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
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
of all lordes 11. and kynge of all kynges 12. And they that are on his syde 13. are called and chosen and faythfull ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the .x. hornes sayth the Angell vnto Iohan which thu sawest here vpon the heades of this rose coloured Beast are in significacyon .x. kynges Some hath taken these .x. kynges for all those Emprours of the larynes sens Charle mayne which haue sworne them selues obedyent to the Bishop of Rome Some haue thought them to be those prynces which here in Europa haue afore tyme bene subiect to the Empyre of Rome As the kynges of Englande Fraunce Spayne Portyugale Castele Denmarke Scotlande Dngarye Goheme and Napels But these considre not that they be yet more in nombre as Aragone Nauerre Cycyle Cypresse Sardyne Swethen Pole and soche other and are all included in the seuen heades as members of the afore rehersed empyres Neyther marke they that they are aboue the heades as hornes aÌ„d more in nombre than the heades betokenynge a rygorouse auctoryte and ferce power which they proudelye vsurpe ouer them euerye where Afore they were but suggestyons but here are they ernest doers For in euerye region hath the beastlye Antichrist of Rome his Metropolytanes and primates As in Englande are Caunterberye and Yorke in Fraunce Thuronensis and Remensis in Spayne Tholetanus and Teâ—raconeÌ„sis in Portingale Hispalensis aÌ„d Bracarensis in Irelande Armachanus and Dublimensis in Dennemarke Lundensis and Opsalensis in Germanye Colonâ—ensis and Maguntinus in Hungarye Serigonâ—ensis and Colocensis in Italye Pisanus and Rauennas in Sycyle Panormitanus and Messanensis with an infynite nombre of byshoppes prelates prestes and religiouse besydes the fyghtynge orders of the Rhodes the Prussyanes the Redemers of captyues the Aragondes the Beorgyanes called de alga the Monteseanes the Castylyanes the Lusitaneanes the Calatraneanes and Saynt Iames warryours 2 These had not yet at that tyme receyued the deuylyshe kyngedome of pestilent vsurpacyon ouer the sowles of menne For though in Iohans dayes arose certen Antichristes as Hebion Cerinthus Diotrephes Carpocras and so the lyke yet were they nothing to these 3 But now in dede they haue receyued the same self auctoryte and power with the Beast that he toke afore of the Dragon in maner of kynges to rewle in the hartes and consciences of menne to his behoue 4 For so moche as their auctoryte is not of God lyke as is the auctorite of kynges it is sayd here as kynges or as menne counterfeatynge them in vsurpynge a gouernaunce not frelye geuen them of God but of the deuyll 5 All at one houre receyued they thys auctoryte wyth the Beast And that I suppose was in the generall counsell of Laterane at Rome gathered vnder the tytle to recouer Hierusalem agayne Where as confession in the eare was cruellye extorted of Christen peple vnder peyne of deathe and dampnacion by the whole consent both of the princes and bishoppes at the former suggestioÌ„ of innocent the thirde besydes other wicked thinges As to heare lattyn seruyce to go procession on Sondayes to praye vnto dead Sayntes to worship Images to bye Masses for the dead to fast the fridayes with purgatorye pardons merytes and fryres orders In the sayd counsell became the Metropolytanes as kynges 〈◊〉 by the auctorite therof appoynted they that 〈◊〉 Balyues and other 〈◊〉 as byshoppes Curates and Pariâ—â—he Prestes to haue cure and charge of so idle and in the sayd eare confession to receyue theyr accountes 6 These counterfett kynges are all of one deuyllishe mynde practyse and purpose agaynst God and his â–ª veryte 7 And fullye they are fixed to geue their whole power their stodye and theyr streÌ„gthe vnto the behoue of the Beast â–ª Not accordinge to Gods mynde wyll they rewle but all after his wyll pleasure agreynge alwayes vnto him as meÌ„bers to their heade to serue wickednesse after wickednesse in BabiloÌ„ His popisshe decrees wyll they seke his deuylishe decretals wyll they folowe his ceremonials wyll they obserue nothynge of the sacred scripturs What lerning so euer they haue what giftes of nature fortune or grace all must be to the maintenaunce of his fantastycall fopperyes To hym are they sworne to do hym homage to obeye his lawes to kysse hys fete for hys gloryes sake to persceutâ— the Gospell 10 And in so doynge they shall fyghâ— with the lambe which ys Iesus Christ. They shall impugne hys truthe whan they thinke to do hym seruyce For that myschese they do to one of his they do to hys owne persone 9 But be they neuer so dogged yet shall the lambe ouercome them in hys faythfull members yea by pacyent sufferaunce onlye The vyctorye sayth Saynâ— Iohan which ouercometh the worlde is a sure Christen faythe Vpon their syde fyghteth he which ys most myghtye aÌ„d stronge yea the lorde that ys valeaune in battayle And he shall first ouercome them in this lyfe with the myghtye breathe of hys mouthe scatterynge them awaye as dust from the earthe And after thys shall hys terryble iudgement for euer condempne them 10 For he ys by the auctoryte geuen hym of hys father the lorde of all lordes and by hys owne eternall Godhede the Kynge of all kynges hauinge all power in heauen and in earthe He ys constytâ—â—te iudge of the quycke and the dead hauynge alone the euerlastynge Empyre with his father and the holye ghost and of his kingedome shall neuer be an ende â–ª 11 By his permyssion doth all kinges regne he hath their hertes in his hande and iudgeth their thoughtes Both maye he geue them hys sprete and also take yt froÌ„ them and of his enemyes he shall make hys forestole He ys the same stoâ—ne after Danyell that without anye haâ—â—des was cut out of the mounte which breaketh the IroÌ„ the copper the earthe the syluer and the golde in peces By whome are ment the vnyuersall kyngedomes of this worlde 12 Of this hys vyctorye are all they paâ—â—tyners with hym which are vpon hys syâ—de by faythe Most specyallye those truâ— seruauntes of hys which after they arâ— called by grace and chosen by faythe perseuer styll constaunt feruent faythâ—full and sure in his veryte to the latteâ— ende of their lyues 13 Not onlye the lambe therfor shall oâ—uercome the Beast but they also afteâ— the doctryne of Paule that are called aÌ„d chosen in him not fallynge from his trâ—â—che for anye temptacyoÌ„ or grefe but staÌ„â—dinge fast by yt vnto the verye deathe For those that the lorde hath prefixed afore he hath called iustifyed and allowed These auaunceth not themselues with the proude but mekelye they submit their crownes referrynge all vyctorye to the lambe as menne that coulde haue done nothinge in that behalfe with out hym The Text. 1 And he sayde vnto me 2. The waters which thu sawe it where the whore sitteth 3. are people folke and nacyons and tuÌ„ges 4. Ad the teÌ„ horns which thu sawest vpon the beast 5. are they which shall hate the
he gaue them by theyr lyfe tyme as charyte stedefastnesse loue ioye peace mekenesse ryghtousnesse and soche other lyke fell downe flatte vpon their faces 6 Most humblye haue they euer submytted them selues referrynge vnto God the father the benefyght of theyr creacyon and vnto Iesus Chryst hys sonne the fre gyfte of theyr redempcyon Yea specyallye at thys tyme beynge vnder the aulter of God and knowynge by his mere goodnesse the nombre of theyr bretherne shortlye to be fulfylled and them selues wyth them to be at a gloryouse lyberte after their ghostlye sort they lawde hym saynge 7 From the verye depeth of owr spyrytuall hartes we render vnto the most hygh thankes Lorde God almightye eternall father Sonne and holye Ghost which art one essencyall God and werst without begynnynge and shalt be without endynge 8 For thu hast taken vpon the thy grete myght Now hast thu shewed thy wonderfull powre Euer hast thu raygned amonge thy peple but neuer so gracyouslye so plentuouslye and so gloryouslye for owr behoue 9 The heythen euermore were angrye whan thy tâ—wthe apered Madde were the wycked Antychrystes whan thy glorye shyned and their pryde demynished They fretted for anger they swelled for wodenesse yea they sâ—ewe thy seruauntes and burned vp thy peple 10 But now is thy wrathe towardes theÌ„ Now will thy aÌ„ger breake out now wyll thy veÌ„geauÌ„ce apere Now shall thy terrible iudgemeÌ„t without mercye be declared froÌ„ heaueÌ„ vpoÌ„ all vngodlinesse of those cruell enemies that with-holde thy truthe in vnryghtousnesse 11 Now shortelye enseweth the tyme of the dead wherin they shall be iudged some to ioye