetnesse in God abyding their sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christ. And wher as in Ezechiell the sayd winges appearing but iiij are here founde sixe we may gather this That the gospel now published the giftes of the holy ghost are more high plentifull and open vnder christ then afore time vnder Moyses 6 Round aboute them without and within the sayde beastes were ful of eyes The seruants of the Lord hath Godly wisdome and knowledge euery where inwardly to consider heauenly things durable sure and perfite and neuer to perish Outwardly agayne to iudge earthly things corruptible wretched and vaine and shortly to be ended 7 Neither day nor night could the sayde beastes cease from the praise of their Lord God saying Holy holy holy Or blessed art thou almightye father blessed art thou almightie sonne blessed art thou almighty holy ghost distinct thrée persons in trinity and in substaunce one Lorde God almighty which was withoute beginning and is of him selfe onely and shall be for euer euer euerlasting And what is this els but that the righteous feruently eprayinge geueth continnuall thankes vnto GOD reioysinge amonge them selues in psalmes in hymnes and in spiritusonges praysinge hym euermore in their harts 8 And when those .iiij. beastes or faithfull feruent sincere and pure beleuers héere beléeuing in the flesh gaue glory honour and thanks from the iiij quartes of the earth in professing the verity in teaching it vnto other and in liuinge accordinge to the same And that vnto hym which sate on the seat which is god almighty reigning ouer that congregation which lyueth for euer and euer and hath of his kyngdome none end 9 Anone stepped forth the .xxiiij. elders or the whole perfit and vniuersall number of them which hath rested in the Lorde and they with all méekenes fel down before him which sate on the throne They submitted themselues vnto him ackowleginge him for theyr onely Lorde They worshipped him also with dew reuerance gaue high thankes vnto him as vnto their eternal liuīg god 10 Yea finally they threwe downe their crowns before the throne of his eternal maiestie They cōfessed their owne good workes merites and deseruinges to be nothyng at all But their whole health wisdome knowledge vertue holines rightuousnes and redemption to be onely of his lyberall gift and vndeserued goodnesse 11 And as men most highly reioysing they cryed vnto him saying thus It is thou O Lord God most mightie creator that is alone worthie to receyue all glory all honour and all thankes for that hath bene wrought in heauen in earth and none other els but thou 12 For thou hast alone by thy vnsercheable wisedome created all things and brought them foorth out of nothing And for the onely pleasure of thy will they are now at this present tyme in substance and fashyon and were created of thée at the beginning not onely to be at thy commaūdemēt but also to be euermore thākefull vnto thée and to laude thée and prayse thée for euer The fift Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I sawe in the right hande of him that sate on the throne a booke 2 written with in and on the back syde 3. sealed with seuen seales 4. and I sawe a strong Angell preaching with a loude voyce 5. Who is worthie to open the booke and loose the seales thereof 6. And no man in heauen nor in earth neyther vnder the earth vvas able to open the booke neyther to looke thereon 7. And I wept much bycause no man was found worthie to open to read the booke neither to looke thereon 8. And one of the elders sayd vnto me Weepe not 9. Beholde the Lyon which is of the trybe of Iuda 10 the roote of Dauid hath obtayned to open the booke and to loose the seuen seales thereof 11. And I beheld and lo in the middest of the seat and of the iiij beastes and in the middest of the elders 12. stoode a Lambe as
for newe promotions Euermore they compassed to augment their dignyties Continuall was their study to get prehemineÌ„ce to win honour and to obtayne superiorytie not withoute the destruction of kingdomes the vtter decay of communalties and vnspeakeable murther of peoples Iohn the Archebyshoppe of Constantinople contended to be the vniueâ—sal Patriarke Boniface the thirde of that name Byshoppe of Rome tooke vpon hym to be the head Byshoppe of all the worlde and Gods onely Uicar in earth Mahomet boasted hym selfe to be the great Prophete and messenger of GOD. Thus was Christes coate withoute seame among them deuided and his church most rufully dispersed Thus out of the corrupted depraued scriptures tooke the Iewes their Talmud the Saracens their Alchorane and the Byshops their popish lawes and decrées Then folowed innumerable sectes of perdicion vnder the romishe pope in Europa vnder Mahomet the false Prophet in Afryca and vnder prester Iohn in Asia whiche with their execrable tradicions and rules banished Christ and his pure doctrin for euer Than set they vp songe in the church with Latine seruice bell ringing and Organ playinge Than builded they monasteries auaunced Images inuented purgatorye not without many strange reuelacions Than came in that ceremony that as sensing of Images Procession and holy water with candles ashes and palmes Than were shauen crownes commaunded holy ornaments deuised mariage and meates inhibited and hallowing of churches practised At the last crepte in the worshipping of reliques and shrines with holy oyle and creame with the paschall and paxe with feastes and dedications with latines masses dirges for the dead and many great miracles followed ThaÌ„ were kings deposed and made Moonkes Emperours put downe and parrish priests set vp No gospell might then be taught but to maintaine this ware for aduantage Uniuersities were then builded and generall studies founded the worlde ouer with all kindes of crafty learning to vpholde this new Christen relygyon or prestish supersticion The Antichristes thus spred and theyr kyngdome well set forwarde the light was cléerely extincted and darknesse ouer wente the whole worlde 1 Much meruayled alwayes the poore chosen flock of christ and were greatlye troubled in their mindes to beholde this great confusion tyll the Lorde opened vnto them the fourth seale of his booke in the which all was written from the begining In that Seale openinge the Lorde shewed what the head rulers of his Church were euen very hypocrites rightly compared vnto a pale Horse For after their dissembling manner they shewed sad countinaunces outwardlye to appeare fastinge and babled very much to séeme deuonte men 2 And as the Lambe had opened the fowrth Seale sayeth Saincte Iohn I hard the voyce of the fowrth beast which séemed vnto me an Egle representing those godly beléeuers that are most highly desirous of the glorye of GOD. 3 Come hyther sayde that voice Note what thou shalt sée here enprent it well in thy minde 4 And sa I looked foorth I behelde a pale Horse whome I tooke for the vniuersall Synagoge of hypocrites or dissembling church of Antichriste pale as men without health bleyk as men without that freshe lyfe which is in Christ Iesu. 5 The name of hym which sate vpon this pale Horse was death for their doctrine is death and dampnation What bringeth hypocrisye with hym but destruction of health What carrieth dissimulation but the vtter decay of lyfe Are their last fruites any other then confusion and dyspayre 6 For why hell commeth after them to swallowe in those that are taught by them Eternall dampnation doth folow them to eate them vp for euer whome they shall deceiue Such is the finall rewarde of those cursed hypocrits that treadeth down Gods truth and destroyeth his word vnder a fayned pretence of the contrarye God graunt them therefore once to open their eyes and to consider it that they are the Horses of death least Hell héere after deuoure them 7 Unto these gaudish hypocrites and beastly Antichristes whith are the horse of death and carieth all to darknesse and dampnation power is geuen whiche is the sufferaunce of God vpon the fourth parte of the earth A great part of the world shall they destroy much people by theÌ„ shal perish and be lost 8 After diuers sortes shall they depriue them of the lyfe euerlastyng Some shal they slay with the sword of their false doctrine hauing a glorious shine of wisdome in supersticion and deuilishnesse Some shall they famishe for wante of GODS true worde whiche is the bread of Chyldren and the lyuinge foode of the soule 9 Some will they also poyson with the contagious leauen of their pestilent lawes and tradicions which are dayly ministred taught by the vile vermine of the earth their suffraganes Archedecons officials doctors ministers false preachers curates persons parrish priests and religions verye beastly both of lyfe and studye Lorde ones delyuer from these deceiptfull and rauenous wolues whiche are neuer satisfied thy poore seruants that confesse thy holy name Amen THE TEXT 1 And when he opened the fift seale 2 I saw vnder the aulter 3. The soules of them that were killed for the word of God and for the testimony which they had 4. And they cried with a loude voyce saying 5. How long taryest thou 6 Lord holy and true to iudge 7. And to auenge our bloude on them that dwell on the earth 8. And loÌ„g white garments were geuen vnto euery one of theÌ„ 9. And it vvas saide vnto theÌ„ 10. That they shoulde rest for a litle season 11. vntill the number of their felowes and brethren 12. And of them that shoulde be killed as they were were fulfilled The Paraphrase 1 Euident it is by that hath ben séene and sayde afore in these fowre horses what the estate of the christen church was is now in these latter dayes Such horrible confusion hath the Antichristes made with their wicked lawes and decrées and with their deceiptfull doctrine of errours and lies to vpholde their filthy kingdome of pryde slouth hypocrisie and beastlynes that scarcely is any thing cleane pure and godly Now do they nothing but slea None other studye haue they in these dayes but to persecut emprison and famish to burn head and hang. Now haue they obtayned to enter the iudgement hall and to syt vpon lyfe death without defiling of theÌ„selues Now may they both a accuse and iudge both indite and condempne yet not soyle their consecrate handes If any controle their customes or say against their witchcraftes they are ready to run ouer hym with death whom they carye to slea both soule and bodye 1 This hath the Lord shewed in mistery vnto Iohn in the fift seale openinge by whom are ment the true Christen beléeuers at this time so well as at al other times sence Christes assension 2 And when the Lambe opened the fift seale or declared in
figure what should be the estate of that time to assertaine his chosen friendes therof I saw saieth Saincte Iohn vnder the Aulter of God which is Christe vpon whom the whole sacrifice of our redempcion was offered 3 The soules or spirits of those constant beléeuers whiche through the violent handlynge of the afore sayde false prelats and Antichristes were cruelly put to death by diuers maner of tormeÌ„ts not only for the vndefiled word of god but also for the sincere testimonye of Iesu which they had by the gift of his only spirit Under this Aulter remaine all they which haue bin killed for that witnesse of truth In his faith they slept and still rest now in his hope In him now they liue for whom they once dyed Under his shadow they dwell Under his winges they flocke vnder hys couerte they cloyster He is their comforte kéeper and defender With hym are they now whose presence they euermore coueted 4 In that they cried with a lowde voice is signified that their innocent death fercely asketh and requireth the great indignation vengance and terrible iudgement of GOD vppon those tirauntes lyke as dyd the bloude of Abell vppon that murther Cayne 5 And this is their daylye crye O Lorde God almighty so holy thou art that thou hatest all euill so true and so iust that thou abhorrest al lies and peruerse doctrine so manifest is the filthy lyfe of the spirituall antichristes that thou séest it so euidente is their vnshamefast crueltie vpon thy seruantes that thou knowest it Yet doest thou leaue them vnpunished and suffer them vncorrected Howe long time wil it be ere thou iudge them to dampnation What yeares wilt thou take ere thou reuenge our bloud 6 Sure it is that thy lawes are holy and thy wordes are faithfull and true Why doest thou then permitte these proud homicides and spightfull murtherers to defyle them with their errours and blaspheme them with their lyes Kyllyng vp thy seruants without pittie for holdynge with them and reigning héere as Gods vpon earth in ambiciousnesse vayne glory pompe glotony and leâ—herye with other abhomynable vices Thus these beastly bellye Gods doth dayly dispise thée They treade downe thy testimonies and shed innocent Christen bloud in despight of thée 7 Looke once vpon them therefore according to thy promisse and sée thou rewarde them according to their wickednesse Thys reuengement doe we not aske for our scath but for the contempt of thy truethe Not for our harme but for the blasphemy of thy name 8 And longe white garmentes sayth Sainct Iohn very large and comely were geuen vnto euery one of them A full innocencye perfectnesse and cléerenesse was powred ouer them and abundantly spred vpon them Indued they were with an inestimable purenesse by Christe for whose veryties sake they dyed With him they are now in peace ioy and swéetnesse But whether they be in full glory afore God or no that wyll we not temerously define Sure we are that they be deliuered from all payne sorrow and care and that they clearely be assertayned so haue that glory complet both in body and soule at the latter day More swéete is their estate for the time yea more delycious and pleasaunt then all the delightes prosperytye and wealth that euer was yet in thys worlde 9 And as they were in this swéete solace much desirous of their bodyes delyueraunce from corruption they were requyrâ—d by these secrete heauenlye mocyon of Christe as we are in this life by the outwarde word 10 Paciently to pause for a while and quietously to rest for a season 11 Untill such time as the complet nuÌ„ber of their coÌ„stant fellowes and faithfull brethren 12 Yea and of all those poore creatures that shoulde be kylled by these vnsaciat blud suckers for his truthes sake like as they were afore shuld be fulfilled and wholy accomplished according to the eternall prediffinition of God And so much the rather to content themselues with their peaceable and quietous estate for their brethrens sake that it should not belonge ere their death were reuenged and they restored to a full tranquillitie For nothing in comparison are the sufferinges of this time to that glorye whiche shall be shewed vnto the chosen sort in that day Let no man think where as Christ hath willed those soules to rest that they sléepe in death for they rest in hym which is lyfe Out of hym they are not he is their Aulter he is theyr couert They lyue they decerne and in swéetenesse they abide the latter day and all vnder him Their white garment of innocencie they haue onely by him Worship him then and not them Pray and call vpon him and not vpon them For he is the onely meditour and generall aduocate to God the father so wel for them as for you Nothyng can they doe but by hym Their office is not to heare suters causes nor to goe to and fro but still to rest abyding the glad day of theyr deliuerance It is Christes onely office to receyue all complayntes to pleate them and to iudge them THE TEXT 1 And I beheld when he opened the sixâ— seale 2. lo there was a great earth quake 3. and the sunne was as black as a sack cloth made of heare 4. And the moone vvaxed euen as bloud 5. And the starres of heauen fell vnto the earth 6. euen as a figge tree casteth from hir hir figges vvhen it is shaken of a mightie wynde 7. And heauen vanyshed avvay as a scroull vvhen it is rolled togither 8. And all mountaynes and yles vvere moued out of their places 9. And the kings of the earth and the great men and the riche men 10. and the chiefe captaynes and the mightie men and euery bond man and euerie free man 11. hid themselues in dennes and in rockes of the hilles 12. and sayde to the hilles and rockes 13. Fall on vs 14. and hyde vs from the presence of hym that sitteth on the seate 15. and from the vvrathe of the Lambe 16. for the great day of hys vvrath is come 17. And vvhoÌ„ can endure it The Paraphrase 1 This know they well whome the lambe hath deliuered from their dark sinagoge to whom he hath in these dayes opened the sixte seale of the booke raysing vp the spirites of many to detect by his holy worde theyr shamefull abhominations Blessed be the name of that Lord which hath now so mercifully vysited hys poore people from aboue sending his word vnder the tipe or figure of this Lambe to open vnto them at this sixt time of darkenesse the vj. seale of the hydden misteries of the booke I looked yet farther sayeth sainct Iohn and as the Lambe Christ disclosed the sixte seale to manifest the cléernesse of his truth to shewe the estate of his church anon I behelde a merueylous earthquake arise Most liuely was this fulfilled such tyme as William Courteney the Archbishoppe
the glorie of God the great men more séeking their owne pleasures then the common wealth of the people the ryche men oppressing the poore 10 The Captaynes deceyuing the commons the strong men ouerthrowing the weake euerie bond seruauÌ„t dooing vntrue seruice and euery frée master vngodly occupying his faculty 11 Hath hidde them selues in dennes of the sayd rocks hilles When they haue done all mischief and wrought all wickednesse tyranny manslaughter rape adultery lechery extorcion Idolatry sacrylege with all other abhominacions can doe no more theÌ„ run they to those hipocrites theÌ„ séeke they vp those Antichristes Ther must they be coÌ„fessed there must they hide their sinnes They must be couered with hys dyrty merites with his holy whordome And to be prayed for that monastery must be builded that prebeÌ„dary or chauntery must bee founded There must be Masses dyrges ther must be anuaries bead meÌ„ He must be buried in S. Frauncis gray coate and he in our Ladies holy habite He must haue S. Dominikes hoode and he sainct Augustines girdle 12 And thus they cry to those earthly hils and rocks to those filthy dunge heapes or dennes of wylde beastes with a fearfull desperate conscience 13 Fall vpon vs with such stuffe as ye haue Couer vs with your works more than néed Pray pray pray sing sing sing say say say ring ring ring Giue vs of your oyle for our lampes are out Helpe vs with your latyne Psalmes Reléeue vs with your lippe labour though all be but dunge and earth Comforte vs with Placebo Helpe vs with Requiem eternam Powre out your Trentall masses spew out your CommendacioÌ„s Sing vs out of that hotte fierie Purgatorie before we come there 14 Hyde vs from the fearefull presence of him that sitteth on the thorne whom we neuer knew to be a merciful father in all our romish meditaâ—ns and the scriptures we abhorred that so would haue taught vs. 15 Conuey vs clean from the wrath of the vngentle Lambe whose doctryne we neuer fauoured nor whose goodnesse we neuer yet trusted 16 For the great day of his wrath is come So certayne we are of hys terrible iudgement as it were now in doing So sure we be to féele him a rightuous iudge as we are sure he liueth 17 And who can bée able to endure it who can abide it doing so muche crueltie rape murther briberie with all other abhominacions as we haue done leauing wicked lawes behynde vs still to continue the same Well with you we haue left our whole rockening ye know our déeds Answere you for vs then for we dare not bée séene If your idle merites helpe vs not we looke for no grace at his haÌ„d If your soules be not for ours at that day we perish for euer and euer For we haue not reléeued him a hungred a thirst harbourlesse naked sick and imprysoned in hys poore bretheren confessing his name and veritie But rather wée haue abhorred reuiled blaspheamed spoyled imprisoned shamed and persecuted hym vnto death in them deuysing moste terrible torments for them Thus is there among the wicked sort princes and other where as the word of God is published not only a doubt of their ruinous fall or decay but also a fearfull expectation of the terrible iudgements of God for coÌ„tempt of the same The .vij. Chapter THE TEXT 1 And after that savve I foure Angels 2. stande on the foure corners of the earthe 3. holding the foure wyndes of the earth 4. that the windes shoulde not blowe on the earth 5. neyther on the sea 6. neyther on any tree 7. And I savv another Angell 8. ascend from the rysing of the sunne 9. vvhich had thâ— seale of the lyuing God 10. And he cryed vvith a loude voyce 11. to the foure Angels to vvhoÌ„ povver vvas giuen to hurt the earth and the sea 12. saying Hurte not the earth neyther the sea neither the trees 13. till vvee haue sealed the seruauÌ„ts of our God in their foreheades The Paraphrase MOre manifestly yet are descrybed héereafter still vnder the mysterie of the sixte seale openynge the Hypocrytes Antychrystes Tyrantes and cruell magistrates forbidding the truth and condempning the word of God After this sayeth Sainct Iohn I saw fowre Aungels of darknesse suffered but not sent of God These are the aforesayde hypocrites with their false doctrine the Antichristes with their pestilent decrées and traditions the cruell princes with their tirannous lawes and the vngodly Maiestrates with their ignoraunce and blindnesse 2 These stande vpon the fowre corners of the earth they reigne in the fowre quarters of the worlde with lyes in hypocrysie errorus in superstition with tyrrany in power and crueltie in executinge humayne lawes 3 They witholde the fowre windes of the earth The doctrine of the spyrite which GOD hath sent to be blowen the worlde ouer they withstande resist stop vexe and euermore persecute 4 least it should blow vppon the earth which is the garden of God dryuinge away from thence all filth and corrupcion 5 Or on the sea which is the waueryng conscience bringing men to a quietous holde and sure stay in the Lord. 6 Or vpon any trée that is growing héere which are men whom GOD hath planted on earth to fructifie in Christ to the comfort of other Wind can be héere no fickle vanitie as the winde of this worlde is for so much as it commeth from aboue These furious Angels care not what crueltie they exercise to driue away this heaueÌ„ly blast They lay about them like Termagauntes they inhibit sequestre banish emprison sley hang head burne and drown the poore preachers of the verytie the vessels of the election and organes of the holy Ghost and their fiercenesse hath none ende Their power in darkenesse prospereth vpon earth and shal do till they haue fulfilled the whole measuere of their wicked fathers and made vp the number of Gods chosen flock vnder the aulter 7 And whiles these execrable angels were yet stopping this winde or lettinge the frée passage of the Gospell preaching I behelde sayeth Sainct Iohn another Angel of a diuers nature from them for he was the true messenger of God betokeninge the Prophets Apostles and all iust preachers 8 He came forth from the rising of the sunne or as one taught of God in the syncere doctrine of Christe he hath stepped forwarde to publish the same ascending vpward from the low spirit of méeknes to do the godly office 9 He had the seale of the lyuing God in his hande which is the effectuall word of trueth in his mouth to execute it The true ministers of Gods verity haue power to mark his faithfull seruants vnto saluation Their tongs arâ— the writing pens of the holy ghost by whoÌ„ the word of god is registred in the harts of them the beléeue For faith is the very signe whereby Gods seruantes
vij hollow trumpettes the ministracion of his worde was vnto them committed They ran not foorth vnsent they spoke not vncommauÌ„ded They blew their trumpettes one after an other As the seales were opened the misteryes they declared as came to theyr course 6 And another Angell sayeth sainct Iohn of a much higher nature then these came forth yea euen the Angel of the couenauÌ„t that was so sore longed for came to hys holye Temple 7 He stood before the aulter he humbled him selfe hée became man hée tooke the shape of a seruaunt 8 He had in his hande a golden censer This Lorde Iesus Christ the soueraygne messenger of our saluacion tooke it vpon him alone to be our mediatour our aduocate before God and the onely attonemente for our sinnes 9 And much incense of odours was giuen vnto hym by the great fayth of Abraham Iohn Baptist and of all the sanctified number 10 That he shoulde offer vp vnto God so much of the prayers of all the faythfull beléeuers vpon the golden aulter or in his glorifyed nature as was right afore him 11 Which aulter is now before the throne of God He hath an euerlasting priesthood he is able to saue them that come vnto God by hym and lyueth â—mmortal standing on his right hand as one euer readie to make interpelâ—acion for vs. All they consented in â—ne that hée should be theyr generall â—ttourney consideryng he was their â—nely sauiour and redéemer 12 And the swéete smoke of the odorous incense which came of the wholsome and feâ—uent desires of them that had fayth ascended vp before God out of the Angels hande By his onely meryte was their fayth accepted and for his deaths sake their works pleased God 13 The sayd Angel tooke the censer he prepared his godlie spirite He filled it with fire of the aulter whych was his eternall charitie 14 And he cast it into the earth with poure he sent it downe in clouen fyerie tounges vpon hys Apostles of whose plentuous aboundauÌ„ce all wée haue receyued 15 And as it was come down there were noyses thunderings and fearefull lightnynges for it rebuked the world of sinne of rightuousnesse and of iudgement It reprooued the world of vnfaythfulnesse for contempnyng the light of Gods veritie It threatened it for supersticions hypocrisie and outwarde obseruacions And vtterly it condempned it for obstinacie of corrupte interpretacions â—6 There was also a terrible earthquake as it was comen into the world The vngodly rulers were mooued the ambicious prelates were vexed â—he couetous lawyers fretted the hypocrites and priestes waxed madde yea they are not yet quyeted to thys day They still lye prate they blaspheme and accuse they persecute and kill they hange burne and drowne their malice hath none ende â—7 And the sayd vij Angels sayeth Iohn which are the vniuersall preachers of Gods veritie hauyng theyr vij trumpettes or full aucthoritie giuen them of the Lord. â—8 Prepared them selues by power of the holy Ghost to execute their offices to blow ech one in his course THE TEXT 1 The first Angell blew 2. And there was made hayle and fyre vvhich vvere mingled vvith bloud 4. and they vvere cast into the earth 5. And the third part of the trees vvas brent 6. and all greene grasse vvas brent The Paraphrase 1 The first Angell first stoode foorth and blewe his Trumpet The Apostles after the first seale opening which was at the comming of the holy ghost went forward with the gospell and taught it the worlde ouer And when they had beléeued and throughly receiued the word which were predestinate of God to bée partakers of the glorie with Christ the residewe still blynd obstinate perseuered in theyr infidelitie and so perished 2 For vpon them came hayle fyre which were myngeled with bloude Their wickednesse ouer went them their stubborne stomakes sturred vp their furie their fiercenesse kindled euer more and more theyr madnesse made them blynde 3 And these they coupled alwais with crueltie murther For when Christes disciples had preached the Gospell the wicked sort of the Iewes and Gentiles in no case would beléeue it but their obstinacie so blinded them and their malice so inflamed them that they sought their death and procured the effusion of their blood Ouer all the Actes of the Apostles this is euident 4 And they were cast into the earth So occuppied their earthly hartes this wilfulnesse and anger with thirstynge of innocent bloude that all grace in them was extinguished and all goodnesse cleane consumed 5 The third part of the trées was brent and all the gréene grasse came to nought Though the chosen people were euer the lesser number and the wicked the much greater as in Zacharie yet are they not héere so noted for so much as in the sight of the Lord the infinite rable of infidels are nothing to the smal flock of faith Consider also that in Zacharias time the Iewes were the people of God which were nothing in comparison to the Gentiles But now are the Gentiles his people which euer excéeded them in number The thride part of the Trées wythered in their wickednesse were founde without fruit in the Gentiles 6 All the Iewes which somtime were the gréene grasse by the manyfolde gifts of God and by Christes comminge of them were then brent vp cleane True faith went from them and their owne malice blinded them Though this were veryfied of them onely which were at the first Seale openinge and the fyrste Trumpet blowinge yet doth it touche the bloodye Antechristes Hypocrites and vngodly rulers withstanding Gods word to this present day the poore Christians beinge gréene and bringinge foorth fruit in pacient sufferaunce THE TEXT 1 And the second Angell blevv 2 And as it were a great mountaine burning with fier 3 Was cast into the sea And the thirde parte of the sea turned to bloude 5 And the thirde parte of the creatures vvhich had lyfe dyed 6. And the thirde parte of the shippes vvere destroyed The Paraphrase 1 The seconde Angell blew his Trumpet at the seconde Seale opening which signifieth the preachers declaringe the secrete misteries of Gods verytie immediatly after the Apostles time 2 And as they were at the pleasure of the Lorde so doynge a monstrous thinge in manner of a great mountayne burninge with fier was cast into the sea A cruell sorte of false disciples and wicked brethren arose vp froÌ„ among them all earthly minded to couetusnesse puffed vp with pride and ambicion inflamed also with anger spight vengeaÌ„ce they boysterously entred in among the people so mutable and fickle as the sea which chaungeth with euery winde These are the mountaines that swell vp thinkinge much of themselues These are the rysing hylles that boast so much of their good workes of whose ouerthrow by Gods word both Esay and Iohn Baptist dyd prophesie Such fyery mountaines were
