hym doe euill styll 5. and he whych is filthy let him be filthy stil. 6 he that is rightuous let him be more rightuous 7. he that is holy let hym be more holy 8 And beholde I come shortly 9 and my revvarde vvyth me 10. to giue euery man according as his dedes shal be 11 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ende 12. the fyrst and the last The Commentary 1 Consequently the Angell saith S. Iohn which was Iesus Christe had these same sayings vnto me that here foloweth 2 Seale not sayth he the godly words contayned in the prophecy of this booke Close theÌ„ not vp froÌ„ the sight of other Hide them not from those which are desirous of knowledge For profitable they are to the congregation of God and most highly necessary to them that shal be saued For both shewe they throughly the dampnation of the wicked with remedies to auoyde it and also the saluacion of the rightuous with meanes to obtayne it 3 And thys is the cause why thou shalte not close them vp The tyme is at hande The fulfyllyng of theÌ„ wyll shortelye apeare and euideÌ„tly declare what they are in dede In the meane season shall manye of theyr mystieryes bée open vnto them that are taught of God though the vnfaithfull sort knoweth nothyng what they meane They that haue Christes spirite can in no necessary poynte be ignoraunt The cause why manye writers hath erred in expounding this reuelation hath bene the ignoraunce of other scriptures the pleasing of prelates for dignitie and lucre and moste of all the horrible blyndnesse of soule which long hath continued in the world among the fleshly Hypocrites 4 And as concerning those beastlye belly gods let them wallow in theyr mischiefes He that is euil amoÌ„g them or frowarde and obstinate against the veritie of God let him worke euil vpon euill abhomination vpon abhomynation and murther vpon murther til he bring vpon him self the vengeauÌ„ce of all innocent bloud which hath bene shead vpon earth to his more dampnation without remedy 5 Moreouer he that is filthy in hys conuersation be it in the spirite or otherwyse I will take my grace from him for the vtter contempt of my word and he shall be still from thence forth more execrable and filthy He shall doâ— wickednesse vpon wickednesse Idolatry vpon Idolatry and whoredom vpon whoredome Yea where as he was before but an Idolatour in hymselfe he shall become after that an Idolatour also in other by prouokyng theÌ„ to the same to hys double dampnatioÌ„ And wheras he shuld paraduenture in the world haue bene but a single whoremonger he shal be there an holy spirituall anoynted shauen shorne priestly and mitered whoremonger abusing euery mans wyfe doughter and seruaunt And to make vp all to the diuell become a consecrate Sodomyte offering hymselfe vp in dead sacrifices vnto Belphegor for feare of breakynge hys vnuirgynall vowe Farther than all thys he shall enter into such blindnesse of the spirite that he wyll thynke verely to doe God an hygh pleasure whan he murthereth vp without mercy hys innocent people which wyll not obey theyr execrable lawes blessinges absolutioÌ„s and other sorceries for conscience sake Consider in this the terrible and fearefull hand of the Lorde towardes them that withholde hys truth in vnrightuousnesse specially whaÌ„ he hath giueÌ„ theÌ„ ouer left theÌ„ to themselues For they worke their owne dampnation whan they thinke nothing lesse 6 Contrarywyse consider hys excéeding great mercy towardes them that are godly whom he dyuersly afflicteth in hys lyfe least they shoulde peryshe wyth the wycked My pleasure is it sayth he here that the man whych is faythfull rightuous and good shall increase euer more therein and so coÌ„tynually be ryghtuous I shall so temper their hartes that hath loue to my truth that they shall loue it more and more Yea I shall so therin strengthen them that for no persecution of tyrauÌ„tes shall they forsake it 7 So will I order the matter amoÌ„g my electes that he which is holy pure and perfect leading a lyfe accordinge to my worde he shall perseuer in iâ— styll and be perfect vnto the ende that he maye inioye the crowne thereof Neyther shall seducing hypocrite nor yet peruertinge Antichrist wyth all their subtile charmes and ginnes bée able to bringe them out of that way whych leadeth vnto lyfe By this we may se that the veritie preached christ is vnto som a falling vnto some againe a rysing vp Unto som is his godly doctryne a swéet sauour vnto lyfe vnto some an ill sauour vnto death The gospell is folyshnesse to them that shal peryshe but vnto them that beléeue it is such a power of god as bringeth saluation