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
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
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
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
Bloxam Anglus lib. i. De apparicione septem sigillorum Ioannes Elyne Anglus li i. Secundum Isidorum ethimolo Ioannes Tilneye Anglus li. i. Septem ecclesijs in Asya Henricus Winchingham Anglus li. i. Apertum est templum Dei Ioannes Thorpe Anglus lib. i. Ioannes Egidius Gallus lib. i. Apocalip c. Ioanni Euangeliste Ioannes Haynton Anglus lib. i. Beatus qui legit verba Ex Augustinianis Augustinus de Auchona Italus lib. i. Iordanes Saxo Germanus lib primo Bertrandus parayte Tholosanus lib i. Augustinus de Roma Italus li primo Philippus de Mantua Italus li. primo Ioannes Capgraue Anglus li. primo Syluester Meoccius Venet. lib. i Promaiori intelligentia Ex dominycanis Iordanes Botergius Germenus li. i. Hugo Bar chinonensis Gaillus lib. i. Asser pinguis panis eius c. Albertus Magnus Germanus lib. i. Confiteor tibi pater Stephanus Bisuntinus Gallus lib. i. Nicolaus Gorham Gallus li. i. Bernardus de Trilia Narbonensis li. i. Paganus Bergomensis lumbardus li. i. Aluarus de Caturco Tholosanus lib. i. Fredericus de Venecijs Italus lib pri Ioannes Annius Viterbiensis li prim Hieronymus Sauanarola Italus lib. i Ex Franciscanis Alexander de Hales Anglus lib. primo Helias de Hanibalis Italus lib primo Petrus Ioannis Cathalanus li. primo Ioannes Walleys Anglus lib. primo Petrus Aureolus Tholosanus libro 1. Nicolaus Lyranus Germanus libro ij Oportet te iterum prophetare Astesanus Astensis Lumbardus li. i. Bernardinus Senensis Italus li. i. Beatus qui legit et audit Theodoricus Andree Tholosanus lib. i. Ioannes de Rupe scissa lib. i. Franciscus Titelmannus Germanus li. ii Superioribus diebus eruditis Ex neotericis Martinus Lutherus Germanus lib. i. Varias prophecias inuenimus in Sebastianus Meyer Bernensis li. i. De lib. Apocalipseos cum Georgius Aemilius Germanus lib. i. Mira quedam inest auiditas Franciscus Lambertus Gallus li. vii Israelitiâ— a Mose Dei lege Huldricus Zwinglius Heluecius lib. i. Ioannis Brencius Sueuus lib. i. Ioannes Caluinus Gallus li. i. Melchior Hofman Germanus lib. i. And many other more Of these Commentaries haue I taken both example to doe this thing and also couÌ„sell to vnderstande the text to none of them wholly addict but as I perceiued them alwayes agreinge to the Scriptures What chronographers historianes I haue herein folowed for the tymes and ages of the christian church besides the Scriptures it will euidently apeare to the reader in the margeÌ„t of this volume I know there will be great thonderings lyghtninges and earthquakes at the comminge foorth thereof for so is it here oft promised of the holy ghost The boystuous tyrauntes of Sodoma with theyr great Nemroth Wynchester and the execrable citizens of Gomorra with theyr shorne sinered captaines wyll sturre aboute them Much payne haue they of long tyme taken and many haue they cruelly burned as was seene of late yeares in Couentrie London in other places more to obscure the knowledge thereof Who can suppose theÌ„ that they wyll now sit styll theyr mischeues made so manifest Our worldly wyse brethren also which are neither hote nor colde wyll starcle a course at the matter I know somewhat is to be suffred at theyr handes also For they alwayes tarry theyr tymes wyll not wake the shrewed curre for hurting themselues Graciously hath the Lorde called them specially now of late but his voyce is nothing regarded His seruauntes haue they imprisoned tormented and slayne hauinge his veritie in muche more contempt then afore We loked for peace sayth Hieremye the Prophet and we fare not the better at all We wayted for a tyme of health and we fynde here nothing els but trouble And no marucile consideringe the beastes head that was wounded is now healed vp againe so workemanly as the .xiii. chapter here meÌ„cioneth The abhominable hipocrisie Idolatry pryde fylthinesse of those terrible termagauÌ„ts of antichrists holy household those two horned whoremouÌ„gers those coÌ„iurers of Egipt and lecherous locustes leapynge out of the smoke of the pitte bottomlesse which dayly deceyueth the ignoraunt multytude wyth theyr sorceryes and charmes must be shewed to the worlde to theyr vtter shame and confusion They knowe as dyd Balaam the sorcerer that ouer a gorgious glittering whore euery fleshely man is inordynatly wanton ferce greedy Folowinge hys wayes therefore they haue alwayes for lucres sake gloriously garnished theyr holy mother the madame of myschife and proude sinagoge of Sathan wyth golde siluer pearle precious stone veluets silkes miters copes crosses cruetes ceremonies sensinges blessinges bablinges brawlynges processions popetts and such other madde mastryes whereof the church that Christ left here behinde him knewe not one iote to prouoke the carnal idyotes to hir whoredome in the spyryte The Lorde hath longe suffered them of mercy and wythhoulden from theÌ„ his rightfull hande of theyr deserued vengeaunce yet wyll they not fall to repentaunce nor amende theyr dayly mischifes To tell them freely of theyr wycked workes by the scriptures I haue exyled my selfe for euer from myne owne natiue countrie kyndred fryndes acquaintaunce which are the great delyghtes of this lyfe am well contented for Iesus Chrystes sake and for the comforte of my brethren there to suffer pouertie penury abiection reprofe and all that shall come besides A commaundement the Lorde hath giuen in this booke vnto them whome hee hath called of mercye from their wretched beggeries to spare no rebukes but to powre out double vpon that bloudy â—awde malicious mother of theirs Neuer was this commaundement more effectually to be folowed then now hys holye worde of saluation so presently set at nought despised and persecuted of hir madde moodie mynisters Unto heauen are hir sinnes gone vp in these latter dayes as S. Iohn heere witnesseth requiring vengeaunce for the innocents bloud that shee hath so cruelly shed And the Lord hath remembred hir wickednesse accordyng to his promyse as partlye hath bene seene in this realme and in diuers other more I doubt not but within short space she shal be wholly turned ouer into the bottomlesse pit again with all hir heathenish ceremonies superstitions and sorceries and neuer return hetherwarde no more then the great mightie mylstone that is throwne into the seas bottom Christ so restored vnto his right spouse WoÌ„ders wil appeare coÌ„cerning this such other matters to him that shall diligently examine the scriptures historyes alleged in the margent For only minister I an occasion heere vnto them of a farther serch Nothing wil be hidden from him that asketh with meekenesse seeketh in fayth and in prayer desyreth the glory of the Lorde Euident will those secrete mysteries be vnto him whiche are priuely hidde vnto other vnder dark ambages and parables Though this heauenly treasure of health be vnder locke and keye of vnknowne similitudes and so bee shutte vp
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
ascend in soule by the spirite and power of God and I will shewe vnto thée thinges wonderfull and such as must without fayle be fulfilled in euerie poynte hereafter by the vnuariable ordinaunce of God 4 And as it had bene in a thought I was sodenly by the Lordes power taken vp I was in the spirit in déed secluded frō all carnal imaginatiōs 5 And anon I was ware of a beautifull seat prepared in heauen which moued mee to consider that before the constitution of the world almightie God had appoynted by his spirite to raygne in his faithful church For I sawe that one sate vpon that seate as vpon the beautifull throne of his glorie No where els raigneth God but among his chosen people Hée dwelleth not in Temples made by hand he resteth not in houses of mās preparation Is the kingdom of God any where els thē within man Hath God any Temple that hee more fauoureth then mans faithfull harte 6 And he that gloriously sate vpon that comely seate was lyke by all similitude to a Iasper stone and resembled also a precious stone called a Sardine Betokening that his raign is durable strong his power firme and invariable his glorie cléere and precious and that he him selfe is as the red Iasper beautifull and orient and as the gréene Sardine freshe fayre and neuer fading that man shuld euer be desirous of him Whose will to consider is our felicitie