Iānes and Iambres that maliciously resisted Moyses so were Phassur and Semeias which vexed the Hrophet Hieremy Such burning hylles were Cayphas and Annas against Christe Diotrephes Herpocras Hebion and Cerinthus against Iohn the Euangelist Demetrius Bariehu Himenius and Alexander against Paule with such lyke moody prelates resistinge the truth to this present day Suche smocky mountaines of contradiction both dayly withstande Christ in the edifying of his Christen Church as rebuked Zorababel in the building of the Iewes temple 3 They sturre vp the sea they moue the weake people and make them blynd as Asses In their hate they prouoke the Princes to cruelty and malice They cause them to punishe the poore Preachers and put asyde the trueth least they should fal vnto it 4 By reason of this burning hyll fallyng into the sea the third parte of the water turned into blood the third part of the people seduced by them became hatefull murtherers Not only they accused GODS seruauntes but as bloud thirsty beastes they consented to their deathes not consyderynge that he which doth but onely hate his brother is an homicide 5 The thyrde parte of the creatures which had lyfe dyed Of those which séemed to be faithfull amonge them a great number were worse then nought Dissembling with faith they betraied the truth and wrought much wickednesse Many martirs were then euery where 6 So that the third part of the shippes were destroyed also Many Churches or pryuate congregations called parrishes for feare of loosinge their goodes and for doubt of imprisonment and death refused the faith and fell cleane from the trueth and so were perished and loste For Shippes in the scriptures betokneth them THE TEXT 1 And the third Angell blevv 2. And there fell a great Starre from Heauen 3. Burning as it vvere a Creshet 4. And it fell into the thirde parte of the Riuers and into fountaines of vvaters 5. And the name of the Sarres is called vvormvvode 6. And the thitd part of the waters vvas turned to wormevvod 7. And many men dyed for the vvaters because the vvere made bitter The Paraphrase 1 When the thirde Angel blew hys Trumpet at the third scale openinge there fell from heauen a great mighty Starre burning lyke a Creshet 2 As the preachers of that time opened the trueth of god many great doctors and excellent learned men as Arius Macedonius Cutices Ualens and such other declined from the sincere faith and fell to blasphemous opinions concerning the Godhead 3 These séemed gloryous to the earthly minded people they appeared notable and famous to the blind forsaken sort yet was their learninge madnesse and their doctrine fables and lyes But this is here to be noted that they which are true techers remaine still in heauen they perseuer in the christen church where as the other are fallen cleane frō thēc◠by apostasie and errours so that they are none of Christes 4 This starre fell into the thirde parte of the ryuers whiche are the scriptures peruerted and into the fountaynes of waters whiche are Gods owne very wordes depraued These haue the false doctours yea pernicious heritikes infected with their errours corrupted with their lyes and with theyr false interpretations made them bitter and vnsauerye 5 For the name of the starre was wormewoode whose nature is to withdraw all swéetenesse These with their bitter heresies and their noysome doctrine destroyed the pits of Abraham they troubled the Text they mixed the truth with falshod they poysoned the waters they tooke away the louesomnesse of them they left them vnpure and vnperfite not that they can be so of thē selues but of their false workinge they made them vnpleasant vnprofitable yea and most perylous vnto many 6 For it followeth When the third parte of the waters whiche are the scriptures corrupted by them was turned into woormwoode or bitternesse of errours 7 Many men dyed of them They perished by those doctrines bicause they were made bitter Yet were not all men cast away for two parts were left vndefyled and many that dronke the poysoned waters enometed them againe Onely were they lost that retayned thē styll The pure waters are héere doubled vnto the waters infected For double in value is the verytie before GOD and the true minister therof worthy double honour where as the other are nothing at all THE TEXT 1 And the fourth Angell blew 2. And the third part of the Sunne vvas smitten the thirde parte of the Moone the third parte of the Starres 3 So that the thirde part of them was darkened 4. And the day was smitten 5. That the thirde parte of it shoulde not shine and lykewise the night 6. And I beheld and heard an angell flying through the midst of heauen 7. And saying with aloude voyce 8. Wo wo wo to the dwellers of the earth 9. Because of the voices to come of the Trompetes of the three Angels which were yet to blow The Paraphrase 1 At the fourth Seale opening the fourth Angell stoode forth and blew his Trumpet Neuer was the time yet so perylous but some trewe preachers hath bin in it Were there neuer so many herisies abroad yet haue there reigned some godlye ministers what though they were vnknowne to the worlde Many sincere fathers were in the desert wildernes when most mischief was in doynge amonge the cruel tiraunts which priuyly resortinge to Cities taught them whom God had appointed to be saued Of this number was Paulus Antonius Hilarion Macharius Pambo Theonas Effrem suche lyke And longe since their time Anastasius Persa Theophilactus Fulgencius Beda Alcuinus Strabus and such other many Not with standinge all that they taught and wrot was not gospell All was not without superstition though they lyued in much purenesse of lyfe 1 These blew the Trumpet as they had receiued that time But the false Hipocrites and the Antichristes so preuayled more and more vnder Mahomet and the romish pope that 〈◊〉 Christianitie and spirituall holynesse was turned into supersticious sects None was well christened that had not a moonkish disguising None was thought spirituall vnlesse he were shauen on the crown Then brought thei in many new waies of saluatiō to proue Christ but a second Sauyour as pardons pilgrimages Masses and fryday fastings Then was god able to helpe no disease but images were sought vp euery where saincte Iob for the pox Saint Roke for the pestilence sainct Germine for the ague saint Appolyne for the tooth ake sainct Graciane for thrift losinge and sainct Barbara for gonnshote That Lady in that place and that Lady in that This Roode héere and that Roode there And he that dyd miracles héere coulde doe nothinge there Thus was all chaunged into diuilishnesse and their preachers for lucre confyrmed alwayes the same whiche were many more in number then were the true messengers of God 2 In this most corrupted
and dolorus age the fourth Angell blowinge his trumpet the poore forsaken disciples shewing the trueth the thirde parte of the sunne was smitten so was the thirde parte of the Moone also the thirde part of the stars Good creatures they found the third part of Gods heauenly word sore blemished by the hypocrites the Christen Churche piteously disfigured by the antichrists and the inferioure ministers thereof darkned by Tyraunts and cruell magistrates 3 By their wicked strocke the light of GODS verytie was hydden and appeared lesse by the thirde part then it was afore Lesse was Christ the sonne of rightuousenesse knowen lesse was the Christen Church faithfull and lesse were the preachers godly More ignorant was at the time then afore more supersticion hipocrisie and falshod wherfore the third parte of them all was darkned 4 At that time also by reason of them the day was so smitten that the thirde parte thereof shewed no clearenesse and so was the night lykewise 5 In no case might Christe shine in the Curates and religious which â—ooke themselues for the day nor yet Christen fruits in the common people whiche were estéemed the night Onely were their will works alowed and their dyrty traditions thought godly The true trumpet blowers or ministers of the word were then compelled by cruell coÌ„mauÌ„dements the â—oÌ„mons by cruell lawes enforced in â—o case to medle with the truth least their â—bhominable doynges were espyed In this therefore marke what a detestable thinge false doctrine of hypocrites is for it bringeth in all darknesse an ignoraunt blindnesse and it shadoweth vnder pretence of vertue all wickednesse and sinne 6 And then saith saint Iohn I behelde an Angell flyinge through the middes of heauen as it had bin an Eagle which betokeneth certaine peculiar seruauntes of GOD illumined with some knowledge and leaâ—ing an high conuersation in the church Such were Ioachim Abbas Cirillus of Carme Angelus of Hierusalem Theolespherus of Cusencia Raynhardus and other And since their time Petrus Iohannis Robertus de vsecio Iohannis de rupescissa Arnoldus de villa noua Hieronimus Sauonarola with suche lyke 7 These perceiuing the light of Gods veritie and the true teachers therof dayly deminishinge considering also the mighty increase of darknesse with a lowde voyce they cryed earnest writings they seÌ„t the world ouer vnder the title of reuelation and prophecie 8 Saying by the threatninges of scripture wo wo wo to the inhabitours of the earth More wickednesse is comming more blindnes and more darknesse to the vngodly infydels and earthly minded people It will stylll be worse and worse to the foolish ignoraunt sorte through the errours lyes and abhominable superstitions of the false Antychristes and cruell Chaplaynes of Baal 9 And this rebuking crye was because of the voyces of the other thrée Aungels were yet to blowe with the Trumpet whose blastes they shoulde also more déepely contemne By prophesies scriptures hath many godly men perceiued afore hande with Paule the fall of faith the increase of errours and that diuers shoulde decline from the truth and earnestly they haue premonished the gouernours of it Yet haue they neglected the warning and vtterly dispised them for it leadinge the People into the depth of all errours and filthy abhominations The .ix. Chapter THE TEXT 1 And the fifte Angell blew 2. And I sawe a Starre fall from Heauen vnto the earth 3. And to hym vvas geuen the key of the bottomlesse pit 4. And he opened the bottomlesse pyte 5. And there arose a smoke of the pytte as it were the smoke of a furnace 6 And the sunne and the Ayre vvere darkened by the reason of the smoke of the pyt 7. And there came out of the smoke Locustes vppon the earth 8 And vnto them vvas geuen povver 9. As the Scorpions of the earth haue povver The Paraphrase THe fift Angell which blew his trumpet vnder the fift seale openyng of the Lambe were they which had the worde of God for that age of Christes Church and that published it to his electes And these doeth not onely séeme to bée fewe in number but also they appear to haue taught priuily in priuate congregacions and houses 2 For wheÌ„ this trumpet was blowen Iohn beheld a starre fallen downe cleane from heauen into the earthe no parte thereof reserued neyther of the starre in heauen representing the spirituall church nor yet of the earth from the starre betokening the worldly people Neyther were the spiritualtie of Christes church nor yet the laytie cléere from their poysons anye where This glittering starre or shyning multitude of prelates pastours and religious fathers were fallen away from the doctryne of the spyrite from the liuing word of the Lord and from the right conuersacioÌ„ of Christ into the earthe of their owne decrées and lawes nothing sauouring but carnall tradicions dumme dark ceremonies and doctryne of diuilles fashioning their lyues all after the same Then soughte they vp Plato Aueroys and Auicenne Then was Aristotle thought necessarie to interprete the scriptures Then was there an infinite rable of Sophisters schoole doctours of reals and nominalles of sentencioners and summistes of collyginers and Canonystes of Scotistes Thomistes Olcamystes Alberstystes Baconystes Anconistes And euerye man thought hys owne wysedome best which God hath proued starke foolishenesse all and moste ydiotishe dottage When the blynde world supposed they had the truth by this fallen starre they had nothyng lesse Under the fifte seale openyng this darkenesse was not séene but the sixte now discloseth all Onely the slayn sorte complayned that tyme desiryng theyr bloud to be reuenged where as an answer was made them that many more yet should bée kylled to fulfill theyr number And it was proued true For none in those dayes once hyssed agaynst them but suffered death for it Yea of Emperours and kings that offended them some were accurssed some deposed some slaine some poysoned Neyther spared they power nor yet noble blud In EnglaÌ„d héer they slew King Herolde poysoned King Iohn and famished King Richard the ij by their own historyes they burned sir Roger ActoÌ„ knight sir Iohn Oldecastel the Lord Cobham sir Raynolde pecock byshop of Chychester they imprisoned to death besides an infinite number of poore simple soules no lawful cause known but lyes of their owne forging Yea and the articles that they dyed for than they affirme nowe to bée good But no maruayle though they dyd suche myschiefe in those dayes 3 For to the starre was giuen the key of the bottomlesse pitte After they were fallen from the wisedome of God to the corrupt dreams of men folowyng rather the creatures then the maker of them hée gaue them ouer vnto theyr owne imaginacions and fantasies 4 TheÌ„ had they poure in darknesse by their carnall beastly and diuilishe diuinitie to open the well of dampnacion For what is the wisedome of
wryte them Register the thunders but not the voyces Note the figures but vtter not the misteries till God appoynt it It is not for all men to know the times which God hath in his power Many secret thinges hearde Paule which was lawfull for no man to vtter The outwarde sounde of Gods secrets may be heard of all men but the inward workinge is reserued to the spirit The Lorde alwaies with the holy ghost so informeth them inwardly that they perceiue the effect of many thinges the other heareth but a noyse For so much as the voice of gods thundrings is vnsearchable and his secret iudgementes the most mighty depth they are not open but to such as he electeth 14 Therfore was Iohn commanded in no case to writ them or to open the secret meaning of them That point the Lord reserueth peculyerly to him selfe to open to whom what or how much him lusteth Much wide ar thâ—â— which thinketh that they can of their owne wit and industry declare such causes vnles God openeth them by his worde or some euident signe as he hath done in this age most plentuously to many Lesse can we not gather of these thunders wheÌ„ the message of God is dispised abused forsaken neclected troden vnder foote 〈◊〉 damnable lyes preferred vnto it thaâ— that his wrath must folow Somewhat hath bene séene already much more wil appeere wheÌ„ they geue ful 〈◊〉 THE TEXT 1 And the Angel which I saw stand vpoÌ„ the sea vpoÌ„ the earth 2. Lyft vp his hande to heauen 3. And swore by hym that liueth for euermore 4. Which created heauen and the things that therin are 5. And the earth and the thinges that are in it 〈◊〉 And the sea and the thinges which are therin 7. That there shal be no more time but in the dayes of the voyce of the seauenth Angell 8. When he shall begin to blow 9. Euen the misterie of God shall be finished 10. As he preached by his seruantes the Prophets The Paraphrase 1 And the Angell saieth Saincte Iohn whom I saw in this wonderfull reuelation thus standynge with one foote vppon the sea an other vppon the lande after the sorte afore named 2 Lyft vp his hand towardes heauen so stroÌ„gly to affirme hys message to be true as the Lorde lyueth and to promise it so in fallibly iust as god siteth in heauen 3 What do the true preachers els in this age but maintaine their doctrine by the mighty word of God after the example of Christ and his Apostles which alleged the lawe prophecies and Psalmes to confirme their sayings with They neither alledge decrée nor decretall constitution nor Synodall Legende nor fable monks rule nor saintes lyfe doctors nor fathers Gregory nor Anselme Thomas nor Dons Plato nor Arystotle nor such lyke filthy dregs But they come to the verye true touchestoane with Iohn they proue the spirits whether they be of God or no coÌ„sidering that all men are lyers and haue erred one except 4 He sware by him that lyueth in himselfe with incomprehencible magesty power and glory for euermore which in the beginning created the heaueÌ„ aboue with the inuisible things that are therin contained 5 Which formed the poÌ„derous earth beneth and the visible creatures that are therin remaining 6 Which fashioned the flowing seas and the corruptible thinges that are there in continuinge 7 With an earnest constant spirite he protested and by the strong worde of God he affirmed so taking hym to witnesse that there shall be no more time no more leasure no more sinful occuping héere froÌ„ henceforth but in the dayes of the voyce of the seauenth Angell This othe is none other than a sure assercion that all shall be finished in this seauenth age of the church This wold not be hidden from the congregations Necessary it is that both good and badde knew it The faithfull to be assartened that their finall redemption is at hande to their consolation The vnfaithfull to haue knowledge that their iudgemente is not farre of that they may repent and be saued Not vnlyke is this othe to the othe in Daniell of time times and halfe a time whereof the time was from him to Christe The times were the ages from Christ to the seauenth seale opening or the seauenth trumpet blowing The halfe time from thence forth wherin the dayes shall be shortned for the chosen sake So much mischief shal not the enimies dâ— thaÌ„ Their tiranny shall be as waged 8 For when the vii Angel shall begin to blow or the ministers of that age sincerely declare the word 9 Euen the mistery of God shall be finished and the full meaning therof fulfilled 10 Like as he afore time both taught and promised by his peculyer chosen seruants the prophets No time shal be after this but that which will be of all times the ende But when that time shall begin we know not tyll God shall open it by his seuenth angel Of the thing we are certaine and sure but the time of it is euermore in gods hande That is sealed vp in the booke til he shal please to open it the rightuous shall not sée til it coÌ„meth but rest stil in their lot w e Daniell And the vngodly shal haue no vnderstanding then They shall builde and plant bye sel ryot banket as in the daies of Noe Loth yea they shall geue themselues to al filthy lustes couetuousnes And vnbewares shall death come vpon them the terrible iudge shal cal them to accoumpt and to the euerlasting fire condemne them thus shal their daies also be shortned when they think nothing lesse for the time shal be but halfe after Daniell THE TEXT 1 And the voyce which I harde from heauen spake vnto me againe and sayd 2. go take the litle booke which is opeÌ„ in the haÌ„d of the angel 3. vvhich staÌ„deth vpoÌ„ the sea vpoÌ„ the earth 4. And I vvent vnto the Angell and said vnto him 5. Geue me the litle booke And he said vnto me 6. Take it and eate it vp 7. And it shall make thy belly bitter But it shall be in thy mouth as svveet as hony 11. And I tooke the litle booke out of his hand and did eate it vp 10. And it vvas in my mouth as svveete as hony 11. And as soone as I had eaten it my belley vvas bitter 12. And he said vnto me 13 Thou must prophecie again vnto the people 14. And to the Heathen and Tunges and to manye Kinges The Paraphrase 1 And the voyce saieth sainct Iohn which I harde afore from heauen spake vnto me againe Gods holy spirit touched me moued me compelled me It graciously admonished me taught me and sayde thus vnto me 2 Goe thy waies foorth Iohn and take the lytle booke which is now open in the hand of the Angell Euery man hauinge grace with Iohn is héere commaunded to
wande of sixt cubits long and a spanne which was geuen vnto Ezechiell nor very far different froÌ„ the measuring lyne in Zacharie And what is this els but that the administratioÌ„ of Gods heauenly verytie is secretly of hym committed vnto them which hath afore receiued it and in faith digested it that they should therewith rightly measure disterne iudge all things None other is it to prophesi again in this sixt age but thus is to mete the TeÌ„ple the aulter the worshippers therin and to proue them in length bredth heigth and depth THE TEXT ANd than was geuen me a reede a Lyke vnto a rod. 3. And it was sayde vnto me 4. Arise and mete the Temple of God 5. And the Aulter 6. And them that vvorship therein 7. And the Quire vvhich is vvithin the Temple cast out 8. And mete it not 9. For it is geuen vnto the Gentiles 10. And the holy citie shall they tread vnder foote xlii monthes The Paraphrase 1 And there was geuen me sayeth sainct Iohn a Réede Both receiued I the wisdome of God and also a mouth to vtter it So that my tongue became the pen of a redy writer For so much as I abhorred iniquitie the Lorde anointed me inwardlye with thâ— oyle of gladnesse gaue me stomack to vtter his word 2 The réede which god deliuered me was lyke vnto a rod. For his worde is the rod of right order and the scepture of his kingdome With this rod sprede he out the heauens and layde foorth the firste foundation of the earth This rod of his power hath the Lord now graciously sent vs out of Sion by meÌ„ hauing his special grace as by Iohn to haue dominion héere in the midst of his enimies 3 For vnto Iohn it was sayd for this age Arise from vaine studi from cares of the body from consideration of earthly causes 4 And mete the holy Temple of God whiche is his congregation or Church Proue all beléeues whether they be right or no. Examine their works whether they spring of Gods coÌ„maundements or of mens tradicions And in so dooing try by the scriptures the corne from the chaffe Marke out the people of God from the synagoge of sathan and delay not to nourish them with the swéete fruits of the spirit 5 Measure the Aulter also which is Iesus Christ vpon whom the full sacrifice of redemption was offered For many false Christes are abrode in the worlde to seduce the people The Pope bosteth hymself for Gods owne vicar Machomet calleth himself the great Prophet of the Lord. And both they to subdue the Gospell hath set vp new lawes The Pope his detestable decrées and Mahomet his abhominable Alchoran Both they haue wrought such wounders and suche signes in supersticion as might deduce into erroure if God were not merciful the very elect persons The monkes saith that Christe is in the desert the pristes saith he is in the box but admonish my people that in no case they beléeue it The Chanons saith he is here the Fryers saieth he is there but counsell my flock that they goe not forth For God dwelleth in nothinge that is made with hand In the faithfull harte is Christe onely founde There remaineth he That is his dwellinge place 6 Therfore now last of al measure them also that worshippe in the Temple Consider them onely to be his people which séeke hym in spirit and in verytie and that worship not in outward shadowes nor in the elements of this world nor yet with obseruation of dayes and times They are not his sonnes that for the leuen of Pharises which is the doctrine of Hipocrits forsaketh the bread of children which is his liuing word They are not his Lambes but vile gotes that rather attendeth to the voice of straungers than to the true shepheard Christ. 7 And therfore the quier which is within the Temple caste oute The prelates priestes and religions which are not of the common sort seclude from Christ from his Church and from the company of true worshippers Throw foorth the bond woman and hir sonne the Rome church with the hir children and Mahomet with his rable For the bonde shall not inherit with the frée 8 Measure not out that chaunsell of charmers that college of Balams brethren those marked Madianits and cursed Ismaelits Alow theÌ„ not by the scriptures coÌ„mende not their counterfaict rightuousnes Admit them not for the members of CHRIST but iudge them to be the synagog of sathan And speare them out of the kingdome of God with the key of Dauid For they are those swine that treade pearles vnder their féete those cruell dogs that turne agayne to deuoure men Medle not with that quier haue not to doe with that wicked generation 9 For it is geuen vnto the Gentiles Wholy are those Antichristes addict to the superstitious rytes of the Heathen in their sacrifices their ceremonies their obseruations their holy dayes their vigils fastings prayings knéelings and all other vsages contrarye to the admonishment of Christe That they should in no wise enter into the waies of the Gentiles Wherfore God hath detested them with his own mouth and cleane geuen them ouer vnto their owne fylthy lusts Mow reigne they al in their owne wisdom thinking euermore their owne fleshly fantasies best wholly they are become gentiles 10 And the holy citie of whom glorious thinges are spoken they shall tread vnder foote the space of xlij moneths Not the earthly Hierusalem is this citie builded of men and made holy by the outward obseruacions and ceremonies of the Iewes as many expositours hath fantasied For of that like as Christ prophecied is not left one stoane standing vpon an other But this citie is the sure bulding of God grouÌ„ded vpon the strong foundation of the Apostles and prophets euen vpon the hard rocke stone Iesus Christ. This is the pleasant possession the wholsome houshold the sure hold and the delectable viniarde of the Lorde of hostes This is the liuing generation of them which feareth loueth and seketh their Lord God in faith spirite and verytie and not in outward shadowes These are the children of promis the true ofspring of AbrahaÌ„ the chosen house of Israell and the kingdome of the holy ghost Pure cleane and holy hath Christe made this citie by none other thinge but the onely shedding of his precious bloud 11 This citie tread they vnder foote that kéepeth downe the truth of the gospel that persecuteth sleath gods peple for it the defeateth his worde for their owne traditions that bringeth in the Iewish ceremonies the Gentiles supersticions pagans customes hetheÌ„ vsages yoking men with impâ—rtable burtheÌ„s of false worshippings for their owne filthy 〈◊〉 aduauntage Notwtstandinge thus must they do still by the sufferance of God tyll the lxij monthes be finished whiche is not els but the time the times the half time or the thousand two hundred lx daies in that God shal shorten the time for his
chosen sake Thus after S. Paul also before the Lordes cōming There must be a departing The quier or chauncell must be cast out that the man of sin the sun of perdition the aduersary exaltinge hymself aboue God may be known in his colours It may not be motē or alowed by gods word but reiected as that plant which the heauenly father hath not planted that the mistery of iniqutye may be vttered and perceiued of thē which shal be saued It must be geuen to the gentiles or addict to their supersticions with al lying power signes and wonders in all deceiuable doctrine by the subtile working of sathan They must also be permitted to do al mischif in vnrightuousnes vpō the citizens of God til he vtterly consūe thē with the mighty breath of his mouth THE TEXT 1 And I wyll geue power 2. Vnto my two witnesses 3. And they shall prophecie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes 4. Clothed in sack clothe 5. These are two oliue Trees 6. And two Candlestickes 7. Standing before the God of the earth The Paraphrase 1 And I will geue powre saith the Lorde vnto my faithfull witnesses and they shall prophesye a thousande two hundred and lx dayes against those enimies to the comforte of my people So that though my citie be troden downe by their cruel lawes of persecution to death yet shall it not be forsaken And though my people be ouer loaded with their heathen supersticions and blasphemous worshippinges yet shall they not be lost nor left all wtout succour 2 They shal haue my two witnesses with thē to solace thē in their troubles to comfort them in their cares Both Moyses and Christ both the law and the Gospell both the Prophets and the Apostles shal stande vppon theyr side and be vpon their parte yea for so much time as their enimies shall vexe them and for so much space as their aduersaries sholl trouble them Euen a thousand two hundred and thréeskore dayes which maketh thrée yeares and an halfe and is more thē the two and fourty monthes by iiii skore dayes and fowre Which signifieth that the enimies shal not euermore kepe down his word but their daies shall be shortned for his electe sake The schoole Doctours with their sophestry hath fantasied the sayd two witnesses to be Enoch and Helyas and that they should come then frō Paradice terrestre for the same purpose because that Enoch was taken away of God and Helias was carried hence in a fyery Charet neither vnderstanding what Paradice is nor yet knowing what it is to be taken from hence Paradice is the swéete rest of God appoynted vnto them that departe hence in faith The peculier translations of Enoch and Helias were not only for a confirmation or strenthning of the faith of the fathers for their times but also that they shuld be figuers of Christes assention And what godly wise man can geue more to the figuer than to the verytie More were not they priuiledged frō death then was Christe though God wold not then haue it so openly knowen to declare his wonderfull power Unlike is it that god should cal witnesses frō the dead not promising it by his word hauing power also frō stones to raise vp Abrahās children and to geue the spirit of Helias to whō he pleaseth like as he dyd to Iohn Baptist as he doth now to many other more in our age as al the world may sée and heare These witnesses are two for so much as the truth of the Lorde in the mouth of two or thrée godly persons ought to stand 3 These two witnesses or faithfuli protestours of the aforsayde two testaments hath continued with the people of god since the death of Stéeuē for the more part secretly vnknowne to the world But now they are come abroade by the appointment of God to the vtter confusion of the great aduersary and man of sin as Paule doth call hym And vnto them in this sixt age of the church the Lord hath geuen the great power of his liuinge worde or the spirit of his inuincible verytie in much more ample wise then aforetime for the abatement of the sayd enimies or synagoge of perdition 4 Clothed they shall be in sackcloth sayth the Lord No pomp shal appeare in their apparrell no glorye of the world in their behauiour Neither shall they be accompanied with a garde of ruffelynge rutters Neyther shall they with Annas and Caiphas sit vpon life and death Neither shal they blesse in the streate with miter crosse and cope Neither claim the higher seates in side gownes shauen crownes and tippetes Neyther shall their be sack Fryers nor Franciscans monks Chanons nor Hypocrits They shall not disfigure themselues to séeme religious nor say long prayers to appere holy but in a sober conuersacion auoyding superfluitie they shall constantly witnesse the trueth of god to the vniuersall world to his glory and their edification For sackcloth in the scriptures is a signe of sobrietie sadnesse and temperaunce as in Helias and Iohn Baptist. 5 These witnesses are two swéete oliue trées shedding forth the fatnes of the scriptures and dulset sanour of the spirit God hath so blessed them that their lyps are full of grace He hath annoynted them with the oyle of gladnesse aboue their felowes of Myrre Bawme and Aloes they delectably smell None other thinges vtter thei but his infallible verities 6 They are also two shininge Candlesticks setting forth the light or clearly opening of the hidden misteries of the scriptures to the comfort of the gētiles glory of the Israelits They are not the light it self but only instrumēts ordeined to beare witnes of the light For there is but one light for al. Only are they the vessels of electiō as was Paule to carrie that lyght the world ouer 7 They stand in the presence of the God of the earth or the Lorde of all as men of moste high acceptacion before him readie to doe his will and to fulfill his commaundement and pleasure hauyng the oyle of hys spirite and the light of his eternall veritie THE TEXT 1 And if any man vvill hurt them 2. Fyre shall proceed out of their mouthes 3. cōsume their enimies 4. And if any man vvill hurte them this vvise must he bee killed 5. These haue povver to shut heauen 6 that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophesying 7. and haue povver ouer vvaters to turn them to bloud 8. and to smyte the earth 9. vvith all maner plagues as often as they vvill The Paraphrase 1 If any man will attempte to doe them scathe or presumptuouslie séeketh by craftie colours subtile reasōs and deceiptful arguments vpō daungers doubtes doctours old customes and aucthoritie of fathers to hynder their office blemishe their message and darken their light such fyre shall procéede out of their mouthes as shal consume their enimies 2 The eternall word of the Lorde that they shall declare which is the consuming fyre