with it The faithful by hearing it waxeth more godly The vndyscrete hypocrites contemneth the grace thereof So that the one sort is thereby made better and increased in vertue the other is made worse and foloweth all mischiefes In him that hath fayth shall all other graces of the spirite habounde and in him that hath it not shall no gift of vertue aryse to hys â—owles profit 8 Let meÌ„ take hede if they wil giue dilygent watch atteÌ„daunce for truly saith the Lorde I will come sodenly and vâ—bewars vpon the vnfaithful none other warningâ— giuen but this such other in the scripturs take theÌ„ if they lust 9 Necessary it is the euery man walke according to hys vocacyon both prince and preacher Lorde and commoner merchande and artificer For when I shall resort be certayne and sure of it my iust rewarde shall come wyth me whych is both lyfe and death 10 Let no maÌ„ reckeÌ„ otherwise to finde me thaÌ„ a most rightuous iudge rendering vnto euery one at the day according as his workes shal apeare as his déedes shal require of rightuousnes Neither shal sufferages nor church buylding pigrimage nor masse riÌ„gin holy orders nor yet assoiling stande in any sted at the day only shal they finde mercy whych hath bene mercifull all other perishing without mercy No man shal there be rewarded for workes of meÌ„s preseciption be they neuer so holy but for that whych hath rysen of fayth in Gods worde onely Neither shall they haue that of deseruinges as worke preachers hath taught but onely of grace fauour for Christes bloud sake For vnprofitable seruauntes are wâ—e of our selues whan we haue done all that hath bene commaunded vs No better is our whole ryghtuousnesse whan it is at the hyghest than is the cloth that is stayned wyth menstrue nor more pleasaunt vnto God were it not for hym Let no man thynke to be saued through deseruing no more than he is iustified of deseruing Onely is it the mercyfull fauour and frée goodnesse of hym without our mangye merytes that shall saue vs. Not our good workes sayth saynt Augustyne but hys owne méere gyftes doth the Lorde crowne in vs. 11 This hath the Lord put here in the ende as a briefe
then halfe deade yea is not to bée feared that for doubt of punishment and losse of their goods they looke backe agayne towarde Sodome with Lots wyfe consenting to theyr abhominations Let them not think that so doeth but a double plague foloweth them More worthie is he to perish the throweth him self willingly into a perell knowing it afore theÌ„ he which neuer knew it 14 Neyther repented they sayeth Sainct Iohn of their murther theyr witchcraft their whordom nor their â—â—eft They sée of their owne congregation in pouertie penurie prisoÌ„ and exile they know it is for none other then the testimony of Iesu. Yet haue they no mynde to help them No courage haue they to comfort theÌ„ They dare not be acknowne to fauour that sorte When any trouble commeth they are none of them They are wel contented to haue Christ in daliauÌ„ce but if he put them once to payne or aske ought of them theÌ„ bid they him adue they can no skill of him they know him not the farther of the better Thus are they become neyther hote nor cold ready to be spewed out of the mouth of God None other are they then murtherers that succoure not their brethren Worse are they then infidels that helpeth not the houshold of faith The witchcrafts of the hipocrits they know by the euideÌ„t scriptures yet will they not flée froÌ„ theÌ„ 15 They know the open whordom of the babilonicall struÌ„pet they know hir theft and robbery euermore spoiling God of his honour yet wil they râ—nne to it séeke it and take parte of it with the vnfaithfull What is hée â—ls that runneth wyth a théefe but a théefe also Alacke they treade vnder their feete the precious gift of God Lyke vnprofitable seruauntes they hyde his godly treasure vnderneth the grounde And lyke vnreasonable dogges they turne agayne to theyr vomete The heauenly father of his eternall mercy graunt such to amend For a much greater plague abideth them than the other thought it be not here named For many stripes are due to that seruant which knoweth his Lordes will and doeth it not yea to sinne against knowledge is against the holy ghost irremissible The tenth Chapter THE TEXT 1 And I sawe an other mightie Angel 2. come dovvn from heauen 3. clothed vvith a cloude 4. and the Raynbovv vpon his head 5. And his face as it vvere the sun 6. and his feete as it vvere pillers of fyre 7. And he had in his hande a little booke open 8. And hee put his ryght foote vpon the Sea and hys lefte foote on the earth 9. And cryed