and whose pleasure to folow is our perfectnesse 7 And there was a fayre raynbow about that glorious seate in sighte like a smaragde or an Amarald stone Which signifieth his perpetuall couenaunt of peace loue to all them that haue fayth which are so deare vnto him as is the apple of hys owne eye or as that thing which hee desyreth most And no lesse precious the sayde couenaunt is then the fresh Ameralde with his amorous hew and beautifull shewe of loue that wée should the rather couette it For nothing is more auydyously to be desyred then is the swéete peace of God 8 And about that excéedyng fayre seate or empyre of the Lorde were xxiiij other meane seates appointed which put me anon in remembraūce of charitie pacience stedfastnesse loue ioy peace temperance iustice knowledge of god méeknesse other fruites of fayth with innumerable giftes of the holie ghost wherein the seruauntes of God hath afore tyme and still doeth continually rest elders or notable auncient men sitting Which séemeth vnto me to be Abell and Noe Abraham Dauid Moyses and Helyas Ioseph Iohn Baptist the Prophets and Apostles the Preachers Martyrs with such other lyke To whom Christ promised in the regeneration to sitte with him vpon xij seates iudging the xij tribes of Israel These set numbers in the scripturs of xxiiij or of .xij. such lyke noteth certaintie in the promisse of God towards them which are in themselues without number 10 And the foresayd elders or men of rype discretion were cloathed in white rayment or apparell of innocencie according to the commaundement of the holye Ghost For their works were pure and cleane before God rysing only of fayth and were neuer defyled with the filthie traditions of men 11 They had also vpon their heads as myghtie rulers and gouernours crownes of fyne golde in token that they had héere the gouernance in his worde and shall hereafter be partakers with Christ in his heauēly kingdome and glorie 12 Great is the maiestie of the trone of God and the power muche For from his heauenly seate into the vniuersall world procéeded lightnings and thunderings and voyces which are the manyfolde and dyuers respectes of his worde For a fearfull lightenyng it is when it rebuketh throweth downe and condempneth the sinner It is a terrible thundering when it feareth threateneth and commaundeth thynges contrarie to the fleshe And it is a solacious voyce agayne when it rayseth reléeueth and quickeneth the desolace conscience with comfortable promises And full is all the scripture of these which commeth from Syon and the swéete worde of God whyche commeth from Hierusalem 13 And there were seuen lampes of flamyng fyre burnynge before the sayde trone of God which are the seuen spirites of God or the vniuersall giftes of the holie ghost prefigured in the scriptures by the seuen lightes of one Candelsticke the vij eyes of one stone and by vij hornes and eyes also of the lambe These shewe light euermore before Gods sight The church without them in no wyse can be the trone of God 14 And before the sayd seate there was as it had béene a sea of glasse a plentifull vnderstanding of the veritie fyrst giuen vnto Christ by the father and then vnto the church or cōgregation by the spirite of Christ. And this sea was lyke vnto a Christall cléere beautifull and pure without any corruption of humaine fantasies 15 In the middest of that heauenly seate in the circuite of the same were iiij beastes séene of diuers nature and shape not signifying the iiij greater Prophetes nor yet the iiij Euangelistes as no small number of doctors hath fantasied but rather the vniuersall number of all faithful beleeuers earnest setters foorth of the veritie in the foure quarters of the whole world And this may be gathered by the noyse of their wings in Ezechiel by their crying of sanctus sanctus sanctus by their shewing of mysteries of the opened seales of the booke as héereafter foloweth By whom are to be vnderstande the sincere openings of Gods word and the continuall praysing of his glorious name These beastes are in the middest of the seate or congregation of God when they teach them and exhorte them to persist in the trueth They are also in the circuite of the same when they diligently labour to defende them from the doctryne of diuils and errours of hypocrites 16 These beastes were full of faire eyes before and behinde Which is a cléere knowledge in the mysteryes of Gods word The sincere fauorers of Gods heauenly truth doth sée many wonderful things and know many secrete maruels not only concerning matters past but also of iudgements to come So many eyes haue they as they haue perceyued veryties For they once made spirituall by fayth discerne all things They are taught of God And the holy ghost doeth lead them into all trueth THE TEXT 1. And the first beast vvas lyke a Lyon 2. The second beast lyke a Calfe 3. and the third beast had a face lyke a man 4. and the fourth beast vvas lyke a flying Egle. 5. And the foure beasts had eche one of them sixe vvings 6. And round about vvithout and vvithin they vvere full of eyes 7. And they had no rest neyther day nor night saying Holy holy holy is the Lorde God almightie vvhich vvas and is is to come 8. And vvhen those beastes gaue glorye and honour and thankes to him that sate on
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
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
great tribulacion 7. and made theyr garments large 8. and made them whyte in the bloud of the Lambe 9. Therfore are they in the presence of the seate of God 10. and serue him day and night in his Temple 11. And he that sitteth in the seate will dvvell among them 12. They shall hūger no more neyther thurst 13. Neyther shall the sunne light on them 14. neither any heate 15. For the Lambe vvhich is in the mids of the seate shall feede them 16. and shall lead them vnto fountaynes of liuing water 17. And God shall vvype avvay all teares from their eyes The Paraphrase 1 And one of the auncyent elders sayth sainct Iohan made aunswere vnto that whiche I was inwardlye most desirous to knowe concernyng this innumerable multytude saying vnto me by maner of question 2 What are these comely persons which are thus beutifully apparelled in long whyte garmentes large and fayre And from whence came they as thou supposest 3 And I as one ignoraunt of the misteries of God of myne owne nature without the speciall gifte of hym answeared after this sorte 4 Syr thou wottest what they are and from whence they come by such knowledge as the Lorde hath giuen thée 5 And hée sayde agayne vnto mée thus 6 These are they which come vnto Christ by fayth out of the great trybulacion of worldly wickednes fleshly cares and disquieted consciences 7 Abhorring the doctrine of mens inuencions they set sure holde vpō the liuing word of the Lord. There fette they out forgiuenesse of their sinnes and made their garmentes large to couer theyr olde deformities 8 They washed their lyues in the sorowes of repentaunce and fashyoned theyr déedes to his swéete lawes and commaundementes They made their garments white in the precious bloud of the Lambe beléeuing to bée purified by the meryte of his death 9 And therfore are they at this time in the presence of his maiestie accepted takē and alowed for the citizens of heauen 10 They serue him day nyght in the Temple of their soules and they prayse his glorious name in spirite for euer more 11 The Lord that sitteth on the throne will alwayes dwell among them as their most mightie defendor theyr solace and their comforte 12 The spirit shall so refresh them they shall no more hunger nor thirst Though concupiscence dwel in them they shall desire none euill 13 Neither shall the sunne so lyght on them which is this worldes prosperitie that they shall forget theyr Lord God at any season 14 No heat shall hurt them nor aduersitie of this worlde ouercome thē but in that they suffer or doe all thyngs shall worke to the best 15 For the innocent Lambe Christ which is in the middest of the seat or the cōgregacion of God by his word shall norish féede releue thē with hys promise shal preserue comfort lead them by his spirit Yea he shall so order them they shall haue néede of nothyng And if he bée their light health and strength of whom should they be afrayed 16 He shall bring them vnto the foūtaynes of the lyuing waters make them such well springs as shall flow vp into the lyfe euerlasting His doctrine must doe it and none other for none