Sinagoges They shall delyuer them vp to Iustices debites and rulars making them their bochers and slaues so washing theyr owne holy handes from the sheading of innocentes bloud 5 They shall kill them also by their counsell to fulfil the measure of their fathers that all rightuous bloude may light vpon them which hath ben shed vpon earth Yet shall they not hurte their soules but thorowe fayth they shall haue victorie both ouer theÌ„ and the diuill 6 And their bodyes shall lye in the stréetes of the great citie In this world shall their carkasses remayne where as they haue rule and dominion Here shall they be iudged and condemned At their pleasure shall it be to hange them head them or burne them And though they lay no handes vpoÌ„ them for soyling their consecrate fingers yet muste it be done by their ghostly counsell and ordred also after theyr spirituall appointment None other is it to lye in the stréets of their great citie then after suche lawes as they haue practysed to bée brought vnto death 7 For spiritually is theyr citie called A glorious name vsurpe they as though they were none of the world They will be called the holy church good ghostly fathers godly dyuines and spirituall men not consideryng of what spirite they are spirituall They are those into whome the vncleane spirit hath entred with vij other spirites worse than hym selfe With the spirite of falshood the spirit of witchcraft the spirite of crueltie And of these onely with such lyke are they spirituall of no godly spirit as their fruites declareth And therfore the spirit of God doth iudge here this great citie not to bée called Hierusalem but stinking Sodome and most myserable Egypt the prophecies and other scriptures agréeing to the same For looke what filthinesse and abhomination was in Sodom what Idolatrie and diuilishnesse was in Egipt the same is now reigning in this painted spiritualtie is accompted theyr great holinesse 8 Among this consecrate multitude or smered sort is Christ yet crucified as he was among the Iewes which knewe hym not and yet boasted them selues outwardly for the peculiar chosen people of God Not only is Christ amonge them persecuted scourged punyshed put vnto death in his members but also he is proued of theÌ„ an vnsuffitient Sauiour without their dayly doings Their masses must be satisfactorie sacrifices profyting both the quicke and the deade And that muste men beléeue vnder payne of death and dampnatioÌ„ Thus crucifie they Christ again and make a mocke of hym as witnessed Paule and yet doe they call him their Lord not vnlyke to the tormentours which crowned him with thorne and saluted him with Aue rex Iudeorum THE TEXT 1 And some of the people and kinreds and tongues and of the nations 2. shall see their bodies iij. dayes and an half 3. shall not suffer theyr bodyes to be put in graues 4. And they that dwel vpon the earth 5. shal reioyce ouer them and be glad 6. and shall send giftes one to an other 7. for these two Ptophetes vexed them that dwelte on the earth The Paraphrase 1 And as they lye thus dead in the stréetes or are contempned as heretikes and dispised as wicked dooers some of the people peruerted by these enimies some of the kinreds or sects of diuision some of the tonges or blasphemous bablers and some of the nacions of all wicked workers shall be hold their bodyes thrée dayes and an halfe 2 They shall from all ages abhorre them hate them reuyle them and spightfully report them In their cronicles shal they wryte them for seducers of the people and in their stories regester them for damnable heretikes For the iij. dayes and an half diuided into vij values betokeneth the vij ages of the churche wherein they haue and shal still both persecute and blaspheme 3 And these wicked sortes of people kinreds tonges and nacions or of false Iustices priestes Lawyers religious shall not suffer their bodies to be put in graues But be these witnesses once iudged heretikes by the clargie and so condempned by the laitie eyther shall their bodies be resolued into ashes by fyre or els coÌ„sumed by the foules of the ayre Seldome shall ye sée a knowne heretike buried amoÌ„g them but most coÌ„monly burned Examples of this hath ben lately séene here in England by Thomas Hitton Thomas Bilney Iohn Frith George Bainham William Tindale Iohn Lambert Roberte Barnes William Hierome Thomas Garade Richard Spenser and in Partrick Hamilton of Scotlande with many other more And long afore our tyme in sir Iohn old Castle the Lorde Cobham syr Roger Acton knighte syr Reynold Pecoke Bishop of Chichester mayster Iohn Ashton syr William Thorpe syr Willyam Sawtre syr Richard With sir Iohn Bale sir William Taylour and syr WilliaÌ„ white priests with diuers other The body of Formâ—sus was first takeÌ„ vp by SteueÌ„ the vj. bishop of Rome and disgraded After was it beheadeâ— mangled throwne into the floud of Tyber by Sergius the third Sainct Herman after .xx. years from his buriall was taken vp burned at Ferraria in Italy by Boniface the eight The bones of mayster Iohn 〈◊〉 were taken vp and burned also the .xl. year after his death as Walden witnesseth in his booke de Sacramentalibus Li. ix Capi. lxxxix So was of late yeares in Worcester dyoces the body of maister WilliaÌ„ Trace esquier in LondoÌ„ the body of Richard Honne merchauÌ„t tailour Moreouer Iohn Colet deane of Poules in LondoÌ„ also was not far from the same for reading of Pauls Epistls by his life had not other waightie matters been in the way Such heretikes shall not rest in their citie they shal not be buried among them They shall not bée shrined cannonised nor allowed for Saincts for they builded no monasteries they set vp no chaunteries they subdued no Princes nor yet dyed for the liberties of holy churche They stood not in defence that priestes dooing Idolatrie theft murther witchcrafte whoredome buggerie with other abhominations should remaine vnpunyshed But rather to the contrarie and that they should worship but one God liue by their labours take wyues of their owne and teach nothing but Gods lawes 4 And they that dwell vpon the earth sayeth the Lord or haue their felicitie here with the riche glutton shal reioyce ouer them and be glad 5 They shall clappe theyr handes when they sée godlye witnesses bée brought out of the way They shall common ryote and bancket hauyng among them selues ioy without measure that the heretikes bée gone so hatefull is the light to their eyes and the veritie to theyr wicked hartes 6 And they shall sende giftes or presentes one to an other for gladnesse as for example My Lord byshop hath had a sum of monye of the priestes for doing his part so wel My Abbot and maister doctour haue had phesanâ—es plouers and parâ— riches pigges geese and capons for disputing their matters so valyauntly Master parson hath ben commended for
but all other godly ministers of the word also which haue don the same euer since Onely reygneth the true Christian churche by the worde of God by the sincere scriptures by the doctrine of the Apostles and neyther supersticions nor ceremonies neither by councelles or customes by doctours nor fathers by miters nor rochetes by tippets nor hoods by shaueÌ„ crownes nor side gowns by crosses nor copes by belles nor torches by shrines nor gilte Images nor yet by xij couples in a liuerie with golden chaines and garded coates Hir bewtie consisteth onely in faith and in the obseruation of Gods holy commaundements Hir true ministers or preachers as very chosen stars sheweth foorth his glorie to the edification of other and not their owne Pompe and magnificence 5 And shée was as is the woman with chylde Shée cryed traueyling in byrth and was payned as one readie to be deliuered With Christ is the church bigge wheÌ„ hir members are in full faith In the harte is he euermore conceiued deliuered foorth suche time as he is declared vnto other For this cause Christ called them his mother which haâ— faith and therevpon did the will of his father Of faith in the first promise that Christ should distroy the serpent was hée first conceiued in Adam and Eua and so grewe foorth in rightuous Abell in Seth Enos Enoche Noe Sem Thare Melchisedech Abraham and Loth. And as the promises waxed stroÌ„ger as in Abraham Moyses Dauid and the Prophets and the people of God more in number so waxed the woman bigger bigger til the fulnesse of hir time was come that she shuld be deliuered Which was suche tyme as Christ appeared to the world taught and was coÌ„uersaunt here among meÌ„ And this course hath shée kept euer since shall doe to the latter day in theÌ„ 〈◊〉 beléeue Thus hath shée had Christ in hir wombe since the beginning 6 And being full of hys heauenly spirit shée hath cryed in the Patriarks and Prophetes in the Apostles and faithfull ministers as one traueiling in byrâ—h Hyr crye was the mightie and stronge declaration of Christes doctrine the feruent zeale desire of the glorie of God of all mens health in Christ. Shée traueileth euer more a new lyke as did Paule tyll Christ be fashioned in hir christian meÌ„bers With all hyr strength shée laboureth that the promised séede may encrease in the faith of all men 7 Fynally shée is payned with labours dolors blasphemies troubles and terrible persecutions and neuer is deliuered without them Neuer is Christ earnestly receyued til some of hir members doeth suffer The coÌ„stant spirite inuincible standyng by the trueth in them hath conuerted many And lyke as the payned woman in all hir agonies is muche comforted by the hope of a childe so are Gods faithfull witnesses trustyng that by their pacient and glad sufferaunce Christ should bée receyued rightly fashioned in many Yea this causeth them to reioyce in all aduersitie and litle to estéeme their paines THE TEXT 1 And there appeared an other vvonder in heauen 2. for behold a greater red Dragon 3. hauyng seuen heades 4. and ten horns 5. and seuen crovvns vpon his head 6. and his tayle drue the third parte of the starres 7. and cast them to the earth The Paraphrase 1 After this sayeth Saint Iohn appeared in heauen an other token or meruaile all dyuers from the fyrst The true church which is gods kingdome was neuer yet without contradiction nor without the craftie assaultes of enimies Adam was not so soone created but he was immediately assaulted of Sathan Christ entered not so soone the worlde but hée was by and by persecuted The diuill goeth about lyke a roaring Lyon séeking whom he may deuoure 2 For behold there was séene a great red Dragon betokening the saide diuill with his whole retinue full of deceite crafte mallice poyson pryde and fiercenesse to enforce the poore weaklings to consent vnto his falsehood All red his bodie séemed in tokeÌ„ that they which are of hym are all full of crueltie spight bloude sheading afflicting the constant beléeuers for withstanding hys assaultes Seldom is he out of the earth as winesseth Iob but commonly in the company of men impugnyng the faythfull And no power is able to matche him vnlesse it commeth from aboue 3 The sayd Dragon had vij heads signifying all the craftie wyles and subtile suggestions that he hath practised and vsed against Christ and hys word vnder all the vij seales opening and the vij trumpettes blowing Uerie easie it is to coniecture what maner of heades they were marking other places of the scripture A serpeÌ„ts head should séeme to be the first considering that in the Serpent he deceyued our first parents with hys venymed craftes This head so maliciously poysoned man that God repented him of his creation and distroied hys whole kinde in the floud .viij. persoÌ„s only reserued After the floud had hée the head of a calfe for the seconde in signification of the shamefull Idolatrie and wicked worshippyng that then begon in Nemroth and so continued in the Heathen The third was the head of a Lyon full of pryde and oppression expressed first in the cruell reigne of the Assirians Caldeanes and after in the proude Bishoppes and priestes The fourth was a Beares head full of rauine and cruelnesse betokenig the fierce kingdom of Meades and Persianes CoÌ„sequeÌ„tly his fift head was lyke a Leopards head of many colours full of ficklenesse and chaungeablenesse And that was the vncoÌ„stant raign of the Greeks His sixt was the head of a beast farre vnlyke all other beastes which signifieth the kingdome of the Romans with their monstrous lawes more then néedeth The seuenth is not vnlyke to a mans heade including all carnall wisedome with all diuilyshe polices craftes this is the very papacie here in Europa which is the general Antichrist of all the whole world almost which hath alreadie subdued and distroyed the Empyre of Rome For he is called the Apostata man of sinne By this only head is the Dragon named the enuious maÌ„ The whole bodie foloweth the heads As the diuill is malicious wicked fierce cruel tyrannicall false execrable and deceitfull so are all his meÌ„bers In the prudeÌ„ce of the flesh after him they walk in Idolatrie hipocrisie all other filthinesse And like as afore Christes comming these heads were in the serpeÌ„t in the golden calues in the kingdome of Babilon in Nemroth in Pharao in Antiochus in the Pharisies scribes bishops Lawyers priestes so haue they bene since his time vnder the vij seales opening and the vij trumpets blowing after the same sort Under the first he had a serpeÌ„ts head in the Iewes most maliciously and subtilly withstanding Christ his Apostles preteÌ„ding the zeale of God his lawes Under the second he had a calues head in the Idolators which slew the constant witnesses of Christes veritie Under the third the head of a proude Lyon in
time of Christes preaching or the time of the gospell preaching from Christes assencion to the latter ende of the world That is the very time of the féeding of his Church And not open is this féeding here but in secret in the wildernes among a sort vnknowne to the worlde hauinge the pouertie of the spirit without shaâ—ing anoynting or hypocrits apparrell And not onely hath the Lorde thus nourished hys people in this spirituall respecte but also in body When they haue bene greuously handled spoyled of their goodes imprisoned and exiled graciously hath he reléeued them and prouided for them both solace and comeforte at the handes of them whom they neuer saw afore So that the iust hath not felt himselfe forsaken nor his children séeking bread THE TEXT 1 And there was a great battayle in heauen 2. Michaell and his Angels 3 Fought with the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels 4. And preuayled not 5. Nether was their place found any more in heauen 6. And the great Dragon that olde serpent called the deuill and Sathanas 7. was cast out 8. Whiche deceiued all the worlde 9. And he vvas caste into the earth and his Angelles were cast out vvith hym also The Paraphrase 1 And there happened at that time sayeth sainct Iohn a great battayle in Heauen In the Churche is euermore variaunce and strife wtout ceasinge betwixt the spirite and the flesh the good and the bad the faithfull and the vnfaithfull None other is this battayle but a very contradiction a diuersity in fayth study opinion wyll and worke aboute the lawes or commaundements of God and also about the lawes and tradycions of men This battaile is waightie in cause multitude and continuance The cause thereof is Christe the Gospell faith rightuousnesse mans health Gods high honour and such other lyke on the one partie Upon the other party the cause is errour hipocrisie lyes Idolatrye auarice pryde cruelty fylthynesse with al such other So great is the multitude that none is founde out of it None is there but are in this army Eyther they are good or bad faithfull or vnfaithfull rightuous or vnrightuous The rightuous are of the host of Michaell the vnrightuous are vppon the dragons side Continued hath this battayle from the firste beginninge and so shall styll to the latter ende Yea though the dragon be bound or tyed vp vnder the seauenth seale opening that he rage not then as he hath done afore Yet shall the spirit of wickednes and a mind to do mischief raigne inwardly styl in his members for Sathan can be but a Sathan and a Diuill a Diuill 2 Michaell and his Angels fought valyauntly with the dragon Spirituall are they whiche hath done on Christ after the minde of Paule and spirituall is their armoure Theyr gyrding is verytie their brest plate rightuousnesse their shielde a sure faith their wepon the word of God their helmet the hope of health and for stedfastnesse of their féete their shooinge the gospel By interpretation is Michaell to say who is as God or who is like vnto god And he betokneth the constant minister sincere teachers of the Gospell The Angels of Michael are al they that in a sure faith coÌ„fesseth the eternall magnificeÌ„ce of God and that none is lyke vnto hym Contrarywise the Dragons Angels are the hipocrits lying prophets and erronius teachers 3 These fight with the Dragon and the Dragon and his Angelles with them For he that is not with Christe is against hym With the rituous is Michael For ministring spirits are the Angels ordained for the coÌ„fort of theÌ„ which shall be saued And coÌ„maunded they are to wait vpoÌ„ the faithfull to preserue and defend theÌ„ The wicked sort haue the Diuil and his chaplaines to fight for them the rightuous haue Michael and his Angels The wicked fighteth with errours lyes the rightuous with the only verity of God 4 As vengeable as fierce as they are yet preuaile they not neither is their place found any more in heaueÌ„ Faith hath the victory by the promise of god though the blinde world séeth it not OuercomeÌ„ ar the wicked wheÌ„ their enterprises taketh not clene ouerthrowne wheÌ„ theyr beggery is conteÌ„ned And neuer is the full victory gotten no more theÌ„ it was in christ til the tabernacle of this body be laid aside At that day is the crown gotteÌ„ whom the Lord hath layde vp for the rightuous And lyke as there is dayly fighting so is therin some daily victory Dayly ar the angels of darknes ouerthrown daily are they cast out of heaueÌ„ which is the true church Daily are they coÌ„demned by the worde of God iudged for rebels against the holy ghost whose sin is neuer forgeuen 5 No place haue they any more with the chosen no electioÌ„ nor acceptation afore god The more light they haue had the more they haue tasted of the truth now forsaking it rebelling against it with the diuill the farther they are froÌ„ god the more nigh vnto daÌ„nation Neuer beléeued he truely that so had receiued the word Let none think to be saued vnlesse he perseuereth to the ende 6 And the great Dragon or capâ—tayne of all the vnfaithfull sorte that olde croked Serpent which deceiued Adam is called the diuill or malycious accuser yea and also Sathan the most cruell aduersarye with all hys clyentes and spirituall adherentes are certayne and sure to be cast out 7 With the rightuous they shall haue no porcion for all their gloryous tytles With the godly shall not their names be registred for all their holy vnccions But with the prince of this worlde they shall be throwne foorth 8 For he by them and they by him hath deceiued all the world in lying tokens and wonders and in the operation of errours to the vtter dampnation of all them that consenteth to their wickednesse 9 And he was cast into the earth his Angels also were caste out with him which is not els but that they are reserued to eternall damnation For seruing the creature rather than the Lorde that made all God hath forsaken them and geuen them ouer to theyr owne shamefull lustes All grace and goodnesse hath he taken from them and in all darknesse hath he left them Nothinge is now behinde but hell fyre prepared for the diuill and hys Angelles The church thus fyrste bringinge forth Christ among the Iewes and so by their cruelty driuen out into the wild deserte of the Gentiles hath bene there fedde of God in percecution euer since and shall be styll tyll the tearme come out of the aforesayde thousande two hundreth and thrée score dayes whose end is in the Lords handes THE TEXT 1 And I heard a lowde voyce whiche said 2. In heauen is now made saluation and strength 3. And the kingdome become our Gods 4. And the power his Christes 5. For he is cast dovvne which accused them before God day and night 6. And they ouercame him by
in the people Get ye into the deserte Teach them that were not taught a fore If ye can not be suffered openly to preach instruct men priuately in houses Play not the sluggardes in the Lordes vineyard Be not niggards ouer his frée treasure But as ye haue plentuously receiued it so liberallye distribute it againe 4 From the face of the DragoÌ„ hath the woman thus power to flie into the wildernesse by the scriptures when hir childe is deliuered and takeÌ„ vp to the throne of God for the vnthankfulnesse of the people that they haue not in fayth receyued hym And in much dauÌ„ger are they left hauing the diuill his Angels thrown down among them with their wyles and craftie snares In much more perill are they then they were afore 5 A place hath shée in this desert appointed of God wherein shée is nourished for a tyme for tymes and for the halfe tyme which is not els but his speciall protection among them that be poore in spirit and are iudged outcastes of the world There is the true church nourished with the pure word not mixed with the leuen of Phariâ—ies There is the faithful coÌ„gregacion at all tymes fedde without the traditions of hipocrites Onely are they reléeued with the veritie and satisfyed with the liuing promises and haue bene since the tyme of Christ. Yea since the time of Daniell and afore And this féeding time of the Lorde in secretnesse hath béene sometyme shorter sometyme loÌ„ger somtime shortest of all according to the times of persecution and of blindnesse in the enimies 6 To flée from the presence of the serpeÌ„t haue they euermore had commaundements of the Lord to shun the suggestions of his Angels Warned they haue bene in no wyse to goe foorth when they say Christ is héere and there for so much as their crafts are such as would if it were possible deceiue the very electes 7 And the DragoÌ„ saith saint Iohn did cast out of his mouth water after the woman A doctrine of hypocrisie errours lyes hath alwayes passed from the sinagoge of Sathan None other fruits hath gone from them theÌ„ wauering superstitions Idolatry and Heathen ceremonies These hath flowed foorth lyke a great ryuer Dayly haue they augmented and tontinually increased Innumerable are the comberous and vnprofitable burdens of their fantasies dreames wherwith they noy mens coÌ„scieÌ„ces drown their smal faith ouerload their soules 8 This stinking water did the Serpent vomete out by his rauenous Antichristes whiche are his insaciable mouth to stoppe the passage of the woman He poured it foorth in abundaÌ„ce that he might cause hyr to bée caught of the floud Such is alwayes the mischieuous nature of the diuill and hys Angels UeÌ„geable assaults haue they and innumerable craftes to deceyue the innocent not knowing them Our fyrst mother Eua was thus trapped in the beginning so had bene drowned with Adam hir husbaÌ„d had they not had faith in the promised séed An innumerable multitude hath ben ar yet to thys day swalowed vp of this floud and without greate dyffycultie none escapeth it Excéeding is the compasse studie and practise of thys false generation Euermore powre they out their poisoÌ„ they dispute their matters with errours and lyes with counsels and customes hauing vpon their side the darkened powers 9 Yet is the Lord mercifull to hys poore congregation that they are not drowned with all this filthie floude None of it once toucheth their harts No parte of their faith doeth all this riff raff hinder This durtie baggage accombreth not theyr soules Onely are they satisfied with the wholesome doctrine of Christs spirit And the earth did helpe the woman saith S. Iohn The carnal multitude the wise men of this worlde the verye reprobates from God all drye without the true faith dranke vp this filthie water 10 They opened their mouths wide and swalowed vp the great riuer clean which the Dragon caste out of hys mouth This erronious doctrine was euermore pleasauÌ„t vnto them Much more haue they alwayes delighted in lyes and olde wyues dreames than in Gods trueth Thereto haue they giuen theyr eares with all auidious gréedinesse and supersticious deuocion haue they embrased them But the liuing waters of the Lord sauoreth not in their mouthes their owne broken ceysternes doth please them best Better is to a swyne a filthie puddle than a swéete runnyng water No where will hée drinke but where he may wallow hys carkasse No doctrine pleaseth them vnlesse â— mayntayneth their sinne 11 In drinking vp this floude yet ease they this woman In such multitude is Christes small flocke not myssed not looked for nor yet many tymes in their abhominations perceyued to be absent So gracious to them is the Lord that in no wyse are they harmed with those vnwholsome waters They are not caught of that pestilent floud It ouerwhelmeth not their faith 12 And the DragoÌ„ was wroth with the woman sayeth sainct Iohn franticke madde is the Sinagoge of Sathan whan their wantoÌ„ ware is forsaken abhorred and dispised Than frette they for anger than swell they for woodnesse Than whet they their téeth vpon the innocent soules and would teare them in péeces for very spight Than imagine they new cauteles and wyles and therevpon procure they new lawes to be made to trappe them in snares that they escape no way 13 For the Dragon in his wrathe made warre with the remnaunt of hyr séede which kept the commaundements of God All maner of wayes hath thys Serpent assayed to distroy Christes true church The Apostles he vexed with the Pharisies priestes for the first age With false bretherne and Tyrauntes troubled he theyr successours for the secoÌ„d age For the thyrde with innumerable Heresies did he accomber them For the fourth with dampnable sectes of Hipocrisie dyd hée oppresse them For the fifte brought he the world into a damnable peace of Idolatrie superstitioÌ„ And for the sixt séeing he can not yet preuayle hée maketh open warre vpon the remnaunt of hir séede 14 Now doth his Sinagoge of Prelates Priestes Hypocrites and tyrauntes make wicked lawes against them Now doe they persecute them for kéeping the commaundements of God in maryage in receiuing meats with thankes gyuing and in not going out to séeke Christ héere there in theyr Masses and mutterynges in theyr outwarde colours and shadowes 15 Now put they them to deathe which haue the Testimonie of Iesus Christ preachyng him for an onely teacher necessarie for an onelye mediatour and aduocate for an onely sauiour and redéemer for our onely rightuousnes wisdom health For their war is only against theÌ„ that kéepe Gods coÌ„mauÌ„dements that haue the witnesse of Iesu. Neither is it against bandes nor whores agaynst murtherers nor théeues agaynst Idolators nor Hypocrites Sorcerers nor Sodomites adulterers nor gluttoÌ„s Idyotes nor lyers idle priestes nor vagaboundes Scismatikes nor traytours None of these séek they out non of these accuse they at their SessioÌ„s but the onely
in him was the fulnesse of the veritie This beast hath but ii and yet they are but false couÌ„terfet They seme to be Christs are not These are the corrupted letter of the ii testaments falsly interpreted and for a carnall purpose alleaged And therefore it is but apparent hipocritishe and deceitfull yea and cleane repugnant to the Lordes meaning not hauing the iudgment of his spirit This letter without the holy ghost is death nothing pertaineth vnto Christ. He is the verytie life this is but a fable or ficcion His word is spirit and life this is but a brasse pot sounding or a latteÌ„ caÌ„delsticke tinkling fantastical faint sophisticall slaightye Though these séeme like Christs yet are they none of his but yâ— very horns of the beast For they vphold antichrists kingdom not his a worldly glory not his for his kiÌ„gdoÌ„ is not of this world no loÌ„ger ar they his words his lawes nor his testimonies thaÌ„ they maintaine his right honour No newly practised worshipinges aloweth he for his but vtterly abhorrith theÌ„ al as things rawe vnsauery 4 And therefore it folowith that this spake as did the dragon The doctrines and teachings of these false Apostles and deceitefull maisters are lyes in hipocrisye and the verye doctrine of deuils vnder title of the veriti repugnaunt to the same Not vnlyke to yâ— the serpent sayd vnto the woman ye shall not dye if you eate of the forbidden fruite but ye shall be surelye as Gods knowing both good and euyll They do as did sathan in the desarâ— Alwayes they perswade vs either of stones to make bread or els to throw our selues downward or els to worship the deuill That is to chaunge the good creatures of God from their right vse as trées into idoles silkes velvets cloth golde siluer into supersticious ornameÌ„ts chast mariage into stinking whoredome and sodomie with such lyke To decline from the duties coÌ„manded of God to their idle obseruacioÌ„s so making his commaundements of none effect for the vaine traditions of men And finally to fall vnto forbidden worshippings or abhominatioÌ„s of Idolatrie of whoÌ„ they are full And for these they haue with SathaÌ„ also their mangled scriptures to lay for theÌ„ to proue that the help of dead saincts is necessary their masses merytes works more than néede expedient and the fyre of Purgatory a fearefull thing with the diuil all of such fantasies These are the prelates of Antichrists church the two horned moÌ„sters or great bellyed Byshops rightly discribed here of the holy ghost in this two horned beast These beastly buszards ar not ashamed both to say write that in their miters they beare the figure of both Testaments whose veritie they impugne with tooth nayle Uery truly they say that they carrie the figure for in déede it is but a shadowe they beare Not to glorifie God but their owne beastly bodyes with gold pearl stone lyke MahouÌ„ds in a playe for hys trueth they most cruelly persecute These are the verye false Prophets the instrumeÌ„ts of sathaÌ„ the deceiuers wolues wagelings Iudasses dremers liers Idols aduersaries adders whelps foxes distroying the Lords vineyard deceitful workmeÌ„ desperate shephards blind watchmen dum dogs diuils incarnate wicked séede vnsaciate beasts whose God is their belly glory their confusioÌ„ To al these to many other such doth the holy ghost compare them for that they haue with their errors lyes turned the swéetnesse of the scriptures into bitternesse scarsly leauing one place therof vndefiled with their filthy dregs 5 This beast saith S. Iohn dyd all things that the first beast could doe euen before his own face The same lying power to deceyue in hypocrisie hath this beastly brood that the great Antichrist hath yâ— same wily craftes the same beastly kindes of idolatry so doeth vse them The same abhominations maintain they yâ— world ouer that the pope maintaineth at Rome Mahomet in Barbary of Turkye Yea the same superstitioÌ„s sorceries the same execrable traditions and beggeries The same ceremonies haue they that hée hath the same vnctions the same orders the same masses The same idle obseruatioÌ„s with vnknown cloyning clattering and wauling are still vsed in EnglaÌ„d like as they were vsed afore and with no lesse blasphemy vnto God 6 To doe suche things in the fyrst beasts presence is to do them where his power aucthoritie is raigning or where as is the seate of Sathan which is euery place that admitteth straunge worshipping 7 Both the earth them that dwell in the earth compell they to worship this first Beast Not only enforce they them to wicked Idolatry that neuer wold know the truth but also many of those which haue great knowledge in the same Oh how many are in EnglaÌ„d in other regioÌ„s also that in these daies worketh against faith knowledge the holy Ghost admitting the priestes abhominations Rather had they to dwell still in the earthly beggerie with the blasphemie of God than either to be out of fauour or to loose their offices to haue their goods hindred or to hazarde their lyues so swéet ar these waÌ„toÌ„ worldly plesurs Rather had they to perishe with the sonnes of Hely Samuel for abusing the ordinances of the Lord with Core DathaÌ„ AbiroÌ„ for rebelling against them to sinke vnto hel then with Christ to take paynes in pouertie But let not theÌ„ think to be worthy of Christ that better loue their owne carnall commoditie thaÌ„ his heaueÌ„ly veritie 8 Well the beast must they worship whose wouÌ„d is made whole His olde rustie rules newe burnished and his olde Romish ragges new patched by a newly confyrmed aucthoritie must they embrase in paine of death The Lambe shall not yet be suffred to appear Stil for a time must these terrible termagaunts haue more worship thaÌ„ God their traditions preferred to his most pure worde And why shuld it not be so haue they not now a new refourmed church in whom the beasts wouÌ„ded hed is newly restored So loÌ„g as it is like the popes church it must folow his rules and cleaue to his ordinauÌ„ces It shall not folow Christ in â—aith in doctrine til it appear like the church which he left here behynd him whan he ascended And that is not lyke to be yet 9 First must there be wrought great woÌ„ders Fyre must be compelled to come downe from heauen in the sight of men by this two horned beast The disciples of Antichrist with their by furked ordinaries must violeÌ„tly pluck from the true ChristiaÌ„ church whose reign is not of this world the eternal word of the Lord. 10 Then must they take from them the consuming fyre that Christ sent downe into the earth of mens harts to drye vp all mallice and sinne Yea they must depryue them of the cloueÌ„ fierie tonges which the holy ghost poured vpon the Apostles to the coÌ„fort of all the world The tresure that Christ hath left
