and thre score dayes of Iohan. Not onlye for thys age of the churche but also for all other ages and by other heades also hath the mouthe of thys Beast vttered great thinges in blasphemy lyes in Hypocresye and wonders vnder a deceytfull power But as concernynge thys latter healed head of the Beast the tyme therof wyll be short as here after shall apâ—re in the .xvij. chapter 4 He opened hys mouthe sayth the text in reproues agaynst God speakynge yll of hys name of hys tabernacle of theÌ„ that dwell in heaueÌ„ Thys is in a maner all one with that was spoken afore in the .xi. chapter of the temple the auâ—ter and of them that worshyp in the temple saue onlye that hys name ys here for hys temple In token that whan hys temple ys blasphemed whych ys hys coÌ„gregacyon hys name ys blasphemed by the same so ys hys tabernacle Iesus in whom bodelye dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhede so are also they that dwell â—n heaueÌ„ wherbye ys meÌ„t the true churche from whom the angels are not secluded beynge their fellawe seruauntes These dwellerrs be they that haue their conuersacyon in heauen vnder an vndefyled faythe that seke those thynges which are aboue and not vpon earthe that worshyp the father in sprete and veryte and that perseuereth true christyanes to the ende Manye entreth thys heauen of the lorde but all contynueth not in yt to the ende of their lyues the more ys the pyte 5 Power was also geuen vnto this beastlye Antichrist to make battayle with the sayntes and to ouercome them Contynuallye do they with vyolence vexe by their cerâ—all polycyes auctoryte and lawes the syncere wytnesses or preachers of the lorde sanctyfyed of hym through faythe in his holye worde as were hys Apostles lyke as ded the malycyouse clergye of the Iewes-Yea they ded resist them with their more than tyrannouse proclamacyons commissyons and commandemeÌ„tes wyth cruell Pharao AmaÌ„ and Antiochus to proue Christ in them the sygne of contradyccyon stone of reproche They seke here they honte there and neuer leaue ragynge tyll they haue closed them vp in presons 6 Yet are they not so contented tyll they haue ouercomen them in the syghe of the blynde worlde though not before God Eyther shall they be compelled shamefullye to recante or yf they persyst in the veryte to suffer most peynefull deathe By one waye or other they must be ouercomeÌ„ to holde the peple in erroure The Gardyner of wynchester was not ashamed now of late as I harde yt credyblye reported to saye vnto one that was accused of hys malygnaunt multitude whan he was no longar able to withstaÌ„de the manifâ—st truthe Master Seyton we knowe ye are lerned and plentuouslye knowe ye are lerned and plentuouslye endued with knowlege in the scripturs yet thynke not that ye shall ouercome vs. No no sett your hart at rest loke neuer to haue yt sayed that ye haue ouercomen the byshoppes for yt shall not be so In dede yt is truthe For neyther Christ nor hys Apostles ded euer yet ouercome yow Their vyctorye ouer yow ys not in thys worlde your kyngedome beynge here But be certen and sure of yt ye shall be ouercomen to your moche more rebuke at the latter daye whan all wronges and iniuryes shall be reuenged which is not farre of Your lordelye estymacyon which maye not be hyndred here wyll apere there not verye precyouse Yet do ye well to holde vp a proude pecockes head as longe as ye maye Lose not an ynche of your hyght hardelye but with your gogle eyes loke vp lyke a manne with a garde at your tayle lyke a sort of tormentours in a playe And with your lyenge iudgementes ouercome these beggerlye vagabondes and burne them also rather thaÌ„ fayle to fulfill the measure of your holye fathers 7 And autoryte was geuen to thys Beast vpon euerye kyndred peple tonge and nacyon For non these Antichristes spare neyther hygh nor lowe ryche nor poore sycke nor hole lerned nor vnlerned But a iurisdiccyon they must haue ouer theÌ„ though yt be vsurped Ones in the yeare must they haue them in confession to knowe which waye they are bente That salue haue they gotten in ageyne to heale vp their wounded head Be he naryâ—e or be he straunger be he a rewler or be he coÌ„moner he must obeye them no remedye or els stande forthe at the sessyons with Christ amonge theues Not in one regyon or where as one maner of language ys vsed haue they thys auctorite but in euerye lande in euerye shere in euerye towne and in euerye famylye must they haue to do corruptynge euerye mannes faythe 8 For all that dwelle vpon earthe must worshyp thys Beast They must agree to the great thynges no remedye They must blaspheme God as they do But blessed be the lorde noÌ„ doth that in their hartes but they onlye that dwell vpon the earthe that haue their felycyte here that seketh the prosperyte of thys worlde and regardeth non other lyfe than therin is The lambes of Christes folde geueth hede to hys voyce they regarde hys calle they folowe hys worde they walke in hys lyght They seke for no holynesse but onlye in hym neyther in water nor bread ashes nor palmes robes nor relyckes masses nor anoyntinges He ys their onlye sufficient wisdome ryghtousnesse holynesse aÌ„d redemptioÌ„ His worde ys their lyuinge water the fode of their sowles the lanterne that shall gyde them and the lyfe that wyll not fayle them Non other doctryne do they couete nor yet other preceptes of lyuynge Though they be here in the earthye yet dwelle they not vpoÌ„ yt No contynuynge cyte haue they here but they seke vnto an other of moche more bewtye and pleasure not buylded of menne And for that they are redye rather to render by their lyues than to renouÌ„ce the veryâ—e Onlye they which dwelle here doth worshyp the Beast louinge theÌ„selues better than God and their fleshe better than hys truthe hauynge their whole trust in the mangye merites and dyrtye deseruynges of these beastlye Hipocrites and no thynge at all in his swete promyses 9 And therfor are not their names written of the laÌ„be in the boke of lyfe which lambe was slayne from the begynnynge of the worlde Christ hath not allowed them by hys worde and promes With the ryghtouse are they not regestred as members of one mystycall bodye in hym In the similitude of hys deathe are they not grafted vnto hym as the braunches vnto the vyne to be partyners of hys resurreccyon Their porcyon ys not in the lande of the lyuynge with hym They are non of those whom the father hath geuen hym to partycipate with hym in one sprete Predestynate they are not vnto lyfe by hym nor so written vp in the foreknowlege of God Chosen they were not of the lorde before the worldes constitucyoÌ„ to be hys vndefyled childreÌ„ in Crist. 10 He ys the meke lambe that was slayne He alone taketh
water ¶ The Paraphrase 1 An other Angell sawe I sayth Saynt Iohan flye in the myddes of heauen For Chryst was the first Angell or massenger of the euerlastynge couenaunt of the father This Angell here mencyoned is non other than he that had the seale of the lyuynge God in the vii Chapter and he that was clothed wyth a clowde in the tenth chapter And he betokeneth those feruent mynysters whâ—m God hach sent in this latter tyme to admonishe his peple to fle from the errours of Antichrist and returne to his heauenlye veritees 2 He flyeth in the myddes of heauen An ernest feruent and faythfull course take they in the middes of Gods congregacion which is his heauenlye kyngedome here to whoÌ„ this reuelacion is written lyke as ded Paulus Sylas Barnabas Timotheus Titus and ClemeÌ„s with other of the Apostles syncerelye to declare his worde Mightye stomaked are they in Gods cause both in their wordes and wrytinges 3 An euerlastinge gospell had this angell to preache vnto them that sytte and dwell vpon the earthe to all nacions kynredes and peple His eternall testament and couenaunt of peace hath the lorde geuen vnto them to preache delyueraunce to the captiue helthe to the wounded lyfe to the dead and remission to the sinnefull Yea to vtter that worde that is stronger than is heauen or earthe and that shall neuer fayle him that trulye beleueth 4 The sounde of this gospell must go the worlde ouer as in the Apostles tyme Euery where must it be spredde to the increase of faythe Amonge all nacions of the earthe amonge all kynredes of the Israelytes amonge all laÌ„guages of the worlde aÌ„d amonge all kyndes of peple of what sort so euer they be whether they sytte vpon the earthe or dwell vpon the earthe whether they be hygh or lowe gouernours or subiectes masters or seruauntes owners or fermers So that they sytt not nor dwell not within the earthe or haue their felicyte here For that is holye shuld not be geuen vnto dogges nor yet pearles layed before swyne 5 And he cryed wyth a lowde voyce With a mightye feruent sprete do they beate it into the heades of menne both by wordes writinges and all they can make to haue the feare of God and to geue him his dewe honoure And this is the doctrine they teache and the counsell they geue 6 Feare ye God in all that ye do for the first poynt of godlye wysdome is to dreade least we offende him Be constaunt in the worde aÌ„d feare no displeasure of menne For nomore can they do in their anger but slee the bodye and brynge it to the rest of God No power haue they ouer the sowle Feare him onlye therfor that whan he hath destroyed both maye throwe them into helle 7 Geue honour vnto him worship him and serue him alone Prayse him aÌ„d glorifye him aboue all But yet after non other sort thaÌ„ he hath appoynted which is in faythe sprete and veryte and not in outwarde shaddowes with obseruacyon of tymes He trulye honoureth him that trusteth in hym that beleueth hys worde and that in spyght of all Antychristes confesseth it afore all menne After this sort therfor feare him and worshyp him nothynge doubtynge the assaultes of enemyes 8 For the howre of his iudgement ys come At hande is it that all the Antychristes and hipocrites shall by the invincyble worde of God be iudged condempned and destroyed From heauen shall his wrathe be declared vpoÌ„ all their vngodlynesse With the sprete of his mouthe shall the lorde consume theÌ„ and not longe after wyll the great daye of his indignacion towardes them lyght sodenlye vpon them 9 With all faythfull obsequy worship him therfor that create heaueÌ„ and earth in wonderfull strengthe and bewtye 10 That made the see and the fountaynes of water with all that in them doth moue whose power is eternall knowlege non other God but hym Non other helper redemer nor sauer but his Crist. For all other Chrystes not sent of him are but Antychrystes Onlye bowe your knees vnto him for onlye is hys strength euerlastynge Onlye obeye his lawes for onlye aâ—e hys lawes cleane The Text. 1 And there folowed an other Angell saynge 2. She is fallen she is fallen euen BabyloÌ„ that great cyte 3. for she made all nacions drynke of the wyne of her whoredome ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And there folowed an other angell sayth Saynt Iohan which betokeneth an other sort of preachers whose offyce is here appoynted theÌ„ of the holye ghost to declare vnto the peple the certente of the fall of the aduowterouse cursed aÌ„d malygnaunt churche of hipocrites here fygured by wreched BabiloÌ„ For though all the true prophetes and preachers haue but one worde of God in their mouthe yet passeth it diuerslye from them Vnto yche of them is geueÌ„ a dyuerse vtteraunce of the sprete to edifye One is softe meke and gentyll as was Dauid Iohan aÌ„d Peter an other is boystuouse harde aÌ„d vehement as was Helias Esaye and Paule And all this worketh the self same one sprete This diuersyte of teachers was neuermore plentuouse in the worlde than now in owr tyme figured here by these two angels Praysed by the lorde therfor 2 And the tenoure or grounde of this latter sort of preachers is this She is fallen she is fallen euen myserable Babylon thâ—â— great cyte of whordome because she made all nacyons to drynke of the wrathefull wyne of her fornycacion So sure is it that the execrable churche of Antichrist shall be ouerthrowne and vtterlye destroyed as it were now perfourmed in dede Nothing shall be vnroted out that the heauenlye father hath not planted Sonner shall heauen earthe peryshe than this promes be vnfulfylled 3 For with the stinkinge whoryshnesse of her supersticiouse worshippynges haue she poysened all nacions peples vnder heaueÌ„ The great gouernours aÌ„d lerned lawers of the worlde hath she made in maner of beastlye dronkerdes wytlesse faythlesse aÌ„d gracelesse by their prostibulouse doctrine And this shall be declared more at large in the .xvij. chapter folowynge where as she is more plentuouslye described The Text. 1 And the thirde angell folowed them 2. saynge with a lowde voyce 3. If anye worshypp the beaste and his Image 4. aÌ„d receyue his marke in his fore head or on his hande 5. the same shall drynke of the wyue of the wrathe of God 6. which is poured in the cuppe of his wrathe 7. and he shall be punnyshed in fyre and brymstone 8. before the holye angels 9. and before the lambe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 The thyrde Angell also sayth Saynt Iohan folowed them in the thyrde kynde of preachynge of the same self massage that in the mouthe of .ij. or .iij. faythfull wytnesses all veryte myght stande 2 And by this angell are they signifyed that by the worde of God stifflye impugne their wicked lawes and vngodly ordynaunces whose maner of ernest preachinge is this 3 If anye maÌ„ worship the Beast
christen reader and with all theÌ„ that seaketh of the scrypturs the sauynge helthe in them coÌ„tayned without quarellynge Amen The seconde part of the Image of both churches after the most wonderfull and heaueÌ„lye Reuelacyon of Saynt Iohan the Euangelist ce ¶ Compyled by Iohan Bale The .xi. Chaptre UNto Iohan was delyuered after that he had thus deuowred the boke a rede not vnlyke to the metewande of .vi. cubites longe and a spaÌ„ne whych was geuen vnto Ezechiel nor verye farre different from the measurynge lyne in Zacharie And what ys this els but that the administracion of Gods heaueÌ„lye verite is secretlye of him committed vnto them whych hath afore receyued yt and in faithe digested it that they shuld ther with ryghtlye measure discerne aÌ„d iudge all thinges NoÌ„ other is yt to prophecye ageyne in this sixt age but thus to mete the temple the aulter and the worshippers therin and to proue them in length bredeth heyth and depeth ¶ The text 1 ANd than was geuen me a reede 2. lyke vnto a rodde 3. and yt was sayd vnto me Aryse 4. and meete the temple of God 5. and the aulter 6. and them that worshippe therin 7. And the quere which is within the temple cast out 8. meete it not 9. for it is geueÌ„ vnto the geÌ„tiles 10 And the holye cyte shal they treade vndre fote xlij monethes 1 And there was geuen me sayth saynt Iohan a rede Both receyued I the wysdome of God and also a mouthe to vtter yt So that my tonge became the penne of a redye writer For so moche as I abhorred iniquite the lord anoynted me in wardlye with the oyle of gladnesse and gaue me stomake to vtter hys worde 2 The rede which God delyuered me was lyke vnto a rodde For hys worde ys the rodde of right order And the scepture of hys kingedome With this rodde spredde he oute the heauens and layde forth the fyrst fouÌ„dacyon of the earthe This rodde of his power hath the lorde now graciouslye sent us out of Syon by menne hauinge his speciall grace as by Iohan â—o haue dominyoÌ„ here in the middest of his enemies 3 For vnto Iohan yt was sayd for this age Aryse froÌ„ vayne stodye from cares of the bodye from consideracion of earthlye causes 4 And mete the holye temple of God which is his congregacion or churche Proue all beleues whether they be right or no. Examyne their workes whether they springe of Gods commauÌ„demeÌ„ts or of mennes tradicions And in so doynge trye by the scripturs the â—orne from the chaffe Marke out the peple of God from the synagoge of sathan and delaye not to norryshe them with the swete frutes of the sprete 5 Measure the aulter also which is Iesus Christ vpoÌ„ whoÌ„ the full sacrefice of redemptyon was offred For manye false cristes are a brode in the worlde to seduce the peple The pope boasteth hym self for gods owne vicar Mahomete calleth him self the grete prophete of the lorde And both they to subdewe the gospell hath sett vp newe lawes The pope hys detestable decrees and Mahomete his abhominable alchorane Both thei haue wrought soche woÌ„ders and soche signes in superstycion as myght deduce into erroure yf God were not mercyfull the verie elect persons The moÌ„kes sayth that Christ ys in the desert the prestes sayth he is in the boxe but admonishe my peple that in no case they beleue yt The chanons sayth he is here the fryres sayth he is there but couÌ„sell my flocke that they go not forth For God dwelleth in nothinge that is made with haÌ„de In the faythfull hart is Christ onlye fouÌ„de There remaineth he That is his dwellynge place 6 Therfor now last of all measure them also that worshipp in the temple Considre them onlye to be his peple which seke hym in sprete and in veryte and that worship not in outwarde shaddowes nor in the elementes of this worlde nor yet with obseruacyoÌ„ of dayes tymes They are not his sonnes that for the â—euen of the Pharisees which ys the doctrine of hypocrites forsaketh the bread of children which is his lyuinge worde They are not his laÌ„bes but vyle gottes that rather atteÌ„deth to the voyce of strauÌ„gers thaÌ„ to the trewe sheparde Christ. 7 And therfor the quere which ys wythin the teÌ„ple cast out The prelates prestes and religiouse which are not of the common sort seclude from Christ from his churche and from the companye of true worshippers Throwe forth the bonde woman aÌ„d her sonne the Rome churche with her children and Mahomete with hys rable For the bonde shall not inherete with the fre 8 Measure not out that chaunsell of charmers that college of GalaaÌ„s bretherne those marked Madianytes and cursed Ismaelytes Allowe them not by the scripturs coÌ„mende not theyr couÌ„terfet ryghtousnesse Admyt theÌ„ not for the meÌ„bres of Christ but iudge them to be the sinagoge of SathaÌ„ And speare theÌ„ out of the kingedome of God with the keye of Dauid For they are those swine that tread perles vnder their fete those cruell dogges that turne agayne to deuowre meÌ„ne Medle not with that quere haue not to do with that wycked generacion 9 For it is geueÌ„ vnto the geÌ„tiles Whollie are those Antichristes addict to the supersticiouse rytes of the heytheÌ„ in their sacrifices their ceremonies their obseruatioÌ„s their holy dayes theyr vygils fastinges â— praynges knelinges all other vsages coÌ„trary to the admonyshement of Christ. That they shuld in no wyse entre into the wayes of the geÌ„tiles Wherfor God hath detested theÌ„ with his owne mouthe cleane geueÌ„ theÌ„ ouer vnto theyr owne fylthye lustes Now reygne they al in their owne wisdome thinkynge euermore their owne fleshlye fantasies best wholly they are become GeÌ„tiles 10 â–ª And the holye cyte of whom gloryouse thynges are spoken they shall treade vndre fote the space of .xlij. monethes Not the earthlye Hierusalem ys thys cyte buylded of menne and made holye by the out warde obseruacions and ceremonies of the iewes as manye expositours hath faÌ„tasyed For of that like as Christ prophecied ys not left one stone standinge vpon an other But thys cyte ys the sure buyldinge of God grounded vpon the stronge fouÌ„dacion of the Apostles aÌ„d Prophetes euen vpon the harde rocke stone Iesus Christ. This is the plesaunt possessioÌ„ the wholsom howsholde the sure holde and the dylectable vyneyarde of the lorde of hostes This ys the liuynge generacyon of them which feareth loueth and seketh their lorde God in faith sprete and veryte and not in outwarde shaddowes These are the childreÌ„ of promes the true of springe of Abraham the chosen howse of Israel and the kyngedome of the holie ghost Pure cleane aÌ„d holye hath Christ made this cyte by noÌ„ other thinge but the onlye shedinge of his preciouse blood 11 Thys cyte treade they vnder fote that kepeth downe the treuthe of the gospel that persecuteth sleeth goddes people for it that defeateth his worde for their owne
thynge as the maner of the scrypture is 7 Who is lyke vnto the Beast in outwarde glitterynge workes or in the eâ—terne obseruacions of counterfett relygyon 8 Who is able to warre with her the worldlye powers now so depelye maynteyninge her quarell All seketh the papistes that they can in the worlde Imagyne to vpholde the glorye magnificence and bewrye of their holye whoryshe churche or malignaunt muster No cautels nor câ—aftes leaue they vnsought nor vnserched out to cause the peple to esteme her of incoÌ„parable power No small labour toke standyshe in hande in whittington College whan he made his more than folyshe boke of reproche ageynst Barnes beynge dead Nor no lesse dylygence the wyse Poete Iohan Hontyngton whan he regestred in his Genealogye of heretykes without grace wyt and lernynge the names onlye of soche godlye menne as were the popes enemies no heretyke agaynst God ones meÌ„cyoned Nomore ded Thomas Smythe Richard Dallyson William Stawne SteueÌ„ Prowett frire Adriane quarrye the pardoner wyth soche other blynde Popishe Poetes and dirtye metristes whan they vttered their shitten â—ymes and poesies And sure I am that manye more be yet abrode of the same wycked zele and sprete to the great blasphemye both of God and his truthe now that the Beastes wounde is made whole agayne by so manye newâ— actes so manye newe tytled Bishoppes so freshe sale of benefyces mastershyppes and dignitees spirituall offyces degrees and auctorytes as plentuouse as euer was in Rome And least we shuld be depryued of our newe plesaunt Euphrates and so be compelled by the worde of God to folowe the Monkes Chanons Nonnes and fryers in their bannyshementes We haue procured serten actes to be made for our commodyte and those onlye to be publyshed amonge the peple ones in a quarter or so oft as shall please vs to blemyshe all godlye preachinges of the scripturs Thus seke we our selues and not God our owne streÌ„gthe and not hys our owne glorye not Iesus Christes But lete vs not thynke that he sleapeth with Baall the false God knowinge the most hydden toughtes of the harte but that he wyll within short space sende forthe hys lyghtenynges and scatter vs bryngynge our heythnyshe deuyses to nought For the kyngedome of one fayth in vs and the pope thus manyfestlye in certen poyntes deuyded must surelye decaye The Text. 1 And there was geuen vnto hym a mouthe 2. to speake great thinges and blasphemyes 3. And power was geueÌ„ vnto him to do .xlij. monethes 4. And he opened hys mouth vnto blasphemye agaynst God to blaspheme hys name and hys tabernakle and them that dwell in heauen 5. And yt was geuen vnto hym to make warre with the sayntes 6. and to ouercome theÌ„ 7. And power was geuen hym ouer all kynredes tongue and nacyon 8. And all that dwell vpon the earthe worshypped hym 9. whose names are not wrytten in the boke of lyfe 10. of the lambe 11. which was kylled from the begynnynge of the worlde 12. If anye man haue an eare lete hym heare 13. he that leadeth into captyuyte shall go into captyuyte 14. He that kylleth with a swerde must be kylled wyth a swerde 15. Here is the pacyence and the faythe of the Sayntes ¶ The Paraphrase 1 To this beast sayth Iohan was geuen a mouthe not of God but of Sathan to speake great mightye thinges and blasphemies So well is this spoken of the one as the other so manye as hath done vpon the Antichristes lyuerye title power auctorite or name Whan the veryte of the lorde was opened before them they gaue no thankes for it but became vayne in their thoughtes wherfor God gaue them ouer into a lewde mynde darkenynge their hartes So that now thynkinge them selues wyse they apere more folyshe than afore 2 Now speake they great thynges in theyr conuocacyons seanes and sermons and all are sore blasphemyes agaynst God his Crist. Now must they serue God by most streyght commaundement with olde Romyshe beggerye though he most hyghlye abhorreth it aÌ„d no scrypturs maye be red in the tyme therof For the scripturs must onlye passe as we wyll haue them How shuld the Beastes head els be healed agayne or how shuld our churche be knowne els to be his owne Image Oh beastlye abhomynacion and most hellyshe decre Now must Christ be taken for no sauer at all without owr deseruynges The supper of the lorde that was sumtyme a mutuall pertycypacyon of Christes bodye and bloud must now be a newe crucyfyenge of him one traytoure playnge all partes Iudas Annas Cayphas Herode Pylate and the Iewes Matrimonye must be iudged vnclennesse thowgh it be the ernest institucyon of God No Popyshe vowe maye be dissolued though it be well knowne a matter so deuilyshe as hath made an hondreth thowsande Sodomytes The Eucharystye maye not be receyued in both kyndes thowgh it be the expresse commaundement of Christ so to be vsed Without the blynde bussynges of a Papyst maye no synne be soluted for that is the vpholdynge of theyr kyngedom wyth manye other lyke blasphemyes Certen other great thynges are vttered by this mouthe which now I passe ouer least I shuld be tedyouse to the reader How be it thys one great blasphemye that ys spoken I can not leaue vntowched Where as they boast theÌ„selues yet styll alone to be the holye churche by the onlye vertu of their vnccyons and shauynges receyued first of the pope the layte secluded And vndre thys most falselye vsurped tytle they wyll styll be takeÌ„ for the redemers of meÌ„nes sowles For they saye that their Masses are satysfactorye sacryfyces for the quycke and the dead iustyfienge releuynge and sauynge theÌ„ both from dampnacyon ex opere operato And ouer that abhominable swarme of Antichristes fylthye mynysters make they now their kynges the heades most blasphemously onlye to be by them vpholden now in all their myscheues Truthe yt is that a kynge is the â—polytyque head supreme gouernour aÌ„d great staye vndre God of the peple to hys charge commytted after that sort their myghtie monarke also by the scripturs which they haue afore thys tyme denyed worshyppinge them for most holye sayntes which haue most presumptuouslye rebelled in that behalfe But ouer that whoryshe churche of theirs whom Chryst neuer planted is Sathan the onlye head by the holye Ghostes fore iudgementes here For to that beastlye brode gaue the Dragon hys power hys seate and hys myghty auctoryte God forbidde therfor that anye Christen prynce shuld at their false suggestyoÌ„s admitt so blasphemouse a tytle The deuyll sayth Iob ys the onlye head ouer all the chyldren of pryde That voyce therfor maye be blasphemouse as commynge from the mouthe of the serpent yf yt be not take good hede to 3 * And power was geuen to the Beast to do these thynges for the space of .xlij. monethes which is the .iij. years and an half of Helyas the tyme tymes aÌ„d half tyme of Danyell aÌ„d the thowsande two hondred
awaye the synnes of the worlde In hym onlye ys the lyfe for he is the lyfe yt selfe Yet ys he the lyfe of noÌ„ other but of those that onlye beleue in hym 11 In that he was kylled from the worldes begynnynge is sygnifyed that he dyed for all them which were create to be saued and that hys onlye deathe ys all their helthe rayse and remedye by the promes of God For all they haue eaten of one spyrytuall meate and dronke of one spyrytuall rocke though yt came in the fleshe longe after them He onlye trode downe the head of the Serpent SeÌ„s the begynnynge hath he bene slayne in hys members also as manyfesâ— yt ys â—n ryghtouse Abell Hyeremy Iohan Baptist soche other lyke They that are not wrytten of the lambe in the boke of lyfe for the chyldren of God are regestred in the boke of deathe for the chyldreÌ„ of perdycyoÌ„ reserued to eternall deathe for their infydelyte with the deuyll and hys angels 12 He that hath an eare sayth the text lete hym take good hede He that hath an vnderstaÌ„dynge lete hym be admonyshed by that which foloweth here Or he that hath receyued the wysdome of the sprete lete hym iudge hereof accordinge vnto yt Thus doth the holye Ghost aduertyse the faythfull to consider that what so euer thinges are written they are written vnto owr lerninge 13 He that leadeth into captiuite shall go into captiuite And he that kylleth with a swerde must with a swerde be slayne This warninge geueth the lord take it if they list For he will haue his right iudgements knowne He that vexeth or afflicteth the iust beleuers in bodye by outwarde ponnishmeÌ„ts he shall be afflicted in the sprete with an inwarde darkenesse or blindenesse of the sowle that he maye be the more captiue to synne and to Sathan God will delyuer him vp into a lewde minde and will geue him stronge delusion to beleue al maner of lyes that he might be dampned 14 He that killeth the poore innoceÌ„t for his faythe with the proÌ„swerde or sleeth him with anye other torment with the swerde of the sprete which is the lordes worde shall he be both iudged and condempned The worde that I haue spokeÌ„ sayth Christ shall iudge them at the latter daye And this is in maner all one with that was sayed in the .xi. chapter afore If anye manne will hurte theÌ„ fyre shall procede out of their mouthes and consume their enemies 15 Neuerthelesse to the christiane is persecucion necessarye For here in this life is the pacience of the sayntes proued aÌ„d their faithe required Here was AbrahaÌ„ tempted and Iob sore vexed and both they were founde Gode true faythfull seruauntes Here were the Apostles contempned reioysinge that they were fouÌ„de worthye for Christes sake to suffer rebuke The rightouse the lorde trieth as golde in the fornace He chasteneth euerye seruaunt that he loueth and scourgeth euerye sonne that he receyueth Onlye is it faythe that all the euyls of this worlde by pacience ouercoÌ„meth and so obtayneth the victorye The frute which riseth to eternall lyfe is peaceable sufferaunce in faythe And that must be here in this lyfe where as we are vnperfight to make vs perfight The Text. 1 And I behelde an other beaste 2. comynge vp out of the earthe 3. And he had two hornes lyke a lambe 4. and he spake as ded the Dragon 5. And he dyd all that the fyrst Beast coulde do 6. in his presence 7. And he caused the earthe theÌ„ which dwell therin 8. to worship the first Beast whose deadlye wounde was healed 9. And he ded great woÌ„ders 10. so that he made fyre come downe from heauen 11. in the syght of men 12. And deceyued theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe by the meanes of those sygnes which he had power to do in the syght of the Beaste 13. sayenge to theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe that they shulde maâ—e an Image 14. vnto the Beaste which had the wounde of a swerde and dyd lyue ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I behelde sayth saynt Iohan in thys secrete reuelacyon of my lorde an other Beast arysynge out of the earthe A figure ys thys of all false Prophetes aÌ„d vngodlye preachers Beastlye are they euermore vayne carnall and corrupt in their stodyes abhominable in the practâ—synges of their wicked hartes not sehinge God but their bellyes not Christes glorye but their owne pryde and vayne glorye 2 From the earthe they aryse all geuen to earthlye wysdome The onlye affectes of thys worlde doth moue theÌ„ to teache aÌ„d no good zele of the truthe Eyther are they tyckled with ambytion prycked with auaryce or els sturred with malyce to inueye These are the commoÌ„ affectes of the wycked Thys goynge vp haue they froÌ„ wyckednesse to wyckednesse shall haue still tyll the lorde destroye theÌ„ lyke as haue the iust beleuers froÌ„ vertâ— to vertu in the sprete tyll soche tyme as they see hym face vnto face in the euerlastynge Syon From the worldes begynnynge hath this Beast rysen vp in Cayn the first murtherer in the fleshelye chyldren of menne in Cham the shamelesse chylde of Noe in Ismael and Esau in Iannes and Iambres in Balaham and Baals prophetes in the Beniamytes and Bels chaplaynes in Phassur and Semeins in Iudas Annas and Cayphas in Barichu and Diotrephes And now sens their tyme most of all in Mahumetes doctours and the Popes queresters Yea styll they are aloft in their beastlye beggerye and wyll be tyll their mysschef be fynyshed Who seeth not now adayes that hath lyght in the sprete the malygnyte Hypocresye hawâ—e crafte and deceyt in serteÌ„ false Prophetes at Paules crosse in London and in other places els 3 This Beast had .ij. hornes lyke the laÌ„be at 〈◊〉 blushe but all counterfett and false in verye dede for he spake as ded the Dragon The hornes of Christ are hys hygh kyngedome in the worde Onlye aryseth hys churche by faythe in the glad tydynges and promysys of God That worde ys the scepture of Christes power and the rodde of ryght order where as he regneth Non other straunge scepturs are there neyther tradycyoÌ„s nor customes Seuen hornes had Christ for in hym was the fulnesse of the veryte This Beast hath but two and yet they are but false and couÌ„terfeâ—t They seme to be Christes ad are not These are the corrupted letter of the .ij. testameÌ„tes falselye interpreted and for a carnall purpose alleged And therfor yt ys but apparent Hypocrityshe and deceytfull yea cleane repugnaunt to the lordes meanynge not hauynge the iudgement of hys sprete Thys letter without the holye Ghost is deathe and nothynge perteyneth vnto Christ. He ys the veryte and lyfe this ys but a fable or fyccyon Hys worde ys sprete and lyfe thys is but a brasse pot sowndynge or a latten candelstick tynkelynge fantastycall aÌ„d â—aynt sophistycall slayghtye Though these seme lyke Christes yet are they non of hys but the verye hornes of the Beast For
The seconde part of the Image Of both churches after the most woÌ„derfull and heauenlye reuelacy on of Saynt Iohan the Euangelyst etc. Compyled by Iohan Bale The same disciple whome Iesus loued hath wytnessed and written these thynges aÌ„d we knowe that his testimonye is true Ioan .xxi. A small preface vnto the Christen reader IN the first part or volume of this worke which contayneth the first .x chapters are al these godlye matters of saiâ— IohaÌ„s reuelacyoÌ„ in course coÌ„preheÌ„ded First of all is the hygh legacye massage of the sayd Saynt Iohan vnto the .vij. congregacions of Asia in the first chaptre mencyoned Wherin they are also vnto .vij. goldeÌ„ caÌ„delstickes coÌ„pared their peackers vnto .vij. shynynge sterres in the ryght haÌ„de of Christ In the seconde and thirde chaptres are the sayd .vij. coÌ„gregatioÌ„s seuerallye yche one by it selfe descrybed and warned to the vnyuersall premonyshemenâ— of the whole christen churche in the .vii. partes or clymates of the world Marke those .iij. chapters dylygeÌ„tlye ye shall perceyue that the true christen churche is alone gouerned by the preachynge of Gods worde an onlye office of Christ coÌ„maunded and not by dead Ceremonyes commaunded by the pope of whom theâ— is no specyalte CoÌ„sydre how those preachers throughout all thys boke are coÌ„pared vnto starâ—es aÌ„d angels their congregacyons caâ—led the ryght spouse of Christ. The other be assembled vnto most filthye locustes breadynge of the smoke of the pytte bottomlesse vnto hatefull byrdes fowle spretes and deuyls theyr churche called the proude Synagoge of Sathan the most execrable whore of Babylon In the .iiij. chaptre is heauen made open and the secretes therof manyfested vnto the christen beleuer whom Iohan also representeth thys whole boke ouer For not onlye are the mysteryes therof in the vnyuersall churche perfourmed but also in the particular churches of nacyons in the pryuate coÌ„scyeÌ„ces oâ— meÌ„ In the v.vi and .vij. chaptres the lambe Christ openeth the .vij. seales of the boke of the most hydden mysteryes of God for the .vij. ages of the christeÌ„ churche In the meâ—ne season are the true seruauntes of God sealed vnto saluacyon solaced in their trobles and releued in their sorowe not withstandynge the great violeÌ„ce of the truthes aduersaries In the .viij. and .ix. chaptres the .vij. angels blowe their trompettes Sygnyfyenge the preachers to shewe forth their massages appoynted of God for the .vij. ages of the churche manye wonderfull plages folowynge in the peple for theyr vnbeleues sake they obstinatlye resistinge yt or els vnthaÌ„kefully receyuinge it In the .x. chaptre cometh the myghtye Angell from heauen with a boke in hys hande all open and Iohan deuowreth the same Which betokeneth the ernest preachers of this lattre age of the churche wherin the true seruauntes of God shall gredelye receyue and also dygest the scripturs Take this for a brefe summe of all that is spoken in the other volume the resydue shall folowe here after in course In the mergende of that first part or volume put I manye allegacyons both of the scripturs and doctors And there vnto was I first prouoked by this saynge of Saynt Hierome in a serten Epystle of his ad paulinum monachum The Apocalyps of saynt IohaÌ„ sayth he hath so manye mysteries as it hath wordes or for euerye worde a mysterye whether ye wyll I mynded also therby my labours to ease the readers for serche of the places aÌ„d to sygnyfye vnto them that I ded nothynge therin without autoryte And vndoubtedlye the gatherynge of those places was so laboryouse vnto me as the makynge of the commentarye whych neuerthelesse I thought wele bestowed for the confort of my bretherne But .ij. cruell enemyes haue my iust labours had in that behalfe of whom the one haue theÌ„ falsifyed the other blasphemed Which hath caused me to leaue them out in all that here foloweth The printers are the first whose headye hast neglygence and couetousnesse commonly corrupteth all bokes These haue both dysplaced them and also changed their noÌ„bers to the truthes derogacyoÌ„ what though they had at theyr handes iâ— lerned correctours which toke all paynes possible to preserue them The other is Momus or Zoilus yea rather one which playeth both partes vndre the clocke of a christyane Thys cruell carper and malycyouse quareller leaueth no mannes worke vnrebuked mynistre it neuer so moche godlynesse But lyke as rust mothes maggottes caÌ„kers caterpyllers with other vyle vermyne corrupteth all that is to the vse of man so doth this enemye to destroye both name and worke onlye for the auauncemeÌ„t of his owne preciouse persone His workinge toles are soche vnsauerye sophysmes problemes clenches corolaryes quydditees subtiltees seconde inteÌ„cyons intrinsecall moodes with other prodigiouse sorceryes whom he sumtyme sucked out of his mothers brestes the vnyuersyte These hath he not yet all as vnsauerye morsels euometed for Christ distyninge rather with Aristotle than with paule in his daylye disputacions Of this ryall Rabiys peter iudged a fole and Iohan an vnlerned Idiote Yet shall his reader fynde small lerninge at his hande vnlesse he take an heape of barbarouse termes and vnsowed togyther sentences for matters of excellent lernynge But surelye Iohan will one daye come from Ephesus to visyte this proude Diotrephes shewe hym of his arrogant bragges to his displeasure vnlesse he leaue of in tyme. All Aristotles prouision shall not helpe hym Sathan vpon the pynnacle of the temple neuer bestowed his alleged scripture more peruerselye than thys Momus interpreted serten of my allegacyoÌ„s nor yet farther from their right vnderstandynge â–ª But I forgeue it him with thys fore warnynge for this tyme though it be not the first lewde poynt that he hath played in case he so leaue his quarellynge My secoÌ„de allegacyoÌ„ vpon the preface .i. Corin. vi is not sett there to auctoryse the Apocalyps as he most falsely and all contrarye to my meanynge hath interpreted iâ— but affermeth that the christen beleuers are christes members which ought of necessyte by the holye ghostes appoyntment to heare and to reade the wordes of the sayd boke For I knowe that the Epistle vnto the Corinthyanes was written of Paule .x. years at the least before Saynt Iohans Apocalyps No lesse is he thaÌ„ a false prophete that resisteth Ieremy rebukynge Babylon for her wyckednesse To moche it were to answere hys other quarellynges and to tedyouse vnto the christen readers and therfor I passe them ouer least I shuld be to plentuouse in answeringe a fole accordinge to his folyshnesse Thus by these cruell haÌ„delinges of these .ij. vngracyouse enemyes haue I iust occasyon to leaue out the allegacyons in the margende obseruynge this whâ—lsom counsell of Christ concernynge soche as they be Geue not that is holye vnto dogges nor yet that is precyouse vnto swyne For the one of hys churlyshe nature teareth and deuoureth the other lyke a swyne treadeth it vndre his fylthye feate The grace of our lorde Iesus Christ be with the euermore good
tradicyons that bryngeth in the Iewishe ceremonies the gentyles supersticyons paganes customes aÌ„d heythen vsages yokynge menne with importable burdenes of false worshyppinges for theyr owne fylthye lucre and auauntage Not withstaÌ„dynge thus must they do styll by the sufferaunce of God tyll the .xlij. monethes be finyshed which ys not els but the tyme the tymes and the half tyme or the thowsande two hoÌ„dreth lx dayes in that God shall shorten the tyme for hys chosens sake Thus after saint â—anâ—e also before the lords coÌ„mynge ther must be a departynge The quere or chaunsel must be cast out thaâ— the manne of synne the sonne of perdicyon and the aduersarye exaltynge hym self aboue God maye be knowne in hys owne colours It maye not be motteÌ„ or allowed by Gods worde but reiected as that plante whych the heauenlye father hath not planted that the mysterye of inyquite maye be vttered and perceyued of theÌ„ which shal be saued It must be geuen to the gentiles or addict to their supersticyons with all lyenge powre sygnes and wonders in all deceyuable doctrine by the subtile workinge of SathaÌ„ They must also be permitted to do all mischef in vnryghtousnesse vpoÌ„ the cytezeus of God tyl he vtterlye consume theÌ„ with the mighty breathe of his mouthe The text 1 And I wyll geue power 2. vnto my two wytnesses 3. and they shall prophecye a thousande two hondred and threscore dayes 4. clothed in sacke clothe 5 These are two olyue trâ—es 6. and two candelstyckes 7. staÌ„dynge before the God of the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I wyll geue powre sayth the lorde vnto my two faithfull witnesses they shall prophecie a thousande two hoÌ„dreth and .lx. dayes ageynst those enemyes to the confort of my peple So that though my cyte by troden downe by their cruell lawes of persecutioÌ„ to deathe yet shall yt not be forsakeÌ„ And though my peple be ouerloaded with their heythen superstycyons and blasphemouse worshippinges yet shal they not be lost nor left all wythout socoure 2 They shal haue my .ii. wytnesses with them to solace theÌ„ in theyr trobles and to confort theÌ„ in ther cares Both Moyses and Christ both the lawe and the gospell both the prophetes the apostles shall stande vpon their syde aÌ„d be vpon ther part yea for so moche tyme as ther enemies shall vexe theÌ„ aÌ„d for so moche space as ther aduersaries shal troble theÌ„ Euen a thowsande two hondred and .lx. dayes whych maketh thre yeare and an half and is more then the .xlii. monethes by foure score dayes aÌ„d foure Which signifieth that the enemies shal not euer more kepe downe his worde but their dayes shall be shortened for his electes sake The scole doctours with their sophistrie hath fantasied the sayd two wytnesses to be Enoch aÌ„d Helias and that they shuld come then from paradyse terrestre for the same puprose because that Enoch was takeÌ„ awaye of God Helias was carried hence in a fyery charet neyther vnderstandinge what paradyse is nor yet knowynge what yt is to be taken froÌ„ heÌ„ce Paradyse is the swete rest of God appoynted vnto theÌ„ that depart hence in faythe The peculiar traÌ„slatioÌ„s of Enoch and Helias were not onlye for a confirmacyon or strengthenynge of the fayth of the fathers for their tymes but also that they shuld be figurs of Cristes ascencion And what godlye wyse man can geue more to the figure than to the veryte More were not they preuileged froÌ„ deathe thaÌ„ was Christ though God wolde not then haue yt so openly knowne to declare hys wonderful powre Unlyke is it that God shuld cal wytnesses from the dead not promisinge yt by his worde hauinge powre also from stones to rayse vp Abrahams children and to geue the sprete of Helias to whome he pleaseth lyke as he ded to Iohan Baptist and as he doth now to manye other more in our age as all the worlde maye se and heare These wytnesses are two for so moche as the trewthe of the lorde in the mowthe of two or thre godlye persones ought to stande 3 These two wytnesses or faythful procestours of the afore seyd two testamentes hath continewed with the peple of God sens the death of SteueÌ„ for the more part secretlye and vnknowne to the worlde But now they are come a brode by the appoyntment of God to the vtter confusion of the great aduersarye and manne of synne as Paule doth call hym And vnto them in thys sixt age of the churche the lord hath geuen the greate powre of hys lyuynge worde or the sprete of his inuincyble veryte in moche more ample wyse then afore tyme for the abatement of the seyd enemies or synagoge of perdycyon 4 Clothed they shall be in sack clothe sayth the lorde No pompe shall apere in their aparell no glorye of the worlde in their behauer Neyther shal they be accompanyed with a garde of ruffelinge rutters Neyther shal they with Annas and Caiphas syt vpon life and deathe Neyther shal they blesse in the strete with myter crosse and cope Neyther clayme the hyger seates in syde gownes shauen crownes and typpettes Neyther shal their be sacke fryres nor franciscanes monkes chanons nor hipocrites They shal not disfigure them selues to seme religiouse nor saye longe prayers to apere holye but in a sober conuersacion auoydynge superstuite they shal coÌ„staÌ„tlye witnesse the truthe of God to the vniuersall worlde to his glorye and their edification For sack clothe in the scripturs is a signe of sobryete sadnesse aÌ„d temperauÌ„ce as in helias and Iohan Baptist. 5 These wytnesses are two swete olyue trees shedynge forth the fatnesse of the scripturs aÌ„d dulcet sauer of the sprete God hath so blessed them that their lippes are full of grace He hath anoynted theÌ„ with the oyle of gladnesse aboue their fellawes of myrre bawme aloes they dilectably smelle Non other thynges vtter they but hys infallible veritees 6 They are also two shynynge candelstickes settynge forth the lyght or clerelye openynge the hyddeÌ„ misteries of the scripturs to the confort of the geÌ„tyles glory of the Israelites They are not the lyght it self but onlye instrumeÌ„tes ordayned to bere witnesse of the light For there is but one light for al. Onelye aâ—e they the vessels of eleccion as was paule to carrye that lyght the worlde ouer They stande in the presence of the God of the earthe or the lorde of all as menne of most hygh acceptacyon before hym rebye to do hys wyll and to fulfyll hys conmandemeÌ„t and pleasure hauynge the oyle of hys sprete and the lyght of hys eternall veryte The text 1 And if anye manne wyll hurte them 2. Fyre shall procede out of their mouthes 3. and consume their enemyes 4. And if anye man wyll hurte them thys wyse must he be kylled 5. These haue power to shut heauen 6. that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophecyenge 7. and haue power ouer waters to turne them to bloude 8. and to smyte
ryche glotton shall reioyce ouer them and be gladde 5 They shall clappe their handes whaÌ„ these godlye wytnesses be brought out of the waye They shall common ryote and bancket hauynge amonge themselues Ioye without measure that the heretykes be gone so hatefull ys the lyght to theyr eyes aÌ„d the veryte to theyr wycked hartes 6 And they shall sende gyftes or presentes one to an other for gladnesse as for example My lorde byshoppe hath had a summe of manye of the prestes for doynge hys part so well My lorde abbote aÌ„d master doctor haue had phesondes plouers partriches pigges gese capoÌ„s for dysparynge theyr matters so vaâ—eauntlye â–ª Master persone hath bene coÌ„mended for scoldynge and ser saundeâ— smelle smocke our perryshe preste for bearynge false witnesse Master fryre hath had a treuâ—all and father limit oure a bushell of maâ—â— or a cheâ—â— for playnge the knaues also And hardelye my lorde chefe iustyce hath not bene without his rewarde noâ— yet master ChauÌ„celloure neyther master Scrybe What made Thomas More for his tyme with so prodigiouse â—yâ—anâ—â—e to persecute the truthe aÌ„d seus Godfathe of Norwiche whartoÌ„ of Gongaye 〈◊〉 Baker of kÌ„te with soche other lykeâ— but auri sacra fames as 〈◊〉 both call it Thus do they 〈◊〉 triuÌ„phe whaÌ„ they haue wrought my 〈◊〉 and moche it deliteth theÌ„ whaÌ„ they bene 〈◊〉 vngodlye thiâ—ges 7 For 〈…〉 prophetes sayth the lorde vexed them that dwell on the earthe â–ª A great troble it is to theÌ„ to haue their fawâ—es seane a sore vexacion to haue their craftes knowne and an excedynge displeasure to be put from their plesaunt Euphrates by the preachynge of soche busye heretikes Moche was Herode offended with Iohan the byshoppes with criâ—t the prelates religiouse with Paule and a sore grefe it was to their hartes whan they rebuked their vyces The Text. 1. And after thre dayes and an halfe 2 â–ª the sprete of lyfe from God entred in to them 3. And they stode vp vpon theyr fete 4. and great feare came vpon theÌ„ which sawe them 5 And they herde a great voyce from heauen saynge vnto them Come vp hyther 6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a cloude 7. and theyr enemyes sawe theÌ„ 8. And thesame houre was theâ—â— a great earthquake 9. and the teÌ„th part of the cyte fell 10. And in the earthquake were slayne names of men seueÌ„ thousande 11. And the rennaunt were feared 12. and gaue glory to God of heauen 13. The seconde wo is past 14. And beholde the thyrd wo wyll come anone ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And after thre dayes an halfe sayth Saynt Iohan ded the sprete of lyfe by the powre of God entre in to them In the myddes of their Ioye and triumphe whan they thynke them selues well quyeted the heretykes thus taken a waye an other storme falleth vpon theÌ„ moche worse than the other Manye more aryseth out of their ashes to their confusion and to the chosens confort And the same wytnesses they are agayne geuynge the same testymonye though they be not the same persones 2 The same lyuynge sprete haue they confessinge the same veryte that had the other No longe tyme can Christes congregacion be without faythfull testes he promysinge to be with them to the ende of the worlde 3 These witnesses stode vp vpon their fete In the tyme full past ys this spoken for the certeÌ„te of the thynge though moche of it be to come For so certeÌ„ is it as it were all fynyshed An ernest stomake shall they haue and with moche boldenesse shall they speake The ryghtouse shall stande vp sayth the boke of wysdome in great feruentnesse of sprete agaynst them that hath extremelye handled them and taken awaye theyr labours persecuted them and blemyshed theyr doctryne 4. And great feare came vpon theÌ„ which sawe them Whan the Antichrystes se they can not preuayle moche are they inwardlye anguyshed vexed and tormented Then doubt they their falle thaÌ„ feare they their vtter destruccion They trymble and quake whaÌ„ they se their lawes wyll no longar stande nor their insurreccions no longar helpe them lokinge for a terrible daye With horryble feare shall they wonder sayth the aforesayd boke of wisdome â–ª at the comynge of the sodayne helthe gronynge for sorowe and mournynge for verye anguyshe of mynde and saynge within them selues These be they whom we somtyme had in deuysion Vnwisely we thought their lyues to be madnesse their endes to be without honour And now they are rekened amonge the chyldren of God their porcion is amonge the Sayntes Therfor haue we erred froÌ„ the waye of truthe the lyght of ryghtousnesse hath not shyned vnto vs. We haue weryed owr selues in the pathes of wickednesse but the waye of the lyuinge lorde haue we not knowne 5 And they harde a great voyce from heauen saynge vnto them Come vp hyther The Antichristes shall heare thys noyse they shal knowe theÌ„ to be in the fauer of God greate heuynesse it shall be vnto theÌ„ For this voyce is the fre eleccyon of God accordynge vnto grace aÌ„d not after manes deseruynge And it conmeth froÌ„ heauen as doth all other good gyftes froÌ„ the father of lyght It calleth vp them that afore walked sumwhat after the fleshe aÌ„d durst not for feare of poÌ„nyshmeÌ„t wytnesse the veryte It commaÌ„deth them to aryse vnto God to be more perfyght more spyrytuall more godlye and to haue their conuersacion in heaueÌ„ They atteÌ„de vnto the voyce they obeye yt and do after yt For yt foloweth 6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a clowde By the powre of God they are taken vp From worldlye affectes are they changed to the pure loue of God aÌ„d from carnall prudence to the wysdome of the sprete In a cloude are they rapte Compassed are they with thys fleshe the yll desyres taken from them Euerye where resemble they Christ and are daylye better and better They cease not of theyr progresse no peyne caÌ„ separate theÌ„ from the loue of Christ tyl they perfyghtly come to the syght of the God of Goddes in the supercelestiall Syon 7 And their enemies saue them The Antichristes knoweth that they are gods seruauntes the hypocrites perseâ—ueth they haue heauenlye knowlege Yea manye tymes they so report them both in their wordes and writinges In manye of them Chronycles they â—fâ—rme tâ—at Berergaâ—ius Ioannes scotus the elder Iohan wycleff Iohan husse Hierome of Prage Thomas thedonensis a whyght fryre of Bryttayne burned in Rome Hieronimus sauonarola a blacke fryre burned in florence diuerse other more were menne of most excelleÌ„t wyttes of most hygh lernynge of most godlye conuersacyoÌ„ of a most perfight lyfe ferueÌ„t constauÌ„t vnmoueable in in the tyme of their deathes Bylney BaynhaÌ„ Befeld frithe Tindale Barnes other are yet reported yea of somewhich to this hewe hateth their opinioÌ„s to haue dyed charetably aÌ„d godly Yet beleue they neuer the better they come neuer the senner
to God Their malyce hath so blynded theÌ„ and the clowde of ignoraunce so darkened their knowlege that styll they blaspheme and most cruellye persecute 8 And in the same howre sayth saynt Iohan there happened a greate earthquake A terrible coÌ„tradiccion aryseth euer from the carnall Sinagoge froÌ„ amonge the earthlye mynded hipocrites whaÌ„ the verite is â—awght as it was afore tyme in Christ in his Apostles specyallye in Paule and now of late dayes in manye other poore preachers WhaÌ„ newe witnesses aryse then waxe they more madde fearce and felle then they were afore Then empreson they then ponnyshe they then make they actes and coÌ„maunde in peyne of deathe nomore to speake in that name Yet do they rather loose than wynne falle than ryse dysprofyght that profyght 9 For the tenth part of theyr cyte felle to the grownde Their buyldinge vpon sande wyll in no case endure That God hath not planted must vp by the rootes Their holye whoryshe churche whych is here called Sodome and Egypte is ruynouslye decayed Their monasteries of monkes their howses of fryres their colleges of Idle prestes with their nonnes chanons and chanteryes in manye places are downe Tythes are not as they haue bene nor trentals nor other deuocions Images are not sought nor pardons in confession The people inclineth to newe lernynge and goeth from their olde beleue of holye churche They that were monkes prestes and fryres are now become gospell teachers Soche as afore were dead standeth vpp now agaynst them boldelye This fallen part is here the tenth for it is the lordes by the lawe It is the same shepe that afore was lost now is brought to Christes folde These were called awaye from thens by the wytnesses the other stande yet styll aÌ„d are euery daye worse and worse 10 In the earthquake were slayne names of menne to the nombre of seuen thowsande An innumerable multytude hath bene sent out of the waye by these Antichrystes in theyr furye but yet nothynge haue they slayne but their names Onelye haue they hurte theyr bodyes vpon their sowles haue they had no powre nomore than had SathaÌ„ vpon the sowle of Iob. Yet haue not their names peryshed before God for of hym are they wrytten in the boke of lyfe In no case are the wycked of the godlye here putt vnto deathe thowgh some do so vnderstande it but rather of the wycked the godlye For they neuer retayle their wronges but rather praye for their enemyes 11 And the remnaunt or resydewe were feared sayth saynt Iohan and gaue glorye to God of heauen Of soche as were left in their earthquakes or terryble persecucions some remayned in presone Some were beggered some were eryled some fledde some lost their estimacion and fryndes and yet gaue prayse vnto God 12 In all their aduersitees they gloryfyed the name of their heauenlye father and Lorde Thus haue we here what is done alredye and what is yet to come vnder thys sixt trompet blowynge where vnder we are now whych all be longeth to the seconde woo 13 And these thynges ones accomplyshed the seconde woo wyll be past And then loke bye bye for the thirde woo for it wyll folowe anone after without fayle yea so sone as thys seconde woo is done 14. In the latter age of all shall thys thyrde woo reygne soche tyme as Gog and Magog most extremelye shall rage And the vniuersall iudgement shall fynyshe that woo as here after more euydentlye wyll opere But consyder that these woes are to the infydels The faythfull feareth them not but receyuynge the worde in a pure hart they brynge forth frute in pacyent sufferaunce ¶ The .xii. Chapter NOw foloweth in order the viâ— troÌ„pet blowing or the pure declaracion of Christes ioyfull tidinges for the last age of the churche vnder the .vij. scale openynge with the woÌ„ders maruels that their after enseweth The text 1 And the seueÌ„th angel blewe 2 and there were made great voyces in heaueÌ„ 3. saynge The kyngedomes of this worlde are our lordes and his Chrystes 4. and he shall raygne for euermore 5. And the .xxiiij. elders whych sate before God on their seates 6. fell vpon their faces and worshypped God saynge 7. We geue the thankes lorde God almyghtye whych art and wast and art to come 8. and For thu hast receyued thy great myght aÌ„d hast raygned 9. And the nacyons were angrye 10. and thy wrathe is to come 11. and the tyme of the dead that they shulde be iudged 12. and that thu shuldest geue rewarde vnto thy seruauntes the prophetes and sayntes 13. and to theÌ„ that feare thy name small and great 14. and shuldest destroye them whych destroye the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the seuenth angell blewe sayth Saynt Iohan The seuenth sort of syncere preachers shall vtter their message accordyng to the wyll of God they shall declare his pleasure as he hath appoynted them For thowgh it be spoken here as past and done for the certente of the thynge yet is it not fulfylled in effect The worde of God was wythout begynnynge and hys promes euerlastynge yet ys yt not all perfourmed in his creaturs but manye thynges are yet to come 2 After this blast of the angell were made greet voyces in heauen Manye the congregacyon or kyngedome of God his Gospell ones purelye publyshed by the preachers shall speaâ—e godlye thynges to the edyfycacyon of other The symple poore weakelynges idyotes and infantes shall vttre the hydden wysdome of God to the confusion of the great wyse menne and sage senyours of thys worlde Yea the liones in the strete the out castes of the worlde the forsaken people shall wonderfullye prayse the lorde 3 And these shall be their saynges whaÌ„ they shall se the Antichrystes confused and not able to speake agayne The kyngedomes of this worlde that were â—ouâ— tyme wycked cruell and vnfaythfull are now become the lordes hys Christes of his onlye grace and goodnesse Now fall they to the worde that afore thought it folyshnesse Now cleaue they to the truthe that sumtyme ded abhorre it Now haue they in hande the gospell that afore ded persecute it as sidiciouse lernynge and heresye 4 And in thys congregacyon shall he reygne euermore Continuallye is he with them that in faythe retayneth his veryte All this shall they vttre wyth no small reioyce For doubtlesse after the seuenth seale openynge and the gospell preachynge than a paceable tyme shall be and fygured it is by the half howre spoken of afore For it shall not continewe to the ende Longe maye not Christes churche be vnpersecuted But yet thys peace for the tyme shall not onlye be an inwarde peace in the conscyence as ys alwayes amonge the faythfull but an outwarde quiet also or a season wythout persecucyon abrode 5 And the .xxiiij. elders sayth saynt Iohan or the greatt nombre of sayntes departed which sitteth before God on their seates or resteth in hys swete peace in soche graces of the sprete as
were cast out with him which is not els but that they are reserued to eternall damâ—nacion For seruynge the creature rather than the lorde that made all God hath forsaken them and geuen theÌ„ ouer to their owne shamefull lustes All grace aÌ„d goodnesse hath he takeÌ„ froÌ„ them and in all darkenesse hath he lefte them Nothinge is now behynde but helle fyre prepared for the deuyll aÌ„d his angels The churche thus first bryngynge forth Christ amonge the Iewes aÌ„d so by their cruelte dryuÌ„e out into the wyld desert of the Gentyles hath bene there fedde of God in persecucyon euer sens aÌ„d shall be styll tyll the terme come out of the aforesayd thowsande two hondreth and thre score dayes whose ende is in the lordes handes The text 1 And I harde a loude voyce which sayd 2. In heaueÌ„ is now made saluacioÌ„ and strength 3. aÌ„d the kyngedome become our Gods 4. â— the power his Christes 5. For he is caste downe which accused them before God daye night 6. And they ouer came hym by the bloude of the lambe 7. and by the worde of their testimonye 8. And they loued not theyr lyues vnto the deathe 9. Therfor reioyce ye heauens and ye that dwell in theÌ„ 10. No to the inhabyters of the earthe and of the see 11. for the deuyll ys come downe vnto yow 12. whych hath great wrathe 12. bycause he knoweth that he hath but a short tyme. ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I harde a myghtye great voyce sayth saynt IohaÌ„ which is the whole agremeÌ„t of all the sacred scripturs And the voyce sayd thus vnto me 2 Now is there in heaueÌ„ saluacion In the churche is the helthe of sowle now that the Idolatrie with other abhominacions is throwne forth she cleane delyuered froÌ„ their beggerie Now apereth the power of the lorde that his gospell is trulye preached 3 Now is it become our Gods kyngedome that their doctrine is not of menne 4 Now hath yt the whole srengthe of hys a noynted All Christes labours merytes and deseruynges hys natyuyte passyon resurreccyon and ascencyoÌ„ ys now her owne good Christes vyctorye ys theirs hys crowne hys scrpture hys seate kyngedome ys theirs Yea the possessyoÌ„ of hys fathers ryght hande vs theirs 5 For the enemye of oure bretherne is throwne downe which cruellye accused theÌ„ before God daye and nyght The adÌ„uersarye SathaÌ„ which quareled before the lorde agaynst pacieÌ„t Iob and vexed hym sore in hys substauÌ„ce and fleshe neuer ceasynge to thys daye to troble the ryghtouse with Antichristes and tyrauntes ys now ouer comen by the vyctorye of faythe and hys power greatlye demynyshed in hys members Now is the kingedome of God increased moche peple beinge vnfaynedlye coÌ„uerted vnto Christ 6 Conquerred hym they haue by no power of their owne neyther merytes nor workes but through the inestimable streÌ„gthe which ys in the bloud of the immaculate laÌ„be Iesus Christ and through the in vyncyble worde of hys veryte which they to the worlde haue testyfyed 7 In the wytnesse therof haue they constauntlye suffred and through faythe in them haue they with hym aptayned vyctorye ouer the worlde synne helle deathe the deuyll Not their owne bodyes haue they spared to wynne this coÌ„quest 8 But moche more haue they loued Christ and hys truthe thaÌ„ themselues accountynge yt auauntage to geue theyr lyues for hym 9 Therfor reyoyce ye heauens and all yow that in them doth dwell Ye angels a boue ordayned for mannes confort ye sayntes departed from the mystâ—yes of this worthe ye faythfull beleuers remayâ—inge in this lyfe and ye feruent fauorers of the lordes veryte be glad that your bretherne hath gote the vyctorye of the deuyll and his angels to the glorye of Christ. 10 But woo vnto the wreched inhabitauntes of the earthe and of the see No small daunger is towardes them that hath harde the voyce of the lorde and styll yet wyll folowe the course of thys wordle No light parel haÌ„geth ouer thier heades that are inconstaunt fickle and wauerynge geuynge backe with euery blast for the plesure of their fleshe 11 Take hede of yt therfor for vnto yow that are soche the deuyll ys come downe with hys subtle suggestyons aÌ„d craftes with hys wylye cauteles and ingyns â—monge yow doth he remayne watchynge to haue his praye as he ded amonge the chyldren of Israel whan they were become vnfaythfull 12 Tares wyll he sowe to destroye the good sede for his wrathe is great to se him self thus deiected aÌ„d his hate is excedinge beholdinge his kingedom decayed Amonge yow must he wreake his anger for he caÌ„not harme the faythful Through his enuye same deathe first in to the worlde If ye wyll escape his snares loke ye geue no place vnto hym but in faythe resist him manfullye 13 He wexeth now madde and fretteth with him self He mindeth to make hauock and to do moche myschef because he knoweth that his tyme is shorte No longe season shall he haue from hence forth to deceyue The latter daye he perseyueth not to be farre of wherin great tormentes abydeth both him his And that maketh him so wode That maketh him so insaciablye desyerouse to noye not carynge what spyght he worketh agaynst God And no wycked wyle leaueth he vnsought to perfourme his cruell intent Woo vnto them therfor that in these dayes taketh no hede Woo vnto them that Rombreth in wanton pleasurs whan most daunger is and the deuyll most bysye not attendynge to the call and warnynge of God The Text. 1 And whan the dragoÌ„ same that he was caste vnto the earth 2. he pursued the womaÌ„ which brought forth the man chylde 3 And to the womaÌ„ were geuen two wynges of a great Egle. 4 that she myght flye into the wildernesse 5 into her place where she is noryshed for a tyme tymes and halfe a tyme. 6. from the presence of the Serpent 7. And the DragoÌ„ caste out of his mouthe water after the womaÌ„ as it had bene a ryuer 8. that he myght cause her to be caught of the floode 9. And the earthe holpe the woman 10. and the earthe opened her mouthe 11. and swalowed vp the ryuer whych the Dragon caste out of hys mouthe 12. And the Dragon was wroth with the woman 13. and went and made warre with the remnaunt of her sede 14. which kepe the commaundementes of God 15. and haue the testymonye of Iesus Christ. 16. aÌ„d he stode on the sâ—esande ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And whan the Dragon or most furyouse serpent the deuyll the head master of pryde and father of lyes sawe that he was throwne downe vnto the earthe by the valeaunt hoâ—te of God Or soche tyme as he perseyueth the Idolatrye superstycyon pompe Hipocresye aÌ„d other abhominable fylthynesse destroyed by the worde of God in hys malygnaunt Synagoge of proude paynted prelates 2 ThaÌ„ persecuteth he the poore woman whych brought forth the manchylde Than vereth he the true congregacyon that teacheh noÌ„ other but
they vpholde Antichristes kyngedome and not hys a worldlye glorye and not hys for hys kingedome ys not of thys worlde No longar are they hys wordes hys lawes nor hys testimonyes thaÌ„ they maynteyne hys ryght honoure No newlye practysed worshyppynges alloweth he for hys but vtterlye abhorreth theÌ„ all as thynges rawe aÌ„d vnsauerye 4 And therfor yt foloweth that thys Beast spake as ded the Dragon The doctrynes and teachynges of these false Apostles and deceytfull masters are lyes in Hipocresye and the verye doctryne of deuyls vnder tytle of the veryte repugnaunt to the same Not vnlyke to that the Serpent sayd vnto the woman ye shall not dye yf ye eate of the forbidden frute but ye shall be surely as Goddes knowinge both good euyll They do as ded Sathan in the desart Alwayes they perswade vs eyther of stones to make bread or els to throwe our selues downe warde or els to worshyp the deuyll That is to change the good creaturs of God from their ryght vse as trees into Idols sylkes veluettes clothe golde and syluer into superstyciouse ornamentes chast Marryage into stynkynge whoredome and Sodomye with soche lyke To declyne from the dewtyes coÌ„maunded of God to their Idle obseruacyoÌ„s so makynge hys commaundementes of non effect for the bayne tradycyons of menne And fynallye to fall vnto forbidden worshyppynges or abhomynacyons of Idolatrye of whome they are full And for these they haue with Sathan also their mangled scripturâ— to laye for theÌ„ to proue that the helpe of dead sayntes ys necessarye their masses merytes workes more than nede expedyent the fyre of purgatorye a fearefull thynge with the deuyll and all of soche fantasyes These are the prelates of Antichristes churche the iâ— horned monsters or great bellyed Byshoppes ryghtelye described here of the holye ghost in this two horned beast These beastlye bushardes are not ashamed both to saye and to wrytte that in their myters they beare the fygure of both testamentes whose veryte they impugne with â—oâ—he and nayle Verye trulye they saye that they carrye the fygure for in dede yt ys but a shaddowe they bere Not to gloryfye God but their owne beastlye bodyes with golde pearle stone lyke Mahowndeâ— in a playe for hys truthe they most cruellye persecute These are the verye false Prophetes the instrumeÌ„tes of Sathan the deceyuers wolues wagelynges Iudasses dreamers lyers Idols aduersaryes adders whelpes foxes destroyenge the lordes vyneyarde deceytfull workemenne desperate shepeherdes blynde watchemenne dumme dogges deuyls incarnate wycked sede vnsaciate beastes whose God ys their bealy glory their confusyoÌ„ To all these to manye other soche doth the Holye Ghost compare them for that they haue with their errours and lyes turned the swetnesse of the scripturs into bytternesse scarselye leauynge one place therof vndefyled with their fylthye dregges 5 Thys Beast sayth Saynt Iohan ded all thynges that the first Beast coulde do euen be fore hys owne face The same lyenge power to deceyue in Hypocresye hath thys beastlye brode that the great Antichrist hath the same wylye craftes and the same beastlye kyndes of Idolatrye and so doth vse theÌ„ The same abhominacyons maynteyne they the worlde ouer that the pope maynteyneth at Rome and Mahomete in barbarye of Turkeye Yea the same supersticyons aÌ„d sorceryes the same execrable tradycions beggeryes The same ceremonies haue they that he hath the same vnccioÌ„s the same orders and the same Masses The same idle obseruacions with vnknowne cloynynge clatteringe and wawlinge are styl vsed in Englande lyke as they were vsed afore with no lesse blasphemy to God 6 To do soche thinges in the first Beastes presence is to do them where his power and auctorite is raygnynge or where as is the seate of Sathan which is euerye place that admitteth straunge worshippinge 7 Both the earthe and them that dwell in the earthe coÌ„pell they to worship this first Beast Not onlye enforce they theÌ„ to wycked Idolatrye that neuer wolde knowe the truthe but also manye of those which hath great knowlege in the same Oh how manye are in Englande and in other regions also that in these dayes worketh agaynst faythe knowlege and the holye ghost admittinge the prestes abhominacioÌ„s Rather had they to dwell styll in the earthlye beggerye with the blasphemye of God thaÌ„ eyther to be out of fauer or to loose ther offices to haue their goodes hindred or to hasarde their lyues so swete are these waÌ„ton worldlye pleasurs Rather had they to peryshe with the sonnes of Helâ— and Samuel for abusynge the ordinaunces of the lorde and with Core Dathan aÌ„d abiron for rebellinge agaynst them to synke vnto hell than with Christ to take peynes in pouerte But let not them thynke to be worthye of Christ that better loueth their owne carnall commodyte than his heauenlye veryte 8 Well the Beast must they worshyp whose wounde is made whole His olde rustye rewles newe bournished and his olde Romishe ragges new patched by a newlye confermed auctorite must they enbrase in peyne of deathe The lambe shall not yet be suffred to apere Styll for a tyme must these terrible teâ—magauÌ„tes haue more worship thaÌ„ God their tradicioÌ„s preferred to his most pure worde And whye shuld it not be so haue they not now a newe refourmed churche in whom the Beastes wounded head is newlye restored So longe as it is lyke the popes churche it must folowe his rewles and cleaue to his ordynaunces It shall not folowe Christ in faythe and in doctryne tyll it apere lyke that churche which he left here behynde him whan he ascended And that is not lyke to be yet 9 First must there be wrought great wonders Fyre must be compelled to come downe from heauen in theÌ„ syght of menne by this twohorned Beast The discyples of Antichrist with their byfurked ordinaries must violentlye pluckâ— from the true christen churche whose regne is not of this worlde the eternall worde of the lorde 10 Then must they take from them the consumyge fyre that Christ sent downe into the earthe of meÌ„nes hartes to drye vp all malyce and synne Yea they must depriue them of the clouen fyerye tonges which the holye ghost poured vpon the Apostles to the confort of all the worlde The treasure that Christ hath left here to socoure vs they must hyde vnder the grounde and the candle that he lyght vs to se ouer the howse coÌ„uaye vnderneth the bushell 11 And these wonders shall they worke in the presence of menne All redye haue they taken in Englande from the Bybels the annotacions tables and prefaces to perfourme this their dampnable enterpryse They haue streyghtlye forbydden the readynge therof for tyme of their Romyshe seruyce Some haue they burned and some put to sylence and all in the face of the peple Yea they reysed the maydes of Ippâ—swhyâ—e aÌ„d of kente to worke wonders maruelâ— and now of late the folyshe Northâ—n menne to fyght for their churche What practyses they haue
the earthe 9. with all maner plages as often as they wyll ¶ The Paraphrase i Yf anye manne wyll attempte to do them sâ—athe or presumptuouslye seketh by crafâ—ye colouâ—s subtle reasons and deceytfull argumentes vpon daungers doubtes doctorâ— olde customes and auctoryte of fathers to hyndre their office blemyshe their message and darken their lyghtâ— suche fyre shal procede out of their mouthes as shall consume theyr enemyes 2 The eternall worde of the lord that they shall declare which ys the consuminge fyre shall vtterlye destroye theÌ„ So that nothynge shall be seane of that they were afore Neyther cut showe nor corde coule nor graye cote bote nor blacke whode rother nor scaplar myter nor croser sandale nor frocke shauen crowne nor anoynting For all these are theyr enemies 3 CoÌ„sumed are they to ther saluacioÌ„ that with Matthew become of Publycanes trewe Apostles and with Paule of ferce persecuters charitable teachers Contrarye wyse are they consumed to theyr damnacyon whych beynge ouercomen by the manifest veryte wylfullye persist in their deuyllyshe errours with Antiochus and Pharao with the Scribes and Pharisees 4 For yt foloweth And yf anye manne wyll hurte them thys wyse must he be kylled Eyther must he be mortified froÌ„ the olde Adam and changed into a newe man in Christ or els by the seyd worde must he both be iudged and condemned for the vtter aduersarye of God with sathan hys auncient captayne So must he be kylled And no deathe will be founde lyke vnto that deathe come they ones to the felynge of yt though they account yt now verye lyght 5 For these wytnesses haue powre aâ— had Helias to shutt vp heauen that yt rayne not in the dayes of their prophecienge but yet non other wyse thaÌ„ by the afore seyd worde For the worde of God ys the verye keye of Dauid which openeth the kyngedome of God to theÌ„ that faythfullye beleueth aÌ„d that speareth yt vp also from theÌ„ which dwelleth in vnfaithfulnesse For it is sayd in the dayes of their prophecyenge This powre therfor is of the worde and not of the menne The worde speareth and openeth losoneth and byndeth saueth aÌ„d daÌ„pneth He that beleueth sayth Crist shall be saued he that beleueth not is iudged alredye No moyster of grace nor godly wysdome can lyght where sturdye frowardenesse is roted The dayes of their prophecyenge in figure is non other than the aforesayd tyme tymes and halfe tyme or the thre years and .vi. monethes of Helyas 6 In those dayes shall it not rayne vpoÌ„ the wycked they shall haue no grace to receyue the veryte In parables and figurs shall that be hydden from theÌ„ that shall be euident ynowe vnto the faythfull With eares shall they heare aÌ„d not vnderstande with eyes shall they se and not discerue So blynde wyll their hartes be For soche spake the prophetes in fygurs Christ in parables aÌ„d the Apostles in misteries The open truthe of this reuelacion shall not the wycked perceyue tyll they tast the plages therof Soche is the nature of Gods wisdom that thowgh it be not in gloriouse wordes fyne paputed termes nor in perswasible reasons of maÌ„nes wytte but in playne symple speakynge yet can it not be knowne of the worldly wise The swete dewe therof will not be receyued of theÌ„ in the aforesayd dayes of prophecie but he that is blynde shall be blynde styll 7 These wytnesses haue also powre ouer waters to turne them into bloude Whan they interprete and syncerely declare the pure berites of God which are those wholsome waters that restrayneth the daÌ„pnable drynesse of the sowle that refresheth the conscyence and clenseth the harte of the synner they can not chose but ernestlye condempne the peruerse iudgementes the couetouse lawes and hypocritishe workes of the vngodlye And then is all vncleane vnto them theÌ„ is all bloodye The gospell which was a stomblynge stone to the Iewes aÌ„d mad folyshenesse vnto the gentyles is also now vnto them nowrye newe lerninge sediciouse doctrine aÌ„d abhominable he resye Yea and they iudge them worthye to be burned that doth teache it Thus is it abhorred of them that shall perishe and neuerthelesse to theÌ„ that beleue it is the powre of God vnto saluacyon 8 Fynallye they haue powre to smyte the earthe with al maner of plages as ofte as they wyll Uerye caâ—the are they that regarde not Gods truthe as the lorde sayd vnto AdaÌ„ after hys offence Earth thu art and vnto earthe shalt thu returne Nothinge they esteme but that whych ys earthlye Nothinge they desyre but that is carnall The frowarde creature wyll in no case knowe that is of the sprete The lyght ys hatefull vnto sore eyes Uerr peynefull is brede to the mouthe that ys not whole A great mote was Crist to the Iewes as hys true preachers are vnto the blynde worlde yet to thys daye For they smyte the earthe 9 They towche their lyuynge they rebuke their falshede they condeÌ„pne theyr wyckednesse They reproue them of synne of ryghtousnesse and of iudgement They force not to tell theÌ„ of ther vnfaithfulnesse frawde and hypocrisye of their philosophers prelates and relygyouse No greatter â—lage ys yt to the vngodlye than to heare of theyr euyll doynges No greater peyne nor yet greatter ponnyshmeÌ„t than to haue their fawtes opened and their clonynge colours condemned That fretteth theÌ„ at the very harte Deathe must be sought out for soche preachers No wonder is yt though thys be here writteÌ„ for thys age of the churche For neuer were more ernest wytnesses then are now and more are lyke here after to folowe tyll the maÌ„ne of synne be fullye knowne and his kyngedome clerelye ouerthrowne The Text. 1 And whan they haue fynished theyr testimonie 2. the beast hat came out of the bottom lesse pytte 3. shall make warre agaynst them 4. and shall ouer come them 5. And theyr bodyes shall lye in the stretes of the great cyte 7. whych spirytuallye is called Sodome and Egypte 8. where our lorde is crucyfyed ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And whan they haue ones fynyshed theyr testimonye sayth the lorde the beast that came out of the bottomlesse pytte shal make warre ageynst them No soner shal the witnesses of Gods veryte in allages be taken from the worlde than he hath prefixed After noÌ„ other sort shall they be sent hence than he hath appoynted by hys eternall decre IohaÌ„ baptist was not enprysoned nor beheaded tyll he had done hys offyce Christ was not taken condemned and crucyfyed tyl hys howre was come Paule was not putt vnto deathe tyl he had fulfilled his course 2 The beast of the bottomlesse pytte ys the cruell craftye aÌ„d cursed generacion of Antychrist the pope with hys byshoppes prelates prestes and relygyouse in Europa Mahomete with hys dettynge dowsepers in Affrica and so forth in Asia and India all beastlye carnall and wycked in their doynges 3 These maketh warre ageynst Gods wytnesses whan they hate them curse them blaspheme them and persecute theÌ„ Whan they