vvith a loude voyce as vvhen a Lyon roareth 10. And vvhen hee had cryed seuen thunders spake their uoyces And vvheÌ„ the vij thuÌ„ders had spoken theyr voyces 12. I vvas aboute to vvright And I hearde a voyce from heauen saying vnto mee 13. Seale vp these thinges vvhich the seuen thunders spake 14. And vvryte them not The Paraphrase 1 IN the middest of this moste vengeable tyme wherin the Antichristes hipocrites most fiercely sturreth about them 〈◊〉 vexe all the worlde with theyr â—erie blastes theyr filthie smoke â—nd theyr stinking brymstone to restore agayn theyr pleasaunt Euphrates the Lorde hath sent to the comfort of his certaine peculiar and chosen learned men moste constantlye to defende his veritie And then this present reuelation compareth to a strong Angell 1 I sawe saith sainct Iohn an other mightie strong Angell come downe from heauen With a stoute power came thys Aungell from God to withstand the furious beastes in thys sixt age of Christes church wherein they rage so sore God hathe raysed some godly persons now by whome many things are opened that afore tyme were hidde accept it were to a fewe poore soules in corners CoÌ„stant are these and earnest yea inuincible warriours by the word of God For who can bée more strong then they which fiâ—ht with an inuincible weapon Which is the veritie of God That valiaunt coÌ„querour hath victorie in them which promised to giue them such mouth and wisedom as all enimyes should not bée able to resist 2 This Angell or ministers signified by him descende downe from heauen with Christ their maister as messengers sent of God The Apostates and Antichristes falleth down from heauen with theyr Captayne Lucifer lyke starres of darkenesse And as wicked séede not planted of God they ryse vp in the world 3 This Angell was cloathed with a cloude betokening these godly supporters of the Lords truth to be compassed with many harde showers and troublous crosses of opprobrious rebukes scornes slaunders lies and open blasphemyes to the vttermoste tryall of their weake fleshe And this cloude hideth from the world all that is in them spirituall and godly lyke as it did in Christ that to many they séeme not that they are in déed Bicause they are dispysed of the craftie generation and euill spoken of by the hypocrites the simple Idiotes and deceyued multitude doth iudge them ill doers yea they suppose them very heretiques and so doeth spyghtfullye call them Where as in verie déede they are the Angels of God and most high chosen messengers The Apostles thus vsed also of the world were named cloudes of Esay the Prophet verie long before they preached the Gospell What are these sayth he that flyeth lyke cloudes These were and are they that euery where poureth downe the sweete dewe rayne of the mysteries of God and seasonably moysteneth the grounde of faythfull heartes causing them to bryng foorth their fruites in due season 4 Upon the head of this Angel was the Rainebow And in thys are they noted to be the Angels of the couenaunt and the messengers of peace For so much as the Raynebow was the signe of Gods couenaunt concerning the floud Theyr message is that Christ is the only sauiour of the world and that none can perish beleeuing in him No dampnation is there to them which are in Christ Iesu. No though they neuer knowe one ceremony or popish constitution of theirs Though they neuer heare Masse nor goe procession though they neuer be greased shauen nor disguised though they neuer haue Beades Latine Primers portifolyomes nor other signes of hipocrisie yet are they promysed to haue attonemente with God Most rightly hath this Angell the raynebow on hys head for all the study practise and dilligence of the faithfull ministers is to declare the frée mercy of God and most friendly beneuolence in Christe withoute any pointe or iote of mens deseruinges least they shoulde perishe with the Pharysy for trustinge in their owne workes 5 The face of this Angell was as the bright sun Their outward shew is altogether Christe whiche is the sonne of ryghtuousnesse None other lyght shew they but hys None other doctrine declare they but hys holy Gospell neyther decrées nor decretals fathers constitutions nor Sinodals But them they leaue to the darke bloddy starres which