here to socour vs they must hyde vnder the ground and the candle that he light vs to sée ouer the house conuay vnderneath the bushell 11 And these wōders shal they work in the presence of men Already haue they takē in England from the Bibles the annotacions tables prefaces to performe this their dāpnable enterprise They haue straitely forbiddē the reading therof for time of their Romish seruice Som haue they burned some put to silence all in the face of the people Yea they raised the maides of Ipswhich and of Kent to worke wonders maruels now of late the folish Northē men to fight for their Church What practises they haue had in that eare and that eare to fetch away the true fauorers preachers of the Gospell at diuers times he that wel cōsidereth may say that the holy ghost hath here rightly described them calling thē workers of wōders The discréet cittizē of Londō master Packyngton was slain with a gun at saynt Thomas of Acres as they call it not without their priuy legerdemaine But this with other of their miracles I intend to declare more at large in an other tretise the Lorde lending me life It is not long ago also since Alexāder Seyton an excelent learned mā with poore master Tolwin recanted at Paules crosse Nor yet long a fore sens good doctor Crome was complleed to doo the same And now last of all to take the scripture cleane away they haue sought out great faultes in the translation of it there vpon taken them awaye from the common peoples reading Great paines they take to put it doun but they neuer swet yet in the settīg vp of it Thus mind they to work their wōders till they haue buried it all in the earth They lack now but iiii knights to hier to kepe it down stil that it rise no more vp O veri imps of hel lims of the diuil how vaine are your studies how wicked are your practises I haue no doubt but wtin shorte space God will distroy the counsailes dissipate the strength of them that please men Yet let no mā meruail though they do these feates for the time For if the Gospell were taught without checke in a whyle should nothing remain of that generation neither myter nor rochet shauē croun nor anointīg that know they wel inogh For the word of the lord is the breth of his mouth that shal distroy them and the deuouring fyre that shall consume them 12 By the means of these signes saith the texte which this beast had power to doe in the sight of the other beast or wher his abusiōs doth raign without checke he deceiued them that dwelt on the earth Many in this age are wonderfully abused through the deceiptful werking of Sathan in these horned whoremōgers but yet non other thā are earthly mynded Of some men in déed the eyes are bleared with theyr crafts of some mē the weak iudgemēts blemyshed with their subtilties for wāt of discerning the scriptures Some men are tangled with doubts some trobled with terrour some tormēted with feare cōsidering that for this new learning as they wil haue it called some haue ben hāged as were the thrée poore yong men of Southfolke for the rotten roode of Douercourt Some burned some be headed for thinges of nought as is knowne to all the world These thyngs daseth theyr wittes and amaseth their myndes And earth is the cause of al this were it not that they much more loued this worlds pleasures than God it should neuer be so 13 All the perswasions of Antichristes prelates and preachers hath euermore ben and are now still vnto such earthlye inhabitantes that they shoulde make an Image lyke vnto this beast which is alwaies to chose such an Emperour with other worldly gouernours as shal be for their commodytie He must by the worldly people be compelled to take aucthorytie sceptur and crowne at their hands so sworne to maintaine their fleshly lyberties He must also be fashioned by their wicked doctrines and false counsels in confessions lyke them in all sustersticious lyuinge and in the tirrānous murther of innocent Christen men Where such an head ruler is appoynted there is his owne figure made and where such a Gouernour is constitute there is his owne Image set vp For we must consider that this reuelatiō is in all poīts no story specially here as many writers haue thought it to be in supposing an Antichrist to be borne at the latter ende of the world But it is a mistery cōprehīding in it but one generall Antichrist for all which hath reigned in the church in a manner since the Ascencion of Christe And in this one poynt are al the commentours that I haue séene most fowly deceyued yea the best learned of them I know wel if ther be ani yet to come he shal be but a mēber of this Againe to our purpose 14 Speciallye muste they make a right Image of that beast which had the wounde of a sword and did liue This betokeneth that in these dayes they shall sturre about them leaue no cautels vnsought nether any fals counsels vnfet from other realmes to doe their feats with and to fashion the Christen Gouernours to their myndes As Winchester did the last time he was in France After whose comming home many great wonders were wrought in Englande and fyre was made to come downe from heauen Cōsider the story afore for the storye declareth the misterie That wounded head now healed must be vpholden 15 He had a gréeuous wype with the sword which is the liuing word of the Lord when he lost his Monks chanons and fryers hys purgatory pilgrimages and shrynes Yet was he not all dead For though their coules cootes and rochetes were of yet had they still the same popishe hartes and the same supersticious frowardnes that they were wonte to haue This might haue bin found true if it had bin searched when certen popish priests of maister Whartons retinue not far from Bongay in Souffolke did calk for Cromwel for other els if the worlde had not chaunged to their mindes I write not this thinking they can harme by theyr calkinge where as faith is resydent but onely to shew that theyr hartes are yet alyue and how vertuously they are occupied Many things I cōsider at this instāt poynt concerning Prince Edward whō I dout not but the lord hath sent for the singuler comfort of England Not that I temerouslye diffine any thing to come concerning hym considering it onely in the Lords power But I desire the saide Lorde to preserue his bringing vp from the contagious drinkes of these false Phisicians And this is to be prayed for of all men if ye ponder well the text marke their wonderfull workings where the beastes head is restored THE TEXT 1 And he had povver to giue spirit vnto the Image of the beast 2. And to make that the image of the beast
Babylon that great citie 3. For she made al nations drink of the vvine of her vvhordome The Paraphrase 1 And there folowed an other Angell saith S. Iohn which betokneth an other sort of preachers whose office is here appointed them of the holy Ghost to declare vnto the people the certenty of the fall of the aduoutrus cursed and malignant church of hipocrits here figured by wretched BabiloÌ„ For though al the true prophets and preachers haue but one worde of God in their mouth yet passeth it diuersly from them Unto each of theÌ„ is geuen a diuers vtteraunce of the spirit to edifie One is soft méeke gentle as was Dauid Iohn Peter an other is boysteous harde vehement as was Helias Esay Paule And all this worketh the selfe same one spirit This diuersitie of techers was neuer more plentuous in the world than now in our time figured here by these two angels Praysed be the Lord therefore 2 And the tenour or ground of this latter sort of preachers is this She is fallen she is fallen euen miserable Babylon the great citie of whoredom bicause she made all nacions to drink of the wrathful wyne of hir fornication So sure is it that the execrable church of Antichrist shal be ouerthrowen and vtterly destroyed as it wer now perfourmed in déede Nothinge shal be vnrooted out that the heauenly father hath not planted Sooner shall heauen earth perish than this promisse be vnfulfilled 3 For with the stinking whorishnes of hir supersticious worshippinges hath she poysoned all nacions peoples vnder heauen The great gouernours lerned lawiers of the world hathe she made in maner of beastly dronkerds wytlesse faythlesse and gracelesse by theyr prostibulous doctrine And this shal be declared more at large in the .xvij. cha folowing wheras she is more pleÌ„tuously described The texte 1 And the third Angell followed them 2. saying with a loude voyce 3. If any worship the beast and his Image 4. and receiue his marke in his forehead or on his hand 5. the same shall drinke of the wyne of the vvrath of god 6. vvhich is povvred in the cup of his vvrath 7 and he shall be punished in fyre brimstone 8. before the holy Angels 9. and before the Lambe The Paraphrase 1 The thyrd Angel also saith saint Iohn followed theÌ„ in the thyrd kinde of preaching of the same selfe message that in the mouth of two or thrée faithful witnesses all veritie might stand 2 And by this Angell are they signified that by the word of God stifly impugne theyr wicked lawes vngodly ordinaunces whose maner of earnest preaching is this 3 If any man worship the beast which is the great antichrist And his Image which are those gouernours that taketh vpon them his blasphemous titles names authoritie or defence If any man also receiue his mark in his forehead beléeuing theyr lawes to be a christen doctrine or haue the print of his seale vpoÌ„ his right hand which is to fashion his outward workes after the same The same man shall drinke of the wine of Gods wrath which are the dregs of the pure wyne poured in the cup of his high displeasure He shall taste of the euerlasting damnation that is reserued in the latter cursse or fearefull sentence of their moste terrible iudge To worship the beast and his Image is to accept them in conscience and in the outward obedience with ful consent of the hearte For that they blasphemously pretend without Gods authority As the Pope for Gods vicar or forgeuer of sinnes Mahomet for the greate Prophet of the Lord the rulers of the earth for the Popes elder or yonger sonnes for moste christian Kinges and defenders of the fayth of that holy church 4 To receiue the beastes marke in their forheads and hands is to agrée to such decrées traditious lawes constitucions actes proclamations as they vnder those titles haue made onely for theyr owne couetousnesse pomp and neither for the glory of god nor yet for the right maintenance of the christen common wealthe as I haue declared afore And also to be sworne to the same to subscribe to it to geue counsel or ayde to it to maintayn it by learning to minister in it to execute vnder it to accuse punish and put to death for it or to think it lawfull and godly with such lyke 5 These marked worshippers that tast of the cuppe of gods indignation of calamitie sorow wretchednesse in the dayes of theyr fal here after the last iudgement of vnspeakeable paines and most gréeuous torments in euerlasting fyre prepared for the diuell and his angels 6 The dregges that the Lord hath powred out sayth Dauid shall the wicked of the earth drynke Cleane coÌ„trary are these Angels to the horned ministers of antichrist For they maintaine the Popes errours these the onely verities of christ They labor for the glory of their pope these séeketh the only honor of god They prate that their holy Church shall continue thâ—se say it shall downe with shame They require worship to the beast and his Image these will report it blasphemous the reward therof damnation Marke in these two sortes the preachers of our time and iudge whiche are of god Against both beastes in Christes quarell shall these Angels contende Against the Pope and his bishops Mahomet and his doctours wyll these godlye ministers replye whom the Lorde hath sent in this latter age for that purpose condemniÌ„g by the scriptures their auctoryty iurisdiction power declaring also the plagues that wyl fall vpon them for witholding the truth of God in vnrightuousnes 7 For these Antichristes and their worshippers with so many as beareth their token shall be punished in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lamb. Fyre shal be kindled saith Moyses in the anger of the Lorde shall burne vnto the bottome of Hell Upon the vngodly sayeth Dauid shall he raine snares Fyre brimstone storme and tempest shall be their porcyon to drynke The vehement indignation and mighty iudgement of God shall light vpon them as vpon Sodome and Egipt and shall both deuoure them and consume them 8 And this shal be in the sighte of Aungels which are not onely the spirites of heaueÌ„ but also the church of the faythfull Yea the righteous shall reioyce when he séeth the destruction and shall washe his handes it the bloud of the wicked 9 In the presence of the lambe shal it be also For he is euermore with his flock shal be vnto the end of the world wherin he shal sit coÌ„dem theÌ„ The Texte 1 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore 2. And they haue no rest day nor night 3. vvhich worship the beaste and his Image 4. and vvhosoeuer receyueth the prynt of his name 5. here is the pacience of sayntes 6. Here are they that keepe the commaundements 7. and the fayth of Iesuâ— The Paraprhase 1 And the smoke of their
tormeÌ„t ascendeth vp euermore as the flame of a fornace with most horible stinke for a perpetual signe of their punishmeÌ„t like as it dyd froÌ„ Sodome Gomor when the Lorde ouerthrew them 2 So that they haue no rest neyther day nor night so mani as worship the beast his image receuiÌ„g the priÌ„t of his nam 3 Both in this lyfe are they cruciate with a troublous and doubtfull conscience and also after this life with vnspekeable paynes For neither shal their worm dye nor yet their fyre be queÌ„ched all flesh abhorring theÌ„ 4 Thus shal they be with the beast tormeÌ„ted which haue the spirite of the beast For like as al the faithful which hath ben from the beginning belongeth to one misticall body in Christe and shal be preserued by him so doeth the wicked perteine to one misticall Antichrist hauing al one spirit with him and so shall with him perish 5 Here is the pacience of the saynts In this life ar their troubles no plesure is for them in this world but hate rebukes slaunders lies persecutions and death of their bodyes Their life vpon earth is continuall affliction but gloryous is the fruite of their labours Manifold are the misfortunes of the rightuous but the Lord cleareth them of all 6 Here are they vexed that kepe the commaundements the fayth of Iesu Here are they had in derision that behaue theÌ„selues as the ministrs of god in much patieÌ„ce afflictioÌ„s néede anguish labour stryps imprisonment and such lyke 7 Here are they chastened of the LORDE with many sore storms that they should not be damned with this world Much haue they héere to suffer of enemies that onely cleueth to the word of god in life doctrine THE TEXT 1. And I heard a voyce from heauen saying vnto me 2. Write 3. Blessed are the dead which hereafter dye in the Lord 4 euen so saith the spirit that they may rest froÌ„ their labours 5. But their vvorkes shall follovve them The Paraphrase 1 And I heard a voyce from heaueÌ„ saith S. Iohn saying vnto me 2 Wryte with penne or marke suerly this sentence following for them that here suffer in the truthes quarell 3 Blessed are the dead or they which are already departed and that also shal heereafter depart in the Lorde This voyce from heauen are the infallible scriptures ascertaining the faith of Iohn of the swéete rest of the saintes in the hands of God And that their ende is not without honour as the vain sort supposeth but they are couÌ„ted among the dere children of God Let theÌ„ therefore that suffer in this age be earnestly sprited not feare the tormeÌ„ts of the enimies in Christes cause 4 For from hence forth the spirit saith that they rest froÌ„ their labours In a woÌ„derfull quietnesse dwel they by the very sentence of the holy Ghost shall neuer more féele of any woo God hath clean wiped away al tears froÌ„ their eyes all sorrowes paynes from their bodies the first daungers being â—ast Happy are they therefore and moste godly fortunate that are slaine for Christ bicause they wil not worship the beast his Image nor corrupt their faith with their wicked lawes but in a pure christian beleue departeth froÌ„ hence to the Lord. Theyr portion is in the land of the liuing and their lot among the holy ones 5 For certainly their works doth folow them The promised rewarde of God for constantly standing by the veritie for the fruites of their christian patience for other exercise of theyr fayth is euermore to their glory present with theÌ„ Not as deserued of theÌ„ but of Christe in whose fayth they wrought here for the promise sake that they should be gods heyres togither with Christ. The lyuely word also which they earnestly receyued héere and so rooted in their faith wil neuer suffer them to perishe nor to be hurte of the second death THE TEXT 1 And I looked and beholde 2. a vvhyte cloude 3. and vpon the cloude one sitting lyke vnto the sonne of man 4. hauyng on his head a golden crovvn 5. and in his hand a sharpe sickle The Paraphrase 1 I looked yet further saith S. Iohn and euidently before me appeared a whyte cloude which betokeneth the true ministers of Gods word Whom the holy ghost calleth clouds by Esay Dauid Peter Iudas For from theÌ„ falleth vpon the people the swéete droppes of his verities 2 White they are as milk for their faith in the word and for their christian conuersation not blotted with hipocrisie of meÌ„s corrupted customes 3 Upon this cloude was one sittyng lyke vnto the sonne of man whiche is verely Christ in his glorified maÌ„hood For euermore is he among hys true preachers gyuyng them suche vtteraunce and wisedome as all theyr enymies are not able to withstande Alwayes walketh he among the vij candelstickes which are his congregations as we had afore 4 He had vpon his heade a golden crowne in token of his eternall and vncorrupte kingdome and in hys hand a sharpe sickle which is the sharp iudgement or rightuousnesse of hys worde for there with shall hée reape his latter haruest According to hys worde and promyse shall hee iudge good and euill 5 This sickle receyued he of hys euerlasting father suche tyme as hée gaue ouer vnto hym hys vniuersall iudgements By the order of this vision should the preachers séeme in the last age of the church much to admonish the people of the latter day with the commyng of Christe agayne to iudge both the quicke and the deade as is in their créede or beléeue THE TEXT 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2. crying with a loude voyce to hym that satte on the cloude 3. Thrust in thy sikle and reape 4. for the tyme is come to reape 5. For the corne of the earth is rype 6. And he that satte on the cloude 7. thrust in his sickle on the earth 8. and the earth vvas reaped The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angell sayth sainct Iohn came out of the temple which is the congregation of fayth consecrated as an holy temple vnto God in the bloud of the vndefiled Lambe Iesus This Angell betokeneth those iust men that with Symeon and Anna the doughter of Phanuell in thys latter age are desirous of the glory of God and of the finall redemption of man from bodily corruption 2 These shal cry with a loude voice with a feruent spirite shall they call vnto Christ which sitteth vpon the cloude 3 And thys shall bée theyr saying Thrust in the sickle and reape Send foorth thy lyuing word And lyke as it hath created all things so let it now trye and iudge all things 4 For the tyme is at hand to reape For we are those vpon whoÌ„ the ends of the world are come 5 And doutlesse the corne of the earth is ripe the worlde is at the best that it wil be As it hath bene euer so is it stil altogether set vpon
mischief Let thy word therfore finish all as it hath begon all With the breath of thy mouth consume the great Antichriste the man of sinne the sonne of perdicion the aduersarye that hath exalted him selfe aboue God Powre out thy indignation vpon the kingdoms that wil neyther know thée worship thée nor alone call vpon thy name Thou haste called thy haruest the end of the world let it now finish al in déed Diuide the chaffe from the corn the wicked from the rightuous Gather the wheat into thy garner and burne the chaffe in vnquenchable fyer 6 And he that sat on the cloude thrust in his sickle on the earth and anon the earth was reaped 7 He hath sent hys mightie word so quick in operation as fyre Which shal not onely coÌ„sume the wicked generation of the beast but also reserue theÌ„ to eternall dampnation 8 The earth shal be cleared of them as of all other filthy corruptions and hell replenished with them to their perpetuall care THE TEXT 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2. vvhich is in heauen 3. hauing also a sharpe sickle The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angel saith S. Iohn came out of the temple which is in heauen or from the great number of Angels hauing also a sharpe sickle in his hande 2 This Angel betokeneth those heauenly spirites that the Lord shal send foorth to gather togyther hys chosen from the iiij wyndes whan his tokeÌ„ shall appeare in heauen These are the reapers of the Lordes harueste These are they that shall go foorth too gather all nations to seperate the goates from the Lambes the il from the good and shall caste them into a furnace of fire where as shal be waylyng and gnashing of téeth 3 And therefore is their sickle héere named sharpe None other is theyr sickle but this appointed office None other is their haruest but this gathering togither But these messengers shal not foorth til they haue commauÌ„dement And therefore saith Saynct Iohn consequently THE TEXT 1 And an other Angell came out from the aulter 2. vvhich had povver ouer fyre 3. and cryed vvith a loude crye vnto him that had the sharpe sickle and sayde 4. Thrust in thy sharpe sickle 5. and gather the clusters of the earth 6. for hir grapes are rype 7. And the Angel thrust in his sickle on the earth 8. and cut dovvn the grapes of the vineyard of the earth 9. and cast them into the great vvynefat of the wrath of God 10. And the vvynefat vvas troden vvithout the citie 11 and bloud came out of the fatte 12. euen vnto the horse bridles 13. by the space of a thousande and sixe hundred furlongs The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angell came out froÌ„ the aulter which had power ouer fire This is the Lord Iesus Christ whoÌ„ Malachias calleth the Angel of the couenaunt that was longed for Hée is the aulter of the rightuous by him are they a swéet sacrifice vnto God Els could they be but very abhomination Till the iudgement day shall he be an Aulter of meanes making to God the father for vs. But that day once come no longer shall he be an aulter or an aduocate but go clean from it He shall then become a iudge ouer al the world rewardyng euery one accordynge to their workes Hitherto hath he méekly sitten vpon the cloude and not cut with his sickle He hath had in his haÌ„d the iudgement and not iudged 2 But now hath he power ouer fyre By fire which is vnder his obedieÌ„ce as are all other creatures els shall he at that day iudge the vnyuersall worlde And more sharpe vehement quicke fierce mighty tirrible shall hys senteÌ„ce be to the wicked thaÌ„ is any fearful flaming or consuming wilde fire 3 For with a loude voyce shal he cry vnto him that hath the sharpe sickle An earnest charge coÌ„mandement shal he giue at the day to the ministers of his ire for to cast theÌ„ into exteriour darkenes after this sort here vttered in mistery 4 Thrust in thy sharpe sickle gather the cluster of the earthli vinyard for the grapes thereof are ripe 5 Execute the vengeaunce committed vnto you roote out this ranke riotous generatioÌ„ of the rauenous epicures 6 For now are their mischiefes at the full Now are they moste curious in their facions feadinges most couetous in their coÌ„passings most vaine in their studies most cruell in their doâ—inges For with theÌ„ shal it be saith Christ as it was in the daies of Noe and Loth. They shal builde and baÌ„ket ruffle and riote bye and sell and plant for their pleasures And sodainly as a snare shall that terrible day light vpoÌ„ theÌ„ vnbewares as did death on the couetous iourer 7 And the Angel saith S. Iohn thrust in his sickle on the earth he cutt downe the grapes of the vineyard of the earth and so did cast them into the great wyne fatte of the wrath of God 8 According to their commission they shall plage the earthly minded for here is the time past for the tyme coÌ„ming vsed for the certaintie of it With sodayne death shal they perce theÌ„ in this world that coÌ„temning Christs doctrine haue folowed the corse therof in al coÌ„cupiceÌ„ce 9 And finally they shal throwe them into the lake of misery the pit without water into the stinking dregges of hell wher as fyre and brimstone shal be rewarded to drinke For the vineyarde of the earth is the carnal sinagoge of hypocrites the grapes therof are the glorious glottons franke fedde porkelinges of the gredy gulfe eueÌ„ the enemies of Christes crosse whose God is their beally whose glory is their coÌ„fusion whose end is their daÌ„natioÌ„ for they are earthly minded This winefat of the wrath of God is none other then his great vengaunce to be powred vpoÌ„ the vnfaithful Or els hell prepared for the deuill his angels Great not onely for the innumerable multitud that it hath shal reciue but also in that it is insaciable 10 And this winefat was trodeÌ„ without the citie Nothing perteyneth it to the citie of whoÌ„ famous thing are spokeÌ„ which is the congregatioÌ„ of god nor yet to the good creatures of god No not vnto this world which shall at that dayâ— be tried purged by fyre But vnder the earth shal it be far without thys world secluded from the face of heaueÌ„ in filthy vnspeakeable darknesse 11 For bloud wil come out of thys fate euen vnto the horse bridles Wherin is expressed not only the terrour of the place but also of the paines therein contained For bloud shedding murther are things very horryble feareful to beholde containing in them depriuatioÌ„ of life which is most terrible of all The aboundance thereof betokeneth the greatnesse of the griefe in the sufferance of them The treading downe also signifieth that no raise towardes any reliefe is to be looked for of them that be there
faithful beléeuers knowne The vnfaithful reprobats beholdeth the smoke but neither perceiue thei in it the glory of god nor the maiestie of his preseÌ„ce They neither conâ—eiue his wonderfull workes nor yet his Godly iudgements Their folish harts are so darkned that though they know God yet glorifye they him not They sée the smoke perceyue the world troubled as it is alwaies when the verity appeareth but neuer the more faith nor godly knowlege haue they But the whiche is vnto the faithfull a rayse is vnto theÌ„ a ruine That is vnto the other the power of God vnto health is vnto them slander and folishnesse And that is vnto the other a sauoure of life vnto life is vnto them a sauour of death vnto death They remember not that the Lord came down in fyre vnto Moises vpon Mount Synay when it smoked altogyther like a burnyng furnace therfore beare they away no glorified faces or conciences depured by a true perfecte fayth 14 And no man was able saith the text to enter into the temple til the vii deadly plages of the .vii. Angels were wholy fulfilled For though the true beléeuers perceiue in the misteries of the scriptures the present maiestie mightie power of GOD yet enter they not into full knowledge of him being as yet subiect vnto vanitie For héere is there knowledge vnperfect and their prophecying also And therfore acknowledging their imbesilitie and also wayting for the reuelation of the children of God they say with Saincte Paule O the wonderfull déepenesse of the wisdome and knowledge of God How incompreheÌ„sible are his iudgements and how vnsearcheable his wayes 15 And at this point shal they stil be tyl the last iudgement day finish all For the ful entring into the temple is none other then a whole perfect or consummate knowledge of God and hys mysteries Which can not fully be had till that which is vnperfect be done away the creature deliuered from bondage of corruption And til death be swalowed vp the vessell of corruption becommyng incorruptible the mortall body becoÌ„ming spiritual The rightuous shal thaÌ„ shine as doeth the sunne in the kingdom of their father glister as doth the bright stars world without end What the vij plagues are what is their fulfilling wil in this Chapter folowing appeare The xvj Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I harde a great voice out of the temple 2. saying to the seauen Angels 3. Go your wayes 4. povvre out your vials of vvrath vpon the earth 5. And the first vvent and povvred out his viall vpon the earth 6. and there fell a noysome and a sore botch vpoÌ„ the meÌ„ vvhich had the marke of the beast 7. and vpon them that vvorshipped his Image The Paraphrase AN other great voyce hard Iohn out of the temple A perfect stroÌ„g and earnest assurance had hée of the Lord by a spirituall premonishment that the vnuariable decrees of his set iudgements should be fulfilled at their tymes of him appoynted Yea ascertained he was infallibly that they should in their due seasons come to passe For vnto his friendes openeth he his secret counsailes alwayes as he did in olde tyme vnto his well beloued Israell vnto Moyses Zachary Ezechiell and Daniel with such other 2 And the voice was vnto the seauen Angels vnder the vij seals opening and the vij trumpettes blowyng after this sorte Goe your wayes foorth fulfilling the purpose ye be ordeyned vnto Powre out your vyalles of wrath vpon the earth 3 Declare them first of all to the world to be the reprobate vesselles of dishonour which of wilfulnesse coÌ„temneth my eternal veritie Consequently send them into most déepe errour that they may waxe worse and worse and not onely to erre in them selues but also to bring other into errour that they may receyue the double reward therof abyding my most fearfull iudgemeÌ„t 4 And in such tyme as the Lord appointed the first Angel went foorth vnder the first seale opening and poured out his viall vpon the earth For in the first age of the church to trye hyr as golde in the furnace permitted the Lord by his eternall decrée the malicious Sinagoge of the Iewes to rage and to doe their vngodly feats In the which their furious madnesse not onely dyd they persecute the Apostles and fyrst preachers of Christ from cittie to citie but also peruerted the earthly mynded multitude by many and diuers vngodly kindes of false doctrine in hipocrisie Of this sorte was Himineus Philetus becommyng of Saduces false Christians and denying the latter resurrection whom Paul did excommunicate So were also Phigellus Hermogenes bringing in agayne circumcision with certaine ceremoniall obseruacions to bleamishe the Gospell of Christ. These with suche lyke subuerted whole houses sayeth Paule teaching things that they ought not to haue taught for filthie lukers sake 6 And whan they were thus by the decâ—â—ed purpose of God shead vpon the earth or â—eâ—te vnto their owne earthly â—â—astlinâ—sse all destitute of hys grace for coÌ„tempning his word so graciously 〈◊〉 there lighted a noysome and 〈◊〉 botch vpon those men whych 〈◊〉 marke of the beast or an 〈…〉 through their perswasioÌ„s 7 〈◊〉 vpon them also that worshipped his Image or accepted them for godly that made lawes repugnaunt to his lawes For the great headed Rabines of the Iewes did not onely spot the conscieÌ„ces of the Israelites their own natiue coÌ„trie men but also of the Grekes and Latines the Asians Romaines compelling them for their own tradytions to make Gods commaundemeÌ„ts of none effect These hauing a pretence of godly liuing denied the power therof Of this sort were they which entered into houses brought into boÌ„dage supersticious women loaden with sin For a more déepe vnderstaÌ„ding hereof coÌ„fer this with the first seale opening and the first trumpet blowing and lykewise the other vj. folowing THE TEXT 1 And the second Angell shead out his vyall 2. vpon the sea 3. and it turned as it vvere into the bloud 4. of a dead man 5. And euery liuing thing dyed in the sea The Pharaphrase 1 After this went foorth the seconde Angel of the second seale opening effunding hys vyall vpon the sea According to the decrée of God almightie for the second age of the Christian church reigned among the Christians deceytfull brethren peruerse teachers betraying the tru ministers deliueriÌ„g theÌ„ vnto deth for Iesus Christs sake that his life might be sene in their mortal flesh For in this life he proueth his electes with Abraham and Iob to saue them to make theÌ„ iust folowers of Christ whom it behooâ—ed to suffer ere he entred into hâ—s glory 2 Upon the sea or wauering multitude was this â—â—alâ—shed Only are the false Prophets receiued taken of the folishe fantasticâ—ll â—â—ipper witted sort as a réed shakeÌ„ of euery wind Non regardeth them which hath set sure footing vpon the harde rocke Christ. Such a vial or vessel of Gods Ire was Mair the Idonâ—â—t which
made the Talmud of the Iwes a booke more thā .x. Bibles after Nauelerus other Historians ful of blasphemies lyes condemning the doctrine of Christ. So was Rabby Moyses the Egiptian Rabina Rabasses with such other cōfirming the same 3 All bloudy was this sea the viall once shed therevpon Al fleshely were the people in their iudgmentes theyr harts fulfilled with cruelty murther against christs true witnesses through their peruerse prechings Yea in the furious rage they thought they did God great good seruice when they put his seruantes vnto deth 4 This blood was also in a maner as the bloud of a dead mā For dead was the doctrine that they taughte euen the sleaing letter it selfe Dead were also their ceremonies their rites and their idle obseruations So that euery liuing thing died in that bloudy sea All they which séemed thorough glittering hipocrisie to liue wāted the very lyfe which is hid in Christ and that ryseth of fayth in hys lyuing word So did they also which depended all vpon the vayne pleasures of thys lyfe exercising héere tyrannie both in wordes doings Neyther were they out of the same daunger that fel from the veritie once knowne nor yet they which durst not receyue it for feare of persecution but both perished in this sea THE TEXT 1 And the third Angell shead out his vial 2 vpon the ryuers and fountaynes of vvaters 3. and they turned to bloud 4. And I heard an Angell say 5. Lorde which arte and vvaste 6. thou arte rightuous and holy 7. bicause thou hast geuen such iudgements 8. For they shed the bloud of saintes and prophets 9. therfore hast thou geuen them blud to drink for they are vvorthy 10. and I hard an other Angel out of the aulter 11. say 12. Euen so Lord God almighty 13. true rightuous are thy iudgements The Paraphrase 1 Next in his course went out the third Angel vnder the third seale opening he powred out his vyal vpon the watery floudes fountaines al they became very blud By his set decrée for the third age of the church suffered the Lord false heretyques to rage in al kyndes of errour strongly to delude the vnbeleuers 2 These lighted vpon the swéet waters by whom ar ment the sacred scriptures refreshing the drie soules Who soeuer drinketh saith Christ of the waters that I geue he shal neuer be more a thirst 3 Of these waters haue they defiled both the riuers and welspringes with bloud Both the law and gospel the figure verity the commaūdement promise the doctrine of prophets and Apostles haue they corrupted with their false interpretacions gloses with frowarde driftes and opinions with vaine tradicions and worshippings with carnal wisdom and murtherings Of this sort wer Eutices Arrius with such other like as in the .vii. chapter afore 4 And I hard saith saint Iohn an Angel betokning those sincere witnesses to whom God had opened for that age his secret iudgementes And this Angel sayd 5 Omnipotent creator Lord which art not only of thy selfe at this present instāt but wart also essencially in thy selfe without beginning 6 Thou heauenly Lord arte faithfull in thy wordes holy in thy workes 7 For as it appereth before our eyes the decrées foreiudgemēts that thou madest afore are now fulfilled in effect 8 For the religious murtherers that of cruelnesse caused the bloud of thy holy saintes Prophets Apostles preachers to be shed haue now by thy iust appointment very bloude to drinke as they are most worthy 9 For sleying of them whose message they contempned they had theyr iust plague Not only became they vain in their thoughts their folish hartes darkened not vnlike to thē that hath eares heare not eyes sée not but also there remained vnto them after this life a perpetual vengeaunce without mercy for their cruel oppressiōs as a due rewarde of their errour 10 Yet an other angel hard I saith S. Ihō euē out of the alter which is christ This angel signifieth those witnesses that sometime confessed the trueth here and now resteth frō their labours in the Lord. These though they be departed affirm that the other hath sayd afore in token that now beyng departed they forget not that truth which they afore cōfessed liuyng stil yet in the same he that holdeth my worde saith Christ shall neuer tast of death 11 And this is their saying in mistery or wordes comprehēding their secret confession 12 Euen so Lord God almighty As the liuing beleuers saith of thée by mouth so say we now in the spirit 13 That thy decréed iudgemēts are euer more true thy merueilous workings rightuous The first is called in some translatiōs the Angell of waters the other here reported to come from the aulter to signify both sortes THE TEXT 1 And the fourth Angell poured out hys vyall 2. on the sunne 3. And povver vvas giuē vnto him to vexe men vvith heate of fyre 4. And the men raged in great heate and spake euil of the name of God 5. vvhich had povver ouer those plagues 6. and they repented not to giue him glory The Paraphrase 1 Consequently by the appointment of God the fourth Angel in the fourth seale opening powred out his vyall of Gods wrath on the sunne As the Lord had eternally prefixed in the fourth age of the Christian church For the whole worldes punishment was Christ sore bleamished which is the cleare sonne of rightuousnesse Sore did the dissembling Antichrists in those dayes darkē the true glory of God with their manifold sects of hypocrisie The Pope had for hys part an innumerable swarm of shorne smered Sodomites and Mahomete a foule flock of frantike fabillers which with their newlye painted religions and prodigious obseruations made first all the world to wonder thā to worship Belial for Christ taking darkenesse for light sin for rightuousnesse 2 These being very aduersaryes vnto Christ tooke vpō them his authority and seat the one boasting him self for his general vicar in earth the other for the great prophet of the Lord so were receiued of the execrate world Néedes would they seme to be the sunne being the very shadowes of death 3 Permitted was this hearsackye sunne to vex mē with heat of fyre Sitting in the temple of God which is with in man with such wicked lawes as they made vnder the name of God of Christ they tirribly vexed tormented and cruciated the weake consciences of men leauing them commonly in most painful desperation 4 So that the men raged in great heat speaking euil of the name of God which had power ouer those plages At their abhominable perswasiōs was Christe of thē not taken for a merciful sauiour and gentil redemer but for a froward chourle vntractable tyraunt vnlesse he were molified by the merites and callings vpon of other and that could not be had without money 5 Power hath the Lord ouer plages to hold
thē or remoue thē By his rightfull iudgement at his only pleasure he hardeneth As the potter may he break thē or make them vessels of dishonor 6 In no wyse did this peruerted multitude repēt their wicked blasphemies to giue him glory for all their cōfessyons masse hearings pilgrimages satisfactions without number For they were not according to his prescription 7 After none other sort wil he be plea and glorified than he hath by his scriptures appointed Nothing lesse ar their fantasies than true repentance THE TEXT 1 And the fifte Angell powred out his vyall 2. vpon the seat of the beast 3. his kingdome vvaxed darke 4. And they gnevve theyr tongues for sorrovve 5. and blasphemed the God of heauen for sorovv and payn of their sores 6. and repented not of theyr deedes The Pharaphrase 1 In order succéedeth by the diuine ordinaūce the fifte Angel vnder the fifte seale opening powring out his vyal of Gods indignation vpon the seat of the beast After none other sorte than the Lorde had afore prediffined for mans vnfaithfulnesse sake was the proude beastly kingdome of the papacie the execrable reigne of Mahomet replenished with all filthy abhominations vnder the sunne For in the other age afore they did but créepe into the hartes of men through the glitterings of hypocrisie and dissimulate sanctitie 2 But here haue they obtayned the power seat and aucthoritie of the beaste and so gotten vnto them the myghtie Monarchies of the vniuersall worlde Here raigned they without checke in all vain glory hautinesse malice pryd murther hipocrisie superstitiō Idolatry and blasphemy of Gods name 3 And therfore their kingdomes as all one in diuillishenesse became all darke without the light of Gods veritie full of the stinking smoke of the bottomlesse pitte Than went the locusts abroad and filled the world with ignorance and blyndnesse 4 Euery where gnewe they theyr tōges for very sorow In detracting the veritie muche griefe they suffered in their desperate hartes their wormes not dying nor their fyre quenched the scorpiōs of the earth stinging them also 5 Spitefully they blasphemed the omnipotent Lord of heauen for very anguish dolour of their sores woūds For none other are the fruites of a desperate cōscience thā blasphemies of God as in Cain Iudas and such other lyke None other are the vtterances of an vnpenitent harte but heauy hatefull murmurings 6 And therefore it followeth that they repented them not of their déeds For in a cruciate or fearfully vexed conscyence can neuer dwel true repentāce So vnquietous alwayes is the foolishe desperate mynde as is the troubled raging sea A wicked harte is laden with sorrowes heaping sin vpon sin the Sinagoge of proude hipocrites hauing no health In the fifte seale opening and trumpet blowing is more of this mysterie declared which agréeth much with this vyall of God lyke as doeth the other with the other in their numbers though not in their figures The texte 1. And the sixt Angell poured out his viall 2. Vpon the great riuer of Euphrates 3. And the water dried vp 4. That the way of the Kings 5. Of the east should be prepared 6. And I saw three vncleane spirits like frogs 7. Come out of the mouth of the dragō 8. and out of the mouth of the beaste 9. And out of the mouth of the false prophet 10. For they are the spirits of deuilles 11. Workinge miracles to goe out 12 Vnto the kinges of the earth of the whole vvorld 13. to gather thē to the battel 14. Of the great day of god almightie 15. Beholde I come as a thiefe 16. Happy is he that vvatcheth 17. And kepeth his garments 18. Least he be found naked 19 And men see his filthynesse 20. And he gathered them together into a place 12 called in the Hebrue tonge Armagedon The Paraphrase 1 In course now followeth the sixte Angel of gods appointment vnder the sixt seal opening shedding out his ireful viall vpō the great riuer Euphrats a floud of the Assirians or of Babilon betokening in misterye the pleasaunt possessions and wauering delights of the Papisticall cleargye with suche lyke 2 Into all filthy desires of carnal and worldlye lustes gaue the Lorde their hartes ouer in the sixt age of the christian church for their vnbeléeues sake to doe those things which are vncumly and beastly So that all their study trauaile and labour sought to none other end but onely to abound in them Wholly were they geuen therevnto and nothing to the glory of God in all their practised obseruations 3 Yet were the waters therof in processe of time dryed vp Their wealthy pompes possessions pleasures their false feats once knowne are shal be clearely taken away from them For after Iesus Sirach the plant of sinne shall be rooted out in the proud Sinagog of the wicked 4 And all this shal be to prepare the way of the kinges from the spring of the sunne Neuer shall the gouerners walke in the waies of the Lorde nor rule according to Christes doctrine nor yet that doctrine be apert open til the waters be dryed vp not one drop remaining So long as the priests dwell in wanton delights vaine pleasures either are the princes childishe or els tyrannous according as their déeds require 5 Neuer are they kinges from the spring of the sunne or accordinge to Christs rule séeking Gods honour with Dauid and Iosias In England by the Gospell preaching haue many of these waters bene dryed vp in the suppression of monasteries priories couents fryers houses yet are not all things brought vnto Christes clere institution A sincere christē order can not yet beséene there And a great cause why For all is not yet dryed vp there The bishops reigne still in as much vaine gloryous pompe and with as manye Heithenish obseruacions as euer they dyd As cruelly harted and as bloudye mynded are they yet as euer they were afore no mischiefe vnsought to holde in the waters Mark how Winchester Durham York London and Lincolne woorketh with such other pleasantly disposed Euphratines But be of good comfort and pray in the meane time For the holy ghoste promiseth here they shall wither away with all that the heauenly father hath not plāted All that generation wyll the Lordes breath consume Now is the axe layde to the roote of the trée to hewe downe the vnfruitfull braunches the withered reserued to vnquenchable fyer God graunt the Princes at that daye more christenly to bestow the waters of Euphrates than they haue yet bene bestowed noe prouision made for the poore nor yet order set for the gospell preaching For great part of it is now turned to the vpholdings of dise playing maskinge and bankatinge yea I woulde I coulde not by iust occasions speake it bribing whoring and swearing the townes peoples and housshouldes miserablye decayed whiche wyll not one day be vnplaged vnlesse they repent 6 Furthermore I saw sayeth saint Iohn in the same self vision
will neither merites nor yet soule masses helpe neyther blessinges nor knéelings sacrifices nor sensings wawlings nor ringings bussings nor singings but will she nyll shée néedes must shée abyde his heauy and tirrible sentence 15 And there fell great hayle sayeth the texte as it had bene waightie talents Alwayes must it be remembred that commonly the tyme paste is vsed in this hrophecie for the tyme to come for the certayntie of the things héere spokē This haile is none other thē the heauy tempest or plague of the said fearfull tirrible iudgements of the Lord which shal on that woful day fal sodaynly as a thicke hayle vpon the miserable multitude of them that boasted thē selues to be the holy church vpon their wicked folowers cōpared here vnto Babilon 16 This plague is here also for none other cause lykened vnto talents but for that it is in wayght measure to bée ministred vnto them by the preordination of God So much paine and sorow is due vnto that whorish generation as shée hath glorified hir selfe in filthy delightes so many punishmentes to be rewarded hir Yea double must shée haue according to hir workes 17 Out of heauen shall this vehemēt hayle fall from the fearful sentence of the Lord Iesus Christ which shal than sit as a Iudge in the myddest of hys faithful congregatiō they fitting with him as the body with the head in condempnation of the wicked 18 And vpon the men shal it light For the great whore or the citie called héere Babilō is in this place to bée takē for that it comprehendeth euen for men in whom also are included women by the common vsage of the scriptures 19 These men shall spightfully blaspheme God bicause of the hayle plague or terrour of their torments They shall crye out of him wishing that hée had no such power so to torment them 20 For the tempest is great and the sufferaunce thereof excéeding painfull As the Lorde is mightie so are hys iudgements whan they fal Uehemēt fierce and strong is the Lorde sayeth Esay as is the tempest of hayle breaking out on euery side bearing down strong holdes The xvij Chapter OFte hath occasions bene giuen me in this booke to speake of greate Babilon and of the execrable beast but here is place offered to discribe them more at large THE TEXT 1 And there came one of the seuen Angels vvhich had the seauen vyalles 2. and talked vvith me 3. saying vnto me 4. Come I vvill shevve the iudgement 5. of the great vvhore 6. that sitteth vpō many vvaters 7. vvith vvhō the Kinges of the earth haue committed vvhoredome 8 and the inhabiters of the earth are dronken vvith the vvyne of hyr fornication 9. And he caryed me away 10. into the vvildernesse in the spirite The Paraphrase 1 After this came sayth Saint Iohn one of the vij Angels or vnuariable decrées of the Lordes eternall iudgements which had the vij vyals of hys wrath as afore hath bene declared 2 And this Angell or set purpose of God as an heauenly messenger talked with me in mysterie 3 Of fauourable goodnesse in secreat maner he ascertayned me thereby of this wonderfull iudgement héere following to be fulfilled at the latter end of the worlde And thus it sayde vnto mée 4 Come hither friende Iohn I will shew thée in secretnesse the tirrible iudgment of the great whore or coūterfaite church of hypocrites as God hath appointed it Néedes must this whore be Rome for that which is hereafter spokē that she is the great citie which reigneth ouer the kings of the earth Euidēt it is both by the scriptures Cronicles that in Iohns dayes Rome had hyr dominiō ouer all the whole world And being infected with the abhominatiōs of all landes rightly is shée called Babylon or citie of confusion not onely in this reuelation but also in the first Epistle of Peter And like as in the scriptures ofte tymes vnder the name of Ierusalem is ment the whole kingom of Iuda so vnder the name of Rome here may be vnderstanded the vnyuersall worlde with all their abhominations and diuillishnesses theyr Idolatryes witchcraftes sectes superstitions papacyes priesthoodes relygions shauings anointings blessings sensings processiōs the diuil all of such beggeryes For all the people since Christes assēcion hath this Rome infected with hyr pestilent poisōs gathered from al Idolatrous nations such time as she held ouer them the monarchial suppremit And like as Babilon had the Israelites captiue vnder a bodily tribute so hath this Rome had the Christians both in their bodies soules At the wryting of this prophecy felt Iohn of their crueltie being exiled into Pathmos an I le of Licia for the faithfull testimony of Iesu. And so did I poore creature with my poore wife children at the gatheringe of this present commentary flyinge into Germamye for the same 5 No maruail though she be here called a great whore For no wher were euer yet séene so many Idole worshipinges so many vaine obseruatiōs so many supersticious sects so many errours in hipocrisie so many false prophets and so many prodigious kindes of filthynes no not in Sodom it selfe nor yet in miserable Egipt 6 This Babilonysh whore or disguised sinagoge of shorelings sitteth vpō many waters or peoples that are fantastical fickle or folish For none are in conscience subiect vnto hyr that are constantly grounded in the sure doctrine of fayth only alloweth hir traditions the wauering witted multitude the slipper and vnstedfast number obeying them in theyr hartes of feare not of loue so throwing them selues into a moste confuse Chaos or vawte of double dotage 7 With this stinking strompet haue the mightie potentates of the vniuersall earth the Emperours Kings Princes and other notable gouernours cōmitted most shamefull whoredome in the spirite by many straunge worshippings agréeing among them selues to hyr wickedly decréed lawes customes To long should we stande here in this place if we should discribe them all seuerally in theyr colours at large as they be 8 Through the craftie legerdimaine of the priests on the one side the cruel cōstitutiōs of Princes on the other side the dwellers of the earth or worldly minded multitude are dronken with the wyne of hyr fornication spirituall or practised worshippings besides the prescript rules of Gods word Not only they which haue bene couetous carnall leude wreched hath followed theyr abhominaciōs but also an innumerable sort of the elect number hath beleued their lies and errors Yea they haue bene so dazed with theyr dotages so tangeled with theyr customes that as men losing theyr wittes without all godly remembrance reason wisdom discressiō vnderstāding iudgement grace the lawes of God laid apart the commandementes neclected and the scriptures despised they haue not only knéeled crossed kissed set vp lights holdē vp their hāds before rottē postes but also called thē their fathers in heuē Yea I axe God mercy a thousand times I haue
wonder For they are so blinded with hyr foppryes tangled with hir toies that they iudge all that she doth holy religeous and perfect And al this suffereth God for their vnbeleues sake destroyinge neuerthelesse the wysdome of the wise and prudence of the prudent in his 13 Hir very name agréeing to hir fruites is this Great BabiloÌ„ in mischiefe far aboue the citie of the ChaldeaÌ„s and much more full of confusion For shée is the originall mother the cause the bginnyng the roote the spryng and the fountaine of all spirituall fornications and in a maner of all fleshly abhominations also done vpon the earth This is to the faithfull sort as a written name of hir euident cleare open and manifeste But to the vnfaithfull it is onely as a mistery hidden darke obscure and neclect For so are the secrets that God openeth to babes hydeth from the wise 14 And I saith Iohn perceiued it euidentlye in my fore vnderstandinge that this woman the very wife of the deuill and of his beastly body for the bysshâ—ps are the husbandes of theyr romyshe churches was all dronken in the bloudy slaughter of the Saincts or ernest christian beléeuers and in the excéedinge tyrannous murther of the faithfull witnesses of Iesu or sincere preachers of his word For neither of both she spareth Besides all Godlye wisdome is she and forgetfull of hyr selfe through this same blouddye dronknes so great exces hath she takeÌ„ 15 And when I perceyued and sawe hir with all hir adders whelpes so beastyshe sayth saynt Iohn with exceading wonder I marueyled Not only that she was thus ouerset with bloud drinking or outragious murthering of inocentes but also of hyr excéeding great abhominacions 16 And most of all I wondered that the almighty God could with so much paciâ—nce suffer hir in such mischiefe The texte 1 And the Angell sayde vnto me 2. Wherefore merueilest thou 3. I wyll shew thee the misterye of the woman and of the beast that beareth hyr which hath seauen heades and ten hornes 4. The beast that thou seeste was 5. And is not 6. And shall ascende out of the bottomlesse pit 7. And shall goe into perdicion 8. And they that dvvel on the earth shal vvoÌ„der 9 whose names are not vvritteÌ„ in the booke of lyfe from the beginninge of the vvorld 10. vvhen they beholde the beaste that was and is not The Paraphrase 1 And as I was thus with my selfe marueilynge the Angell or afore named decrée of the Lord sayde vnto me these words 2 Wherfore doest thou thus maruel thou mortall man 3 For thy gentle and méeke expectation I shall shew vnto thée the mystery of this wretched woman and of the cruell beaste that beareth hir whiche hath seauen heades and ten hornes By this shalt thou know the true churche from the â—alse the iust preachers from the hipocrites the sincere doctrine from their subtile sophismes their lawful authority from their cruelly vsurped presumcions For that sheweth the Lord vnto his electes that he will not haue knowne of all men 4 The execrable beast or carnal kiÌ„gdom of Antichrist which thou hast sene here in mistery was as concerninng his beginning in Caine first of al so continue forth in the fleshly children of men in the chaplaines of Pharao Hieroboam Baal and Bel in the cruell bishopes pristes and lawiers with such other like til the death of Christ and so forth 5 And now the said beast is not in power and authority as he hath bene For in Iohns time certayn yeares before the writing of this reuelacion was the proud clergy of the Iewes vtterly destroyed by Titus and Uespasian in the terrible siege of Hierusalem Notwithstanding yet shal this beaste rise againe in the Romishe Pope and Mahomet and in their false prelates and doctours 6 He shal assend out of the bottomles pit from the stinking denne of sathan exalting him selfe in worship aboue al that is called God But in the conclsiuon he shall haue an end 7 Into perdicion shal he go without fail The Lorde shall firste vtter his wickednesse as now in this age and than with the spirit of his mouth consume him and destroy him So that his high climing vp shal at the laste be the chefe cause of his fal Yet shal his wicked reÌ„nauÌ„t once again set vp their Christes persecute a fresh but that shal be no full raise vnto hym 8 And the rable of reprobates which dwel on the earth or for earthly commodities conteÌ„neth Gods truth shall wonder once again not without much inward reioyce that their Churche riseth againe out of the olde hipocrisyes 9 Whose names are not registred in Christe which is the large booke of life and hath bene both the life the lyght of men since the first constitucion of the mouable world No they are not numbred amoÌ„g those rightuous that shall raigne with hym in glory 10 These aduersaries of God and his worde shall haue much gladnesse in their wicked hartes whan they beholde the beast thus comminge vp agayne that was of such magnificence and now is but a thinge of noughte that was estéemed aboue GOD and now is proued dampnacion So longe is this beastly Antichriste as he worketh the misterie of iniquitie in the reprobate vesselles and whan he leaueth that workinge than is he no longer Marke in this processe past the nature of GODS eternall decrée for this age of his Church Fyrst it sheweth and than it condempneth the curssed Sinagog of the diuel In signification whereof the true preachers of our time haue manifeâ—â—ly opened hir wickednesse vnto all the worlde wherevpon her vtter destruction must shortely follow Watch good Christian Reader and pray earnestly THE TEXT 1 And here is a minde that hath vvisdome 2. The seauen heades are seuen mountaines 3. Whereon the vvoman sitteth 4. They are also seuen kings 5 Fiue are fallen 6 And one is 7. And the other is not come 8. Whan he commeth he must continue a space 9. And the beast that vvas and is not is euen the eight 10. And is one of the seauen 11. And shall go into destruction The Paraphrase 1 Here is a meaning which comprehendeth wisdom A sincere vnderstanding shal herein be requisit Necessary it is therfore to take héed lest thou holde the harlot and beast for that they boast them selues to be to thy dampnacion 2 The seauen heades of the beast aforemencioned by the plaine diffinicion of the holy ghost are here to be taken for seuen mountaines or the vniuersall princly monarchies of the .vij. climates of the world 3 Upon these the woman that Babilonish harlot Rome from whom hathe issued all spirituall whordome in moste proud maner sitteth hauynge ouer them a vnyuersall domynyon For in Iohns time to Rome was all the worlde subiecte Onder whose cruell reigne was Christe done to death so hath his faythfull members bene euer since by a new raised kingdome in the same 4 These heads are also vii kynges or
daies was in auhoritie ouer al the world yea sitting aboue God in the consiences of men and nowe is become of no reputacion amonge men God openinge his mischiefes is euen the eyghte in number And yet neuertheles is one of the vii heades For both is he the beastly body it selfe comprehending in him the vniuersall abhominations of all the earthlye kyngdomes And in that poynt diuers from the seuen heades and so the .viii. in number 10 And also he is one of the .vii. heades and the seauenth in numbre in vsurpyng this proude worldly kyngdome thus after a vayne temporall sorte Ouer and besids all thys maye he also be called the eyght in the curssed remnant which after the peaceable silence of christen libertie sathan loosoned shall most cruelly persecute Christes congregation a freshe as in the xx chapter here following wil appeare 11 This beast with hys carriage the Antichrist with hys church or sathan wish his sinagog shal not onely go into destructioÌ„ here by the mighty breth of Gods mouth or the true preaching of hys Gospell but also into dampnation euerlastinge in the ende of the worlde with the deuill and hys Angelles THE TEXTE 1 And the ten hornes vvhich thou savvest are ten Kinges 2. VVhich haue not yet receiued the kingdome 3. But shall receiue povver 4. As Kings 5. At one houre vvith the Beast 6. These haue one minde 7. And shall geue their povver and strength vnto the beast 8. These shall fight vvith the lambe 9. And the Lambe shall ouercome them 10. For he is Lorde of all Lordes 11. And Kinge of all Kinges 12. And they that are on his side 13. Are called the chosen and faithfull The Paraphrase 1 And the ten hornes saith the Angell vnto Iohn which thou sawest here vp on the heades of this rose coloured beast are in signification x. Kinges Some hath taken these ten Kings for al those Emperours of the Latins since Charlemayn which haue sworn them selues obediente to the Byshoppe of Rome Some haue thought them to be those Princes which here in Europa haue aforetime bene subiecte to the Empyre of Rome As the Kinges of England Fraunce Spaine Portingale Castele Denmarke Scotlande Ungary Boheme and Naples But these consider not that they be yet more in number as Aragone Nauerre Cicile Cypres Sardine SwetheÌ„ Pole and such other and are all included in the seauen heades as members of the afore rehersed Empires Neither marke they that they are aboue the heades as hornes and more in number then the heades betokening a rygorus authorytie and fierce power whiche they proudlye vsurpe ouer them euery where Afore they were but suggestions but héere are they earnest doers For in euerye region hath the beastly Antichriste of Rome his Metropolitanes Primats As in England are Caunterbury anâ— York in Fraunce Thuronensis and Remensis in Spaine Tholetanus Terraconensis in Portingale Hispalensis Bracarensis in Irelande Armachanus Dubliniensis in Denmarke Lundensis and Upsalensis in Germany Coloniensis Maguntinus in Hungary Strigoniensis and Colocensis in Italye Pisanus Rauennas in Sicyle Panormitanus Messanences with an infinite number of bishops prelates pristes religions besides the fighting orders of the Rhodes the Prussianes the Redemers of captiues the Aragondes the Georgianes caled de Alga the Monteseanes the Castilianes the Lusitaneanes the Calatraneanes S. Iames warriours 2 These had not yet at yâ— tyme receiued the diuillish kingdom of pestilnce vsurpacion ouer the soules of men For though in Iohns daies arose certaine Antichristes as Hebion Cerinthius Diotrephes Carpocras and such like yet were they nothinge to these 3 But now in déede they haue receyued the selfe same aucthoritie power with the beast that hée tooke afore of the Dragon in maner of kings to rule in the heartes and consciences of men to his behoue 4 For so much as theyr authoritie is not of God lyke as is the authoritie of Kings it is sayd here as kings or as men counterfeyting them in vsurping a gouernaunce not fréely giuen them of God but of the Diuill 5 All at one houre receyued they this aucthoritie with the beast And that I suppose was in the great general couÌ„sayle of Laterane at Rome gathered vnder the title to recouer Hierusalem agayne Where as confession in the eare was cruelly extorted of christian people vnder the payne of death dampnation by the whole consent both of the princes bishops at the former suggestioÌ„ of InnoceÌ„t the third besides other wicked things As to heare latine seruice to go on processioÌ„ on sundayes to pray vnto dead saints to â—orship Images to buy masses for the dead to â—ast the fridays with purgatory pardoÌ„s merits friers orders In the sayd couÌ„sail became the metropolitanes as kinges and by the authority threof apointed they their Stuards Baliues other officers as bishopes curates parish pristes to haue euer charge of soules and in the sayd eare coÌ„fession to receiue their accountes 6 These counterfet kinges are al of on diuelish mind practise purpose against God and his veritye 7 And fully they are fixed to geue their whole power their study their strength vnto the behoofe of the beast Not acording to Gods mind wil they rule but al after his wil pleasur agreing alwaies vnto him as meÌ„bers to their head to serue wickednesse after wickednes in Babilon His Popish decres wil they seke his diuelish decretales will they folow his ceremonials wil they obserue and nothing of the sacred scriptures What learnyng so euer they haue what giftes of nature fortune or grace al must be to the maintenaÌ„ce of his faÌ„tastical fopperis To him ar they sworn to do him homage to obey his laws to kisse his féete for his glorious sake to persecute his gospell 8 And in so doing they shal fight with the lamb which is Iesus Christ. They shal impunge his truth wheÌ„ they think to doe him seruice For that mischiefe they doe to one of his they doe to hys owne person 9 But be they neuer so dogged yet â—hal the Lambe ouercome them in his faithful members yea by pacient sufferaunce onely The victory saith S. Iohn which ouercoÌ„meth the worlde is a sure christian fayth Upon theyr â—ide fighteth he which is most myghtie and strong yea the Lord that is valyaunt in battail And he shall first ouercome them in this lyfe with the mightie breath of his mouth scattering theÌ„ away as dust from the earth And after this shall hys tirrible iudgement for euer condempne them 10 For he is by the aucthoritie giuen him of his father the Lord of all Lords and by his own eternall Godhead the King of all Kings hauyng all power in heauen and in earth He is coÌ„stitute Iudge of the quicke and the dead hauing alone the euerlastyng Emâ—yre with his father and the holye Ghost and of his kyngdome shall neuer bée an ende 11 By his permission doeth all kinges reigne he
hath their hartes in his hand and iudgeth their thoughts Both may he giue them his spirite and also take it from them and of his enimyes hée shall make his footestoole He is the same â—â—one after Daniell that without any handes was cutte out of the mounte which breaketh the Iron the copper the earth the siluer and the Golde in péeces By whom are ment the vniuersall kingdomes of this world 12 Of this his victory are all they parteners with him which are vpon hys syde by fayth Most specially those true seruaunts of his which after they are called by grace and chosen by fayth perseuer still constant feruent faythfull and sure in hys veritie to the latter ende of theyr liues 13 Not only the Lambe therfore shal â—uercome the beast but they also after the doctrine of Paule that are called and chosen in him not falling from his truth for any temptation or grief but standing fast by it vnto the very death For those that the Lorde hath prefixed afore he hath called iustified and allowed These auanceth not them selues with the proude but méekly they submit theyr crownes referring all victory to the Lambe as men that could haue done nothing in yâ— behalf without him THE TEXT 1 And he said vnto me 2. The vvaters vvhich thou savvest vvhere the vvhore sitteth 3. are people and folke and nations and tongues 4. And the ten hornes vvhich thou savvest vpon the beast 5. are they vvhich shall hate the vvhore 6. and shall make hir desolate naked 7. and shall eate hyr flesh 8. and burn hyr vvith fyre 9. For God hath put in their harts to fulfill his vvill 10. and to doe vvith one coÌ„sent 11. for to giue hir kingdome vnto the beast 12. vntil the words of God be fulfilled 13. And the vvomaÌ„ vvhich thou savvest is the great citie 14. vvhich reigneth ouer the kingâ— of the earth The Paraphrase 1 And after thys long communicatioÌ„ sayth Sainct Iohn the afore sayd Angell sayde thus vnto me to make vp his tale with 2 The wauering waters which thou sawest héere now of late in misterye where as the Babilonish whore sitteth vpon the rose coloured beast are in signification all maner of peoples of the carnall nations and the supersticious folke of many sundry tongues 3 Not onely in one place of the worlde ruleth this wanton religion of Antychrist but in euery lande in euery dominion in euery company among all occupacions languages The foolysh multitude euery where being blynded by their subtile sorceryes and neyther hauing fayth nor yet the feare of God before theyr eyes as a raging flood the banckes broken downe runneth headlings into all blasphemy and diuillishnesse 4 Moreouer the a fore named ten hornes sayeth the Angell which thou by the wil of God beholdest here in spirite vpon the sayd beast of distructioÌ„ are those very persoÌ„s which also shal hate the whore Hir abhominations once knowne by the Gospel preaching they shall abhorre hir lawes dispise hyr authoritie coÌ„tempne hir customs They shal defeat hir of those lands possessions which now shée vniustly holdeth 5 They that afore were hir friends shal than be hir mortall enymies denying hir both tribute obedience seruice so leauing hir without all comfort Not only are these the temporal gouernours as the King of England the Kyng of Denmarke the Duke of Saxon the LaÌ„dgraue of Hesse and other Princes of Germany with such other as wil here after followe the same principles but also the Metropolitanes and bishops the Doctors and Prelates As are already Thomas Cranmere the Archebishop of Caunterbury Hermanus de Weda the Archbishop of Coleyn Godrick the Bishop of Hely Barlow the bishop of Sainct Dauids Byrde the Bishop of Chester Thurleby bishop of Westminster Hugh Latimer Nicolas Shaxton of late yeares Bishop of Worcester and Salisbury with such other lyke as will here after followe theyr trade Though they were afore the horns of the beast for defence of the whore yet are they now fallen from him more shall euery day to make hir desolate of honour and naked of rentes and possessyons 6 So shal they chase that Babilonish harlot Rome with their prechers that neyther shal they leaue hir couler nor yet bewty Consider what Iohn Reuclin Martin Luther Erasmus Ocolampadious Zwinglius Pomeran Bucer Capito Melanthon Grineus Caluinous Brencius Frances Lamberte Bullinger and such other hath don against hir alredy Likewise here in EinglaÌ„d Bilnee Tindale Frith Barnes Cromwel Couerdale Turner Gorge Ioy Rose Ridley Ward Becon and other els leauing her neither Reliques nor Robes sectes nor Shrynes Abbeyes nor Priores many more comming after them of the same sort These shal make her so desolat that no man shall in proses of tyme regard hir They shall leue hir so naked that all the worlde shall abhorre hyr that shal loke vpon hir Yea in the conclusion they shal eat hyr fleshe 7 Besides the taking away of hir carnall prophites and plesuers they shal confound hir fleshly vnderstanding of the scriptuers utterly consume the superfluous obseruacions of hir whorishe cerimonies 8 Finally with fyre shal they burne hir in bringing vnto nought al hir abhomynable rules customes and kindes of idolatry All these once plucked away by the euident worde of God no lenger shall this harlot appere For no lenger continueth the whore then the whoredom is in price Take away the rites and cerimonies the Iewels and ornaments the Images and lightes the Lordeshippes and fatherhodes the aulters and masses with the Bishops and Priestes and what is their holye whorishe church any more Not onely is this flesh eating and burÌ„ing declared now a daies in outwarde experimentes as in the rebellious Monkes and Priestes of Englande and in theÌ„ that arose there in the North specially in fryer Forest and Margarete Cheny which were for their church coÌ„sumed like as were Baales chaplayns at the broke of Cison by Helyas but also mistically in that is spoken of hir afore 9 For God hath saith the Angel al blindenesse secluded put it into the hartes of those and such other godlye meÌ„ by the infusioÌ„ of his spirit to fulfil his decréed wil pleasure in this behalf as vtterly to distroy the popish religioÌ„ or filthy abhominations of Antichrist 10 He hath giueÌ„ it theÌ„ moreouer to doe these thiÌ„gs to his glory throgh the agréement of faith that they haue in the vnitie of his godly truth to the abolishment of all sects false prophets coÌ„iurers of egipt 11 Finally by his grace he hath moued them through knowledge of his word to reÌ„der vp hir blasphemous kingdom whom sometime of ignorance they vsurped vnto the malignaunt beast again as the horns of his pestilent heads After this sorte did good Latimer Shaxton giue ouer their bishoppricks so haue diuers other godly men their promocions liuings as many more yet here after will doe 12 For as they haue begonne so shall they coÌ„tinue in diminishyng the
swerd fyre halters no longer They shal be pensyue heauy to sée all goe to wracke they being no lenger able by the slaughter of innocents to vpholde hyr glittering estate 3 Specially shal they be sore disconteÌ„ted with the matter which haue with his commited the whordom of the spyrite by many externe worshipings of drye waffer cakes oyles roods relyques ladyes Images sculles bones chippes olde ragges showes bootes spurres hattes breches whodes nightcapes and such like 4 And they that haue liued wantoÌ„ly with hir in folowing hir idle obseruacions in matteÌ„ses houres and masses in sensinges halowings and font halowing in going processions with canapye crosse and pyx with banneres stremers and torchelight with such other gaudes to folish for children no godly admonishment taken of the scripturs For vnder the kinges here are also to be vnderstaÌ„ded those peoples whoÌ„ they haue wickedly gouerned constrained by theyr lawes to such abhominable vsages 5 Dolorously shal these kings lameÌ„t whan thy shal behould the filthy smoke of hir burning or whan they perceiue that she comming to the triall of the scriptures appereth nothing but a vile stinking smoke noyful to the eyes choking to the throte and euermore blemishing the comfortable light The churche of the wicked saith Dauid is as the dust that is blowen forth of the winde the shadow that passeth away the smoke that vanisheth and the waxe that melteth in the fyre yea of al fantasticall vanities the most 6 A fare of shal they stand trembling at the magesty of gods worde â—â—aring to be destroyed or to lose their worldlye honours also by the same as dyd the duke of Bauery and Brunswick with other popish princes at the last counsail of Rainsbrig For the continuall clamor of Eckius Cochleus Tregarius Sactzgerus Pelargus Herborne Hosâ—â—eister Badia Winchester and such other dirtye doctours of theirs is euermore that the Gospellers would haue all things in coÌ„mon And therfore do these persecut them and would not haue that church to goe downe thynkyng that if it should once fall they should not long after continue 7 Thus doth the childreÌ„ of Cain which haue murthered their poore innocent brethern fear that euery man loking vpon them would destroy them As men forsakeÌ„ of God they dispaier in them selues loking for non other but dampnacion now that they can haue no more masses holy praiers nor suffrages complayning after this sort 8 Alas alas that great cyty that beutiful BabiloÌ„ that blessed holy mother the church which somtime had so many Popes pardons so many bishoppes blessinges so many holye stacions so many clean remissions a Pena et culpa so many good ghostly fathers so many religious orders so much holy water for spirites and saint Iohns Gospels with the .v. woundes and the length of our Lord for drowning is nowe decayed for euer 9 We sorow we sighe we sobbe we are sore disquieted for pain we pante tremble and quake to sée our dearely beloued Babilon turned vpside down whom we toke for a most wonderfull miracle 10 Oh that cyty that city the sumtime was so mighty and strong so fayre bewtiful so glorious holy is now becom wast and desolate 11 At once is the terrible iudgment of God coÌ„men vpon thée vnloked for Sodenly art thow destroyed with the spirit of his mouth vnthought vpon Alas who shall pray for vs now who shall â—inge Diriges and trentoles who shal assoile vs of our sinnes who shal giue vs ashes palmes who shal blesse vs with a spade and sing vs out of purgatory when we are deade If we lacke these things we are like to want heaueÌ„ These are the desperate complaints of the wicked THE TEXTE 1 And the marchauntes of the earth 2. shall vvepe and vvaile in them selues 3. bicause no man vvill by their vvares anye more 4. The vvares 5. of golde 6. and siluer 7. and of precious stons 8. neither of pearle 9. and silke 10 and raines 11. and purple and scarlet 12. and all thinne vvood 13. and all maner of vessels of luery 14. all maner vessels of most precious vvood 15. and of brasse 16 and of yron 17. and of marbil 18. and sinamon 19. and odours 20. oyntmeÌ„ts 21. frankensence 22. wine 23. oyle 24. and fine floure 25. and wheat 26. and cattell 27. and sheepe 28. and horses 29. and charettes 30. and bodyes 31. and soules of men The commentary 1 Now followeth in course the merchauntes of the earth the sellers of wares in the temple the marked muster of Mahomet and the Pope 2 They shall wéepe mourne wayle and lament inwardly in them selues both wringing their hands for sorow and scratchyng theyr heades for verye anguish 3 Bicause they sée all men goe from them and none in a maner are disposed to buye their pedlary wares anye more 4 As these wares are specially which follow here in course 5 They will pay no more money for the housell sippings bottom blessings nor for séest me and séest me not aboue the heade and vnder of their chalices which in many places be of fyne gold Neyther regarde they to knéele anye more downe and to kisse their pontificall rings which are of the same mettal 6 They will be no more at coste to haue the ayre beaten and the Idols perfumed with their sensers at pryncipall feastes to haue their crucifixes layde vpoÌ„ horses or to haue them solemply borne aloft in their gaddings abroade with the religious occupyings of their paxes cruettes other Iewels which be of siluer 7 Neyther passe they greatly to beholde precyous stones any more in their ij horned miters whan they hallow their churches giue theyr whorishe orders and tryumphantly muster in processions 8 Nor in costuous pearles in theyr copes perrours and chysibilles whan they bée in theyr prelately pompous sacrifices 9 Men knowing the worde of God supposeth that their ornaments of silk wherwith they garnishe their temples and adorne their Idolles is very blasphemous and diuillish 10 They thinke also that their fayre white rochets of raynes or fine linnen cloath their costly gray amices of calaber and cattes tayles 11 Theyr fresh Purple gownes whaÌ„ they walke for their pleasures their read scarlet frockes whan they preach lyes in the Pulpit are very superfluous and vayne 12 In their thynen wood whom some men call Algume trées some Basill some Corall may be vnderstande all theyr curious buildings of Temples Abbeys Chappels and Chambers All shrines Images churchscooles pews that are well payed for All Banner staues Pater noster scores and péeces of the holy crosse 13 The vessels of yuory comprehendeth all their maundye dyshes theyr offring platters their relique chistes their god boxes their drinking horns their sipping cuppes for the hiccough their tables wherevpon are charmed their chalices and vestiments theyr standiches their combes theyr muske balles their pomaunder pottes and their dust boxes with such other toyes 14 The vessels which after some interpretours
glory In the strong faith of his name and word stande these worthie witnesses agaynst the whole swarme of Antichristes not once remouyng their fote from the rock which is Christ also for no persecution nor death 3 These hath cryed and yet shall crye still to the worldes ende with a mightie loude voyce or a sure constant spyrite Earnestly shall they protest and publish vnto the fethered foules of the ayre that flye by the middest of heauen by whome are vnderstanded the méeke sprited multitude made spirituall by fayth and by knowledge of heauenly misteries 4 These as flying byrdes are taken vp from vnpure delightes leauing at their tayles all corruptible thinges They lift vp them selues aboue them selues haue their coÌ„uersatioÌ„ in heaueÌ„ vnfainedly Yea these are those gentil soules whom the heauenly father abouÌ„dantly féedeth without theyr deseruings Such a soule was faithfull Abraham in Mesopotamia Moyses in Synai Helias in Carme Danyell among the Lyons the children of Israel in the wildernesse Paul in Damascus Iohn in Pathmos and many other more which afterward became Angels also in the sunne or teachers in Christ. And this not onely hath ben but shall be also stil to the worlds end the tenour of their crye 5 Come you that haue receyued the veritie from the heauy and carefull cures of this worlde and gather your selues togither into the vnitie of one faith and spirite Knit your selues togither in christian loue whiche is the cheayne of perfection let the peace of God which passeth all wit kéepe your hartes and vnderstandyngs in Christ Iesu that ye may be counted worthye your christien vocation 6. And so prepare your selues as hys louinge frindes vnto the bounteous supper of the almightye God whiche is the eternall refection of soule that ye may be fed with his most precious delicates Learne of the word of God what is his heauenly wyll and folow it in your works Flée therby from all worldly lusts liue soberly iustly godly here abyding his glorious aperaÌ„ce 7 So order your selues in liuing doctrine that ye may eate the flesh of kings or take froÌ„ the worldly gouernors by your godly preaching al that is filthy carnall 8 Consume the fierce flesh of the captayns in plucking theÌ„ froÌ„ crueltie mallice 9 Denowre the froward flesh of meÌ„ that be mighty in power possessioÌ„s cause theÌ„ to leaue their superfluous vanities 10 Spare neither horses nor yet those that sit vpoÌ„ them but byte both theyr fleshes harde Rebuke both the beastly Antichrist the prince that is ruled by him 11 Plucke from those belly Gods byshops and priestes their pompes lecherous pleasures from those that follow them in superstitions the cruell persecuting of innocents 12 See that no flesh be left vntouched neither of frée men nor bonde men rulers nor subiects maisters nor seruaÌ„ts Neyther of small nor great poore nor riche low nor high but be doing with theÌ„ all Play as doth the Egles other rauening fouls Wher as ye sée a dead carkasse or body without faith spirit thither resort ye apace Tell euery man his right offyce Exhort the kyng to be learned and to liue in the fear of the Lord. The prince to be wise and the Iudge to be godly Bid the graunde captaynes be faythfull to theyr commons and the great rich men more mercyfull to the poore CommauÌ„de the carnall hypocrites no longer to dissemble their vndiscréets clients no longer to folow theÌ„ in darknesse Require them no longer to ney after their neyghbours wyues lyke â—ancke stoned horses the other no loÌ„ger to pamper them vp to all beastlye vices Charge the gouernours to rule faithfully the commoÌ„ people to obey louyngly Sée that the woman obeye theyr husbandes the chyldren theyr fathers the seruants theyr maysters And agayne that the men be louing to theyr wyues gentyle to theyr chyldren fauourable to their seruants Open the foure cornerde shéete as did Peter Sley all maner of foure footed beastes of the earth vermin wormes and foules of the ayre eat them Rebuke them with pacience whatsoeuer they be tyraÌ„ts persecutors murtherers glottons Antichristes extortioners ribalds Idolatours théeues and pluck from them their filthye and carnall customes Ye shall eate the flesh saith Ezechiell of the worthyes and drink the bloud of the princes of the land of the wethers of the lambs of the gotes and of the oxen that be al slayne at Basan THE TEXT 1 And I savv the beast 2. And the kings of the earth and their warryers 3. Gathered together 4 To make battayle 5. Against hym that sate vpon the horse 6. And against hys souldiours 7. And the beast was taken 8. And with him that fals prophet 9. That tought miracles before him 10. With vvhich he deceiued them that receiued the beasts mark 11. And theÌ„ that worshipped his Image 12. These both werre caste quick into a ponde 13. Of fyre burning vvith brimston 14. And the remnaunt were slaine vvith the svvord of him that sate vpoÌ„ the horse 15. Which svvord proceedeth out of his mouth 16. And all the soules vvere stuffed vvith their flesh The commentary 1 Anone after this I behelde saith S. Iohn the great horible beast that rose out of the sea that battailed with the Saintes and that beare the greate whore of Babilon which is the generall Antichrist 2 I saw also following him the cruell kinges of the earth and their host of bloudy warriours the mitered bysshops of his beastly kingdome with their great bellied monks and priestes the malicious tirants of the world with their mad moodye magistrates and slaues 3 These gather them selues togeather in one minde of mischiefe hath done since Christes assencion They muster in aray as dyd Pharaoes host they buskle together as dyd Cayphas hyered knights in the dark with fyre brands and weapons 4 To make fierce war or very sharp battaile against the most valiant capitayne Iesus Christe which sate vpon the aforesayde whit horse and against mighty stomaked soldiours of his faithful army of true christiaÌ„s Neuer was the holy gospell yet sincerely taught the glory of God proponed and the inordinate liuings of men reprehended but such vprore of hipocrits and suche tumulte of tyrantes hath followed 5 The word of the Lord is alwayes of one nature to be the marke of contradiction and rocke of reproch Horsemen for the more parte are these malicious warriours against Christ his word sturred prouoked and set foreward by the beastly bishops None other caused Herode Pylate to put Christ vnto death but Annas Caiphas Non other moued Felix the president of Iury to emprison Paule but the puffed vp prelate Ananias Traianus the Emperour would neuer so extremely haue persecuted the Christian church nor yet other cruell tyrauntes euer since had they not béene propped forewarde by such pampred palfraies of the diuil 6 Not onely agaynst Christ doe they moue this bold battail but also against those that faithfully
2. Come dovvne from heauen 3. hauing the key of the bottoÌ„lesse pyt 4. And a great chayne in his hande 5. And he toke the Dragon the olde serpent vvhyche is the Diuell and Sathanes 6. And hee bounde hym a thousand yeares 7. And cast hym into the bottomlesse pitte 8. And he bounde hym 9. and sette a seale on hym 10. that hee should disâ—eyue the people no more 11. tyll the thousande yeares vvere fulfilled 12. And after that must he be losed 13. for a lyttle season The Commentary 1 IN the end of these reuelations afore rehersed saieth S. Iohn sawe I in a secrete vysion an Angell of most singuler bewtye betokning Iesus Christ the Aungell of Gods eternall couenaunt 2 From the high heauen aboue came this Angell downe vnto the earth sent of the euerlasting father For neyther spared that louing father to sende his most dere and onely sonne at the time appoynted nor yet the obedient sonne to submit him selfe to the shape of a seruaunt and so become manne â—iâ—tâ—riously did he ouercome both deathe and the Diuell as appeareth by hys great miracles resurrection and asceÌ„cion And lyke as he came downe first of all with a pâ—ssible meekenesse so came he downe ater that wyth an impassyble and inuysible mayiestie Sodeine was thys latter comminge downe most maruelous to the worlde such tyme as he by his heauenly spirit replenished his Apostles with all necessary knowledg And the noyse therof was hearde the worlde ouer tuche tyme as they did preach it abrode SiÌ„sibly was this coÌ„ming downe expressed in Saule olso the mighty power therof when hée throwe him to the grounde and sayd Saule Saule why persecutest thou me 3. Thys Aungell had the keye of the bottomelesse pet or power ouer hell and a greate chayne in hys hande or full libertie to restrayne the spirituall aduersarie For vnto him was geuen all power in heauen and in earth 4 Authoritie had he to destroye him that had rule ouer death which was than the Diuell Though I was dead sayth Christ yet am I now a lyue 〈◊〉 euer and euer hauing the keyes both of death and hell 5 And accordinge to his authoritys sayth saynt Iohn he toke the fierce Dragon in hande that was wonte so maliciously to noy that olde wily serpent that of so long tyme hath wyth infinite craftes deceiued which is the very diuell himselfe or malicious accuser of man and is called Sathan or the cruell aduersarye as he is moste worthy For both is he a spightfull aduersarie to God euermore withstaÌ„ding his will also vnto man in plucking him backe froÌ„ folowing the same 6 Lyke a most valiaunt captain fell he vpoÌ„ that stronge armed house watcher ouercame him depriuing hym both of weapon and spoyle He layed a snare for the outragious Behemoth and caught him He ringed the nose of the greate Leuiathan and so brought him vnder Yea he bounde that malicious sathan and made him sure for a thousande yeares space to make of the vessels of wrath the vessels of mercy This did he by his stronge worde of couenaunte whome he made for a thousand generations And a full perfourmaunce it is of Gods first promise for mannes behoue that Christ should tread downe the head of the serpent For a thousande yeares was this restraynte Marke besides the misterie the tyme from the ascention of Christ vnto the dayes of Siluester the second Bishop of Rome of that name and ye shall all finde that it was froÌ„ Christes natiuitie a complete thousande after all the Historiographers By such Nicromancy as he learned of a Sarazin in Spayne obtayned he the papacy as witnesseth Iohn Wycleaue in his booke De solutioÌ„e sathane in Christes vicarship he lowsoned that diuell whoÌ„ Christ had afore shut vp and sett him againe at large to deceiue a freshe CoÌ„sider for the tyme that hée was thus bound the constaunt saith of the christians and the inuincible heartes of thyr martyrs and ye shall finde them farre different from them which hath bene since He was then so weake so infatuate and babysh that not onely wyse men learned men and stronge men dyd set him lyghte but also yong maydens chyldren and tender infantes in a maner did laugh him to scorn set all his subttle slaights at nought Euidente wyll this bee to all them that shall read the liues of the holye martirs sainctes of the primatiue church Lyke a byrde was that croked Leuiathan in those dayes so tamed that no man set by him at all 7 For not onely was he then bound but also throwen downe with violeÌ„ce into the bottomelesse pytte For that tyme might they go safe vpon the adder and scorpion they might tread vnder their féete both the Lyon and Dragon Both the Diuell and his Angels might they then set at nought 8 Yea he was shutte vp and so was double bounde So was his power taken from him that vpon neither side could he harme Neyther was he able to plucke them from Christes fayeth by flatteringe prosperitie nor yet by vrgent aduersitie Neither could tyraÌ„nies nor herisies for that time preuail agaynst the Gospell 9 Fynally he set a sure seale vpoÌ„ him which was his word will and commauÌ„demeÌ„t that he should no more of his own presumption deceiue the people with errours Idole worshipings that beleued in him or that were predestinat to be saued till such time as the afore sayd thousaÌ„d yeres wer fully acoÌ„plished or as he shoulde permit him thervnto for their vnbeleues sake 10 By thys doth the holy Ghost here assartayne vs that Christ hath so suspended the subtilties and suppressed the venemouse craftes of Sathan for his electes that he can not hurt them in one heire of their head For onely is all this spoken for the chosen number No part hath therein the reprobate vessels neuer was the Diuell from theÌ„ yet speared bat hath bene in all ages with theÌ„ famyliar Onely are the consciences of the rightuous by thys fréedome quieted all other still left in captiuitie This reuelation respecteth in this poynt the inwarde kingedom of Christ or the hidden congregation of the faithfull whom the worlde beholdeth with froward eyes and not the blasynge Sinagoge of Antichrist whom it laugheth vpon so freshly 11 None otherwyse were they for all those thousand yeares vexed of SathaÌ„ and his curssed members but as was pacient Iob in their outwarde substaunce bodies No power had he vpon their soules all that longe season 12 And where as it is here sayed that after these thousand yeares Sathan must be let lose agayne for a certayne teme Consider it to be the promise of God which must in effect be fulfilled Not that he shall agayne lose him which hath once bound him for euer vut that he shall permit other to doe it according to his threatning promise the vnthankefulnesse and mallyce of wicked doers requiring none other In the end of these thousand yeares raigned in the papacy at Rome
of God mans wickednesse deseruing none other A full libertie shall he haue to do all myschiefe vpon earth and strongely to delude the vnbeleuers for their vnbeleues sake 3 He shall go fourth with all deceytefull power wherof he is full transforming himselfe into a resemblaunce of the Angell of lyght to deceyue the vniuersall people of the world 4 Through the operation of erroure he shall cause them to giue credence vnto lies and false myracles that they myght be dampned for refusing the truth and consentinge to such wyckednesse Uery crafty shall he compasse theÌ„ with gynnes of hypocrisye too blinde theyr vnfaythfull myndes leaste the lyghte of the gospell shoulde be open vnto theÌ„ The abhomination of desolacion shall he set vp in the holy place to the vtter destruction of theyr fayth 5 Yea he shall séeke out this people from each iiii quarters of the vniuersall earth to corrupt their consciences with all maner of supersticions 6 Which people of him thus peruerted is called here in misteri Gog Magog which is as much to say as couered of reuered For both the grauÌ„d capitains and multitudes of theÌ„ depending doth these two words coÌ„prehend the one couering the diuel with many false religioÌ„s the other in his sorte folowing the same wicked coÌ„sent S. Augustine in his .xx. â—ooke de ciuitate dei willeth by Gog to be signified the glorious hipocrites of the world by Magog the opeÌ„ enimies of rightuousnesse preteÌ„ding the contrary as testifieth Berrosus the Caldeane in the first booke of his histories fyft chap. Gog was a mighty gouernour in the landes of Sabea and Arabia the ryche vnder Nemroth the great Kinge of Babilon and their ruled wyth Sabus his father in the .xviii yere of hys reigne In the .xxxviii. chapter of Ezechiels Prophecy is he called the chiefe prynce of Mosoche Turball whom some expositours take for Capadoce Spayne But after the opinion of saint Hierom and Isidorus whych was a Spanayrde the Hebreues doth take this Thurball for Italye whyche is muche more agreable to this purpose Magog was the second sonne of Iaphet whyche was the third sonne vnto Noe. Thys Magoge as wytnesseth Iosephus in the first booke of his antiquities the xj Chapter was the first beginner of the Magogytes whome the Grekes called the Scitheanes wée now the Tartareanes And al the chiefe wryters specyfieth the Turkes of theÌ„ to haue takeÌ„ their first originall Now marke thys wonderfull misterye consider therein both the tyme story So shall ye well perceiue the holy ghost to meane none other hereby this Gog and Magoge but the Romish Pope Mahomete with their blasphemous and wicked generations Serche the Cronicles and ye shall finde that their beginninges were base and their estate simple before the thousand yeares were finished But after that they grewe vp so high by theyr fayned simplicitie and simulate holynesse that they became the .ii. chefe Monarkes of the earth and so in processe ruled the vniuersall world These are the .ij. horns or beastly kingdomes of the great Antichrist or whole bodye of the Diuell rysyng vp by the earthly studyes and diuelysh deuises of wicked men By the doctrine of Aristotle Plato Porphirie Auicenne Auerois Auenzoar and such other became the Romish Pope Christes vycar and head of the vniuersall churche Petrus Lombardus created him a newe diuinitye so dyd Gracianus monachus a newe CannoÌ„ law of decrées to establyshe the same besydes that was done thaÌ„ by Petrus Conmestor the thirde brother For all they thrée were the chyldreÌ„ of one aduoutrous mother as witnesseth Antoninus Hermannus Schedel Ioannes Textor and diuerse other Chronographers By the crafti coÌ„ueyaunce of Sergius a false Monke of Constantinople and of one Mathew the Archdeacon of Antioche was Mahomete taken for the Apostle of both testameÌ„tes for the great Prophet of God and for Messias among the Tartareanes and Arabies wtth other peoples of the East To establish this by a pretensed religyon and to bring it to a myghty monarchy by the aduisement of Phinées Abdias Cabalchabar Balteira Merban and Elgug with other Iewes Iacobynes Nestorianes and Arlyanes they made the blasphemous lawe of their Alchorane as testifyeth Iohn Cuspiniane in his boke de Turcarum origine and other auctors else Thus for the wickednesse and sinnes of the people suffered the Lorde abhominable hypocrites to haue the domynion ouer them The two hornes are lyke the Lambes hornes at a blushe For boeth they pretende holynesse in fastinges in praiers in almesse dedes in washings in other holy rytes and ceremonies That a maÌ„ seing theÌ„ not hauing knoweledge of the truth of god which trieth all wolde thinke nothing to be more pure honest godly innoceÌ„t cleane holy angleycke than are their tradicions Both they confesse one God Both they commende christ Both they allowe the scriptures of both lawes Mahomete callerh Christ the worde of God the spirite of God and the soule of God the most excelleÌ„t Prophet and the worthiest among creaturs But in no case wyll hée haue hym taken for the sonne of GOD no more than the Pope wyll haue hym taken for a full sauyour wythout hys masses and suffrages And lyke as the Pope hath rysen vp by the wilye practyses of Phylosophers Sophysters Sentencioners and Canonystes so hath Mahomete commen vp by the Sobellianes Manyches Eunomyanes Macedonianes Nestoreanes and Arryanes with other heretiques Out of whose opinyons was contriued hys Alchorane as a meane lawe betwyxt Moyses and Christ bicause the one saye they was too ful of hardnesse the other too full of libertie And to call vpon him both Iewes Christianes he admytteth after a sort both Circumcision and Baptyme graunting them lybertie to haue many wiues with other voluptuous pleasures 7 Thus vnder simulate religion or pretence of Gods lawe seruyce these two tyrauntes Gog and Magog the Romysh Pope Mahomete with their whole generatioÌ„s of like spirite wyth theÌ„ haue gathered theÌ„ selues together into one wicked consent against god his christ For vnder Gog Magog are al they coÌ„preheÌ„ded whoÌ„ sathaÌ„ deceiued after that he was set at larg though these two haue not accorded in other things yet haue they boeth agréed in this one poynt by the Diuels entycement to battayle agaynst the lambe To withstande the veritie and impugne the truth of the Gospel they haue bene readye euery where in euery lande in euery cytie and in euerye towne Of one cruel purpose and study to do mischyefe haue these two enymies bene in all places of the world to persecute Christes poore congregation This thing doth the daily practises of them both so manifestly declare that all the worlde se it well inough These doeth Esay call that strong multitude whose spoyle Christ shall deuyde the smith that bloweth the colles in the hote fyre and the waster that destroyeth Ezechiel doeth compare them to a raging tempest Daniell to the King of the Northe and Zachary to
the Princes of the earth 8 Whose excéeding number saith saynct Iohn is as the drye sande that hath bene bast vp wyth the sea which can in no wyse be numbred In thys full well maye it be â—onsidred what a small thynge Christes flocke was in comparison of these souldiours of Gog and Magog after sathans going forth for the tyme of their battayle Innumerable were the sectes of the Pope with those that they brought to that false fayth and obedience And so were the Prophetes of Mahomete with the peruerted mulytude Theyr power was great for the tyme and their malice vengeable yet were they as sande drye and vnfruitefull 9 They rose vp in pryde ryches and ryalty and alwaies went ouer where as they sée the earth made playne and smoth and that in euery lande compasse Their generall iourney was all the worlde ouer towardes them that were poore in spirite or whose lâ—stes were mortified from the worldeâ— Consider them for an example whom they haue cruelly burned and slaine where as they perceiued their croked custoÌ„es throwen doune and the streight rule of Gods worde faythfullye receyued there persecuted they moste â—ierâ—â—sy there weâ—ed they furious and mayde sparing neyther swerde fyre gybbet nor other torment such heretykes as woulde not beleue as holy church commaunded Thys hath bene theyr order for the tyme of Sathans lybertie And this haue they taken for an hygh poynt of Christan religion For thys is that houre that Christ prophecyed of wherein men shold think to do vnto god gret good seruice whaÌ„ thei put one of his vnto deth 11 Thus haue they wyth all prodigious tyranny compassed the derely beloued Citie of God or the holy coÌ„gregaton for whom Christ dyed vtterly to ouerthrowe it By all maner of craftes and diuelyshe circumuentioÌ„s haue they gone about at that tyme as they woulde doe yet styll to destroye that samll remnaunte or church of the Lord builded without materiall stone morter yâ— swéete spouse of his with out spot or wrincle Not onely sought they in the enterprise to bring to naught the particular coÌ„gregatioÌ„s but for as much as lay in theÌ„ the vniuersal church of god thaÌ„ liuing Blessed be our lorde god though it hath ben since the loosing of sathaÌ„ but a pore wretched neglected thing of no reputatioÌ„ before the world yet hath it bene alwayes before hym a beloued Cytie and hath defended it so mightely that nothing hath peryshed of it No not one heire of theyr heades What the Turke wyth Mahomets host hath done for hys parte in Egipt Gréece Palestyne Hierusalem Bulgary in the borders of Italy Spayne at the Rhodes in the kingdom of HuÌ„garye Ludouirus the king there rufully slaine nowe last of all against the citie of UyeÌ„ I thinke it is knoweÌ„ vnto all meÌ„ We may se by that is here writteÌ„ of these two enimies Gog Magog the daily experiments confirming the same that they are farre aboue vs in number and power being as the saÌ„des in the sea Most vainely are we occupied if we assertaine our selues to haue the victorye ouer them by any other way than the Lorde hath appoynted Let vs pray therefore vnto the Lorde for grace and than amende our liues and the plage shall cease Onely hath he promysed to destroy them all wyth the breath of his mouth and wyth no bodely armoure nor strength of men as here after foloweth Let vs in the meane tyme giue our selues vnto feruent prayer to compassion of our brethern to dedes of charytie pitty to abstinence from synne and to the forsaking of our owne desires For sure we are that he shall shorten their dayes of mischiefe for his electes sake 12 In the processe folowing must we take for the tyme past the tyme to come for the clere declaration of the mistery considering euer more the vsage of the scriptures for tymes Whan these enimies Gog and Magog shal be at the hyghest in their vengeable enterprises agaynst the elect Citie or peaceable congregation of Christ a consumyng fyre sayth Saint Iohn which is the eternal worde of the Lorde shall come downe fréelye out of heauen from the mouth of the great omnipotent God 13 As a fearefull lyghtninge shall it fall vpoÌ„ theÌ„ and as terrible fyre shall it deuoure them lyke as the materyall fyre did eate vp Sodome and Gomorre rebellions in the desert the enimyes that sought Helias The fyre that is kindled in the wrath of God shall burne vnto the bottome of hel coÌ„sume vp those terrible termagauntes 14 That worde of the lordes indignation shall with great violeÌ„ce throwe the diuel that wiâ—y serpeÌ„t which deceiued gog Mogog with their innumerable souldyours into a foule stynking lake or boyling pit of wylde fyre brimstoÌ„ 15 Upon the wicked saith Dauid shall the lorde rayne snars Wyld fyre brimstone with tirrible storme teÌ„peste shall they haue to rewarde for theyr etarnall punishment Herein are to be marked considered both the intollerable greuousnesse of the paines also the euerlasting continuaunce of them 16 In the same place of intollerable torment were the beastly generatioÌ„s of Antechrist al their scholemaisters of hipocrites doctrine Or eternallye of god were they therevnto appointed as the vngodly communaltie wyth theyr capitaine and as the bodye and members with their wicked heade for all readie is it done by his worde but thaÌ„ shall it folow in effect wheras they shal be as the Lord hath appoynted most sharpely afflicted with vnspeakeable tormentes both day and night without pause or ceasing for euer and euer without ende 17 Neuer shall their fyre be quenched sayth Esaie noâ— yet theyr gnawinge worme be taken from them For all maner of griefes wherwith God vexed the wicked may this fyre here be taken after the scriptures For as witnesseth saint Augustine in his xx booke and xii chapter De ciuitate Dei not onely is this punishmeÌ„t to be referred to the latter iudgement but alo to the extermination of Antichristes hâ—st by the worde of God the worlde ouer Be the Gospell once purely taught amoÌ„g men it will condemne all that they haue done vpon their owne presumption without the grounde of Gods veritie be it ceremony or Sacramente priesthode or sacryfice reseruinge the deceiuers to his most fearefull iudgement THE TEXT 1 And I savve a great vvhite seate 2. him that satte on it 3. from vvhose face fled avvay both the earth heaueÌ„ 4. theyr places was no more founde 5. And I sawe the dead both great and small 6. stand before God 7. And the bookes were opened 8. And an other boke vvas opened 9 vvhych is the booke of lyfe 10. And the dead vvere iudged of those thinges 11. vvhyche vvere vvrytten in the bookes according to theyr deedes 12. And the sea gaue vp hir dead 13. vvhych vvere in hir 14. And death 15. and hell delyuered vp the dead 16. vvhiche vvere in them 17. and they vvere iudged euery man
that we nowe haue of the sea shall cease in that day of the Lorde whan we shall beholde hym face to face No longer shall it be subdued vnto vanitie no more than the other creatures but clerely depured from fylthy corruption No more shall it be the same to sée to being frō thens forth so claer◠as cristall though it styll be the same in substaunce 6 Heauen earth the sea wyth all other creatures in mistery thus renewed I Iohan the sonne of Zebede the same dysciple whom Christ loued being here in exyle for hys worde testimony perceyued in the saue mystery by the singular gyfte of the spirite the the selfe holy cytie or congregation of the Lorde whych is worthely called the new Hierusalem of peace descended downe out of heauen from hir omnipotēt creator God eternall 7 Holy is this cyty For both is she here the vndefiled spouse of the lambe and shal be hereafter more perfectly in the regeneracion Here admytteth she nothing in faithe that is prohpane and carnal but cleaneth to his only worde There shal she folowe his steppes in a much more pure estate clearly delyuered from all that is ill 8 Here is she newe in that she hath here by his godly spririte done of the olde man wyth hys fylthy workes And ther shal she also be new through hys gifte by throwinge awaye the bodye of sinne wyth death and corrupcion 9 Hierusalem is she called both here and there or peceable city of the Lord in that all hir cytizens are here of one faith and ther shal be of one glorious vnity and concorde Here are hir dwellers citizens with the saintes the househould seruants of god Ther shall they be both hys chyldren and heires togyther wyth Christ. 10 From God came she downe and out of heauen fyrste of all Neyther out of flesh nor bloud hath spronge hir Christen beléeue but frō the gracyous openinge of the father which is in heauē That Hierusalem saith Paul which is frée our mother is from aboue She is that Cytie whose builder and maker is God With none other lawes is she gouerned but with hys eternall testament and Gospell of peace With the constitutions of men hath she nothing to doe be they neuer so holy and precious For alone she dependeth on God and hys spirite 11 Of hym is she prepared through the gyft of fayth She is clensed with the fountayne of water in the worde of lyfe to séeme a glorious congregation without blemysh or wrincle From hir sinnes is she purely washed in his bloud 12 And so garnyshed as a beutifull bryde to hir husbande with loue ioye peace paciēce méekenesse long suffering other glorious fruites of the spirit Upon thy right hand Lorde sayth Dauid standeth a quene in a garmēt of most fyne golde compassed with diuersitie But euery man shall not se this hir apparell for it wil be rather a rayment of the harte than of the outwarde body Figured was this decking of hir at large in the wonderfull adourning of the temple and tabernacle of God in the dayes of Moyses and Salomon whose mysticall meting also he describeth in his cantycles How maruelous this newe Hierusalē wyll be in the regeneration whan shée meteth hir spouse in the ayre and how glorious hir countinaunce wyth him it lyeth not in vs to declare in all poyntes considering that neyther eye hath séene nor eare harde neyther can the hearte coniecture what God hath there prepared for them that loue hym but of this are we sure that wyth the glorye of him she shal be replenished Here is hir estate vnperfect and there perfect here mortall there immortal here sower ther sweet here harde there pleasaunt here paynfull there dilectable here Godly there inestimable glorious 13 And as Iohn had séene these wonderfull thinges and mused much vpō them a great voyce came vnto hym from the seate of God declaring the mistery thereof I hard sayth he in the middest of this last reuelation as I was in doubt what it ment a mightie voyce from the throne of my euerlasting Lorde saying thus vnto mée 14 Beholde Ihon beholde marke it both for thyne owne erudicion and also for the instruction of others The holy tabernacle or restyng place of the euerlastinge God of heauen is wyth men in the worlde beneth Not onely in that the eternall sonne of the Lorde toke vpon him the shape of a man callyng it the temple of hys body but also in that the soule of euery faythfull man is become the habitacle of the holy ghost He that loueth me sayth Christ obserueth my word In hym will both I and my father prouide vs a resting place He that is in loue abideth in god and God dwelleth in hym 15 This voice might Iohn well heare from the mouth of God in Esechiell I will make sayth he ther a perpetuall couenaunt wyth man to dwell with hym euermore My tabernacle shal be amonge them So that I wyll be their God and they shal be my people 16 For why it foloweth here in this voyce that he hath determined of fauourable loue mercy to dwell with them assisting them here in thys lyfe by hys spirite and in the lyfe to come shall he satysfye them by his eternall presence For here doe we sée hym in a similytude farre of there shall wee beholde hym lyke as he is in dede and shall eternally reioyce therein 17 Here are they his people through fayth for Israell is his heritage There shall they be his familiar housholde through loue and he their Lord for euer Here shall they be his chyldren and he theyr eternall father Ther shall they be his heyers Christ being the right heyer for them all 18 Thus God his owne selfe of hys inestimable goodnesse being presētly with them shall here by his grace and therby inestymable benefites shewe him selfe in all poyntes to be theyr moste mercyfull and louing God Here doth he strongly assist thē agaynst all temptations of enimyes There shall be endue them wyth full perfection and clerenesse 19 So shall he be theyr god that neither here nor yet ther shal they knowledge any other but hym alone Hée shall so comfort them here by his spirite and ther by his glorious presēce that neyther shall they here forsake hym nor there be deuyded from hym 20 And thys euerlasting god shall so wype away all teares from their eyes here that no vexacion shall make thē sorowfull nor yet aduersitie pensyue But all maner of slaunders and persecutions shall they take for most suffren consolations for his names sake For if he be wyth them who can preuaile against them 21 And after that day can no wepings be whereas shal be full ioye with immortalitie both of soule and body Beholde sayth the Lorde in Esayes prophecye I shall make a ioyfull Hierusalem yea and my selfe will reioyce there with them From thence forth shall neyther waylyng nor weping be harde in hir
any more 22 In hir moreouer shall be no more death for it shall be destroyed for euer No more shal mennes consciences dispayre here But haue ioye in the holy ghost No more shal they die through sinne but lyue vnto God by fayth And there shall no more the rose coloured whore be dronken in the bloud of martyrs Hir tyrauntes shal be closed vp in the stinking lake of fyre from the slaughter of them they than becomming immortall and impossible Moreouer thaÌ„ this he that beléeueth in christ shal neuer die nor yet come into iudgement but passe cleane froÌ„ death vnto lyfe 23 Neyther shall there be any sorow nor crying any more For all maner of displeasure of the bodye as pouertye sicknesse losses emnytie vexacions and yll reportes are here paciently borne of the faythfull And ther shal be founde nothynge to minister any suche occasions Here is neyther age doubted nor yet persecution feared in them that reckeneth death aduantage hauinge in desire wyth Paule to be hence and wyth Christ. Nor yet shal be there where all is in ioye and peace durable for euer 24 Neyther shall there be felt any more payne Such hath bene the constauncye of the martirs here that litle haue the tormentes greued them Eleazarus paciently suffered all punyshmente Steuen reyosed to sée heauen open Andrewe woulde in no case be delyuered from deathe Laurentius offred his brent fleshe to be eaten The burnynge coles were so sweete vnto Tiburcius as the fragraunt roses So desyrous were the terryble tormeÌ„ts vnto Uincent as a moste pleasaunt banket Angelus desired the people in Sicilia to esteme the tyraunt hys frynde What the exceding constauncy was of Iohn Husse and Hieronime of Prage dyuers Chronycles mencyoneth And in our tyme George Baynham in the fyre dyd neuer complayne Ihon Frith neuer shewed him self once greued in countenaunce Barnes neuer moued as hys enymyes doth report Peter Franke in Colchester sang ioyfully to the Lorde The thrée young men of Southfolk reioysed at the death with such other many And how farre they shal be from paines after this the great daye of the Lorde shall declare 25 For the olde thynges are paste sayth the text All that afore was tedious heauy and fearefull to the flesh is nowe become easie light and pleasaunt through that they haue learned of Christ. His word refresheth them in spirit and is a swéet rest vnto their soules And in the regeneration shall hunger thirst werinesse labour heat colde rayne winde thunder earthquakes with all other discommodities be taken cleane from them Neyther shal they haue ther néede of meat nor drinke foode nor rayment beddes nor buildings féeldes nor medowes welspringes nor riuers gardens nor vineyardes The Text. 1 And he that sate vppon the seate sayde 2. Behold I make all thinges nevve 3. And he sayde vnto me 4 Wryte 5. for these vvordes are faythfull and true 6. And he sayde vnto me 7. it is done 8. I am Alpha and Omega 9. the beginning and the ende 10. I will giue to him that is a thirst 11. of the vvel of the vvater of lyfe free 12. He that ouercoÌ„meth shall inherite all thynges 13. I vvill be his God and he shall be my sonne 14 but the fearefull 15. vnbeleuing 16. the abhominable 17. murtherers 18. and vvhoremongers 19. and sorcerets 20. and Idolatrs 21. all lyars 22. shall haue their part in the lake 23. that burneth With fire and brimston 24. vvhich ys the seconde beath The commentary 1 And the omnypotent Lorde whych sate vpon the eternall throne concluded thus with me Hys holy spirite of promise assertayned my spyryte by hys heauenly word that all these thynges should be true 2 Behoulde sayth he I wyll make all thynges freshe and newe Heauen earthe the Sea and the vnyuersall Cytye of peace I wyll delyuer from all corrupcyon I make all pure cleane holy immortall vncorrupt impassible clere heauenly spirituall and glorious Neuer more shall they bee as they were afore whan they were yet olde Neuer shall be more eating nor drinking wyuing nor â—anketing traueling nor sléeping â—or other such doeinges pertayninge to the corruptible lyfe The rightuous shall than shyne as the red fyre sparkes So bright as the sunne shall they be in the kingdome of theyr father 3 Thus hath the Lorde here midsts meruielously described vnto Iohn and by hym vnto vs the misticall Sabboth of his people here the eternal Saboth after this lyfe oÌ„maÌ„ding him to 〈◊〉 it as foloweth Much to fro hath bene amoÌ„g the 〈◊〉 doctours is 〈◊〉 to thâ—â— day whether the saued multiâ—â—â—â— shall reygne here vpon earth 〈◊〉 Christ or aboue in heauen afteâ— the iudgement dayâ— Which is easy to be perceiâ—ed if the scriptures hée truâ—â— conferred Therefore serâ—h dâ—lygently the scriptures for they hearâ— witnesse of all truth Christ hath in Math. the they shal be thaÌ„ as the Angels are nowâ— in heauen whose office is hath to be hâ—re â— there And so muche 〈…〉 the they shal be as thaÌ„ all one 〈◊〉 wâ—ll shall the earth be new as the heauens And nedes it must be to some purpose Neuer woulde Esay Peteâ— haue said the rightuousâ—sse should dwelt in theÌ„ if they shuld not occupy theÌ„ both It is said here also the the new Hierusalem shall come downe froÌ„ heaueÌ„ But not so that it shall not vp againe For Christes electes shal be whereas he is Whan they shal be vpoÌ„ the earth no let nor impedimeÌ„t shal they haue to be also in heaueÌ„ both they being one 〈…〉 agyltie perfectioÌ„ shall be thaÌ„ in their bodies as is now in the glorified body of Christ or in the spirituall nature of the angels Which are nowhere now theâ— And whether they be here or ther alwaies they sée God â— are 〈…〉 absent from him Manye scriptures myght be brought in to declare thâ—â— matâ—er more at large but it wold 〈◊〉 much tyme. What mutuall feloship heauenly amyte glorious pastyme will be betwixt them the angels at that day it fare passeth al capacities to diffine I couÌ„sail 〈◊〉 to be curious in the serch of high misteris â—s this here is one without the feare of God least he ouercoÌ„meÌ„ of their exceding 〈◊〉 whoredom with many kinges by many false worshippinges This for hir méekenesse is commended of God the other proudely boasteth hir 〈◊〉 through holy tradicions merites and deseruinges to bâ—â— a riche quâ—ene With many such other 4 And the Lorde sayth saint Iohn which worketh all thinges by his onely word and commaundement 〈◊〉 thus vnto me Emprente first in thy hart that I haue here sheweâ— theâ— than leaue it in writing to the 〈◊〉 of those that than folow theâ— 5 And if thou wyll kâ—owe a reason why thou shalt thus doe take this 〈◊〉 sentence with thee I assure the so 〈◊〉 as I am God yâ— the wordes which I haue shewed in this present ReuelatioÌ„ are effectually most faithfull and ruste In no manner of
〈…〉 breake promise nor go from the 〈◊〉 that I haue once spoken Both heauen and earth shall passe ouer but not 〈◊〉 of my wordes shall passe 〈◊〉 at theyr tymes appoynted The worde that goeth out of my mouth 〈◊〉 not returne home again 〈…〉 both accomplysh my wyll prosper the thing I sent it for Nedâ—full is it therfore that all men beleue that I shall fulfil the couenauntes here promised 6 Moreouer than this the sayd heauenly Lorde sayd thus vnto me to put me clerely out of doubt 7 It is fintshed and done already Be thou assertayned that my worde is my dede In the beginning I spake but the worde all things were created heauen earth the lyght the firmameÌ„t the Sunne the Mone the fowles the fishes the beastes and last of all man Whatsoeuer I say therfore ought to be beleued as nowe done in dede be it to the rightuous or damned For all thinges are present afore me In tokeÌ„ whereof the prophetes and fathers vttered their prophesies of thinges to come in the time past for the more part for the sure certentie of them 8 And take these my wordes so much to be the more certayne that I which haue made those promyses haue all thynges in my power I am the firste and the last fyguratly comprehended vnder Alpha Omega the first the last Gréeke letters as a knowen 〈…〉 the Gréekes vnto whome this 〈◊〉 was fyrst written 〈…〉 God was there before me nor 〈…〉 after me I am God from euerlastyng and world without ende 9 I am he that hath begon al thingâ— I am he againe that shall fynish them I am alone there is none other God but I. I sley I quicke I smiâ—e I heale I set vp I put downe Through me doth kings raygne euery mans 〈◊〉 is in my hande Wherfore it is reasoÌ„ yâ— they haue recourse vnto me 10 I am that fresh fountaine that â—say speaketh of most hyghly necessary to them that will lyue Uery lyberall shal he finde me the séeketh me in faith 11 To him that is a thyrst or desierous of rightuousnesse wil I geue to drinke of the plentuous welspring of the wholsome waters of life And that wil I doe fréely without pryce or payment eyther of Masse or merites dead suâ—frages or deseruinges Laye out your mony on more for â—he thing the fedeth not spende no more trauayle about the thing that helpeth not Come vnto me all you that labour and are loaden and I shall refresh you So desirously séeke vnto me your God as the hart séeketh to the brokes of water For with me is the well of lyfe euerlasting With my pleasaunt riuers shall I content your good appetytes The water of this fountayne is the verite swéetenesse of Christes spirit refreshing the soule here with hope ther with the lyfe euerlasting In this lyfe is felte but a tast of it in the world to come shall the thirst be satisfied Here is it but in heart springing vp toward lyfe ther shall it be in full course and neuer fayle Here are obtayned but small droppes of it ther shall it be had in full pleÌ„tuousnesse The philosophers for their wisdoÌ„ the lawiers for their lerning the phisicians for their coÌ„ning loketh for gret rewards The biers sellers in the teÌ„pl set their wares at a gret pryce yet are they but stynking waters not able to restrayne the thyrst But this is frée with out paimeÌ„t through christ coÌ„taineth helth in habouÌ„dauÌ„ce Not our good works saith s. Augustin but his own fregifts doth god croun in vs. This must be sought for For onli shaâ— he obtaiÌ„ it the thirstith after it Onli shal he haue the asketh he fynde that séeketh 12 He that hath done on a christian warriour to fight against the diuel of these darkenesses and so manfully doth his part that by faith he ouercoÌ„meth him hath the ful victory ouer him in Christ he shal be sure to posses al these thiÌ„gs heauen earth the new Hierusalem the liuing waters and to haue his ful desire in the ioyes to come Wonderfull is this promis No Kinge nor Emperour priest nor prelate Turke nor Souldane can grauÌ„t such wages But who shall obtayne them None other than fighteth lawfully workinge accordinge to the rules and examples of fayth Neyther he that masseth nor senseth processioneth nor holy watereth nor yet he that buildeth churches For those workes the Scripture commaundeth not 13 Besides this promised rewarde saith the lord here I will be his god in déede according to my former couenant and he shal be vnto me as my natural sonne So louing wil I be to him as the mother is to the babe borne of hir body whom she can neuer forget So mercifull as the naturall father yâ— pittieth his owne children at the very hart Example by the vnworthy lost chylde whome I both louingly receyued swéetly enbraced in myne arms Yea I both clothed him fedde him with the best as a sonne ful deare vnto me And of this let him be sure which hath me for his father that I shal giue him Christ to be his brother and with hym all things necessary constituting hym my perpetual heire This fatherly couenaunt was plaine vnto my seruant Dauid for whom I set vp mercy 〈◊〉 euer 14 But farre otherwise wil I doo by the other sort which neither wyl séeke the liuing waters or haue desyre to the scriptures nor yet kepe the hold I haue put them to which is their Christian profession but cowardly leaue it vnto the enimies the serpent the beast and the false prophet As are these which foloweth here in their course Fyrst of all the feareful cowardes or false harted Christians Whome the holy ghost calleth here afore neyther whote nor cold At a time they beléeue but whan any trouble cometh they go cleane froÌ„ it These douâ— the losse of their goods the hinderauÌ„ce of their names and the harme of their bodyes and so are they not worthy of Christ. Such were Ananyas Saphira with many other more sence theyr tyme. These trust not in the Lord as doth Sion which neuer remoueth 15 Next are the vnfaithfull hipoccits which neither beleue the promises nor yet feare the threatnings of the Lord. These make gods commaundements of no value for their owne tradicious With beggery ceremonies clogge they the people as the blynde they leade the blynde into the ditch Neyther wil these enter into the kingdom of god nor yet suffer other to enter Such were the pharisies saduces with our monkes chaÌ„ons and fryers succéeding in their wicked examples 16 After them foloweth the curssed obstinates or abhominable blasphemers which knowinge the verite doth not onely abhorre it but also with moste spightfull cruelnesse persecuteth it These are the swine yâ—â—redeth perles in the myre and the dogges that turn agayne to deuowre Unpossible to be renewed to repentaunce thus casting at their tayles the graâ—es of the spirit so fréely
with Helias in the mount of Tarmoâ—us made an aulter in the Lords name The sure ground of these foundations was that Christ is the sone of the liuing God Upon this builded all they both in their preachyngs and writyngs All one with this was the faith of the Prophets which beléeued that he was the Lambe that shoulde take away the sinnes of the worlde For they inquired the way of saluation they serched for the sauinge health Wherin thy proue themselues the liuing stones of this spiritual building Thus vnto one sure grounde of faith extended the belues both of the Apostles and Prophetes Now are ye citizens with the saintes sayth Paule to the Ephesians builded vpoÌ„ the sure foundaâ—ion of yâ— Apostles prophetes Iesus Christ being the fast corner stone For this cause are the apostles put here before the prophets that we rediÌ„g thir profices shuld vnderstaÌ„d theÌ„ after yâ— apostle doctrin so deduce theÌ„ both vnto christ And for this consideration are they here called the Lambes Apostles that they haue in all their instructions and writings vttered nothinge but that they haue receiued of his wonderfull rich and plentuous habundance Besids all this not only are these twelue héere named to be taken for the xii foundations and none other For than should Paule be excluded which laboured more then all the rest So shuld Barnabas Silas Lucas Agabus Iudas the rightuous Iohn that was called Marcus with many other But so many godly ministers are of the sorte besids them as hath bene of the same faith spirit and doctrine For ye must consider that twelue is here a vniuersall number as in other places and betokneth all the whole felowshipp they be holden for the principals for that they were present with Christe The Text. 1 And he that talked vvith me 2. Had a golden rede 3. To measure the Citie vvith all 4. And the gates there of 5. And the vvall therof 6. And the citie vvas built fouresquare 7. And the length vvas as large as the bredthe of it 8. And he measured the Citie vvith the reede xii thousaÌ„d furlongs 9. And the length and the bredth 10. And the height of it vvere equall 11. And he measured the vvall therof an hundred and xliiii cubits 12. After the measure of man vvhich the Angell had The Commentary 1 And the Angell saieth sainte Iohn or set purpose of the Lord which commoned thus with mee in secrete mistery had a measure al of Golde in his hand in similitude of a Réede not all vnlyke vnto them that talked with Ezechiel and Zacharie in misterye also 2 And with this golden Réede which is the pure word of God dyd he take measure bothe of the Citie it selfe and of the twelue gates thereof and also of the great mightye wall of the same 3 The determinate purpose of the euerlastinge builder measureth all thinges concerning his church according to his vndefiled scriptures which are the right rule of faith and the rod of right order in his kingdome What so euer they be saieth both Paule and Dauid that liue according to this rule mercy and peace be vnto them as vpon the Israell of God Not onely is this measuring Réed precious in it selfe but also as golde in the furnace it is dayly tried a fresh through many troubelous aduersaries of them that hath vnfainedly set hands vpon it Diuersly measureth this Réede of the spirit in the citie in the gates in the wal For diuers are the gifts of the holy ghost in one congregation of the Lord vnto euery one is giuen a grace according to the mesure of faith Some hath he constitute apostles some prophets some euangelists some pastours teachers to the necessarye edification of Christes misticall body For here by the citie is ment the whole congregation of Gods elects perfectly ioyned together in one true beléeue 4 By the gates the godly preachers and counselers by whom Christ openeth vnto his kingdom 5 By the wall the mighty power which he hathe committed to the Angels or spirites of heauen to kepe theÌ„ to the godly princes and magistrates here to defend them and to other true ministers to hold them still in rightuousnesse All these must be measured They must be brought to the touchstone The scriptures must trye of what spirit they are If they agrée not to this measure they pertaine not to the citie of god But they are that salt vnsauery that is no better worth thaÌ„ to be throwne forth of men and those vnprofitable seruauntes whome the Lord shal cast into exteriour darknes 6 And as concerninge the fashion of this citie builded all foure square all foure sides therof being of like length and bredth 7 No lenger nor broder was it vpoÌ„ the east side than vpon the north syde nor vpon the south part than towards the west But equall it was euery way towards al quarters of the world And as it was in length bredth so was it in height Which signifieth not only the perpetual stabilitie or surenesse of the true christiaÌ„ faith the Lord euermore preseruing it but also the faithful beleuers of on quarter of the world are so hyly accepted vnto hiÌ„ as of another So largely doth he rewarde them of yâ— East that truly beléeueth in Christ as of any other quarters els and so highly doth he estéeme them So deere vnto him are those good Christians that dwell amonge the Sarizens Turkes and Iewes as are they which dwell in the middest of Christendome So precious that lie sick in the spittle house as they which pray in the temple Noe founde grace in the sight of God whan all the worlde els were wicked Loth was iudged rightuous in the midst of the filthy Sodomits And so are manye yet to this day among the Idolatrous and supersticyous papistes Still are there Lambes among wolues cleane wheat amonge tares and good fishes among euill Iob was a companion with the Dragons Estryches Esaye dwelt among il tonged people Ezechiell in the middest of a froward housholde Sayncte Paule commended the Philipyans in yâ— they shone among the peruerse generation as lights in the firmament Neuer is God any parciall accepter of persons but amonge all peoples he that in his feare worketh rightuousnesse is accepted vnto hym whatsoeuer he bée Thus are they in length bredth and heygth spirituall godly and heauenly through hys worde 8 Moreouer this Angell measured the cytie wyth the golden rode and it was in compasse .xii. thousande furlonges Which signifieth Christes kingdome to be so large euery way that it reacheth the whole earth ouer by his word and promis The sonde of the Apostels preachyng hath gone out into all landes and theyr doctryne into the endes of the world For .xii. euermore in the scriptures is an whole perfect number and a thousand a vniuersall summe as we haue here noted afore No maÌ„ ought in thys heauenly workâ— supersticiously to obserue the numbers but rather to séeke dilygently to
is in dede Than shall we perfectly know lyke as we are nowe knowen of hym Thā shal our measure be in al points as is the Angels measure Equal shall we be vnto them in full perfectyon vnderstanding and knowledge For as the Angels of heauen shall wée than be impassible immortall and glorious of equall number with thē The Text. 1 And the buyldynge of the wall of it was of Iasper 2. and the cytie vvas of pure golde 3. lyke vnto clere glasse 4. And the foundacions of the vvalles and of the citie 5. were garnyshed wyth all maner of precious stones 6 The first foundatyon vvas a Iasper 7. the seconde a Saphyre 8. the thyrde a Calcedonye 9. the fourth a Smaragde 10. the fifte a Sardonix 11. the sixte a Sardeos 12. the seuenth a Chrysolyte 13. the eyghte a Gerall 14. the nynth a Topas 15. the tenth a Chrisoprasos 16. the eleuenth a Iacynte 17. the tvvelfte an Amatist The Commentarye 1 The whole buyldyng of the wall of thys citye was of Iaspar stone Whych betokneth that in Christe it shal be most precyous pleasaunt delectable and sure For euer shall they be newe and gréene fresh and lyuely durable and beutyfull that perfectly beleue in hym and shall become sure stayes or pyllers in hys holy temple He that truely obserueth my worde sayth Christe shall neuer taste of death Upon a lyuynge foundacyon shall they be couched and so growe vp into an holy temple in the Lord and so together into the habytacle of God in the holy Ghost 2 And thys fayre cytie it selfe was of most pure golde so fine beutifull and clere as most pure glas possible With out spot or deformite is the true church of god hauing neither blemish nor yet wrincle and tryed it is throughly as gold in the fornace The clere lyght of thys cytie is Christ which neuer dyd sinne in worde nor in dede More precious haue his death bloudshedinge made it than is the most pure fine gold that euer was yet sene 3 A gloryous congregatiō haue he prouyded it to be and that will appere in the day of his visitatiō So far shall this excell the Hierusalem that Salomon builded as heauē exceleth the earth For that was but golde within thys is all golde throughly both within with out That was buylded by the handes of men thys is of a much hygher workemanshyppe An vndefiled heritage is this shal be chaunged frō clerenesse to clerenesse into the glorie of the Lord. 4 The strong foundations of the wall of this worthy citie which is the firme faith of the Patriarkes Prophetes the Appostles and other true teachers surelye grounded vpon Christ were beutifully adorned with all maner of precious stones or giftes of the holy Ghost 5 Diuerse were the graces which they had receiued and the fruites out springing from thē were also diuers glorious As loue ioy peace paciēce long suffering gentelnesse goodnesse faithfulnesse méekenesse tēperaunce and such other Nothinge fayre appeared these stones vnto this worlde whan they were hewen squared and made fyt foundatiōs by the manyfolde persecutions of tyrauntes no more than was the greate costly stone in the bottom of Syon vpon whome they were builded whyche séemed so deformed as a lypper Neuertheles yet was their death precious in the lords syght These are they shall theyr aduersaryes say at the day whom we sometyme thought fooles had in much derision But now they are counted among the children of god and haue their porciō among the saincts Here might much be spoken of fayth which diuersly wrought in Abel Seth and Enoch for the fyrst age In Noe Abraham Moyses Dauid Helias and other in their ages In Peter Iohn Iames with all the other Apostles syncere preachers since Christes time But let that suffise in this behalf that S. Paul hath written in the .xi. Chap. to the Hebrues which is also here after comprehended vnder the mystery of the .xii. precious stones whereof the foundacions are 6 In that the first foundacion is said here to be of a Iaspar or Dyamond Whose colour is grene is signified that the faythe of the fyrste fathers is not yet withered awaye Styll vnto this present daye is the example of Enos oryent fresh lyuely which firste called vpon the name of God and of many such other more Still perseuer they grene in the liuely Scriptures and fadeth not I haue earnestly prayed for thée Peter saith Christ that thy fayth should not fayle 7 The seconde foundacion was of a Saphire whose colour is as the Aire clere but not very precious in sight This betokeneth those simple soules which though they were as Iob and Ioseph the carpentour not precious to the worlde yet had they their dayly conuersations in heauen 8 The third was of a Calcedony which is yet more course to looke vppon than the Saphyre but in nature precious mighty and strong Of this nature were Helias and Iohn Baptiste whose conuersacion was in the wyldernesse rough harde and vnpleasaunt Yet apeared they precious at theyr tymes appointed mightely rebuking sinne drawinge vnto them the chaffe as the propertie is of the Calcedony which are the common people but vtterly throwing forth againe or condemning the Idolatours and hipocrites The word of Helias brent lyke a cresset and Iohn was a shining lanterne before the Lorde 9 The fourth was of a Smaragde or an Emerald which is not onely gren◠of his owne nature but he maketh all the ayre about him to seme greene also Of thys condicion was Hieremy and Paule whych hauing the doctrine of lyfe spared not to minister it vnto other for their eternall refreshing These with suche other throwen into the foundation of the church were very comfortable vnto other With the holy saith Dauid thou shalt be holy and with the pure innocent thou shalt be both innocent and pure 10 The fyfte was of a Sardonix which is compouned of a Sardeos an Onice and is beneth blacke in the middest white and aboue reade Such were those méeke spirited that confesseth themselues sinners wyth Dauid and Magdalene being through fayth both pure and orient afore god Though I be blacke sayth the true congregatiō yet am I fair wel fauoured We faint not sayth Paule for though our outwarde man be corrupte yet is he that is inwarde daily renewed 11 The syxt is a Sardeos which in simultitude is very lyke vnto redde earth And such are they as notwithstanding the great benefites of God thinking themselues the vnworthye children of Adam whose interpretaciō after Philo is red earth in déede Mary Christes mother was of thys sort confessing hir selfe after most high benefightes to be but an hand maide and hir spirite onely to reioyce in god hir sauiour So was Abraham calling himself but dust and ashes before the Lorde 12 The seuēth foundatiō is of a Crisolite or Turcas which shineth as gold and séemeth as it should sende forth sparkes Under thys are
they comprehended whych hauynge the wisdom of the spirite inflameth other wyth it prouokinge them thereby to the loue of god their neyghbour Thus did Moyses and Esay Barnabas and Paule in whome the glorye of the Lorde apeared plentiously 13 The eight was of a Berall which is of a pale grene coloure betokening those faithfull persones whych of christiaÌ„ compassion hath dolorously lamented the fall of theyr brethren Of this godly natur was Steuen which prayed for them that stoned him to death So was afore hys tyme Samuell whych mourned for Saul whan hée sée hym cast out of the Lordes fauour 14 The nynth was of a Topaze whych hath in hym the colours of all other stones And thys signifyeth theÌ„ whych are with all vertues adourned Lyke as was Daniell the man of desires and Iohn the Euangelist which wrote thys present prophecy whom Christ much loued The clere workes of these and such other wolde hée to shyne vnto men that by them the father might be glorifyed 15 The tenth was of a Chrisoprasos whose condicion is to shyne lyke gold and yet he is gréene in sight Suche are they whych hauing godly wysdoÌ„e vttereth it accordinge to the tallent geuen them of the Lorde thereby renewing the dull spirites of other vnto heauenly things Among this sort may Ezechiell be numbred which saw many wonderful visions so may SimeoÌ„ and Anna in the Gospell 16 The eleueÌ„th was of a Iacinct which is in coloure lyke vnto water spred ouer with bright sonne beames And this betokeneth those that are baren from the â—cience and learninge of this worlde and yet haue knowledge from aboue Uery Idiots appeare they in the sight of men and yet are they taughte of God to disclose most wonderfull secrets Of this sort were Oseas Iohel and Amos wihch was but a poore shepard with the other inferiour prophets And so were Andrew Philip Thomas with the other Apostles and Disciples 17 The twelft was an Amatist purple violet rose coloured And this betokneth them that are feruent méeke and constaunt in the Lords truth and that hath bene alwaies ready to shed their bloud for it Such were the vnbrethren in the Machabées with their most faithfull mother So was also Iames the more and Antipas the faithfull witnesse with other disciples martirs None can shewe a more token of loue than he which giueth vp his lyfe for his friends This sort dyd Christe proclaime altogether blessed sayde that the kingdom of heauen was their own Thus signifieth these xii foundatioÌ„s that the godly ministers of Christes congregation haue builded vpon him according to the diuers graces which god hath geuen theÌ„ some gold some siluer some precious stones But they that haue brought vnto this building tiÌ„ber hay or stubble which are customes tradicions dum ceremonies or els worldly honors riches voluptuous plesures are not in this heauenly number admitted Figured are these foundatioÌ„s in the precious stones which were in the brest flap of Aron that hye priest in the preious decking of the king of Tirus necessary shal it be for him that will more largely know the natural properties of theÌ„ to resort vnto Plinius in the xxxvii Booke of his naturall historye or vnto Bartilmew de proprietatibus reruÌ„ for the vnderstanding of misteries vnto S. Hierom vpon the liiii chap. of Esay or vnto Beda Haymo Costasy BacoÌ„â—horpe Elyne Tilney such other as hath written great works vpon the apocalips Ynough is it for vs to shew you after the minde of S. Augustin these stones to signifie the diuers graces of the holy ghost For all these thinges doth one spirit of the Lord work deuiding seueral gifts vnto euery maÌ„ at his pleasure which ar not wtout their preciousnes beuty excelleÌ„t glory as will appere in the glorius day of the childreÌ„ of god The Text. 1 And the tvvelue gates vvere xii pearles 2. And euery gate vvas of one pearle 3. And the streat of the citie vvas pure golde 4. As a thorough shining glasse 5. And I savv no temple therein 6 For the Lorde God almightie and the Lamb is the temple of it 7. And the citie hath no neede of the sunne neither of the moone to lighten it 8. For the brightnesse of God doth lighten it 9 And the Lamb is the light of it 10. And the people vvhich are laued shall vvalk in the light of it 11. And the kings of the earth shall bring their glory vnto it 12. And the gates of it shall not be shut by day 13 For there shall be no night there 14. And ther shal enter into it none vnclean thing 15. Neither vvhatsoeuer vvorketh abhominatioÌ„ or maketh lies 16 but thei which are vvritten in the Lambes Booke of life The Commentary 1 Consequently saith the Angel vnto Iohn the xii gates or openinges into this citie were twelue fayre pearls For dilectable and precious is the doctrine of the gospell whereby men doe enter into the kingdome of God on euery side or in euery quarter age of the world 2 And euery gate by him selfe was of one pearle like as were the foundations of one precious stone euermore in their kindes In token that the verytie of Christ is whole perfect vnbroken in it selfe lyke as is his cote without seame A speciall commodyty is it in cities to haue their gates stroÌ„g and bewtifull And so is it in the kingdome of God that they which open vnto rightuousnesse be more feruent in the truth and of a more sincere life thaÌ„ the residue For they shoulde be both the salte of the earth and lighte of the world Though these gates be many yet haue they but one entraunce for eche one of them is but of one pearle But one mediatour is there betwene God and man which is Iesus Christ None maye come vnto the father but by hym onely Alone is he the dore the waye the verytie lyghte life 3 And as concerning the cytie within the great strete thereof was as of pure golde so fyne fayre and cleare all the bryght shining glasse that maye be séene through without any maner of impediment or dymnesse Thys strete is the large commynalty or the sayntes whom the father of heauen by his power made of froward stones the perfect children of AbrahaÌ„ whan he couched them here togyther in the verity of one christian fayth shall here after ioyne in such perfectioÌ„ of loue as possible can not be dissolued 4 Precious are they here through fayth in Christes bloud and there shal they be pure both in loue and lyfe incorruptible Oure reioyse sayth saint Paule is not in carnall wisdome but in the greate grace of God in singlenesse of hart in a sincere fayth Your glorye are we euen as you are ours also in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ. 5 In this glorious citye sawe I no temple builded saith Iohn for the Lord God almighty which is the eternall father and
docttrine of Christes .xii. Apostles But I am contented with that is sayd afore being more agréeable to the text 10 Such leaues had this wholsome trée as were for the health of the people good necessary and medicinable Such profitable wordes and promyses hath Christ as are spirite and lyfe power of saluation and euerlastinge health These leaues of hys can in no wyse wyther away and whatsoeuer he doth by them it shall wonderfullly prosper He sent forth hys wholsome woorde sayth Dauid and so healed them He delyuered them from all euyls wherewyth they were oppressed As these wordes are sincerely taught the benefightes of our redempcion are brought into remembraunce So is the conscience quyeted and the harte made glad So reioyseth the soule giueth perpetuall thankes vnto God the father Soo are the Gentyles throughlye made whole acknowledgynge Christe for theyr onely sauyour and redéemer 11 Thus after Czechyell are these fruites good to eate and theyr leaues profitable for medicynes As the leaues are the beauty of a trée and preserueth the fruite so is the true preachinge of the Lordes veritie the comelynesse of hys church and preseruacion of the same And not the oylynges shauynges and disguysynges nor yet the Lordeshippes myters and masses A lyght thynge is the worde of god written or spoken as is the leafe also of a trée But if his spirite worketh in it than is it a thyng moste precious effecttuall and stronge compared of Christ to a mustarde séede which grâ—weth into a greate trée Aboue all thinges sayth Zorobabel the veritie is most stronge For that is the Lords eternall will which neuer shal be altred The text 1 And there shal be no more curse 2. but the seate of God and the Lambe shal be in it 3. and hys seruauntes shall serue hym 4 And they shall see hys face 5. his name shal be in their foreheades 6. And there shall be no nyght there 7. and they neede no candell 8. neyther lyght of the Sunne 9. For the Lorde God giueth them lyght 10. and they shall reygne for euermore The Commentary 1 And as concerning the afore named cytie or worthy congregation of the Lorde the curse that the earth had in the worke of Adam shall clerely be taken from it Neuer more froÌ„ henceforth shall therein be any thinge that God is not pleased with For Christ hath redemed hir from the curse of the lawe sustaining thereof the penaltie to make hir innocent So that nowe there is no dampnation to them whych are in Christ Iesu folowing the doctrine of the spirite if painfull aduersitie losse of goodes detriment of fame syckenesse persecution of body or any other troublous crosse happeneth it is euermore for the best to them that are faythfull Perfectlye shall these be taken awaye wyth all the corrupte fruites of Adam in the regeneration whan to theyr glorye both heauen and earth shal be blessed all that is cursed throwen into the lake of euerlasting fyre 2 And for a more sure token that thys will be true the hygh seate of God the eternall father and of the Lambe Iesus Christ wyth the holy Ghost one Lorde almighty in thrée personages shal be contynually there in In the house of Iacob shall hée reygne euermore and of hys kingdoÌ„e shall be none ende Amonge them will he fixe hys dwelling place here which loueth hym and obserueth his coÌ„maundementes and there will he not be seperated from them but be still their eternall God 3 Moreouer as hys true seruauntes here shall they worship hym in spirite and in veritie and so serue hym in a sincere fayth perfourming such Godly workes as he hath prescribed vnto theÌ„ and not such as mens fantasyes hath dreamed They shall so mortyfie their olde man destroying the body of sinne that no longer shall he obeye the concupiscence nor become a captyue seruauÌ„t vnto wickednesse here But nowe delyuered from sinne they shall doe on a newe man which is rightly fashyoned of God and so become his seruauÌ„tes in rightuousnesse And in the world to come they shall serue him according to the knowledge that they shall haue than which now is incomprehensible and vnspeakeable 4 Hauinge the spirite of Christ they shall here sée hys face of saluation in the myrroure of fayth whych is to haue knowledge of hys Godhede And after thys lyfe they shall beholde him in glory lyke as he is in dede much more perfectly than dyd Iacob which sawe hym face to face Moreouer soo shall these hys seruauntes respect his vsage that whatsoeuer they doe here in worde or in dede they shall doe it with all godly feare lowlynesse and reuerence alwayes thinkyng hym to beholde their dedes 5 They shall also perceyue hys gloryous name to be writteÌ„ in their foreheades or regestred in their fayth féelyng the swéetnesse thereof to their saluatioÌ„ Besides yâ— not onely shall they coÌ„fesse God with their mouth but also in their outward coÌ„uersacioÌ„ shal they dayly apere as hys faythfull seruauntes and children And as concernyng the gloryous day by that name than shall one knowe an other to be a frée cytizen of heauen Consyder sayth Saynt Iohn howe louyngly the Father doeth vse vs. Not onely here doo we beare the name of hys chyldren but also there shall we be sure to bée his sonnes in déede 6 No maner of night or darcknesse of humayne doctryne shall appere anye more in that cytie But hauing Christ and his veritie all vnprofitable doubtes fantasies errours lyes and false myracles shall these citizens detest here And after this lyfe are no suche matters to be loked for all things theÌ„ being clere and perfect Though they some time were darkenesse yet are they now lyght in the Lorde and will walke styll therein as the children therof tyll they come to the God of Gods in the euerlasting Syon 7 There shall they haue néede of no candell or of wisdome borowed of meÌ„ 8 Nor yet of the matteryall sun which mynistreth light to the day by whom is ment the high sience of philosophers coÌ„ceiued of the creaturs aboue wtout faith Those foreÌ„ lightes may his ministeres wel vse but truely his church nedeth theÌ„ not hauing much better than they are of christ of his Aposils Uery dark lights are they wher his bright beaÌ„es once apereth which is the clere sunne of rightuousnes Abhominable lyes errours did he proue the high learning of the bishops lawyers as he doth yet their decrées lawes their schoole diuinitie and sentences their ordinarie questions and quodlibetes 9 All these stinking mistes set apart the mercifull Lorde aboue which is the omnypotent God giueth them a light sufficient His eternall sonne is vnto them suche a cleare shyning cresset as no great blast can extinguishe nor cloude with darke shadowe blemishe Of most tender mercy sent hée that day spring from aboue to dyrecte their féete here in the way of his peace 10 And after thys laborous pilgrymage in the sabboth of perpetual
quiet shall hée lyghten them throughlye with his most glorious presence and with him shall they raigne for euer and euer in full felicitie and glory cōtinuing In this life beginneth the kingdome through fayth but there shall it be perfourmed in the perfecte sight of the godhead The proude raigne of tyrauntes is here but for a time the lesse it is to be feared The méeke raign of the rightuous continueth for euer the more it is to be sought for and desired The fruites that are here very harde and sower vnto them shall there bée inestimable swéete gentile beautiful perfecte and pleasaunt hauing theyr full rypenesse No neede shall it be thā to run by sea and lande for the wysedome power and glory of Christ for in that day shal they be with euery one present Here haue they but little pretie beames of the light very small drops of the water and a smel of the fruites a farre of Likelihoodes figures mysteries haue they only now of the beatitude to come But there shall they be sure to haue them in full sight tast and sauer and plentuously to be satisfied with them Scarse is it here in cōparison to that it shal be there as one droppe of water to the whole sea or as an hādful of sād is to the whole earth The texte 1 And he sayd vnto me 2. These sayings are faithfull and true 3. And the Lorde God 4. of the holy Prophets 5. sen◠his Angell to shev◠vnto his seruaunts 6. the things which shortly must be fulfilled 7. Beholde I come shortly 8. Happy is he that kepeth the saying 9. of the prophecie of this booke The Commentary 1 In the conclusion of these most wōderfull reuelations saith sainct Iohn the Angell that communed with mée all this time which was the very spirite of Christ sayde thus vnto me hys poore exyled seruaunt 2 It shall become no man to dispise these wordes nor to reiecte these sayings whome thou hast here séene and harde since the first beginning of thys reuelation For they are most faythfull and true sure and perfect shall without faile at their appoynted times in euery iote be fulfylled for the true churches commoditie and profit This is here spoken for the conseruation of the hygh mysteries of thys booke least any false Antichrist hereafter as many such hath bene in déede should cōdempne them depraue them and as of none aucthoritie reporte them As the most deare treasures of God therfore doth the holy Ghost here wrappe them vp togither to preserue them vnder hys power setteth vnto them the seale of hys owne witnesse that they should euermore be taken for his After this sort did the Prophets vse their prophecies concluding alwayes thus sayeth the Lorde of hostes So did the Lord his selfe whan he sayde Uerely verely I say vnto you we speake that we knowe My doctrine is not myne but his that sent mée Of my selfe I speak not the words that I vtter The father dwellyng in mée perfourmeth the workes I am not come of my self but he that sent me is true with suche other lyke Paule doth also name him selfe the Apostle of Iesus Christ. Not I commaunde this sayth he but the Lorde The gospell that I preache haue I learned of no man but by the shewing of Iesus Christ. The Lorde that is blessed for euer knoweth that I lye not and such like So is the ende of this booke as was the begynnyng sealed with many wonderfull strong sentences of the Lorde as his whole mynde perfect will and purposed decree concernyng hys church héere in earth 3 And the same Lorde God eternall sayeth Christ vnto Iohn which hath diuersly afore tyme spoken in the holy Prophets and fathers hath now laste of all sent the Angel of his euerlasting couenaunt by him to vtter the secrets of his mynde by whom he created the world Him hath he hither dyrected in these latter dayes of the world to shewe cléerely vnto his true seruauntes of whom thou arte in these dayes princypall those wonderfull things in mysterie which must within shorte space effectually come to passe and be fulfilled in déede As the manyfolde persecutions of his churche the prosperous raigne of the beast and his shorlings with the glorious rayse of the one and dampnable fall of the other That whan troublous crosses doe come they may be the more ioyfully taken cōsidering the tyme of them short the rewarde of their sufferaunce euerlasting 4 For none other cause is God héere called the Lord God of the Prophets but that they haue through his spirite truly beleued in him the same spirit declared his mynde and pleasure 5 In the beginning of this reuelation was this Angell sent vnto Iohn alone here is he sent also vnto his other seruauntes in token that the Lord in Iohn respecteth his congregation 6 The things that must shortly follow are his iudgements in rewarding the rightuous and condempning the reprobates For a thousande yeares are but as a day before him as the tyme that is in a maner past Let euery man take héede sayeth the Lorde leaste I come vpon him vnlooked for Let them watch in fayth and pray in spirite and veritie hauing theyr weddyng garmēts with the oyle of Christian loue in their lampes 7 For beholde whan I shall come eyther to the particular ende of anye man or to the latter iugdement I wil come sodainlye neyther the day nor yet the houre of my comming knowne afore least men as they are ill of nature should dryue of till that daye to liue according to faith Of this admonition may the faythfull sorte be glad being here in aduersitie consideryng their deliueraunce is at hande theyr crowne of immortalitie not farre of 8 Happy is that man whatsoeuer he be high or lowe rich or poore learned or vnlearned that obserueth in his cōuersation and lyfe the godly sayings contayned in the prophecie of thys present booke 9 Yea blessed is he that so receyueth the premonishments thereof that neyther false prophet can deceyue him nor yet any cruell Antichrist with terrour dryue him from the righte vnderstanding and followyng of Christes pure doctrine For neyther to dogges nor swine are they here lefte to be neglected or disdayned but vnto his faythful seruauntes to be reuerently followed and had in remembraunce The text 1 I am Iohn 2. which sawe these thinges 3. and haerde them 4. And vvhan I had hearde and seene them 5. I fell dovvne to vvorshippe before the feete of the Angell 6. vvhich shevved me these thinges 7. And he sayde vnto me 8. See thou doe it not 9. For I am thy fellovv seruaunt 10. and the felovv seruaunt of thy brethen the Prophetes 11. and of them vvhich keepe the sayinges of this booke 12. Worship God The Commentary 1 Consequently bicause ye shall not suppose this matter lyght sayth sainct Iohn as many thinketh that whiche hath not the testimony of men besides the aucthoritie of God I