commeth to the father but by him 17 And God shall wype away all teares frō their eyes Aduersitie shall be vnto them a very consolacion No sorows shal they care for no tormēts shall they regard no troubles nor yet death shall they feare but thinke in their hartes alwayes that the suffrings of this lyfe are nothing to the glorie to come The aforesayde elder myght séeme to be Iacob whose prophecie might tell Iohn that Christ should washe his garment in wine and hys mantel in the blud of grapes So might it be Dauid or Esay which also confirmeth the same In this as in a glasse may be séene what they are afore god that at this present age or vnder this sixe seale opening vnfaynedly cleueth to his word foloweth it in effect and liueth accordyng vnto it Fyrst they are cléere afore God and no sinne shall be imputed vnto them for their faithes sake Consequently they are deliuered of a troublous cōscience The Lambe hath restored them to innocency God accepteth them for his children These séeke no doctryne but the scrypture They serue God in spirite and in no deade thinges They hunger not for mens tradycions they thirst not for hipocrites good works they are well and fully contented with the Lambe They séeke no prosperitie neyther care they for aduersitie The word of God is their gyde and therein they minde to depart None other but such are sealed vnto god nor none els walk before him in whyte garmentes The viij Chapter THE TEXT 1 And when he had opened the seuenth seale 2. there was silence in heauen about the space of halfe an houre 3 And I savv seuen Angels 4. standing before God 5. And to them vvere giuen seuen Trompettes 6. And an other Angell came 7. and stood before the aulter 8. hauing a golden censer 9. And much of odours vvas giuen vnto hym 10. that he should offer of the prayers of all saynctes vpon the golden aulter 11. vvhich vvas before the seate 12. And the smoke of the odours vvhich came of the prayers of the Sainctes ascended vp before God out of the Angelles hande 13. And the Aungell tooke the censer and filled it vvith fyre of the aulter 14. and cast it into the earthe 15. And voices were made and thunderings lightnings 16. and great earthquake 17 And the seuen Angels vvhich had the seuē trumpets 18 prepared them selues to blovv The Paraphrase 1 2 This silence shall endure but half an houre space whiche may bée the thousande yeares that are spoken of héere afore consideryng that all the age after Christ is but the last houre and a thousand yeares before God is but as the day that is paste In the time of this swéete silence shall Israell be reuyued the Iewes shall bée conuerted the Heathen shall come in agayne Christ will séeke vp his lost shéepe and bryng hym agayne to hys folde that they maye appeare one flock lyke as they haue one shepeherde 3 And I sawe sayeth sainct Iohn seuen Angels standing before the maiestie of God which signifieth the preachers of his worde for the seuen seuerall times of the vij seales opening to euerie seale corresponding an Angell For all that the preachers hath done from the beginning of the Gospell to the tyme of this last seale opening shall then appeare at once In that day sayeth Esay the Trumpet shall be blowen they that were lost shall come from the Ascirians the scattered flocke shall come from Egypt worship the Lord in Ierusalem 4 These Angels stoode before the presence of God as mynisters of acceptacion readie to execute his heauenly will and commaundement 5 And to them was giuen
scoldinge and set Saunder smell smock our parish priest for bearynge false witnesse Maister Fryer hath had a trentall and father Lymitour a bushell of malt or a cheese for playing the knaues also and hardly my Lâ—rde chiefe iustice hath not bene without his rewarde nor yet master Chauncelour neither maister scribe What made T. More for his tyme with so prodigious tirannie to persecute the truth and since Godsalue of Norwiche WartoÌ„ of Bongay Hales Baker of Kent with such other lyke but Aury sacra fames as Uirgil doth call it Thus do they laugh and tryumph when they haue wrought mischiefe and much it delighteth them when they haue doone vngodlye thinges 7 For these two Prophetes sayth the Lorde vexed them that dwell on the earth A great trouble it is to them to haue their faults séene a sore vexation to haue their crafts known and an excéedinge displeasure to be put from their pleasaunt Euphrates by the preaching of such busye herytickes Much was Herode offended with Iohn the byshops with Christ the prelats and religious with Paul a sore griefe it was to their harts when they were rebuked their vices THE TEXT 1 And after three dayes and an halfe 2. The spirit of lyfe from God entred into theÌ„ 3. And they stoode vp vppon their feete 4. And great feare came vppon them whiche savv them 5. And they hearde a great voyce from heauen saying vnto theÌ„ come vp hethere 6. And they asscended vp into heauen in a cloude 7. And their enimies savve theÌ„ 8. And the same houre vvas there a great earthquake 9 And the tenth part of the cytie fell 10. And in the earthquake vvere slayne names of men seauen thousande 11 And the remnant were feared 12. And gaue glory to God of heauen 13. The seconde wo is past 14. And beholde the thirde wo wyll come anone The Paraphrase 1 And after thrée dayes and an half sayth sainct Iohn dyd the spirit of lyfe by the power of God enter into them In the midest of their ioy and triumph when they thinke theÌ„selues well quieted the heryticks thus taken awaye an other storme falleth vpon them much worse then the other Many more ariseth out of their ashes to their confusion to the chosens comfort And the same witnesses they are againe geuing the same testimonie though they be not the same persons 2 The same lyuinge spirit haue they confessing the same verity that had the other No long time can christes congregatioÌ„ be without faithful testes he promysing to be with them to the ende of the world 3 These witnesses stood vp vpon their féete In the time full past is this spoken for the certenty of the thing though much of it be to come For so certen is it as it were al finished an earnest stomack shall they haue and with much bouldnes shal they speak The rightuous shall stande by sayth the boke of wisdome in great feruentnesse of spirit against them that hath extreamely handled them and taken a way their labours persecuted them blemished their doctrine 4 And great feare came vpon them which saw them When the Antichristes sée they cannot preuayle much are they inwardly anguished vexed and tormented Then doubte they their fall than feare they theyr vtter destruction They tremble and quake when they sée their lawes will no longer stand nor their insurrections no longer help them lokyng for a terrible day With horrible feare shall they wonder saith the aforsaid booke of wisdome at the comminge of the sodayne health groninge for sorowe and mourninge for very anguish of minde and sayinge within themselues These be thei whom we somtime had in derision Unwisely we thought their liues to be madnes and their endes to be without honour And now they are reckoned among the children of god their porcioÌ„ is among the Saincts Therfore haue we erred from the way of trueth and the light of rightuousnesse hath not shined vnto vs. We haue weryed our selues in the pathes of wickednesse but the waye of the liuinge Lorde haue we not knowen 5 And they harde a great voyce from heauen saying vnto theÌ„ Come vp hether The Antichrist shall heare this noyse they shall know them to be in the fauour of god and great heuines it shal be vnto them For this voyce is the frée electioÌ„ of god according vnto grace not after mans deeruing And it coÌ„meth froÌ„ heauen as doth all other good gifts from the father of light It calleth vp them that afore walked soÌ„what after the flesh and durst not for feare of punishment witnesse the verytie It commaundeth them to arise vnto God to be more perfect more spirituall more godly and to haue their conuersation in heauen They attende vnto the voice they obey it and do after it For it foloweth 6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a cloude By the power of God they are taken vp From worldly affects are they chaÌ„ged to the pure loue of God and from carnall prudence to the wisdome of the spirite In a cloude are they rapt Compassed are they with this fleshe the ill desires taken from them Euery where resemble they Christe and are dayly better and better They