some to heuynesse some to glorye some to peyne 12 Now approcheth the glad season wherin thu hast appoynted to rewarde the true seruauntes the prophetes and the faythfull beleuers made sayntes by the onlye deathe of thy sonne and all them that yet feareth thy name wyth eternall felicyte 13 Non wylt thu seclude from this thy lyberall goodnesse for no weakenesse nor pouerte But so well the small as the great the lowe as the hygh the poore as the ryche the sycke as the whole the vnlerned as lerned shall tast of thy inestimable clerenesse 14 Onlye shalt thu destroye them that destroyed the earthe compellynge both it and all that therin is not to serue the their heauenlye creator but theyr owne stynkynge desyres lustes and corrupt affecâ—yons thy glorye not ones estemed nor regarded Herin maye we coniecture that the seuenth seale ones opened aÌ„d the .vij. trompet blowne the last iudgement daye is not farre of Blessed is he that watcheth for the lordes commynge The Text. 1 And the temple of God was opened in heauen 2. and there was sene in hys temple the Arke of hys Testamente 3. And there folowed lyghtenynges and voyces and thondringes and earthquake 4. and moche hayle ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the temple of god sayth Saynt Iohan was opened in heauen EuydeÌ„t wyll the godlye and spirituall estate of the true Christen churche seme in those dayes the gospell syncerelye preached In faythe shall menne seke their lyuinge father and not in dead Images nor other corruptible thinges In sprete and veryte shall they worshyp hym and not in dumme ceremonyes nor outwarde shaddowes Speared is Gods temple whan hys true worshyppynge is hydde And opened it is agayne whan that is clerelye seane Tyll Chrystes commynge in the fleshe nothynge therof apered With the keye of Dauid opened ke the misteries therof Wherbye throwgh faythe the conuersacyon of manye is now and hath bene euer send in heauen 2 This temple thus open anon the Arke of Gods holye testament was seane therin Christ sheweth hym self in his owne colours whan the gospell is truly receyued which is that Arke wherin all the ryches of Gods couenauntes and the preciouse treasure of his promes is reposed to mannes behoue And speciallye those by whome we are reconcyled and saued By him are we onlye brought to Gods fauer agayne and graciouslye redemed Yea all the sort of vs haue receyued of his habundaunt and ouerflowynge fulnesse The syght of this Arke in the temple is non other than a clere knowlege of hym in hys congregacyon So oft are his mysteries euydent as this temple is opened So manye tymes are they knowne as his worde is truly tawght 3 And no small frute is to be thought to come therof For there folowed lyghteninges voyces thonderinges and earthquakes Dyuerse respectes hath the veryte of God accordynge to dyuerse audyences In maner of lightenynge it moueth some makynge of earthe heauen and of synners godlye people A sownde or a noyse onlye it is to some menne not regardynge the frutes therof To some it is an occasyon of anger spyght and madnesse and to some of open blasphemye agaynst the Holye Ghost For what els doth the clergye malycyouslye withstandynge it but wylfullye worke agaynst knowlege And what doth the vndyscrete â—ayte blynded by them but Bable they woote not what 4 And a great hayle also folowed which betokeneth the vehement and sharpe iudgementes of Godâ— towardes soche enemyes of his veryte The most terryble tempest of his Iâ—e abydeth them The Lorde shall breake into the lande sayth the Prophetâ— Esaye lyke a sore rempest of hayle that breaketh downe stronge holdes or castellâ—s And the proude crowne of the dronken Ephraemytes shall be troden vnder fote Not onlye ys the last age appoynted to these thonderynges and earthquakes but they beganne also so sone as Christ apered in the fleshe No sonner was the yonge babe borne but Herode for madnesse sought to slee hym in hys verye infancye The Pharisees aÌ„d Scribes the byshoppes prestes and lawers swelled at hys preachynge and neuer left tyll they had slayne hym And this rewle with the prelates and hypocrytes hath contynued euer sens and styl shall do tyll the latter daye Onlye ys there and shall be a moderacyon that somtyme yt ys not so extreme as at some For yf yt were alwayes a lyke there shuld non be left The Text. 1 And there apered a great woÌ„der in heauen 2. A woman clothed with the Sunne 3. aÌ„d the Moone vnder her fete 4. and vpon her head a crowne of .xii. Starres 5. And she was with childe 6. and cryed trauelynge in byrthe 7. and payned redye to be delyuered ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And there apered sayth Saynt IohaÌ„ a great token in heauen â–ª For no wonder ys thys token here to be taken as in other places of the Scripture but for a type or fygure contayninge vnder mysterye greate thynges 2 A woman was seane clothed with the sonne yea of Iohan â–ª For to Gods onlye electes ys the veryte shewed to auauntage Not Marye Christes mother ys this woman though manye hath so fantasyed in their commentaryes But yt ys the true christen churche of whom Marye ys a most notable member 3 Thys woman the churche as Salomons cantycles specyfyeth ys fayre louelye plesaunt swete wholsome dilectable vndefyled as the Mone excellent in clerenesse as the
sonne and gloryous as an armye of menne with their banners and stremers Thys woman ys bewtyfullye decked with the shynynge sonne of ryghtousnesse NoÌ„ ys of her that hath not done on Iesus Christ beynge renewed in their hartes by faythe Her chyldren are not they that persecuteth Gods worde no more than was Annas and Caiphas Ioannes and Alexander Thys women 〈◊〉 to haue the moâ—ne vnder her fâ—te To the churche or congregacion of God are all other creature 〈◊〉 â—ll 〈◊〉 thinges haue the lorde suâ—dewed vnto her She ys the ryght â—heyre and inheritoure of them through Christ they with her to be delyuered from the bondage of corrupcyon to serue in liberte 4 Vpon her head was also a crowne of twelue starres which betokeneth not onlye the twelue Apostles declarynge the glorye of Christes kyngedome immediatlye after hys deathe but all other godlye mynistres of the worde also which haue done the same euer sens Onlye regneth the true Christen churche by the worde of God by the syncere scrypturs by the doctryne of the Apostles and neyther by superstycyons nor ceremonies neyther by cownsels nor customes by doctors nor fathers by myters nor rochettes by typpettes nor whodes by shauen crownes nor syne gownes by crosses nor copes by belles nor torches by shrynes nor gylâ—e Images nor yet by .xii. cupples in a â—yuerye with golden cheanes and garden 〈◊〉 Her bewtye consisteth onlye in faythe and in the obseruacyon of Gods holye commandemeÌ„tes Her true mynysters or preachers as verye chosen Starres sheweth forth hys glorye to the edyficacyoÌ„ of other not their owne pompe aod magnificence 5 And she was as ys the woman with chylde She cryed trauelynge in byrthe and was payned as one redye to be delyuered With Christ ys the churche bygge whan her members are in full faythe In the hart ys he euermore conceyued and delyuered forth soche tyme as he ys declared vnto other For thys cause Christ called them hys mother which had faythe and thervpon ded the wyll of hys father Of faythe in the first promes that Christ shuld destroye the Serpent was be first conceyued in Adam and Eua and so grewe forth in ryghtouse Abell in Seth Enos Enoch Noe Sem Thare Melchisedech Abraham and Loth. And as the promyses waxed stronger as in Abraham Moyses Dauid and the Prophetes and the peple of God more in nombre so wexed the woman byggar and byggar tyll the fulnesse of her tyme was come that she shuld be delyuered Which was soche tyme as Christ apered to the worlde taught and was coÌ„uersauÌ„t here amonge meÌ„ne And this course haue she kepte euer seÌ„s shall do to the latter daye in theÌ„ that beleue Thus haue she had Christ in her wombe sens the beginninge 6 And beynge full of hys heauenlye sprete she hath cryed in the Patriarkes and Prhphetes in the Apostles faythfull mynysters as one trauelynge in byrthe Her crye was the myghtye and stronge declaracyon of Christes doctryne the feruent zele and desyre of the glorye of God and of all-mennes helthe in Christ. She trauayleth euermore a newe lyke as ded Paule tyll Christ be fashioned in her Christen members Wyth all her strengthe she laboureth that the promysed Sede maye increase in the faythe of all menne 7 Fynallye she ys payned with labours dolours blasphemyes trobles and terryble persecucyons and neuer ys delyuered without them