ben one of theÌ„ my self And this is to this day a principal religion of the whorish Church called deuout pilgrymage or holy stations of prayer many greate pardons granted many false promises made to alure the people therevnto 9 But blessed be the Lord whose word in this age both admonished many as the Angell did Iohn and brought them also cleane from hir abhominatioÌ„s into a secret coÌ„sideration of the spirit vnknowen to the world there both to sée hir pride and also to vnderstand hir iudgement For it followeth in the text that the Angel coÌ„ueyed Iohn away into the wildernesse in the spirite 10 In mistery here the holye Ghost declared afore what the Lorde should worke in men hauing his grace at the latter dayes of the world Into the wildernesse flée they with Dauid which leauing the customed wayes of meÌ„ after the course of the scriptures séeke vp their Lord God in faith worshippyng him onely in spirite and in veritie THE TEXT 1 And I sawe a woman sit vpon 2. a rose coloured beast 3. full of names of blasphemy 4. vvhich had seuen heads and ten hornes 5. And the vvoman vvas arayed 6. in purple and rose eolour 7. decked vvith golde precious stone pearls 8. had a cup of golde in hyr hand 9. ful of abhominatioÌ„s 10. filthinesse of hir vvhordom 11. And in hir fotehead vvas a name vvritteÌ„ 12. A mistery 13. Great BabiloÌ„ the mother of vvhoredom abhominations of the earth 14. And I savv the vvife dronken vvith the bloud of saints vvith the bloude of the vvitnesses of Iesu. 15. And vvhen I savv hir 16. I vvondred vvith great meruayle The Pharaphrase 1 And I sawe saith Saint Iohn in mistery a woman for an whore at the first bloush semeth only a woman sitting vpon a rose coloured beast This beast is the great Antichrist that was spoken of afore or the beastly body of the diuil comprehending in him Popes Patriarkes Cardinalles Legaâ—es Bishops Doctours Abbotes Priors Pristes and Pardoners monks Chanons Friâ—rs Nuns so forth Temporall gouernours also as Emperors Kings Princes dukes Erles Lords Iustices Deputies Iudges Lawyers Maiers Bayliues Cunstables so forth leauing their owne dutied offyces as to minister rightly to serue their abhominacions 2 All rose coloured is this beast in token of tirannous murther blodshedding ouer those that will not agree to their diuillishnesse 3 Ful of blasphemous names is this beast also as your holines your grace your Lordeshippe your fatherhoode your mastership your reuereÌ„ce honor highnesse worship magnificence goodnesse Gods vicar spirituall syr ghostly father phisition of soules defender of faith head of the holy church and so foorth besides the names of theyr properties feates and pagents as procession bishopping anelyng purgatorie pylgrimage pardon masse mattens euensong placebo Candelmasse day Palm sunday Ash wednesday holy roode day S. Thomas day so forth 4 This beast had vij heads and ten hornes signifying his vniuersal crafts and suggestions to distroy the graces and giftes of the holy Ghost and also his falsely borrowed primacies tyrannous aucthorities to withstand the commaundements of God 5 Upon this beast sitteth a woman For what els auauÌ„ceth or beareth out this malignant muster in their copes crosses oyles myters robes relickes ceremonyes vygiles holy dayes blessings sensings and foolings but a waÌ„ton foolish and fantasticall religion a vayne glorious pompe and a shinyng pretence of holynesse in superstition callyng it theyr holy church Shée is sayd here to sit vpon this bloudy beast as to be stayed quieted and setled by them Marke what labours and paines that craftie and wyly Winchester taketh with Bonner Tonstall and other of his fashion as hyr own sworne souldyours to holde vp thys glorious whore in hyr olde estate of romishe religion Oh he grunteth and groneth he sweateth swelleth he fretteth and belleth he bloweth panteth calketh and canteth he sturreth neuer ceaseth to bring his matters to passe 6 In token that this hypocryticall church standeth in the murther of innocents this womaÌ„ is here gloriously apparelled in purple as giltie of theyr deathes which hath bene slayne and also in fresh scarlet as euermore fresh ready to coÌ„tinue in the same bloudshedding For if such tirrible slaughter wer not the true christiaÌ„ faith shuld increase to the great diminishmeÌ„t of hir glory 7 Shée is in lyke case florishingly decked with golde precious stone and pearles not onely in hyr manyfolde kynds of ornaments as in hyr copes corporasses chesibles tunicles stooles fannous and myters but also in mysterie of counterfeite godlinesse Many outward bragges maketh thys painted chuâ—ch of Christ of his Gospel and of his Apostles signified by the gold precious stone pearles which is but a glittering colour For nothing myndeth shée lesse than to followe them in conuersation of lyuing 8 Moreouer in hir hand which is hyr exteriour ministration shée hath a golden cup full of abhominations and filthinesse of hyr