cease not of their progresse no payne can seperate them froÌ„ the loue of Christ til they perfectly come to the sight of the God of Gods in the supercelestiall Sion 7 And their enimies saw them The Antichrists knoweth that they are gods seruants the hipocrits perceiue they haue heauenly knowledge yea many times thei so report them both in their wordes and writinges In many of their Chronicles they affirme the BereÌ„garius Iohnnes Scotus the elder Iohn wicleue Iohn Husse Hierom of Prage Thomas Thedonensis a white fryer of Bryttaine burned in Rome Hieronimus Saâ—oâ—â—rola a black fryer burned in FloreÌ„ce and diuers other more were men of most excellent wits of most high learninge of most godly conuersation of a most perfit lyfe feruent constant and vnmoueable in the tyme of their death Bylney BaynhaÌ„ Beyféeld Frith Tindale Barnes and other are yet reported yea of some which to this houre hateth their opinions to haue dyed charytably and godly Yet beléeue they neuer the better thei come neuer the sooner to god Their malice hath so blinded them and the cloud of ignorance so darkned their knowledg that still they blasphem and most cruelly persecute 8 And in the same houre saith S. Ihon there hapened a great earthquake A terrible contradiction ariseth euer from the carnall synagoge from among the earthly minded hypocrits whan the veritie is taught as it was afore time in Christ and in his Apostels sepcially in Paul and now of late dayes in many other poore preachers When new witnesses arise then wax they more mad fierce and fell then they were afore Then imprison they then punishe they then make they actes and commaunde in payne of death no more to speake in that name Yet do they rather lose than win fall
without ending 8 For thou hast taken vpon thée thy great might Now haste thou shewed thy wonderful power Euer hast thou raygned among thy people but neuer so graciously so plentuouslye and so gloryouslye for our behoue 9 The Heathen euermore were angry when thy truth appered Mad were the wicked Antichristes when thy glory shyned and their pride deminished They freted for anger they swelled for woodnesse yea they slew thy seruauntes and burned vp thy people 10 But now is thy wrath towards them Now wil thy anger break out now wyll thy vengaunce appeare Now shall thy terrible iudgement without mercy be declared froÌ„ heaueÌ„ vpon all vngodlinesse of those cruell enimyes that withhelde thy trueth in vnrightuousnesse 11 Now shortly ensueth the time of the dead wherein they shall bée iudged some to ioye some to heauinesse some to glorie some to payne 12 Now approcheth the glad season wherein thou haste appoynted to reward the true seruauntes the Prophets the faithfull beléeuers made Saynctes by the onely death of thy sonne and all them that yet feareth thy name with eternall felicitie 13 None wilt thou seclude from this thy liberall goodnesse for no weakenesse nor pouertie But so well the small as the great the lowe as the high the poore as the rich the sicke as the whole the vnlearned as learned shall tast of thy inestimable cléernesse 14 Onely shalte thou distroye them that distroyed the earth compellyng both it and all that therein is not to serue thée their heauenly creator but their owne stinking desires lustes and corrupt affections thy glorie not once estéemed nor regarded Héerein may we coniecture that thâ— seuenth seale once opened and the vij trumpet blowen the last iudgemeÌ„t day is not farre of Blessed is he that watcheth for the Lordes comming THE TEXT 1 And the temple of God was opened in heaueÌ„ 2. and there was seene in his temple the Arke of his Testament 3. And there followed lightnings and voyces and thunderinges and earthquake 4. and muche hayle The Paraphrase 1 And the Temple of God sayeth S. Iohn was opened in heauen Euident will the godly and spirituall estate of the true christian church séeme in those dayes the Gospell sincerely preached In faith shal meÌ„ séeke their liuing father not in dead Images nor other corruptible things In spyrite and veritie shall they worship him and not in dumme ceremonyes nor outward shadowes Speared is Gods temple wheÌ„ his true worshipping is hid And opened it is agayne when that is clearly séene Till Christes comming in the fleshe nothing thereof appeared With the key of Dauid opened he the misteries therof Wherby thorow fayth the conuersation of many is now hath bene euer since in heauen 2 This temple thus open anon the Arke of Gods holy Testament was séene therin Christ sheweth him self in his owne colours when the Gospell is truly receyued which is that Arke wherin all the riches of Gods couenauntes and the precious treasure of his promyse is reposed to maÌ„s behoue And specially those by whom we are reconciled and saued By hym are we onely brought to Gods fauor again and graciously redéemed Yea all the sort of vs haue receiued of hys aboundant ouerflowyng fulnesse The sight of this Ark in this temple is none other theÌ„ a cléere knowledge of him in his congregation So ofte are his misteryes euydent as thys temple is opened So many tymes are they knowne as his word is truly taught 3 And no smal fruit is to be thought to come thereof For there followeâ— lightnings voyces thunderings and earthquakes Diuers respectes hath the veritie of God accordyng to dyuers audieÌ„ces In maner of lightning it moueth some making of earth heauen and of sinners godly people A sound or a noyse onely it is to some men not regarding the fruites therof To some it is an occasion of anger spight and madnesse to some of open blasphemie against the holie ghost For what els doeth the clergy maliciously withstanding it but wilfully worke against knowledge And what doth the vndiscréete laite blinded by them but babble they wot not what 4 And a great hayle also folowed which betokeneth the vehement and sharpe iudgements of God towardes such enimies of his veritie The most terrible tempests of his Ire abydeth them The Lord shall break into the lande sayeth the Prophet Esay lyke a sore tempest of haile that breaketh downe strong holdes or castles And the proude crowne of the drunken Ephraemites shall be troden vnder foote Not only is the last age appointed to these thunderings and earthquakes but they began also so soone as Christ appeared in the fleshe No sooner was the young babe borne but Herode for madnesse soughte to slea him in his verie infancie The Pharises Scribes the bishops priestes and Lawyers swelled at hys preaching neuer left till they had slaine him And this rule with the prelates and hipocrites hath continued euer since stil shall doe til the latter day Onely is there and shall be a moderation that some time it is not so extreme as at some For if it were alwayes alike there shuld none be left THE TEXT 1 And there appeared a great wonder in heauen 2. A woman clothed vvith the Sun 3. and the Moone vnder hyr feete 4. and 〈◊〉 on hir head a crovvne of xij starres 5. And shee vvas vvith chylde 6. and cryed trauelyng in byrth 7. And payned readie to be deliuered The Paraphrase 1 And there appeared saith Sainct Iohn a great token in heauen For no wonder is this token héere to bée taken as in other places of the scripture but for a type or figure contayning vnder misterie great things A woman was séene clothed with the sonne yea of Iohn For to Gods onely electes is the veritie shewed to auauntage Not Marie Christes mother is this womaÌ„ thogh many hath so fantasied in their commentaryes But it is the true christian churche of whome Marye is a moste notable member 3 This woman the church as SalomoÌ„s canticles specifie is fair louely pleasaunt sweet holsome delectable vndefiled as the Mâ—ne excelent in clearnesse as the sunne and glorious as an armie of men with theyr banners and stremers This woman is bewtifully decked with the shining sunne of rightuousnesse None is of hir that hath not don on Iesus Christ being renued in their hartes by faith They are not hir childreÌ„ that persecute gods word no more thaÌ„ was Annas and Caiphas Ioannes and Alexander 4 This woman séemed to haue the moone vnder hir féete To the church or congregation of God are all other creatures subiecte All moouable things hath the Lorde subdued vnto hir Shée is the right heire and inheritor of theÌ„ through Christ they with hir to be deliuered from the bondage of corruption and to serue in libertie 4 Upon hir head was also a crowne of twelue starres which betokeneth not onely the twelue Apostles declaring the glorie of Christes kingdome immediatly after his death
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
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
Unto them which at that day shall be in the cittie wil be that sitteth in the thron make all things now All dolour afflictioÌ„ sorow paine penury wrath coÌ„dempnatioÌ„ death shal be past with them Only shal they be trodeÌ„ down in this winefat of gods wrath that lyued héere lyke beastes without reason and that wandered here lyke horses and mules in theyr owne filthy lustes 12 All shal be punished there that was here vnbrideled vnordred vngouerned after the worde pleasure of God And therefore it is here sayd vnto the horse bridles Euery man shal receiue in body according to that he hath don whether it be good or euell They that haue wrought the work of God in faith shall reape according vnto it The bridles also betokeneth the mesure of gods iudgement not as concerning the tyme which is euerlasting but concerning the payne rightly mesured according to the iniquity For the lord hath set his iudgments ouer the wicked in weight and mesure the stripes agreing in quaÌ„titi to the exces of sin so much tormeÌ„t to haue as their reioice hath ben in wikednes 13 The space of these terible tormeÌ„ts or punishmentes of hel is a M. and .vj. hundred furlongs A furlong of the Grekes is called the runne of Hercules it is in length an C. .xxv. paces or steppes And coÌ„moÌ„ly they vsed accordiÌ„g to the length to measure their playing places Of whome Paule maketh meÌ„cion to the CorinthiaÌ„s being Gréekes by theÌ„ that ruÌ„neth in a course that proueth masteries In this thousande and vi hundred furlonges here is comprehended the whol vniuersal course of the wicked for the iiii quartars of the world The number of an hundred is euermore an whole complete perfect number And â—iij huÌ„dred .iiij. times nuÌ„bred is .xvj. huÌ„dred which maketh this number of a thousand vj. huÌ„dred the number of iiij respecting alwayes the iiij clymates of the world which are the common habitacioÌ„s of sinners In theÌ„ course they in all wantan kindes of liuing In theÌ„ worke they their masteris of all vngodly obseruacioÌ„s and false worshippinges walking in the large or opeÌ„ way which leadeth vnto death According to the number mesure of this course hath God here measured the place punishment Notwithstanding neuer is he without mercy Maruelous he is in his workes iudgemeÌ„ts which are vnsercheable Blessed is he that shal haue his part in the citie or congregation of the rightuous and that shal sée the peace vpon Israel when the Lord shal lead forth them with the euil doers that hath 〈◊〉 them selues with their lawes The Lord graunt vs once to tast the prosperitye of Hierusalem Amen The xv Chapter NOt only for the common sinnes of the world doth the Lord plague but most of al for vnthankfulnes of al blasphemies the greatest From that spurneth against knowlege directly worketh against the holy ghost A double distruction or decay both of soule bodye by the righteousnesse of god must nedes followe the wilful coÌ„tempt of his veritie manifestly shewed and openlye taught Yet is the Lorde so mercifull that hee willeth not the daÌ„nation of a sinner Such coÌ„passioÌ„ hath he euer our manifold weakenesse that he premonisheth vs of hys moste terrible plagues to call vs backe by feare if loue will not doe it As here consequently in the first vysion of this present reuelatioÌ„ to Iohn which followeth after this sort in this xv and xvj Chapters THE TEXT 1 And I saw an other signe in heuen great and merueilous 2. seuen Angels hauyng the seuen last plagues 3. for in them is fulfilled the vvrath of God 4. And I savve as it vvere a glassy sea 5. mingled vvith fyre 6. and theÌ„ that had gotten the victory of the beast and of his Image 7. and of his mark and of the number of his name 8. stande on the glassy sea 9 hauing the harps of God 10. And they sang the songe of Moyses the seruaunt of God 11. and the songe of the Lambe saying 12. Great and merueilous are thy vvorkes Lord God almightie 13. iust and true are thy vvayes thou king of Sainctes 14. VVho shall not feare O Lorde and glorifie thy name 15. For thou onely arte holy 16. and all gentiles shal come and vvorship before thee 17. for thy iudgements are made manifest The Paraphrase 1 And I sawe sayeth sainct Iohn by the secret goodnes of my Lord God yet an other tokeÌ„ in heaueÌ„ great merueilous straunge and wonderfull For in the churches or congregation of God are euermore vttered his wonderfull and déepe iudgementes vnto them only whome his grace appoynteth as vnto Iohn And this is the token in mistery 2 Seuen Aungels had in their hands the seuen last plagues Some expositors haue taken these Angels for the right ministers in the .vii. ages of the christian church Some haue thought them to be the peruerse prechers and vngodly ministers of all the sayde ages suffered of God strongly to delude the vnbeléeuers that he wich hurteth should hurte stil and that he wkich is in fylthines should still be filthy Unto euery age corresponding an Aungell to declare the nature of those deceitefull hyrelings and lying masters And this maketh them so to vnderstande the texte They are here expresly noted to be in heauen Among the congregation of God are the false Prophets and discembling Hipocrits euermore as the chaffe among the corne the teares among the wheate and the filthy dregs amonge the pure wine For that kyngdome is as a net throwen into the sea and gatheringe all manner of fishes both good and bad In all ages hath the wicked generacioÌ„ increased to impugne the truth and stifly sâ— to stande vp agaynste God and his Christ whiche is none other after their mindes than to minister the .vii. laste plagues here For no poyson is to the soule so pestilent nor yet venim so noyfull as is false doctrine No plage can be thought more deadlie nor violent than to depriue vs of that faith of that veritie of that life whiche is in Christ Iesu or to bring vs out of the way which he hath appointed And al this séemeth no smal likelyhood of the iust vnderstanding of the text here Yet Frances Lambert geuith a far better iudgment calling theÌ„ the set senteÌ„ces or vnuariable decrées of god difining his iudgments against the wicked in his latter age of the world at their appointed times to be vtterred For all these thinges are iontely to be considered These Angles came not onely from heauen which is the congregation as they haue mencioned but also out of the celestiall temple of the tabernacle of testimonie which is the omnypotente God his Christ as the xxi chap. hereof declareth They are also clothed with pure whit linnen gyrded with golden girdles they haue golden vials deliuered vnto them by one of the iiii beasts and one of them commoneth with Iohn declarynge vnto him the iudgement and fall of the
of the foure Beasts gaue vnto the seuen Angels 10. Seauen golden vials 11. ful of the vvrath of god vvhich liueth for euermore 12 and the teÌ„ple was ful of smoke 13. For the glory of God and for his power 14. And no man vvas able to enter into the temple 15. Tyll the seauen plagues of the seuen Angels vvere fulfilled The Paraphrase 1 And anone after that saith S. Iohn I loked yet more adâ—â—sedly And sodeÌ„ly as it were the euerlasting teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of witnes was opeÌ„ in heaueÌ„ 2 A mistery this is very earnestlye to be marked as a thiÌ„g of great waight The Lord almightye is this eternall temple he is the temple not made with hands vncreated gloryous and ful of maiesty coÌ„prehending in him al thiÌ„gs he within none againe comprehended He is the Lord of all He measureth heauen with his span he ouer reacheth all the world with his iii. fingers In him we liue we moue and haue our beyng The tabernacle of witnes is the lambe Iesus Christ. He is that very tabernacle of God that was here amoÌ„g men bearing that faithful witnes which geueth wisdom to babes He is the propiciatory or mercy seate wherin we are hard and forgeuen Neither was this tabernacle of this manner building but much more perfecte and greater This holy tabernacle is with in the aforesayd temple for Christ dwelleth in the father and the father in him 3 Open is this temple in heauen the tabernacle séene whan god is known by true preaching christs doctrine beléeued For he came into the world for that purpose was borne to beare witnesse vnto the truth whoÌ„ the father willed only to be hard concerning faith 4 This temple and tabernacle open or god and his worde once knowne in this latter age the seauen Angels coÌ„meth forth The eternall decrées of gods secret iudgemets apéereth are fulfilled in their times As Angels or messeÌ„gers of god thei haue in his eternitie theyr iust plagues in their season appointed to be exhibited 5 And therfore are they sayd to come out from the temple whiche is God Nothing hath he purposed to the world but he hath decréed it afore the worldes constitution For his purpose minde and pleasure is as he is euerlasting And as it falleth to the world by hys assignement it becommeth a messenger going out of the temple So many hath he sent out of such messeÌ„gers as he hath fulfilled decréed purposes And marueil not though they be here called angels considering that it is the commoÌ„ maner of the holy scriptures euermore to call them Angels which vttereth the will pleasure and commaundement of God as they doe here After this sort are the priests called Angels so is Aggeus the prophet so is S. Iohn Baptist so are Christes disciples also the publique preachers 9 What the plagues are that they shall shed out of their vials will be shewed clearly in the next chap. folowiÌ„g one after an other 7 These Angels are apparelled in pure whit linnen bright shininge as christal and girdels about theyr brests with girded of fine golde whiche betokneth their sincere cleannes their gloryous perfitnesse For what can be more pure precious than the eternall decrées of the lord What can be more perfit and glorious than his prediffined purposes The lawes of God are vndefiled the testimonies are true the statuts are right the waies are suer the commaundements are cleare the iudgements are godly the words are pure and precious Yea the gifts that come from the father of light are euer more perfit and good 8 The gyrding of their breasts is the streight spearing vp of the secret meaning of Gods iudgementes from our carnall vnderstanding till such time as he openeth theÌ„ vnto vs by his spirit for it belongeth not vnto vs to deserue such secrets as the father reserueth to his owne power 9 And one of the foure beastes or congregations saith S. Iohn delyuered vnto the aforesayde .vii. Angels .vii. golden vials replenished with the wrath full displeasure of God which liueth for euermore Though the congregations be in the first chapter .vii. in the fourth .iiii. vnderstanded by the foure beastes yet are they héere in this place brought all vnto one and called one of the iiii or els of the foure made one for so muche as the vniuersall christian church is of one consent one faith one baptim one god and pertayneth to one Christe For so much also as it confesseth beléeueth and teacheth one doctrine of health One is my doue saieth the holy ghost one is my dearelye beloued darlyng A beast is it here noted as liuing in the flesh and not yet mortified by death 10 The vials of Gods wrath are the vngodly reprobates fit onely for destruction Golden are thei here named because they appeare gloryous in the worldly iudgementes of men Uerye paynted tombs are the dissembling hipocrits within full of stinking bones A shining name of life haue thei yet are they inwardly dead For all that they do is to be séene of men 11 Full of wrath are they wherby is ment a sinfull vnderstanding with damnable doctrins For very swift ar thei to al vngodlynesse The .vi. properties haue they which the Lord hateth and the seuenth which he vtterly abhoreth A proud looke a dissembling tongue bloudy hands a wicked hart féet redy vnto mischife wayes to practise lyes sowings of dissencioÌ„ amoÌ„g brethren These are geuen of the true christen congregation to the vii Angels or decréed purposes of God to be iudged as thei haue eternally diffined For none other is their continuall prayer but that his wyll be fulfilled and that his predifined intentes againste the peruerse multitude be finished at theyr conuenient times None other is it to put into the Angels handes the vials of gods displeasure than thus to commit them by faithful prayer to his purposed decrées or fore set ordinaunces 12 Bâ—t because that commonly whan gods iudgements begin to wax knowen all thinges are commoned troubled therfore is it said here conseqently that the temple was full of smoke by reason of the maiestie of God and of his gloryous power This smoke are certayne misteries representing vnto vs the hidden maiestie of gods eternall presence Whose brightnesse can no frayle vnderstanding abide Not al the world could not sustaine it if all thinges were opeÌ„ playne coÌ„cerninge it In no wise could Moyses presently sée the face of God only might he be suffered to sée his backe partes for no maÌ„ can se God liue Only is he sene here in this life as in a glasse or vnder a dark speking He appereth vnto vs here in a mistical smoke like as he dyd to the patriarck Iacob in sléepe to Moises in the flaming bush to Helias in the horle winde to the Apostles in fyery toÌ„gs vnto Ananias in a secret visioÌ„ 13 Under the shadow of figurate locucioÌ„ is his glory for the elect persons and
theyr bellyes and thys wyl be the tenour of their wofull tragedy 10 Alas alas that worthy citie that royall Rome that swéet Babilon that holye mother of ours in whom we were left so rich so mighty so strong that all the worlde feared vs we felt of no sorrowes 11 Specially all we that had ships in the sea or that had Bishopprickes benefices and other fat liuings amonge the wauering wanderers of the light laytie inconstaunt fyckle and foolysh where as GODS worde is not knowne 12 We became wealthy in all maner of pleasures by reason of hyr costly and profitable wares that those our shippes contayned whiche are to many to be now rehearsed 13 Full woe are we heauy at the hart remembring that famous citie for at one houre is she made desolat In this last age of his Churche wyll the Lord consume hir with his breth not leauing in hir one stone vppon an other Like as the shadow that passeth shal she vanish away lyke the dry thistle Floure or dust that is scatered with the winde Suche wordes sayeth the wise man Philo shall they speak in hell that haue sinned besides their desperate complaynt in this lyfe Some expsitours haue taken al these kings marchants vnd ship gouerners for one manner of people or generation of Antichrist And it may wel be for so much as they are all of the earth None of these are they iustlye by the authorytie of God but very tiraunts théeues and manquellers THE TEXT 1 Reioice ouer hir thou heauen 2. And ye holy Apostles 3. And Prophetes 4. For God hath geuen your iudgemente on hir 5. And a mighty Angell tooke vp a stone lyke a great milstone 6. And cast it into the sea saying 7. With such violence shall that great Citie Babilon be caste 8. And shall be founde no more 9. And the voyce of harpers and musitianes 10. and of pipers and trumpeters 11. shal be heard no more in thee 12. And no craftes man of vvhatsoeuer crafte he be shall be founde any more in thee 13. And the sounde of a mille shall be hearde no more in thee 14. And candell light shall be◠no more burning in thee 15. And the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde shall be heard no more in thee 16. For thy merchaūts vvere the Princes of the earth 17. and vvith thine inchauntments vvere deceiued all nations 1◠And in hyr vvas founde the bloude 19. of the Prophets 20. and of the saincts 21. and of all that vvere slayne vpon the earth The Commentary 1 With all myrth possible sayeth the text reioyce thou heauē or thou faithfull congregation of God to sée thys aduoutrous church of Antichrist ouerthrowen Be glad in thy hart not that thy quarell is reuenged but in that the rightuousnesse of God is fulfilled hys people being at libertie 2 Haue myrth conuenient ye holy Apostles or messengers of the Lorde with them that the Gospell hath called 3 Ioye with our brethren ye aunciēt Prophets or godlye teachers of the olde lawe 4 For your merciful God hath heard your pittious crye from vnder the aulter and hath perfourmed vpon the blasphemous whore the same selfe iudgement that you desired According to your owne request hath he reuenged all your innocēt bloud which hath bene shed vpon earth since Abell the ryghtuous The same dampnation haue they now iustly that they ministred vnto you vniustly Yea double for so muche as they haue it both in theyr bodyes and soules where as you had it but alone in your bodyes 5 And immediatly saith S. Iohn an Angell of great power betokening the true preachers of the latter age of the church strōgly indued frō aboue tooke vp a stone of exceding weight very like in simylitude vnto a greate milstone They shal gather vp out of Esay Hieremy Abacucke other Prophets the mighty tirrible iudgemēts of the Lord which are the heauy stone that shall grinde his enimies into pouder 6 This stone shal they cast into the sea They shal publish preach and declare vnto the people of this worlde which are as the mouable floud those heauy iudgements which shal light vpō that blasphemous churche of theirs at the tyme appoynted and thus shall they say vnto them 7 So vyolent and heauy shall be the distruction of that myserable citie that mysticall Babylon that prostibulous church of Antichrist with hir shorne citizens and smeared hipocrites as is the waightie fal of an excéeding great milstone in the bottome of the sea rysing vp no more agayn yea so tirrible and fearefull 8 With shame and confusion shall that wicked generation come downe and neuer more be foūd hereafter neither in the earth nor yet in heauen Though in their painted stories they put popes cardinals bishops monks chanōs shauen priests friers nuns and heremites in heauen amonge the saincts yet are there none such nor neuer shal be Their resting place is the bottome of the sea by the iudgements of God vnlesse they renounce those vaine supersticions and cleaue to the sincere verities of the Lord. Much haue they boasted in their writinges that their holy mother of predigious orders and disguised relygyons should euermore continue 9 But be certaine and sure thou myserable church saith the holy ghost that thou shalt no lēger enioy the cōmodious pleasures of a frée cittye all quietous without trubles The mery noyes of them that play vpon harpes lutes and fidels the swéet voice of musicians that sing with virginals vials and chimes the armony of them that pipe in recorders flutes and drums and the shirle showt of trumpets waits shawmes shall no more be heard in thée to the delight of men 10 Neyther shal the swéet Organs containing the melodious noyse of all maner of instruments byrdes be plaied vpon nor the great belles be rong after that nor yet the fresh discant prick song counter point and faburden be called for in thée which art the very sinagog of Sathan 11 Thy lasciuious armonye delectable musique much prouoking the weake hartes of men to meddle with thy abhominable whordom by the wantonnes of Idolatry in that kinde shal perish with thée for euer 12 No cunning Artificer Caruer Paynter nor Gilder Embroderer Goldsmith nor silk worker with such other like of what occupacion so euer they be or haue bene to thy cōmodity shall neuer more be found so agayne Copes cruettes candelstickes miters crosses sēsers crismatoris corporasses and chalices which for thy whorishe holines might not somtime be touched will thā for thy sake be abhorred of all men Neuer more shall be builded for marchāts of thi liuery mark palaces tēples abbeys collages couēts chauntries fair houses horcherds of plesure 13 The clapping noise of neyther wyndmil horsemil nor watermil shal any more be heard to the gluttenous féeding of thy puffed vp porklings for the maintenaunce of thine idle obseruacions ceremonies No more shal those idle belly gods swill vp
the 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
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
vnderstande the Godly misteries that they comprehend 9 The greatnesse of a cytie is to bée considered to the multitude of the dwellers therein Than who can thynk◠Christes congregation small measuringe it by the scriptures from the first begynning of the worlde to the latter ending A furlonge is the eyghte parte of a myle and contayneth a hundreth and twenty fiue paces whych is in lēgth vi hundreth xxv foote here it betokēoth the cōtinuall course of labour and paynefull sufferaunce in the kyngdome of Christ after saynt Paul They that ronne for the wager in this course laboureth not for a thynge vncertaine But for an incorruptible crowne they holde their bodyes in subieccion to the spirite Such are the inhabitours of this citie whose number is greate whole and perfect vniuersally taken O Israell sayth Baruch howe greate is the house of God and how large is the compasse of hys possession Exceding great is it hath none end highout of measure can not be ouer reached 10 The heyght of thys Cytie from the foundatyon was all one in measure wyth the length and breadth For euerye way was it equall and square in compasse Rounde about was it stronge mighty and sure the gates of hell in no wyse able to preuayle agaynst it Upon euery parte faythfull perfect and godly séekynge those thinges onelye whych are aboue where Christ is sittyng at the rygyt hande of God Yea all spirituall hygh and heauenly are they hauynge their daily conuersacion not here but in heauen frō whēce they wayte for their sauioure Iesus Christ. So hygh also is the spirit that gouerneth thys congregation in rewardynge as it is eyther large in geuinge or longe in continuall working Neuer had Iohn séene the heyghte bredth and length of thys wonderfull cytie for our vniuersall comfort had he not ben raysed vp by the secret purpose of God into the mountayne of thys spirite inestimable hyght and great 11 After thys measured the Angell the wall of the cytie and it came fully to an hundred and .xliiii. cubites whych is .xii. tymes .xii. in number as we had afore here in the vii and xiiii Chapiters And it cōprehendeth the whole number of the elect multitude only for the vniuersall perfectnesse thereof A cubytte after the common sorte is in length but a foote an half but after the course of Geometry it is six times so much which commeth too .ix. foote iustly Nowe an hundreth and .xliiii. cubites wanteth after the first rekening CC. and .ix foote of a furlonge And after the rules of Geometrye it passeth not .xlvi. foote more than ii furlonges which stretcheth nothing towardes .xii. thousande furlonges Therefore we may not here reken the cubytes wyth the furlonges after a worldly sorte but we must spiritually measure them accordinge to the scriptures So that they maye agrée togither after the meaning of the mystery the course with the gifte and the workinge wyth the power The cubyte of a man is the fore parte of hys arme wyth the hande and it betokeneth here in mistery Iesus christ whych is the strong arme of the father To whome is the arme of the Lord knowen sayth Esaye and Iohn or who perceyueth the power of hys worde Such might saieth Mary sheweth he in hys arme as will scatter abrod his obstinate enimies That hande is he wher with god created al things in the beginning In this arme hath he redemed hys people the posteritie of Iacob and Ioseph With thys hande preserueth he them in the life that can not fayle whome the enymies hath marked out vnto cruell death Through the myghty power of this arme shall most terrible feare and dred lighte vpon the wycked at the latter daye After thys cubyte must they be measured whych are of this spiritual building specially they that are the wall therof as the Godly preachers princes maiestrates and other lawefull ministers Agréeable to his doctrine ought theyr conuersatyon to be in all poyntes As hys true minysters should they shewe them selues in méekenesse konwledge longe sufferaunce in loue vnfayned in the worde of truth in the power of GOD by the armoure of rightuousnesse and so forth Necessary is it for thē to do on Iesus Christ to walke worthely in theyr vocaciō obseruing the vnytie of the spirite in the yoke of peace As the chosē holy and welbeloued of God to take vpon them a tender pyttie kyndnesse lowlynesse softnesse swifte forgiuing wyth other fruites of the spirite acknowledging alwaye Christs for theyr onely wysdom rightuousnesse and redemption for theyr kéeper sauer and stronge bulwarke of defēce Thus in this spirituall rekeninge is it to be considered that by the furlonges is the cytie measured and by the cubytes the wall the furlonges comprehendyng them that haue runne in the true course of a christiā lyfe and the cubites them that haue iustly ministred the power of Christes worde and doctrine Some writers haue taken the one sort here for martiers for valiauntlye performinge their moste sharp course and the other for them that haue peaceably rested in Christ. But I am contented here wyth my coniecture consideringe there haue bene martiers in both the afore named degrées And as for the vnequalnesse of length in the furlonges cubits it onely respecteth the persons or peoples among whom the people taught haue excéeded the teachers in number y◠cōmunalty the gouernours and the flocke the shepardes or els the gentyls the Iewes Yet are they both twelue both great whole perfect vniuersal numbers one Hierusalem or one perfect kingdōe of Christ. Thus doth also the xii twelues corresponde to the xii thousandes as the Iewes to the gētyles in one faith though their limites were much larger extēding to the endes of the world and are made one shepefolde or flocke Christ being one shepeherde of saluatiō to thē both 12 Consequently the golden measure which the Angell had was much after the measure that man customably vseth And this signifieth that the word of god which measureth all thinges perteyninge to hys churche is geuen vnto vs vnder such worldly similitudes likilihodes as we are beste acquainted with for our weaknesse sake Not onely in thys reuelation but also in all other bookes of the scriptures doth the holy ghost at his appoyctment alure vs to hys kingdōe by the example and parables of such thinges as we haue in dayly custome As of mountaynes gardens welspringes vyneyardes fygge trées tabernacles temples buyldynges maryages stewards vyrgyns merchādise tyllynge haruest talentes pearles nettes suppers shéepe lambes lyghte wheate salte gootes doues serpentes menne keyes lanternes swerdes roddes trauelinge women mustarde séede beastes and here of furlonges and cubytes wyth such other lyke and all to make vs to perceyue them Nowe sée we onely by such darke simylitudes But in the regeneratyon whan all thynges is cleare shall we haue néede of no such nyght shaddowes wythout vayle or coueryng shall we then sée and béeholde our Lorde God as he
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
Iohan Boanerges an earnest thunderer out of the gospell a stirrer vp mens hartes to the study of heauenly things Yea a man knowne not only to you Afianes but also the whole Christianitie for that Apostle whom Christ peculyarlye loued 2 Euen I am the same selfe Iohan which haue both heard these wonderfull things with myne eares and also haue séene them through the great goodnesse of my lord God with myne eyes for your singular commoditie and profite 3 None other matter doe I héere wryte vnto you at the commaundement of Iesus Christ for your healthe and saluation but such as I haue both heard and séene for the same beleue them if ye wil. In my other writings as are my gospell and my fyrst Epistle whervnto I neuer subscribed ye haue throughly beleued mée Giue no lesse credence now than vnto this whervnto I subscribe my name For so haue I done here that ye should the rather beleue it and receyue it as most wholesome doctrine of saluation After thys sort did Paule adde his name to hys sayings that they should be the more earnestly receyued 4 And as concerning my parte truly whan I had thus harde them séene them the wonderfull mysteryes of them so rauyshed my spirites that I in a maner clearely forgate my selfe 5 Yea I was so farre from my right remembraunce for the vehemency of them that I fell downe flatte to the grounde prostrate before the féete of the Angell mynding to giue vnto him the whole homage of my soule which is onely due vnto God that created my soule 6 And what though this Angel which had thus opened vnto me all these woÌ„derfull mysâ—eries afore where Iesus Christ him selfe as I thought him no lesse in déede yet sought I not to haue worshipped him in that similitude coÌ„sidering also the God will haue no part of his honour giuen to any other than vnto himselfe onely 7 Wherefore he charitably admonished me of it and sayd thus vnto me 8 In any wise beware thou doe no such homage vnto me which apere here to thée but a creature least therby thou offende the Lord god For daunger may be in such case though the intent bée godly if any part thereof shoulde remayn to the creature as thou knowest wel inough Nothing maiest thou worshippe that thy outwarde syght offreth vnto thée for in them hath fayth no place whych is a substaunce of things vnséene And God hath taught thée to worshipe him in no creatures neither in breade nor wyne man nor angell but in spirit and veritie onely muche lesse than to worshippe the selfe creatures or Idols in their stede whych is much worse 9 Though I be the sonne of God and sauiour of the world yet am I in this office but a creature and thy fellow seruaunt A sent messenger from God as thou art an opener of his godly minde and pleasure as thou art to sygnifie yâ— vnto thée which he wolde haue thée againe to signifie vnto his people 10 And in this point am I not onely thy companion or in this message ioyned fellowe with thée for so well is it my reuelation as thyne but also I am a lyke companion to thy former brethreÌ„ Ezechiell Daniell Zacary and such other which had the gyft of prophecie and were prophetes in déede as thou art now doing lyke office with them thus vttering gods mind in misteries 11 Yea farthermore I am a fellowe seruaunt likewise and a companioÌ„ togither of all theÌ„ yâ— with reuerence obserue the faithfull testymonies of this present booke or prophecy In token wherof I toke the shappe of a seruaunt I fulfylled the lawe and was conuersaÌ„t among men 12 So thou worshippe not me therefore but worship thy onely Lord god For alone shouldest thou seke him and loue him honour him and serue hym prayse hym and glorifie him None other gods shalt thou haue in my sight saith the eternall and omnipoteÌ„t Lord. Obserue the same rule in worshipping that I taught thée to obserue in prayer Remember I taught thée not to pray vnto me whome thou séest nor yet vnto any dead sainct whome thou séest not but vnto thy lorde God whom thou hast only in beleue saying our father which arte in heauen I tolde thée also that God was a spirite and that he would only be sought in spirite and in nothing that thou séest with thyne eyes Therefore worship God not mée Consider here good reader the vngodly vyolence of the papistes enforcing the simple multitude to worship a drye wafer cake to knele vnto it to holde vp their handes to make theyr prayers to it and to call it their God making them to beleue that it is gods commaundement they shoulde so doe Oh abhominable Antichristes Oh filthie Balaamites séeking your owne bellyes glory to your confusioÌ„ Way this place throughlye with the other scriptures be once ashamed of your beastly and blasphemous madnesse Ye will peraduenture say it is Christes body But truly that is all false For thereof is no mutuall perticipation where one eateth vp all No shewyng is there of the Lordes death til he come where all is done in a foren language and nothing vnderstanded Christ breathed not vpon the bread with hoo hée haue at all as you doe He only tooke it in his holy handes and gaue thankes vnto God The wordes of thankesgyuing he lefte not behinde him for you to â—unger with for he knew yée afore for subtile workers He kept not that bread to him selfe nor yet closed it vp in a boxe as you doe But he brake it and distributed it vnto other In lyke case the disciples did neyther worship it nor him at that season For if they had he would haue forbidden it them and haue taught the same self doctrine that he sheweth here vnto Iohan. Only did they take it eate it in his remeÌ„braunce and that was his institution And where as it is this vsed there is both his body and bloud receiued But otherwise not The breade that was lefte of this consecration or breaking which was so holy as the other was neyther housed nor churched boxed nor pixed but remayned there styll to the housholders to be eateÌ„ of whom soeuer lusted Neyther doth the diuinitie of your senteÌ„cioners as of Thomas of Aquine Dons Dorbel Guido Baconthorp and such other appoynt thervnto that kynde of honour that ye suffer the people to giue vnto it but a far meaner honour called Hiperdulia But you can wynke at such matters suffer both them and your selues to go to the diuell for worldly lucer Nothyng holdeth long with you neither christes doctryne nor your owne But that yée make now ye marre to morowe And that at one tyme is a lawe at an other tyme shal be none at al. Such are your wauering wonders The Text. 1 And he sayde vnto me 2. Seale not thy sayinges of the prophecy of this booke 3. For the tyme is at hande 4. He that doth euill let