Neuer ys Christ ernestlye receyued tyll some of her membres doth suffre The constaunt sprete and inuyncyble standynge by the truthe in them hath conuerted manye And lyke as the payned woman in all her agonyes ys moche conforted by the hope of a chylde so are Gods faythfull wytnesses trustynge that by their pacyent and glad sufferaunce Christ shuld be receyued and ryghtlye fashyoned in manye Yea thys causeth them to reyoce in all aduersite and lyttle to esteme their paynes The Text. 1 And there apered an other wonder in heauen 2. for beholde a great reed Dragon 3. hauynge seuen heades 4. and ten hornes 5. and seuen crownes vpon hys heades 6. and hys tayle drue the thirde parte of the starres 7. and caste them to the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 After thys sayth Saynt Iohan apered in heauen an other token or maruele all dyuerse from the first The true churche which is Gods kingedome was neuer yet without coÌ„tradyccyoÌ„ nor with out the craftye assaultes of enemyes Adam was not so sone created but he was immedyatlye assaulted of Sathan Christ entered not so sone the worlde but he was bye and bye persecuted The deuyll goeth aboute lyke a roaryngely on sekynge whome he maye deuowre 2 For beholde there was seane a great reed dragon betokenynge the seyd deuyll with his whole retynewe full of deceyt craft malyce poyson pryde and fercenesse to enforce the psore weakelynges to coÌ„sent vnto hys falshede All reed hys bâ—â—ye semed in token that they which are of hym are all full of cruelte spyght and bloud shedynge afflyctynge the constaunt beleuers for withstandinge hys assaultes SeldoÌ„ ys ke out of the earthe as wytnesseth Iob but commonlye in the companye of menne impugninge the faythfull And no powre ys able to matche hym vnlesse yt commeth from aboue 3 The seyd dragon had seuen heades sygnyfienge all the craftye wyles and subtle suggestyons that he hath practysed and vsed agaynst Christ hys worde vnder all the .vij. seales openynge the vij trompettes blowynge â–ª Verye easye yt is to coÌ„iecture what maner of heades they were markynge other places of the scripture A Serpentes head shuld seme to be the first consyderinge that in the SerpeÌ„t he deceyued our first pareÌ„tes with his benemed craftes This heade so malycyouslye poysened maÌ„ne that God repeÌ„ted hym of hys creacyoÌ„ and destroyed hys whole kynde in the flood .viii. persones onlye reserued After the flood had he the head of a Calfe for the seconde in sygnificacyon of the shamefull Idolatrye and wycked worshyppynge that then begonne in Nemroth and so contyned in the heythen The thirde was the head of a lyon full of pryde and oppression expressed first in the cruell reigne of the Assyryanes and Caldeanes aÌ„d after in the proude byshoppes and prestes The forth was a Beares head full of rauyne and cruelnesse betokenynge the fâ—rce kyngedome of the medes and perseanes Consequentlye hys fift head was lyke a leopardes head of manye colours full of fycklenesse and change ablenesse And that was the vnconstaunt reygne of the Grekes Hys sixt was the head of a Beast farre vnlyke all other beastes which sygnyfyeth the kyngedome of the Romanes with their monstruouse lawes more than nedeth The seueÌ„th ys not vnlyke to a mannes head includynge all carnall wysdome with all deuyllyshe polycyes and craftes and thys ys the verye papacye here in â–ª Europa whych ys the generall Antichrist of all the whole worlde almost whych hath alreadye subdued and destroyed the Empyre of Rome For he ys called the Apostata and manne of synne By thys onlye head ys the Dragon named the
the defence and shaddowe of the hyghest So longe as the lorde is my gouernour sayth he I can wante nothinge He fedeth me he sustayneth me I doubt no daunger for he ys with me Hys staffe stayeth one hys worde and promes ys my whole confort 8 And there wyl the lorde fede her sayth saynt Iohan for the space of a thousande two hondreth and .lx. dayes Non other are fende with the scripturs promises of God which ys the bread of children not to be geuen to dogges but they which fleeth into thys desert from the Dragon forsakynge both head and tayle both suggestions and lawes both customes and constytucions For all are deuyllyshe Non other escaped the plage of Sodome but they which fledde cleane from thens Lorâ—es wyse but lokynge backe onlye towardes yt agayne was turned into a salt stone 9 The nombred dayes here are non other but the afore wrytten tyme of the two witnesses the tyme of Helias preachinge the tyme of Iohans preachynge the tyme of Christes preachinge or the tyme of the gospell preachynge from Christes ascencyoÌ„ to the latter ende of the worlde That ys the verye tyme of the feadynge of hys churche And not open ys thys feadinge here but secrete in the wldernesse amonge a sorte vnknowne to the worlde hauynge the pouerte of sprete without shauynge anoyntinge or Hipocrytes apparell And not onlye hath the lorde thus noryshed hys peple in this spirituall respect but also in bodye Whan they haue bene greuouslye handled spoyled of their goodes impresoned and exyled gracyouslye hath he releued them and prouyded for them both solate and confort aâ— the haÌ„des of theÌ„ whom they neuer sawe afore So that the iust hath not felt hym selfe forsakeÌ„ nor his childreÌ„seking bread The Text. 1 And there was a great battayle in heauen 2. Michael aÌ„d his angels 3. fought with the Dragon aÌ„d the dragon fought and his angels 4. and preuayled not 5. neyther was theyr place founde anye more in heauen 6. And the great dragon that olde Serpent called the deuyll and sathanas 7. was caste out 8. which deceyued all the worlde 9. And he was caste in to the earthe and his angels were caste out wyth hym also ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And there happened at that tyme sayth saynt Iohan a great battayle in heauen In the churche is euermore variauÌ„ce and stryfe without ceasynge betwixt the sprete and the fleshe the good aÌ„d the badde the faithfull and the vnfaithfull Non other is this battayle but a verye contradiccion a dyuersite in faythe stodye opynion wyll aÌ„d worke about the lawes or commaundements of God aÌ„d also about the lawes and tradycyons of menne Thys battayle is wayghtye in cause multitude aÌ„d continuaunce The cause therof is Christ the gospell faythe rightousnesse mannes helthe Gods hygh honour aÌ„d soche other lyke on the one partye Vpon the other partye the cause is errour hipocrisie lyes ydolatrie auarice pryde cruelte fylthynesse with all soche other So great is the multitude that non is fownde out of its Non is there but are in this armye Eyther they are good or badde faythfull or vnfaythfull ryghtouse or vnrightouse The rightouse are of the hoste of Michael the vnrightouse are vpon the dragoÌ„s syde Continued haue this battayle froÌ„ the first beginninge and so shall styll to the latter ende Yea thowgh the dragon be bownde or tyed vp vnder the .vij. seale openynge that he rage not then as he hath done afore Yet shall the sprete of wyckednesse and a mynde to do mischef reygne inwardlye styll in his members for a Sathan can be but a Sathan and a deuyll a deuyll 2 Michael and his angels fought vale auntlye with the dragon Spyrituall are they which hath done on Christ after the mynde of Paule and spirituall is their armour Their gyrdinge is verite their brest plate rightousnesse their shilde a sure faythe their weapon the worde of God their helmet the hope of helthe and for stedefastnesse of their fete their showinge the gospell By interpretacion is Michael to saye who is as God or who is lyke vnto God And he betokeneth the constaunt ministers and syncere teachers of the gospell The angels of Michael are all they that in a sure faythe confesseth the eternall magnificence of God and that non is lyke vnto hym Contrarye wyse the dragons angels are the hipocrites lyeÌ„ge prophetes and erronyouse teachers 3 These fyght with the dragon and the dragon and hys angels with them For he that ys not with Christ ys agaynst hym With the ryghteouse ys Michael For mynystrynge spretes are the angels ordayned for the confort of them which shall be saued And commanded they are to wayte vpoÌ„ the faythfull to preserue and defende them The wycked sort haue the deuyll hys chaplaynes to fyght for them the ryghtouse haue Michael and hys angels The wycked fyghteth with errours aÌ„d lyes the ryghteouse with the onlye veryte of God 4. As vengeable and as ferce as they are yet preuayle they not neyther ys theyr place fownde anye more in heauen Faythe hath the vyctorye by the promyse of God though the blynde worlde seyth it not Ouercomen are the wycked whaÌ„ their enterpryses taketh not and cleane ouerthrowne whaÌ„ their beggerye ys contempned And neuer ys the full vyctorye gotteÌ„ no more than yt was in Christ tyll the tabernacle of thys bodye be layed a syde At that daye ys the crowne gotten whom the lorde hath layed vp for the ryghtouse And lyke as there ys daylye fyghtynge so ys there in some daylye vyctorye Dayly are the angels of darkenesse ouerthrowne daylye are they cast out of heaueÌ„ whych ys the true churche Daylye are they coÌ„deÌ„pned by the worde of God iudged for rebels agaynst the holye Ghost whose synne ys neuer forgeuen 5 No place haue they anye more with the chosen no eleccyon nor acceptacyon afore God The more light they haue had the more they haue tasted of the truthe now forsakinge yt rebellyng against yt with the deuill the farder they are froÌ„ God the more nygh vnto daÌ„pnacyon Neuer beleued he trulye that so had receyued the worde Lett noÌ„ thynke to be saued vnlesse he perseuereth to the ende 6 And the great DragoÌ„ or captayne of all the vnfaythfull sort that olde croked SerpeÌ„t whych deceyued AdaÌ„ ys called the deuyll or malycyouse accuser yea also Sathan the most cruell aduersarye with all hys elyentes spirituall adherentes are certayne sure to be cast out 7 With the ryghtouse shall they haue no porcyon for all their gloriouse tytles With the godlye shall not their names be regestred for all their holye vnccyoÌ„s But with the prince of this worlde they shall be throwne forth 8 For he by them they by hym hath deceyued all the worlde in lyenge tokeÌ„s woÌ„ders in the operacyoÌ„ of errours to the vtter daÌ„pnacyon of all theÌ„ that coÌ„senteth to theyr wyckednesse 9 And he was cast into the earthe his aÌ„gels also
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
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
ministers of his worde vnlesse they betokened afore with the holye sprete of his promes and so predestinate to the lyfe euerlastinge 14 Non can syncerelye do that godlye office to the profight of other vnlesse he be whollye taken from all fleshlye and worldlye affectes No manne canne come vnto me sayth Christ vnlesse it be geuen him of my father 15 The wilfull Iewes beleued not because they were not the shepe of his marke Neyther is it of him that willeth noâ— of him that ronneth but of the only martyr of the lorde Necessarye is it therfor that his sprete draweth moueth and inâ—meth the hart Els can not the songe be swete neyther in hym that singeth nor yet in the hearer The notes of thys newe songe are Gods heauenlye verytees regestred in the faythfull hartes 16 And they that ded synge them to the prayse of the lorde were not defyled with women Wyth no straunge doctrynes nor yet Prophane worshyppynges ys their faythe contamynate that vnfaynedlye haue done on Iesus Christ. Noâ— the spowsage of their sowles haue they broken by no fylthye tradicyons of meÌ„ne Onlye haue they with Dauid sought the Testymonyes of God and thought non lyke vnto them Onlye ded they cleaue to hys precyouse lawes estemynge all other but chaffe and verye whoredome in the sprete 17 Therfor are they virgins marryed vnto Christ in faythe as were the Corynthyanes by Paules preachynge whom he wyshed to continewe a chast virgine vnto Christ. Neuer ys the maydenhede of the sowle lost tyll erronyouse doctrine be receyued from the massengers of Antichrist the Byshoppes and Hipocrites 18 The virgins or vncorrupted beleuers doth folowe the lambe whersoeuer he becoÌ„meth They go after Christ that beleuynge hys worde doth fashion their lyues vnto yt Lyke as they folowe Antichrist that fashion their workes to hys doctrine They walk in hys steppes that forsake themselues with him that beareth the crosse of persecucyoÌ„s with him or that suffreth death for the truthe with hym And not they that seke theÌ„selues lyuynge here in all pompe voluptuousnesse and Tyrannye From thys place fatche the blinde Papistes a great argument for their wyuelesse chastyte and that noÌ„ foloweth Christ but they in this muster because they are vnmarryed Neyther maye Abraham Moyses nor Dauid Zacharye Peter nor Philip walke in this NoÌ„bre because they had wyues So parelouse a thynge yt ys to haue a wyfe It ys great maruele they adâ—itt Marye Christes mother to yt because she had a husbande Oh ignoraunt Assee and verye beastlye Idiotes I thynke yow folowe Iudas which had neyther wyfe nor chylde vnlesse he had theÌ„ syttynge by other mennes fyers as manye of yow haue yet at thys same daye What is virginite before God more than is marriage No more than is circumcysyon in comparyson to vncircuÌ„cysyon And that ys nothynge No more maketh the one than the other to a ChristeÌ„ lyfe Onlye ys yt faythe effectuallye workynge by loue that the lorde requyreth of vs. Onlye respected he the faythe of Marye and not her virginite They which lyue in matrimonye after the worde of God are accepted afore him for virgyns and so are named of Saynt Paule An other caâ—illacion they haue that non which hath offended afore can be of this nombre But they consyder not what is spoken here afore that they were redemed from the earthe and that the sprete of the lorde hath puryfyed their hartes through faythe Neyther haue they grace to remember that Christes innoceÌ„cye is rekened for an whole perfight rightousnesse vnto them that beleue in him but they must bringe in soche tryfles as are their owne beggerlye merytes 19 And therfor it foloweth also These faithfull beleuers sayth Saynt Iohan were redemed from menne beynge the fyrst frutes to God and to the lambe By non other were they redemed than by Christ â–ª For of all the elect nombre he is the onlye rightousnesse wysdome holynesse and redempcioÌ„ From the corrupt blynde and frowarde multitude hath he called them taken them aÌ„d clered them And of deformed synners hath he made them fayre of vyle pure of wreched gloryouse of blinde perfyghtlye seynge of lyars true sayers of obstinate gentyll of yll good of vnfrutefull profytable For he yt is that taketh awaye the stonye harte and geueth a softe harte for yt so makynge vs Abrahams children Thus are we redemed from menne whâ— we are taken by hys goodnesse from soche corrupt vsages as mannes nature is inclined vnto 20 And for non other purpose but to be the first frutes vnto god as were the aulter offeringes in the olde lawe in the haÌ„des of the high prestes For so moche as the elect Nombre are but a fewe or a serten taken out from the vnyuersall multytude are the porcyon of the lorde as were the seyd offerynges perteyninge vnto Christ the onlye byshop of our sowles they are his first frutes Yea aÌ„d hys owne verye mysticall members and all but one offerynge vnto God the father by hym For he is the onlye lambe that dyed for them hys owne bodye beynge the onlye oblacyon and sacrifice 21 And in their mouthes was founde no gyle For non other wordes vttered they but hys pure testymonyes Non other taught they but hys vndefyled lawes Non other perswaded they to be obserued of other but hys immaculate Gospell or easye burden of Christ. No importable yokes layed they vpon mennes shulders neyther of Ceremonyes fastinges nor masse heaâ—ynges 22 For they are without spotte before the trone of God Both before them that are faythfull and haue right iudgement in the spâ—eâ—e which are the verye seates of God apereth their doctrine pure and also their lyfe innocent before God him self Neyther are they spotted with fylthye tradicions nor yet with vncomlye examples And as concernynge their former synnes they shall not be imputed vnto them They are remitted in Christ and so forgotten afore God Though this that here hath bene spoken be concernynge the whole Christen multytude and her preachers yet doth it most specially touche the Iewes or Israelytes that shall in this latter age be conuerted vnto Christ. And so do I counsell the reader to vnderstande it For the mounte Syon after the fleshe was theirs Not defyled are they wyth vnmarryed wemen which are the whoryshe lawes aÌ„d vncleane Supersticions of the Gentyles vpon non other harpe haue they commonlye harped but vpon the scripturs though it hath not bene to the pleasure of God tyll now in thys latter age wherin they shall whollye turne vnto Christ. The Text. 1 And I sawe an Angell 2. flye in the myddes of heauen 3. hauynge an euerlastynge gospell to preache vnto them that sytte and dwell on the earthe 4. and to all nacyons kynredes aÌ„d tonges and people 5. saynge with a lowde voyce 6. feare God 7. and geue honoure to him 8. For the houre of his iudgement is come 9. And worshyp hym that made heauen and earthe 10. and the see and the fountaynes of
age be ernestlye spreted and not feare the tormentes of the enemyes in Christes cause 4 For from hence forthe the sprete sayth that they rest from their labours In a wonderfull quyetnesse dwell they by the verye sentence of the holye ghost and shall neuer more fele of anye woo God hath cleane wyped awaye all teares from their eyes all sorâ—wes aÌ„d peynes from their bodyes the first daungers beynge past Happye are they therfor and most godlye fortunate that are slayne for Christ because they wyll not worshyp the Beast and his Image nor corrupt their faythe with their wycked lawes but in a pure Christen beleue departeth from hence to the lorde Theyr porcyon is in the lande of the lyuynge and their lotte amonge the holye ones 5 For certenâ—ye their workes doth folowe them The promiseâ—â—â—warde of God for constantlye standynge by the veryte for the frutes of their christen pacience and for other exercyses of theyr faythe is euermore to their glorye present with them Not as deserued of theÌ„ but of Christ in whose faythe they wrought here and for the promes sake that they shuld be Gods heyres togyther wyth Chryst. The lyuelye worde also which they ernestlye receyued here and so roted in their faythe wyll neuer suffre them to peryshe nor to be hurt of the â—conde deathe The Text. 1 And I loked and beholde 2. a whyte cloude 3. and vpon the cloude one sittynge lyke vnto the sonne of manne 4. hauynge on hys head a golden crowne 5. and in hys hande a sharpe syckle ¶ The paraphrase 1 I loked yet further sayth Saynt Iohan and euydentlye before me apered a whyght cloude which betokeneth the true mynisters of Gods worde Whom the holye ghost calleth cloudes by Esaye Dauid Peter and Iudas For from theÌ„ falleth vpon the peple the swete droppes of hys verytees 2 Whyght they are as mylke for their faythe in the worde And for their Christen conuersacyon not blotted with Hypocresye of mennes corrupted customes 3 Vpon this cloude was one syttynge lyke vnto the sonne of manne which ys verelye Christ in hys gloryfyed manhode For euermore ys he amonge hys trewe preachers geuynge them soche vtteraunce and wisdome as all their enemyes are not able to withstande Alwayes walketh he amonge the .vij. candelstyckes which are hys congregacyons as we had afore 4 He had vpoÌ„ hys head a goldeÌ„ crowne in token of hys eternall and vncorrupt kyngedome in hys hande a sharpe syckle which ys the sharpe iudgemeÌ„t or ryghtuousnesse of hys worde for ther with shall he reape hys latter harnest Accordynge to hys worde and promes shall he iudge good and euyll 5 Thys syckle receyued he of hys euerlastynge father soche tyme as he gaue ouer vnto hym hys vnyuersall iudgemeÌ„tes By the order of thys vysyon shuld the preachers seme in the last age of the churche moche to admonyshe the peple of the latter daye with the commynge of Christ agayne to iudge both the quicke the dead as ys in their crede or beleue The Text. 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2 cryaÌ„ge with a lowde voyce to hym that satte on the cloude 3. Thrust in thy sycle reape 4. for the tyme is come to reape 5. For the corne of the earthe is rype 6. And he that satte on the cloude 7. thrust in hys syckle on the earth 8 and the earthe was reaped ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angell sayth saynt Iohan came out of the temple which ys the congregacyon of faythe consecrated as an holye temple vnto God in the bloude of the vndefyled lambe Iesus This Angell betokeneth those iust meÌ„ne that with Symeon and anna the doughter of Phanuell in this latter age are desyâ—rouse of the glorye of God and of the fynall redempcyon of man from bodelye corrupcyon 2 These shall crye with a loude voyce with a feruent sprete shall they call vnto Christ which sitteth vpon the cloude 3 And this shall be their sainge Thrust in the syckle and reape Sende forth thy 〈◊〉 worde And lyke as yt hath created all thynges so lete yt now trye and iudge all thinges 4 For the tyme ys at hande to reape For we are those vpon whome the endes of the worlde are come 5 And doubtlesse the corne of the earthe yâ— rype the worlde is at the best that yt will do As it hath bene euer so ys yt styll all togyther sort vpon myscheff Lete thy worde therfor fynyshe all as yt hath beganne all With the breathe of thy mouthe 〈◊〉 the great Antichrist 〈…〉 of synne the sonne of perdycyon and the aduersarye that hath exalted hymself aboue God Poure out thy indygnacion vpon the kyngedomes that will neyther knowe the worshyp the nor alone call vpon thy name Thu hast called thy haruest the ende of the worlde lete it now fynyshe all in dede Diuyde the chaffe from the corne the wicked sort from the ryghtouse Gather the wheate into thy garner and burne the chaffe in vnquencheable fyre 6 And he that satte on the cloude thurst in hys syckle on the earthe and anon the earthe was reaped 7 He hath sent hys myghtye worde so quycke in operacyon as fyre Which shall not onlye consume the wicked generacyon of the Beast but also reserue them to eternall dampnacyon 8 The earthe shall be cleared of theÌ„ as of all other fylthye corrupcions and hell replenyshed with them to their perpetuall care The Text. 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2. which ys in heauen 3. hauynge also a sharpe syckle ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And an other angell sayth saynt Iohan came out of the temple which ys in heauen or from the great nombre of Angels hauynge also a sharpe syckle in his hande 2 This Angell betokeneth those heaueÌ„lye spretes that the lorde shall seÌ„de forth to gather togyther hys chosen from the iiij wyndes whan hys token shall apere in heaueÌ„ These are the reapers of the lordes haruest These are they that shall go forthe to gather all nacyons and to separate the gottes froÌ„ the laÌ„bes the yl from the good and shall cast them into a furnace of fyre where as shallbe waylinge and gnashinge of tethe 3 And therfor ys their syckle here named sharpe Non other is their syckle but this appointed office Non other ys their haruest but thys gatherynge togyther But these massengers shall not forthe tyll they haue commandement And therfor sayth Saynt IohaÌ„ consequeÌ„tlye ¶ The Text. 1 And an other Angell came out from the aulter 2. which had power ouer fyre 3. and cryed with a lowde crye vnto hym that had the sharpe syckle and sayde 4. Thrust in thy sharpe syckle 5. and gather the clusters of the earthe 6. for her grapes are rype 7. And the aÌ„gell thrust in hys syckle on the earthe 8. aÌ„d cutte downe the grapes of the vyneyarde of the earthe 9. and cast them into the great wynefatte of the wrathe of God 10. And the wynefatte was trodeÌ„ with out
the cytye 11. and bloude came out of the fatte 12. eueÌ„ vnto the horse brydles 13. by the space of a thousande and sixe hundred fourlonges ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angell came out from the aulter which had power ouer fyre This ys the lorde Iesus Christ whom Malachias calleth the Angell of the couenaunt that was longed for He ys the aulter of the ryghtouse and by hym are they a swete sacrifice vnto God Els coude they be but verye abhominacyon Tyll the iudgement daye shall he be an aulter of meanes makynge to God the father for vs. But that daye ones come no longer shall he be an aulter or an aduocate but go cleane from yt He shall than become a iudge ouer all the worlde rewardynge euerye one accordynge to their workes Hitherto hath he mekelisytten vppon the cloude and not cutte with his syckle He hath had in hys hande the iudgement and not iudged 2 But now hath he power ouer fyre By fyre which ys vnder hys obedyence as are all other creaturs els shall he at that daye iudge the vnyuersall worlde And more sharpe vehement quycke ferce myghtye and terryble shall hys seÌ„tence be to the wycked thaÌ„ ys any fearefull flaminge or coÌ„sumynge wilde fyre 3 For with a lowde voyce shall he crye vnto him that hath the sharpe syckle An ernest charge and commandement shall he geue at that daye to the ministers of his yre for to cast them into exteryoure darkenesse after thys sort here vttred in mysterye 4 Thrust in thy sharpe syckle aÌ„d gather the clusters of the earthlye vyneyarde for the grapes therof are râ—pe 5 Execute the vengeaunce committed vnto yow and rote out this ranke ryâ—â—ouse generacyon of the rauenouse Epicures 6 For now are their myscheues at the full Now are they most curyous in their facyons and fedynges most couetouse in their compassynges most vayne in their stodyes and most cruell in their doynges For with them shall yt be sayth Christ as yt was in the dayes of Noe and Loth. They shall buylde and banket ruffle and ryot bye and sell and plante for their pleasurs And sodenlye as a snare shall that terrible daye lyght vpon them vnbewares as ded deathe on the couetouse iourer 7 And the Angell sayth Iohan thrust in hys syckle on the earthe he cutte downe the grapes of the vineyard of the earth and so ded cast them into the greate wyne fatt of the wrathe of God 8 Accordynge to their commission they shall plage the earthlye mynded for here ys the tyme past for the tyme coÌ„mynge vsed for the certente of yt Wyth soden deathe shall they perce theÌ„ in this worlde that contempnynge Christes doctryne hath folowed the course therof in all concupiscence 9 And fynallye they shall throwe them into the lake of myserye the pyt wythout water â—nto the stynkynge â—regges of helâ—e where as fyre and brymstone shall be rewarded to drynke For the vyneyarde of the earthe ys the carnall Synagoge of Hypocrites â— and the grapes therof are the gloryouse glottons and franke fâ—dde porkelynges of that gredye gulfe euen the enemyes of Christes crosse whose God ys their bellye whose glorye is their confusion and whose ende ys their dampnacyon for they are earthlye mynded This wyne fatte of the wrathe of God ys non other than hys greate bengeaunce to be poured vpon the vnfaythfull Or els helle prepared for the deuyll and hys angels Greate not onlye for the innumerable multytude that yt hath and shall receyue but also in that yt is insacyable 10 And this wyntfatt was troddeÌ„ without the cyte Nothynge perteyneth yt to that cyte of whom famouse thynges are spoken which ys the congregacyon of God nor yet to the good creaturs of God No not vnto thys worlde which shall at that daye be tryed and pourged by fyre But vnder the earthe shall yt be and farre without thys worlde secluded from the face of heauen in fylthye and vnspekeable darkenesse 11 For bloud wyll come out of thys fatte eueÌ„ vnto the horse brydles Wherin is expressed not onlye the terrour of the place but also of the peynes ther in contayned For bloud shedynge and murther are thynges verye horrible fearefull to beholde contayninge in theÌ„ depriuacyon of lyfe which ys most terrible of all The habundaunce therof betokeneth the greatnesse of the grefe in the sufferaunce of them The treadinge downe also sygnyfieth that no rayse towardes anye relefe is to be loked for of them that be there Vnto them which at that daye shall be in the cyte wyl he that sytteth in the trone make al thynges newe All dolour affliccyon so rowe peyne penurye wrathe condeÌ„pnacyon and deathe shall be past with them Onlye shall they be trodden downe in this wynefatt of Gods wrathe that lyued here lyke beastes without reason and that wandred here lyke horses and mules in their owne filthye lustes 12 All shall be ponnyshed there that was here vnbridled vnordred and vngouerned after the worde pleasure of God And therfor yt ys here sayd vnto the horse brydles Euerye manne shall receyue in bodye accordynge to that he hath done whether yt be Good or euyll They that haue wrought the storke of God in faythe shall reape accordynge vnto yt The brydles also betokeneth the measure of gods iudgemeÌ„t not as concernynge the tyme which â—s euerlastynge but concernynge the peyne ryghtlye measured accordynge to the in aquite For the lorde hath sett his iudgementes ouer the wicked in wayght and measure the stripes agreynge in quantyte to the excesse of synne so moche torment to haue as their reioyse hath bene in wyckednesse 13 The space of these terrible tormeÌ„tes or ponnyshmeÌ„tes of hell ys a thousande and .vi. hondred furlonges A furlonge of the Grekes ys called the â—onne of hercules and yt ys in lenghte an hondred and .xxv. passes or steppes And commonlye they vsed accordinge to that lenghte to measure their playenge places Of whome Paule maketh mencyon to the Corinthyanes beynge Grekes by them that roÌ„neth in a course and that proueth mastryes In thys thousande and .vi. hoÌ„dred furlonges here ys comprehended the whole and vnyuersall course of the wycked for the .iiii. quarters of the worlde The nombre of an hondred ys euermore an whole complete and perfyght nombre And .iiii. hondred .iiii. tymes noÌ„bred ys .xvi. hondred which maketh this nombre of a thousande and .vi. hondred the nombre of .iiii. respectinge alwayes the .iiii. climates of the worlde which are the common habitacions of sinners In them course they in all wanton kyndes of lyuinge In them worke they their mastryes of all vngodlye obseruacyons and false worshyppinges walkinge in the large or open waye which leadeth vnto deathe Accordynge to the nonbre measure of this course hath God here measured the place and ponnyshment Not withstandinge neuer ys he without mercye Maruelouse he ys in hys workes and iudgementes which are vnsercheable Blessed ys he that shal haue his part in the cyte or congregacyon of
they blasphemed the omnipotent lorde of heauen for verye anguishe and dolour of their sores and woundes For non other are the frutes of a desperate conscience than blasphemyes of God as in Cain Iudas and soche other lyke Non other are the vtteraunces of an vnpenytenâ— hart but heauye hatefull mormurynges 6 And therfor yt foloweth that they repented them not of their dedes For in a crucyate or fearfullye vexed conscience can neuer dwell true repentaunce So vnquietouse alwayes ys the folyshe desperate mynde as is the troubled ragynge see A wycked hart is ladeÌ„ with sorowes heapynge synne vpon synne the Synagoge of proude Hipocrytes hauynge no helthe In the fift Seale openynge Trompet blowynge is more of thys misterye declared which agreeth moche with thys vyall of God lyke as doth the other with the other in their nombres though not in their figurs The Text. 1 And the sixte Angell poured out hys vyall 2. vpon the great ryuer of Euphrates 3. and the water dried vp 4 that the waye of the kinges 5. of the East shuld be prepared 6. And I sawe thre vncleane spretes lyke frogges 7. come out of the mouthe of the Dragon 8 and out of the mouthe of the beast 9. out of the mouth of the false prophete 10. for they are the spretes of deuyls 11. workynge myracles to go out 12. vnto the kynges of the earthe and of the whole worlde 13. to gather theÌ„ to the battayle 14. of the greate daye of God almyghtye 15. Beholde I come as a thefe 16. happye is he that watcheth 17. and kepeth his garmentes 18. least he be founde naked 19. and men se his fylthynesse 20. And he gathered them togyther into a place 21. called in the Hebrue tunge Armagedon ¶ The Paraphrase 1 In course now foloweth the sixt angell of Gods appoyntment vnder the â—ixt seale openinge shedinge out his Irefull vyall vpon the great ryuer Euphraâ—es a flood of the Assyrianes or of Babylon betokeninge in mysterye the plesaâ—nt possessions and wauerynge delyghtes of the Papysticall clergye with soche lyke â— Into all filthye despres of carnall and worldlye lustes gaue the lorde their harâ—s ouer in the sixt age of the christeÌ„ churâ—he for their vnbeleues sake to do thoâ—e thinges which are vncomlye and beâ—stlye So that all their stodye trauayle â—nd laboure sought to non other ende â—ut onlye to habunde in them Whollyâ—â—ere they geuen thervnto and nothynâ—â— to the glorye of God in all their practysed obseruacions 3 Yet were the waters therof in processe of tyme dryed vp Their welthye ponâ—pes possessions and pleasurs their faâ—â—se feates ones knowne are and shalâ— be clerelye taken awaye from them For after Iesus Syrach the plante of sinnâ— shall be roted out in the proude Sinagoge of the wycked 4 And all this shall be to prepare the waye of the kynges from the sprynge of the sunne Neuer shall the gouerners walke in the wayes of the lorde nor rewle accordynge to Christes doctryne nor yet that doctrine be apert and open tyl the waters be dryed vp not one droâ—â—pe remayninge So longe as the Preâ—â—stes dwell in wanton delightes and vaâ—â—ne pleasurs eyther are the princes chylâ—dyshe or els tyrannouse accordynge aâ— their nedes requyreth 5 Neuer are they kynges from the spriâ—â—ge of the Sunne or accordynge to Chriâ—stes rewle sekynge Gods honor wytâ— Dauid and Iosias In Englande by thâ— Gospell preachynge haue manye of thâ—se waters bene dryed vp in the suppresâ—sion of monasteryes prioryes couenâ—tes and fryres howses yet are not aâ—â— thynges brought vnto Chrystes clerâ— institucyon A syncere Chrysten ordeâ— can not yet be seane there And a greaâ— cause whye For all is not yet dryed vp there The Byshoppes regne styll in as moche vayne gloryouse pompe and wyth as manye heythnyshe obseruacions as euer they ded As cruellye harted and as bloudye mynded are they yet as euer they were afore no myschef vnsought to holde in the waters Marke how Wynchester Durham Yorke London and Lyncolne worketh wyth soche other plesauntlye dysposed Euphratynes But be of good confort and praye in the meane tyme. For the holye Ghost promyseth here they shall wydder awaye wyth all that the heauenlye father hath not planted All that generacyon wyll the lordes breathâ— consume Now is the axe layed to the roote of the tree to hewe downe the vnfrutefull braunches the wyddred reserued to vnquencheable fyre God graunt the princes at that daye more christenlye to bestowe the waters of Euphrates than they haue yet bene bestowed no prouysyon made for the poore nor yet order sett for the Gospell preachynge For great part of it is now turned to the vpholdynge of dyse playnge maskynge and banketynge yeaâ— I wolde I coude not by iust ocrasyons speake it brybynge whorynge aÌ„d swearinge the townes peples aÌ„d howseholdes miserablye decayed whych wyll not one daye be vnplaged vnlesse they repent 6 Fardermore I sawe sayth Saynt Iohan in the same self visyon thre vncleane spretes one commynge out of the draâ—ons mouthe which signifieth Sathan the deuyll an other out of the Beastes mouthe betokeninge the vniuersall Antichrist aÌ„d the thirde out of the false prophetes mouthe compared afore to the two horned Beast And all they semed in maner as frogges both in their colours and facyons 7 Idolatrye was that yll sprete whych first went out from the Serpent hath coÌ„tynued euer sens in the worlde vnder the coloure of good workes as pilgrimage deuocyon and laboure 8 Erroure in abhominable fylthynesse was the sprete which came from the beastly Antichrist defilynge the whole christianite with innumerable supersticions vnder the coloure of chast lyuynge in presthode sacrifices and ceremonyes 9 Hypocrisye was the fowle sprete which yssewed fromthe false preachers poysoninge the catholyke faythe wyth false doctrine vnder the coloure of relygion pretendinge abstinence prayer aÌ„d clennesse These .iij. wycked spretes are not all vnlyke to the wylde fyre smoke and brymstone which the terryble ferce horses euometed in the .ix. chapter of this present prophecye â–ª For cursed false and vnpure they are Their doctrine is wyckednesse lyes and deuylishnesse aÌ„d the execrable wysdome of the fleshe In maner of frogges are they here descrybed for their dyuersite of colours in ceremonyes doctrynes and sectes for their filthye dwellynge in the dyrtye tradycions of menne and for crookelynge of their vnknowne psalmodye and seruyce dysquietynge wyth their idle customes the consciences of the simple multytude 10 These are the verye spretes of deuyls the ympes of Sathan workynge soche sygnes and myracles as wolde deceyue the verye chosen persons aÌ„d brynge them into erroure if it were so possible But the lorde euermore defendeth his 11 A stronge power haue they by the workynge of Sathan to shewe lyenge wonders and deceyuable signes amonge them that shall peryshe for detestynge the truthe 10 These shall by the permissioÌ„ of God be suffred to go at large they shall strongelye delude the kynges of the earthe and blynde the gouernours of the
vnyâ—ersall worlde makynge them dronken wyth the cuppe of all abhomynacyons 13 And all this shall they do to gather them togyther by their wycked counsels and to brynge them into one cruell consent of battaylynge agaynst Christ and his members to receyue the penalte therof in the great daye of the lorde almyghtye 14 Most busylye they gather them to battayle whan they moue them to persecute the iust beleuers wyth full vngodlye actes as now most of all in owrage whych God hath promysed in short space to reuenge Of this wyll more be spoken in the .xix. chapter folowynge Least anye manne knowynge the truthe shuld tangle his owne conscyence with their spirituall sorceryes for feare of princes lawes vnder the vayne hope of repentaunce in the ende of theyr lyues yt foloweth in playne sentence 15 Beholde sayth the lorde Iesus Christ or ernestlye take hede vnto it for I come daungerouslye vnloked for as commonlye doth the thefe to thy hyndraunce yf thu watche not in faythe but lyue in superstycyon Though thys not wythout reasonable cause maye be taken in a geueralte for the last iudgemeÌ„t daye yet is it here spoken partycularlye of euerye mannes departynge As a premonyshment he geueth this here of loue least anye manne shuld peryshe without warnynge 16 Blessed is he sayth that Lorde which watcheth in the true christen beleue and lyueth not in the vayne but in the sure hope of lyfe sealed with the iust promyses of God For all that he â—oth shall prospere and turne hym to great aduauntage in the conclusyon 17 Happye is he also that holdeth fast vnto him his garmentes or workes of Gods prescripcion whych are the frutes of the sprete or that hath done on the Lorde Iesus Christ gyrdynge him sure vnto him self by faythe 18 Least he be fownde a naked hypocrite without faythe veryte iustyce charyte wyth soche lyke or least the ryghtouse nombre at the latter daye se his filthinesse vncouered and reioyce at his condempnacion 19 He ys blessed whych at that daye shall be couered with the whight garment of the lambe not hauynge his sinnes imputed vnto him 20 To shewe the certente of the aforesayd battayle Saynt Iohan sayth thaâ— the deuil gathered together those wicked newlers into a serten place called in the Hebrâ—â—â—onge Armagedon The vncleane spretes that afore are named thre of â—heir dyuerse workinge in the Dragon Beast false propheâ—e are here brought into one as all of one lyenge sprete whoÌ„ Christ calleth the father deuill This one lyenge sprete which hath bene a murtherer from the begynnynge comprehendynge in him all vncleane spretes lyke as doth the Beast all Antichristes hath coÌ„byned together into â—n exeâ—rable zele of fatherlye tradicyons all vayne gloryouse and vngodlye mynded gouernours agaynst God and his Christ. And this hath not bene without the secrete permission of God willynge to proue his electes by stronge sufferynges that they myght receyue at his hande the rewarde of stronge victorye or of his habundaunt ryches 21 This place here called in the Hebrue Armagedon betokeneth in misterye an hyll of dylectable frutes interpreted of some for the hyll of the Gospell and is commonlye taken of the Hebrues for that is swete or of value And this without fayle is the churche which oft tymes in the scripturs ys called the plentuouse hyll of God the hyll of Gods howse the hyll of myrhe the hyll of olyâ—es the hyll of Syon Carmelus and â—thanus with soche other lyke In thys mounte euermore are they bent to battayle There slee they the innocent lambes of Christ. All their power malyce and tyrannie is there extremelie vttred at the Antichristes laboure and desyre which are excedynglye dronken in the bloud of holye martyrs which hath bene shedde vpon earthe from ryghtouse Abell vnto this daye But whan the almyghtye setteth kynges vpoÌ„ the earthe it shall be clere euen in the darkenesse that the hyll of Basan is Gods hyll The Text. 1 And the seuenth angell poured out hys vyall 2 into the ayre 3. And there came a great voyce out of heauen from the seate sayenge 4. It is done 5. And there folowed voyces thoÌ„derynges and lyghtenynges 6. and there was a great earthquake 7. soche as was not sens men were vpoÌ„ earthe 8. so mightye an earthquake and so great 9. And the great cytye was deuyded into thre partes 10. And the cytyes of the nacyons fell 11. And great Babylon came in remembraunce before God 12. to geue vnto her the cuppe of wyne of the fearcenesse of his wrathe 13. And euerye Ile fled awaye 14. and the mountaynes were not founde 15. And there fell a great hayle 16. as it had bene talentes 17. out of heauen 18. vpon the men 19. And the meÌ„ blasphemed God bycause of the plage of the â—ayle 20. for it was great and the plage therof was sore ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Finallye the seuenth Angell went forth vnder the seuenth seale openynge as God had eternally determined throwynge out the content of hys vyall into the ayre For the seuenth age of the christen churche by the verye set purpose of God are manye conuerted to the truthe and become with Paule the vessels of eleccion that afore were wyth Iudas the vessels of wrathe vnder the great aduersarye of God Neyther is it anye blemishe vnto them to be called here that they were afore vyals of