execrable whoredome This cup is the false religion that she dayly ministereth besides the chalice whoÌ„ hir marchaunts most dampnably abuseth And it contayneth all doctrine of diuils all beastly errours and lyes all deceiptfull power all glytteryng workes of hipocrites all crafty wisdoÌ„ of the flesh subtile practises of mans witte besides philosophy logick rhetorick and sophistry Yea all prodigious kynds of Idolatry fornicatioÌ„ sodometrie and wickednesse Outwardely it séemeth golde pretending the glory of God â—he holy name of Christ the sacred scryptures of the Byble perpetuall virginity of life and al are but counterfet colours shadows of hipocrisy in the outwarde letter and name 9 Ful of abhominacions is the drink of the excreable faith of that Romish religion receiued of other full of filthynes also for both retaineth the people therof innumerable kinds of Idol worsippinges vnder the title of Gods seruice and also their shauelinges of prodigeous beastlynes in lecherouse liuing vnder the colour of chastity Here were muche to be spoken of Sayncte Germayns euil sainct Sithes key sainct Uncombers otes maister Iohn shornes bote saint Gertrudes rattes saint Iobe for the pox saint Fyacre for ague saint apoline for toth ake sainct Graciane for lost thrift saint WalstoÌ„ for good haruest S. Cornelis for the foule euil al other saints els almost 10 Of the buggery boyes also among prelates pristes Gohstly fathers religious might much be sayde here were it not for infecting mens eies ears vnderstaÌ„dings For al these noiful nocuments are the holy frutes of the whordom of the holy whorish Chuche 11 In the forehead of this glittering whore which is hir outward shew is written a name expreslye declaring what she is By hir vngodly fruites is she knowen to the elect seruaÌ„ts of god hauing the light of the scriptures In their consiences appereth she none other than a pestiferous whore by the iudgements of the same 12 A very mistery is this shew to the infidels an hiddeÌ„ secret an vnknown
our offences tooke away the sinnes of the world He was that méek Lambe prefigured in the law whom the faithfull fathers so earnestly desired He was that gentle Lamb that was caried away to be slayne and that opened not his mouth before the shearer This Lambe standeth vp euermore for vs before God as our onely medyator aduocate peace maker Sauiour helper counsellour defender and teacher 13 This Lambe had seuen hornes which betokeneth his stronge and infinit power vertue victory kingdom glory bounteousnesse and maiestie with such lyke and in the whole his vniuersall reigne 14 He had also seauen eyes whiche are all the powers graces fruites of the holy ghost called héere the seuē spirits of God For so much as they are the singuler gifts of him whiche is his essenciall spirit And them he hath sent by his apostles other godly preachers into the seuen climates of the erth or vniuersal world the people with them to be replenished These are wisdome vnderstandinge counsell strength knowledge pittie the fear of god These are also loue ioy peace pacience gentlenesse goodnes fayth méekenesse long suffering cleannes and temperance with diuersitie of tongues interpretacion prophecie cures healings miracles and iudgement of spirits 15 And the sayd Lambe came foorth as one through méekenesse hauyng victorie ouer sinne death hell hée reuerently tooke the sayd booke from the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne Which made me anon to consider that the heauenly father had giuen vp vnto him the whole admynistration of his spirituall kingdom with all aucthoritie power in heauen and earth to open or to speare to choose or to reiect to take or to refuse to saue or to loose to rewarde or to dampne For he it was that first opened the vnderstanding of men that they might perceyue the scriptures He it was that sent the holy spirite of God to deduce them into all veritie and gaue them grace to instructe all people He it is also that shall thorowe them into euerlasting fire with the diuil his Angels that resist the same THE TEXT 1 And when he had taken the booke the liij beastes and the .xxiiij. elders 2. fel dovvn before the Lambe hauing harpes 3. golden vialles full of odours vvhich are the prayers of the Saincts 4. they sung a nevv song saying 5 Thou arte vvorthie to take the booke 6. and to open the seales therof 7. For thou wert killed 8. and hast redemed vs by thy bloud out of all kinreds tongs and people and nacions 9. and hast made vs vnto our God Kings and priestes 10. and vve shall reigne on the earth The Paraphrase 1 And when he had receyued the sayd booke of the hande of God with full authoritie and power the iiij beasts or the present protestours of the veritie here liuing in the world and the xxiiij Elders or auncient witnesses of the same departed cleane from thys worlde as were the olde fathers the Patryarkes Prophetes and Apostles méekly submitted them selues before the Lamb much reioysinge in his triumphant victorye for them 2 They fell downe before him they praysed hym they worshipped hym they gaue thanks and recognised him for their mercifull Lorde and Sauiour hauing in their handes harmonious harpes which there represented the melody of their faithfull soules or the inward reioyce that they had in faith of the eternal verytie of god For that is the agréeable concord and swéet harmony that he most delighteth in And as well had they harpes that were long afore Christe as had they that folowed hym the effecte of hys death being equall to them both So wel reioysed Abraham which saw him a farre of as did Iohn Baptist which shewed him persent 3 Each one of them had also in hys hand a golden viall full of swéete odours whiche is a faithfull harte to God full of swéete desires and wholsome praiers whiles they liued here And these vessels of prayer or harts of the faithfull beléeuers couetinge mercy to themselues and all other were very precious pleasaunt and beautifull in the sighte of the Lorde which onely desireth the harte 4 They sang also with their instruments a new songe of reioyce recording the great benefit of God They vttered the glad tidinges of peace They published the Gospel of Christ. They told of his comming They declared him present past This songe was euer new vnto flesh bloud It séemed very strange yea and folish to the children of this worlde yet is it the power of God vnto saluation for euery one that beléeueth Now it is also for so much as it nothing alloweth in our aged man of sinne but alwayes calleth vpon renouation in the spirite 5 This was the conclusion of that song Thou alone swéete Lord sayde they art founde worthye to take the Booke to receiue power and administration of the kingdome of God 6 Thou only art able to opē the seale◠thereof to take from vs all impediments of darknesse hypocrisie lyes ignoraunce wilfulnesse blindnesse and sinne and to deduce vs into all godly knowledge 7 For thou wert not only despised and wounded but most cruelly slaine for our offences whereby thou hast obtained our perpetuall peace and attonement with god 8 Thou hast clerely redéemed vs out all spirituall bondage by the price of thy bloude and by the vertue of thy passion and death thou hast gathered vs together into one kingdom of God from all the nacions of the world and hast chosen vs out of all kinreds languages peoples of the vniuersall earth Thou hast made vs also pertakers with thée in thy peculyer vnction that we are now called Christians 9 Thou hast annoynted vs Kinges by the gift of true faith to haue victory ouer sinne death the deuil and cōsecrate vs priests by the grace of thy holy spirite to offer vp our selues and vndefiled sacrifice vnto our euerlasting God So that we are now the chosen kinred the kingely pristhoode the holy generation the peculyer peple that should manifest the workes of thée which hast called vs out of darknesse into the merueilous light 10 And by the benifit of thy onely grace and goodnesse we shall raigne prosperously on the earth not héere wher as is sorow care penury scarsnesse and death but our porcion shal be in the pleasant land of the lyuing where as is the peace ioy tranquilitie comfort and life euerlasting THE TEXT 1 And I behelde 2. And herde the voyce of many angelles about the throne and about the beastes and the elders 3. And I harde thousand thousandes saying with a loude voyce 4. Worthye is the Lambe that was killed to receaue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honoure and glorye and blessinge 5. And all creatures vvhiche are in Heauen 6. And on the earth 7 And vnder the earth 8 And in the sea and all that are in
the number of one seuenth be an infinit nuÌ„ber ther much more of many seuenthes 4 And I harde a voyce froÌ„ heauen saith S. Iohn which is all one with the aforesaid Sion is the vniuersal coÌ„gregacion of Christ all cleare froÌ„â— supersticions of men For from Sion commith the lawe of the Lord after Esay and the word of God from Ierusalem 5 This worde is as the noise of many waters whan it is in the mouthes of many diuers peoples of diuers nacions laÌ„guages one not vnderstanding an other yet knowing it eche people among them selues 6 Uery like is it also to a great thuÌ„der cracke mighty fearful and terrible to the fleshe Uery harde is thy word Lord sayde Christes disciples who is able to abide it 7 And the voice that I hard sayth Iohn was much after the noyse that the harpers make wheÌ„ they play vpoÌ„ their harps Ful of agremeÌ„t are the holi scriptures yea ful of swéet hermony concord more precious are the verities of the Lord than is golde and their melody more swéet than hony 8 With theÌ„ reioysed Dauid before the arke of the Lorde In them tooke Paule a stomake and coÌ„founded the Iewes at Damascus 9 And swéetly they vttered with their voyces a song that séemed all newe before the seat of the Lord before the foure beastes before the auncient elders This song is the word of the Lorde all new both to the good and to the il The faythfull it renueth in the spirit of their mynds prouoking them to do on a new man in Christ. The hartes of the vnfaithfull is so hardened that they in disdayn and spight doth call it new learning as did the ignoraÌ„t multitude at Caparnaum and the worldly wise men of Athens 10 Before the seate of the Lord was this song vttered which is the godly disposed multitude For like as the hart of an hipocrite is the very seate of sathan so is the harte of a faithfull man the seate of god and habytacle of the holy ghost 11 Before the iiii beasts was it opened also by this number of godly teachers which beasts ar the priuat coÌ„gregatioÌ„s of the Lord remaining here yet in the flesh in the iiii quarters of the world 12 Finally before the elders was it songe also For none other doctrine is it nor Gospell of glad tidinges than hath bin since the beginning nor than hath bene thankfully receiued of our old auncitors Patriarkes the Prophets the Apostles the faithful fathers 13 And no man could learne the new song but the aforesaide hundred and xliiij thousand which were redéemed from the earth Oh mighty wonderful yea tirrible sentence of the Lorde None that take them selues for the people of God can be accepted afore hym for the true féede of Abraham nor for the iust ministers of his worde vnlesse they be tokened afore with the holy spirit of his promise and so predestinate to the lyfe euerlasting 14 None can sincerely do that godly office to the profit of other vnlesse he be wholly taken from all fleshlye and worldly affects No man caÌ„ come vnto me saith Christ vnlesse it bée giuen him of my father 15 The wilfull Iewes beleued not bicause they were not the shéepe of his marke Neither is it of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of the onely mercy of the Lord. Necessarie is it therfore that his spirit draweth moueth inclineth the hart Els caÌ„ not the soÌ„g be swéet neither in him the singeth nor yet in the herer The notes of this new soÌ„g are gods heueÌ„ly verities registred in the faithfull hartes 16 And they that dyd signe them to the prayse of the Lord were not defiled with women With no straunge doctrines nor yet prophane worshippings is theyr faith coÌ„taminate that vnfainedly haue don on Iesus Christ. Not the spousage of their soules haue they broken by no filthy traditions of men Onely haue they with Dauyd sought the testimonyes of God and thought none lyke vnto them Onely dyd they cleaue to hys precyous lawes estéeming all other but chaffe and very whoredome in the spirite 17 Therfore are they vyrgines maryed vnto Christ in faith as were the Corinthians by Paules preachinge whoÌ„ he wished to coÌ„tinue a chast virgin vnto Christ. Neuer is the maydenhead of the soule lost till erronious doctrine be receiued froÌ„ the messengers of Antichrist the Bishops Hipocrites 18 The virgins or vncorrupted beleuers doth folow the lambe whersoeuer he becoÌ„meth They go after Christ the beleuing his word doth fashion their liues vnto it Like as they folow Antichrist the fashion their workes to his doctrine They walk in his steps that forsake theÌ„ selues with him that beareth the crosse of persecutioÌ„s with him or the suffreth deth for the truth with him And not they that séeke them selues lyuing héere in all pompe voluptuousnesse and Tiranny From this place fetch the blinde papists a great argument for their wiuelesse castity that none foloweth christ but they in this muster bicause they are vnmaried Neyther may AbrahaÌ„ Moises nor Dauid Zachary Peter nor Philip walk in this number bicause they had wyues So perillous a thing it is to haue a wife It is greate meruayle they admit Mary Christs mother to it bicause she had a husband Oh ignoraÌ„t asses very beastly Idiotes I think you follow Iudas which had neyther wyfe nor childe vnlesse he had theