tormeÌ„t ascendeth vp euermore as the flame of a fornace with most horible stinke for a perpetual signe of their punishmeÌ„t like as it dyd froÌ„ Sodome Gomor when the Lorde ouerthrew them 2 So that they haue no rest neyther day nor night so mani as worship the beast his image receuiÌ„g the priÌ„t of his nam 3 Both in this lyfe are they cruciate with a troublous and doubtfull conscience and also after this life with vnspekeable paynes For neither shal their worm dye nor yet their fyre be queÌ„ched all flesh abhorring theÌ„ 4 Thus shal they be with the beast tormeÌ„ted which haue the spirite of the beast For like as al the faithful which hath ben from the beginning belongeth to one misticall body in Christe and shal be preserued by him so doeth the wicked perteine to one misticall Antichrist hauing al one spirit with him and so shall with him perish 5 Here is the pacience of the saynts In this life ar their troubles no plesure is for them in this world but hate rebukes slaunders lies persecutions and death of their bodyes Their life vpon earth is continuall affliction but gloryous is the fruite of their labours Manifold are the misfortunes of the rightuous but the Lord cleareth them of all 6 Here are they vexed that kepe the commaundements the fayth of Iesu Here are they had in derision that behaue theÌ„selues as the ministrs of god in much patieÌ„ce afflictioÌ„s néede anguish labour stryps imprisonment and such lyke 7 Here are they chastened of the LORDE with many sore storms that they should not be damned with this world Much haue they héere to suffer of enemies that onely cleueth to the word of god in life doctrine THE TEXT 1. And I heard a voyce from heauen saying vnto me 2. Write 3. Blessed are the dead which hereafter dye in the Lord 4 euen so saith the spirit that they may rest froÌ„ their labours 5. But their vvorkes shall follovve them The Paraphrase 1 And I heard a voyce from heaueÌ„ saith S. Iohn saying vnto me 2 Wryte with penne or marke suerly this sentence following for them that here suffer in the truthes quarell 3 Blessed are the dead or they which are already departed and that also shal heereafter depart in the Lorde This voyce from heauen are the infallible scriptures ascertaining the faith of Iohn of the swéete rest of the saintes in the hands of God And that their ende is not without honour as the vain sort supposeth but they are couÌ„ted among the dere children of God Let theÌ„ therefore that suffer in this age be earnestly sprited not feare the tormeÌ„ts of the enimies in Christes cause 4 For from hence forth the spirit saith that they rest froÌ„ their labours In a woÌ„derfull quietnesse dwel they by the very sentence of the holy Ghost shall neuer more féele of any woo God hath clean wiped away al tears froÌ„ their eyes all sorrowes paynes from their bodies the first daungers being â—ast Happy are they therefore and moste godly fortunate that are slaine for Christ bicause they wil not worship the beast his Image nor corrupt their faith with their wicked lawes but in a pure christian beleue departeth froÌ„ hence to the Lord. Theyr portion is in the land of the liuing and their lot among the holy ones 5 For certainly their works doth folow them The promised rewarde of God for constantly standing by the veritie for the fruites of their christian patience for other exercise of theyr fayth is euermore to their glory present with theÌ„ Not as deserued of theÌ„ but of Christe in whose fayth they wrought here for the promise sake that they should be gods heyres togither with Christ. The lyuely word also which they earnestly receyued héere and so rooted in their faith wil neuer suffer them to perishe nor to be hurte of the second death THE TEXT 1 And I looked and beholde 2. a vvhyte cloude 3. and vpon the cloude one sitting lyke vnto the sonne of man 4. hauyng on his head a golden crovvn 5. and in his hand a sharpe sickle The Paraphrase 1 I looked yet further saith S. Iohn and euidently before me appeared a whyte cloude which betokeneth the true ministers of Gods word Whom the holy ghost calleth clouds by Esay Dauid Peter Iudas For from theÌ„ falleth vpon the people the swéete droppes of his verities 2 White they are as milk for their faith in the word and for their christian conuersation not blotted with hipocrisie of meÌ„s corrupted customes 3 Upon this cloude was one sittyng lyke vnto the sonne of man whiche is verely Christ in his glorified maÌ„hood For euermore is he among hys true preachers gyuyng them suche vtteraunce and wisedome as all theyr enymies are not able to withstande Alwayes walketh he among the vij candelstickes which are his congregations as we had afore 4 He had vpon his heade a golden crowne in token of his eternall and vncorrupte kingdome and in hys hand a sharpe sickle which is the sharp iudgement or rightuousnesse of hys worde for there with shall hée reape his latter haruest According to hys worde and promyse shall hee iudge good and euill 5 This sickle receyued he of hys euerlasting father suche tyme as hée gaue ouer vnto hym hys vniuersall iudgements By the order of this vision should the preachers séeme in the last age of the church much to admonish the people of the latter day with the commyng of Christe agayne to iudge both the quicke and the deade as is in their créede or beléeue THE TEXT 1 And an other Angell came out of the temple 2. crying with a loude voyce to hym that satte on the cloude 3. Thrust in thy sikle and reape 4. for the tyme is come to reape 5. For the corne of the earth is rype 6. And he that satte on the cloude 7. thrust in his sickle on the earth 8. and the earth vvas reaped The Paraphrase 1 And an other Angell sayth sainct Iohn came out of the temple which is the congregation of fayth consecrated as an holy temple vnto God in the bloud of the vndefiled Lambe Iesus This Angell betokeneth those iust men that with Symeon and Anna the doughter of Phanuell in thys latter age are desirous of the glory of God and of the finall redemption of man from bodily corruption 2 These shal cry with a loude voice with a feruent spirite shall they call vnto Christ which sitteth vpon the cloude 3 And thys shall bée theyr saying Thrust in the sickle and reape Send foorth thy lyuing word And lyke as it hath created all things so let it now trye and iudge all things 4 For the tyme is at hand to reape For we are those vpon whoÌ„ the ends of the world are come 5 And doutlesse the corne of the earth is ripe the worlde is at the best that it wil be As it hath bene euer so is it stil altogether set vpon
nor forsake hyr accustomed Idolatrie 10 Bée in certaintie therfore I wil cast hir into a bed or couch of carnall quietnesse She shal in this life haue peace in the flesh libertie in vngodlynesse obedyence of the world and power in darkenesse that shee shall swim in wanton pleasures and bath hir selfe in innocent bloud and to assist hir in the same she shall haue subiect vnto hir the scepter sweard aucthoritie and power of Prynces Lordes rulers and Magystrates that none so hardy vnder payne of death to check hir rebuke hir nor ones say against hir This pleasaunt sléeping bedde had the ten trybes of Israel vnder kinge Hieroboam Achas Sedechias and the other two vnder Iorā Ochosias and such lyke tyll they were raysed of their rest ledde captiue into Babylon Such a delectable resting cowch hath also the greater part of the world vnder Mahomet and the Romishe Pope and shal haue still til God roote them out destroy them with the breath of his mouth throw them into the fyre euerlasting 11 Let them beware therefore that as hir louers hath to doe with that execrable whore cōsenting to hir pestylent lawes and tradicions defending as godly ordinaunces laudable rytes decent orders ciuill pollycies honest vsages comely fashions holy ceremonies necessary customes and such lyke boinge in very déede most damnable supersticions 12 For them doubtlesse wil I throw into the anguish of a desperate cōscience here after this lyfe into the vnquietnesse of eternall dampnaciō The wicked shal haue peace neither here nor there Neither shall their worme dye nor theyr fyre go out vnlesse they decline from that wickednesse renounce theyr abhominacions and cōuert to the trueth whiles they are yet here liuing 13 And as touching hir supersticious children which frō their beginning hath euermore sucked out of hir venemous breastes all poyson and vngodlynesse forsaking yea and abhorring the swéete veyne of the liuinge waters then will I slay with death and condempnacion euerlasting prepared for the diuell and his angels 14 Yea and it shall then be euident and cléere to all cōgregacions in heauen vnder heauen which hath béen frō the beginning to their vtter shame and confusion that I am he frō whome nothing can be hyd They shal perceue also that I go so nigh them that I serch out the ground of the harte and try the verie reynes or inward affectes so that I knowe all theyr priuie sleightes and practises be they neuer so secrete 15 And ground you vpon this surelie I shall giue vnto euerie one of you true and false good and badde rightuous and vnrightuous accordyng to your doinges Rewardyng them with lyfe euerlasting that hath done the true workes of fayth and them with eternall dampnatiō that hath left them vndon to folow their owne inuentions THE TEXT 1. Vnto you I saye and vnto other of Thyatira as many as haue not this lerning and vvhich haue not known the deepnesse of Sathan as they say 2. I will put vpon you none other burthen 3. but that which ye haue alreadie 4. Holde fast till I come 5. And whosoeuer ouercommeth and kepeth my works vnto the end 6. to him wil I giue power ouer nations 7. and he shall rule them with a rodde of yron 8. and as the vesselles of a potter shal he break them to shiuers 9. Euen as I receiued of my father 10. so vvill I giue hym the morning starre 11. Let hym that hath eares heare vvhat the spirite sayeth to the congregations THE PARAPHRASE 1 And take this of my mouth sayth the Lord aforehande both vnto you which hath the doctryne of the spyrite and vnto other also of them that remayne at Thyatira that notable citie of the Macedonians so many as hath not groūded in them that godly learning of the truth but a trifling doctryne of theyr owne imaginations contrarie vnto it whereby they haue not perceyued the more then subtile craftes of that deceyuable sathan which euermore craftily cōpasseth to deuower what though their fantasticall brayns hath giuen them so to thinke standing much in their owne conceipt 2 My mynde is to yoke you with none other law nor to burthen you with none other traditiōs thē I haue alredy giuen you Neither with ceremonies rytes nor aūcient customs in the obseruaciō of dayes monthes times nor yeares in holy dayes fastings vigiles nor sabbates for they were but shadowes of thinges to come 3 Regard only that swéete yoke and that light burthen which ye haue receued of me Hold ye fast to the gospel of the kingdome of God so long as ye shal continue here And let the Pharysées leuen with olde wyues fables hipocrits dreames passe by 4 Let my godly ordinaunce suffise you Ad nothing vnto my woords of your owne braynes least I finde you false lyars when I shall come again to my latter iudgement and according to righteousnesse so condempne you 5 And whosoeuer is so earnestly faithfull in the word of God that he ouercōmeth ther by his own lustes and perfourmeth to the latter ende of his life the workes that are there commaūded to be done none other 6 To him will I geue power as to the sonne and heyre of god ouer nacions or sectes of the world diuers in opinion and fayth as ouer serpents scorpions adders and lyons 7 That he shall not onely ouercome them with the mighty yron rodde of the inuincible veritie 8 But also as the weake vessels of a potter or as most vayne fantasies confoūd their dreames destroy their imaginacions and bring their practises to nought prouing their tradicions to be most vyle draffe moste stinking dregges of sinn for so much as that which is not of faith is sinne 9 And this power he shall haue in no lesse efficacie and strength then I receued it of my heauenly father 10 And besydes all this I wil fréely geue him my selfe to reward which am the cléere morning starre shyninge lanterne of lyfe So that all shal be his that is myne My byrth my labours my lyfe my passion and death my resurreccion and ascenciō with all their fruites shall be his owne proper good 11 Let him that hath reason and discretiō set beastly fantasies apart and diligently note what the holie Ghost sayeth héere in this daungerous tyme to the deare congregations of God The third Chapiter THE TEXT 1 And vvryte vnto the Angel of the congregation of Sardis 2. This sayeth he that hath the seuen spirites of God 3. and the seuen starres 4. I knovv thy vvorkes 5. Thou hast a name that thou lyuest and thou arte dead 6. Wake and strength the thinges vvhich remayne 7. that are ready to dye 8. For I haue not found thy vvorks perfect before God 9. Remember therefore hovve thou hast receyued and hearde 10. and hold fast and repent 11. If thou shalt not vvatch 12. I vvil come on
Unto them which at that day shall be in the cittie wil be that sitteth in the thron make all things now All dolour afflictioÌ„ sorow paine penury wrath coÌ„dempnatioÌ„ death shal be past with them Only shal they be trodeÌ„ down in this winefat of gods wrath that lyued héere lyke beastes without reason and that wandered here lyke horses and mules in theyr owne filthy lustes 12 All shal be punished there that was here vnbrideled vnordred vngouerned after the worde pleasure of God And therefore it is here sayd vnto the horse bridles Euery man shal receiue in body according to that he hath don whether it be good or euell They that haue wrought the work of God in faith shall reape according vnto it The bridles also betokeneth the mesure of gods iudgement not as concerning the tyme which is euerlasting but concerning the payne rightly mesured according to the iniquity For the lord hath set his iudgments ouer the wicked in weight and mesure the stripes agreing in quaÌ„titi to the exces of sin so much tormeÌ„t to haue as their reioice hath ben in wikednes 13 The space of these terible tormeÌ„ts or punishmentes of hel is a M. and .vj. hundred furlongs A furlong of the Grekes is called the runne of Hercules it is in length an C. .xxv. paces or steppes And coÌ„moÌ„ly they vsed accordiÌ„g to the length to measure their playing places Of whome Paule maketh meÌ„cion to the CorinthiaÌ„s being Gréekes by theÌ„ that ruÌ„neth in a course that proueth masteries In this thousande and vi hundred furlonges here is comprehended the whol vniuersal course of the wicked for the iiii quartars of the world The number of an hundred is euermore an whole complete perfect number And â—iij huÌ„dred .iiij. times nuÌ„bred is .xvj. huÌ„dred which maketh this number of a thousand vj. huÌ„dred the number of iiij respecting alwayes the iiij clymates of the world which are the common habitacioÌ„s of sinners In theÌ„ course they in all wantan kindes of liuing In theÌ„ worke they their masteris of all vngodly obseruacioÌ„s and false worshippinges walking in the large or opeÌ„ way which leadeth vnto death According to the number mesure of this course hath God here measured the place punishment Notwithstanding neuer is he without mercy Maruelous he is in his workes iudgemeÌ„ts which are vnsercheable Blessed is he that shal haue his part in the citie or congregation of the rightuous and that shal sée the peace vpon Israel when the Lord shal lead forth them with the euil doers that hath 〈◊〉 them selues with their lawes The Lord graunt vs once to tast the prosperitye of Hierusalem Amen The xv Chapter NOt only for the common sinnes of the world doth the Lord plague but most of al for vnthankfulnes of al blasphemies the greatest From that spurneth against knowlege directly worketh against the holy ghost A double distruction or decay both of soule bodye by the righteousnesse of god must nedes followe the wilful coÌ„tempt of his veritie manifestly shewed and openlye taught Yet is the Lorde so mercifull that hee willeth not the daÌ„nation of a sinner Such coÌ„passioÌ„ hath he euer our manifold weakenesse that he premonisheth vs of hys moste terrible plagues to call vs backe by feare if loue will not doe it As here consequently in the first vysion of this present reuelatioÌ„ to Iohn which followeth after this sort in this xv and xvj Chapters THE TEXT 1 And I saw an other signe in heuen great and merueilous 2. seuen Angels hauyng the seuen last plagues 3. for in them is fulfilled the vvrath of God 4. And I savve as it vvere a glassy sea 5. mingled vvith fyre 6. and theÌ„ that had gotten the victory of the beast and of his Image 7. and of his mark and of the number of his name 8. stande on the glassy sea 9 hauing the harps of God 10. And they sang the songe of Moyses the seruaunt of God 11. and the songe of the Lambe saying 12. Great and merueilous are thy vvorkes Lord God almightie 13. iust and true are thy vvayes thou king of Sainctes 14. VVho shall not feare O Lorde and glorifie thy name 15. For thou onely arte holy 16. and all gentiles shal come and vvorship before thee 17. for thy iudgements are made manifest The Paraphrase 1 And I sawe sayeth sainct Iohn by the secret goodnes of my Lord God yet an other tokeÌ„ in heaueÌ„ great merueilous straunge and wonderfull For in the churches or congregation of God are euermore vttered his wonderfull and déepe iudgementes vnto them only whome his grace appoynteth as vnto Iohn And this is the token in mistery 2 Seuen Aungels had in their hands the seuen last plagues Some expositors haue taken these Angels for the right ministers in the .vii. ages of the christian church Some haue thought them to be the peruerse prechers and vngodly ministers of all the sayde ages suffered of God strongly to delude the vnbeléeuers that he wich hurteth should hurte stil and that he wkich is in fylthines should still be filthy Unto euery age corresponding an Aungell to declare the nature of those deceitefull hyrelings and lying masters And this maketh them so to vnderstande the texte They are here expresly noted to be in heauen Among the congregation of God are the false Prophets and discembling Hipocrits euermore as the chaffe among the corne the teares among the wheate and the filthy dregs amonge the pure wine For that kyngdome is as a net throwen into the sea and gatheringe all manner of fishes both good and bad In all ages hath the wicked generacioÌ„ increased to impugne the truth and stifly sâ— to stande vp agaynste God and his Christ whiche is none other after their mindes than to minister the .vii. laste plagues here For no poyson is to the soule so pestilent nor yet venim so noyfull as is false doctrine No plage can be thought more deadlie nor violent than to depriue vs of that faith of that veritie of that life whiche is in Christ Iesu or to bring vs out of the way which he hath appointed And al this séemeth no smal likelyhood of the iust vnderstanding of the text here Yet Frances Lambert geuith a far better iudgment calling theÌ„ the set senteÌ„ces or vnuariable decrées of god difining his iudgments against the wicked in his latter age of the world at their appointed times to be vtterred For all these thinges are iontely to be considered These Angles came not onely from heauen which is the congregation as they haue mencioned but also out of the celestiall temple of the tabernacle of testimonie which is the omnypotente God his Christ as the xxi chap. hereof declareth They are also clothed with pure whit linnen gyrded with golden girdles they haue golden vials deliuered vnto them by one of the iiii beasts and one of them commoneth with Iohn declarynge vnto him the iudgement and fall of the
the lambe Iesus Christe which is his eternall sonne is the holy full and perfect temple therof None outwarde priesthoode ceremonye nor sacrifyce for fiue coÌ„maundeth Christes doctrine to his congregation The golden measure of his word which diffyneth and iudgeth all thinges necessary therevnto appointeth no such matter For in no teÌ„ples made with stone dwelleth God which wil be all in all Only is required of them a sacrifice from the soule which is the very temple of God In his onely name shoulde the faithful sort ther offer vp themselues And therefore Christ appoynted Uespasian and Titus to turne ouer the great temple of Hierusalem and vtterly to destroy that priesthoode because we should put no trust in suche thinges nor yet be addict or bound to places A damnable inuencion is it of Antichrist that the suffragans halloweth the sinagogs to bringe them into al kinds of superstition They constitute also a feastfull daye to the honour and worshipe therof called the dedication which is most abhominable wickednesse Truthe it is that after the Apostles time ther were places appointod where as the congregacion met together once in the weake for the hearinge of Gods word and for the holy communion and that was called the oratorie or house of praier But that house was not exercysed nor coniured crossed nor smered blessed nor be sprinkled wyth water Neyther was there at that time anye aulter set vp in it anointed with oyle creme to offer any newe sacrifice vpon Consider also that the appoinmente of this bare house withoute aulter or images was lefte to mans ordinaunce without any exprest commaundement of Christ that it should be thought of no reputacion For in spirite and veritie wyll god only be worshiped And for this cause after that Christ had dryuen the byers and sellers out of the temple he commended none other temple vnto vs but his body which he raysed vp in the daye of his resurection to our behoue 6 God therfore is our temple and his Christ. In them ought we to do sacryfice and in none other In their faith should our workes labours studies be grounded only if we couet them to profit vs. Iohn for his time could sée none other temple but this The Lord of his tender mercye graunt vs to be Iohns in this behalfe Iohn beheld also at the Angels demonstration that this Citie had neither néede of Sunne nor Moone to minister light vnto it as the olde Hierusalem had Neither hath Christes congregation néede of mans naturall reason nor yet of hys worldly wisdom coniectures nor practises subtilties nor wiles polices nor witts inuencions nor traditions No neither of their philosophy nor sophystrie the decrées nor sentences of the great Lawyers Schoolemen which all is but darknesse and blindnesse 8 For the brightnesse of God sheweth theÌ„ light sufficient His shining verytie his pure gospell and his vndefiled lawes cleareth their vnderstandings A lanterne to their féete is hys heauenly word Only doth that clerenesse suffise them whiche faith offereth vnto them 9 Onely are they contented with the light they haue of the Lambe which is the bright Sunne of rightuousnes He is the Lamp the Candle and the flaming Cresset of this citie None other admonisher haue they néede of none other counseller nor teacher Accursed holde they him that bringeth any other doctrine than his though he were an Angell from heauen For he is the only light of the world the brightnesse euerlasting the vndefiled myrrour of the maiestie of God and the Image of his infinite goodnesse Whoso euer foloweth him can in no wise walke in the darknesse The dayes wyll come saith the Lorde in Hieremy that a man shall not néede to teach his neighbour or brother for they shal know me froÌ„ the highest to the lowest I shall plante my lawe in their inwarde partes and write it in theyr hartes 10 And the people of al maner of regions which are predestinate of God to be saued shall walke in the clearnesse of the light None other wisdome helth rightuousnesse and redemption shall they seke than they finde in him Neither shal they care for Mary nor Ihon rodes nor reliques hedes nor holy water masses nor merites For so shall he shyne vpon them and his glorie apere in them that the cloudes of Antichrist and his false prophits shal take no place So liuely shall the rightuous waxe in that faith of saluacion that they shall become not only the children of clernesse but also very lyghtes in the Lorde 11 Morouer vnto this heauenly light shall the myghty kynges of the earth bringe their glory magnifycence and honour as did the wise men of the East which offred rewardes vnto Chryste They shal be conuerted from their erroures to a sincer beleue in the Lord as were in the Apostles tyme Abagarus Egippus and Gundoforus And since their dayes the mighty Emperour great ConstaÌ„tine Iouinian Theodosius and diuerse other Yea some were so feruent in that faith that gladly they suffred death for it Of whose numher were here in Englande saint Edmound Oswalde Ethelbert Edwyne and Fremonde with a greate sorte more in other Christian regions All kinges saith Deuid shall worshipe him and all paganes shal do him seruyce Amonge these are not they to be rekâ—ned which leauing their kingdomes hath made them selues monks and friers or hath founded masses and monastaries to be praied for For they neuer brought theire glorye to thys light No more haue they done which hath enriched the cleargye gluttinge them with possessioÌ„s and setting them vp in a glitteryng pompe But rather haue they sought darknesse than light blyndenesse than to be taught of god Some haue thought them selues in our age clearly coÌ„uerted to thys lyght But ryghtly hath their iniquitie lyed vnto them For nothynge haue they done lesse than broughte vnto Chryste theyr glorye Truthe it is that they haue discharged them selues of the Pope and to some of hys sects They haue plucked downe shrynes and Images that receaued offeringes and dayly worshippings with a fewe superstitions besides but still bringing vp whelps of the same false generation both bishops prists Stil haue they to this day the same wicked rits and ceremonies that they had afore And when thei should bring ani thing to a right christian order according to Christes first institution they cannot away with it Great is the vengeance terrible heuy and fearefull the iudgement that abideth them 12 And as concerning the great gates of this Citie which are the true vnderstandings of the Lordes verities they shall not be shut vp by day Hidden shall they not be to them the walke in this light All that Christ hath receiued of his heauenly father leaueth he manyfest and plaine vnto his faithfull leuers Not only openeth he their feble vnderstandings but also sendeth them his spirit to deduce them into al godly knowledge 13 For in that citie shal be no night No doctrine of darknesse nor fylthye mist of