wrathe consyderynge that Simon leprosus beynge ones healed of his leprosye was euer after called a leper In case lyke Paule after his conuersyon was not ashamed to report hym self both a Pharyse and also the sonne of a Pharyse 2 These by the myghtye determynacion of Gods stronge iudgement are sent into the ayre Most effectuallye are they lyghtened wyth the sprete of God and prouoked stiflye to stande vp agaynst the aereall powers regnynge in the fyckle fantasticall Antychrystes and hypocrytes condeÌ„pninge by Gods worde their vnyuersall doctrines and deuyllyshnesse These powers are no lesse than deuyls whoÌ„ Christ calleth fowles of the ayre Peter aÌ„ IohaÌ„ mannis aduersaryes saynt Paule the gouerners of the esâ— darkenesses in spyrytuall wyckednesse 3 Whils these thinges are in doynge out of heauen which is the vnyuersall congregacion yea from the verye trone of God which is the electe faythfull nombre for they are onlye the seate of God came a voyce of reioysinge saynge after this sort 4 It is done All thinges are fynyshed Chrystes glorye ones manyfestlye knowne â—ke worlde is at an ende The wycked hath done all their myscheffes and the nombre of owr bretherne is fulfylled Thus shall they preache a full delyueraunce of the captyues and the peceable yeare of the lorde Thys ys the sylence of an halfe howre space mencyoned afore in the .viij. chapter and the returne of this worlde vnto Chryst in the .xij. Chapter Not that there shall in those dayes be no enemies for the remnaunt shall styll remayne but that they shall not then openlye dare rage persecute and kyll the worlde beynge at
strongelye to delude the vnbeleuers 2 These lyghted vpon the swete waters by whom are ment the sacred scripturs refreshinge the drye sowles Who so euer drynketh sayth Christ of the waters that I geue he shall neuer be more a thirst 3 Of these waters haue they defyled both the ryuers and welspringes with bloud Both the lawe and Gospell the fygure and veryte the commaundemeÌ„t and promes the doctryne of Prophetes and Apostles haue they corrupted with their false interpretacyons and gloses with frowarde dryftesand opynyons with vayne tradycyons and worshyppynges and with carnall wysdome aÌ„d murtherynges Of thys sort were Eutâ—ces and Artius with soche other lyke as in the .viij. chapter afore 4 And I harde sayth Saint Iohan an Angell betokenynge those syncere wytnesses to whom God had opened for that age his secrete iudgemeÌ„tes And thys Angell sayd 5 Omnipotent creator and lorde which art not onlye of thy self at thys present instaunt but wart also essencyallye in thy self without begynnynge 6 Thu heauenlye lorde art faythfull in thy wordes and holye in thy workes 7 For as yt apereth before our eyes the decrees and fore iudgementes that thu madest afore are now fulfylled in effecte 8 For the relygyouse mourtherers that of cruelnesse caused the bloud of thy holye â–ª Sayntes and Prophetes Apostles and Preachers to be shedde haue now by thy iust appoyntment verye bloud to drynke as they are most worthye 9 For sleynge of them whose massage they contempned they had their iust plage Not oÌ„lye became they vayne in their thoughtes their folyshe hartes darkened not vnlyke to them that hath eares aÌ„dheare not eyes and se not but also there remayned vnto them after this lyfe a perpetuall vengeaunce without mercye for their cruell oppressyons as a due rewarde of their errour 10 Yet an other Angell harde I sayth Saynt IohaÌ„ eueÌ„ out of the aulter whych ys Christ. Thys Angell sygnyfyeth those wytnesses that suÌ„tyme confessed the truthe here and now resteth from their labours in the lorde These though they be departed afferme that the other hath seyd afore In token that now beynge departed they forget not that truthe which they afore confessed lyuynge styl yet in the same He that holdeth my worde sayth Christ shall neuer tast of deathe 11 And this ys their saynge in mysterie or wordes comprehendinge their secrete confessyon 12 Euen so lorde God almyghtye As the lyuynge beleuers sayth of the by mouthe so saye we now in the sprete 13 That thy decreed iudgemeÌ„tes are euer more true and thy maruelouse workynges ryghtouse The first ys called in some translacyons the Angell of waters the other here reported to come from the aulter to sygnyfye both sortes The Text. 1 And the fourth Angell poured out hys vyall 2. on the sunne 3. And power was geuen vnto hym to vexe men with heate of fyre 4. And the men raged in great heate and spake euyll of the name of God 5. which had power ouer those plages 6. and they repented not to geue hym glorye ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Consequentlye by the appoyntment of God the fort Angel in the forth Seale openynge poured out his vyall of Gods wrathe on the sunne As the lorde had eternallye prefixed in the forth age of the Christen churche For the whole worldes pannyshmeÌ„t was Christ sore blemyshed which ys the clere sunne of ryghtousnesse Sore ded the dissemblynge Antichristes in those dayes darken the true glorye of God with their many folde sectes of Hipocresye The pope had for hys part an innumerable swarme of shorne smered Sodomytes and Mahomete a fowle flocke of frantyck fabyllers which with their newlye paynted relygyons and prodygyouse obseruacyons made first all the worlde to wonder and than to worshyp Belâ—al for Christ takynge darkenesse for lyght and synne for ryghtousnesse 2 These beynge verye aduersaryes vnto Christ toke vpon them hys auctoryte and seate the one boastynge hymself for hys generall vycar in earthe the other for the great Prophete of the lorde and so were receyued of the excecate worlde Nedes wolde they seme to be the suÌ„ne beynge the verye shaddowes of deathe 3 Permytted was this heersackye sunne to vexe meÌ„ne with heate of fyre Syttynge in the temple of God which ys with in manne with soche wycked lawes as they made vnder the name of God and of Christ they terribly vexed tormented and cruciated the weake consciences of menne leauynge them coÌ„moÌ„lye in most peynefull desperacyon 4 So that the menne raged in greate heate speakynge euyll of the name of God which had power ouer those plages At their abhominable perswasions was Christ of them not taken for a mercyfull sauer and gentyll â–ª redemer but for a frowarde chorle vntractable tyrauÌ„t vnlesse he were mollyfyed by the merytes and callynges vpon of other that coude not be had without money 5 Power hath the lorde ouer plages to holde them or remoue them By hys ryghtfull iudgement at hys onlye pleasure he hardeneth As the potter maye he breke them or make them vessels of dyshonour 6 In no wyse ded this peruerted multytude repent their wycked blasphemyes to geue hym glorye for all their confessioÌ„s Masse hearynges pylgrymages and satisfaccyons without nombre For they were not accordynge to his prescripcyon 7 After non other sort wyll he be pleased and glorifyed than he hath by hys scripturs appoynted Nothynge lesse are their fantasyes than true repentaunce The Text. 1 And the fifte Angell poured out his vyall 2. vpon the seate of the Beaste 3. and his kyngedome waxed darke 4. And they gnewe their tonges for sorowe 5. and blasphemed the God of heauen for sorowe and payne of their sores 6. and repented not of their dedes ¶ The Paraphrase 1 In order succedeth by the dyuyne ordinaunce the fiâ—t Angell vnder the fift seale openynge pourynge out hys vyall of Gods indignacyon vpon the seate of the Beast After non other sort than the lorde had afore predyffyned for mannes vnfaythfulnesse sake was the proude beastlye kyngodome of the Papacye and the execrable regne of Mahomete replenyshed with all filthye abhomynacyoÌ„s vnder the sunne For in the other age afore they ded but crepe into the hartes of meÌ„ne through the glytterynges of hypocresye and dissimulate sanctyte 2 But here haue they obtayned the power seate and auctoryte of the Beast and so gotten vnto them the myghtye Monarchyes of the vnyuersall worlde Here regned they without checke in all vayne glorye hawtynesse malyce pryde murther Hipocresye superstycyon Idolatrye and blasphemye of Gods name 3 And therfor their kyngedomes as all one in deuylllyshenesse became all darke without the lyght of Gods veryte full of the stynkinge smoke of the bottomlesse pytte Than went the locustes abrode aÌ„d fylled the worlde with ygnoraunce and blyndenesse 4 Euerye where gnewe they their toÌ„ges for verye sorowe In detractynge the veryte moche grefe they suffred in their desperate hartes their wormes not dyenge nor their fyre quenched the scorpyons of the earthe stynginge them also 5 Spyghtfullye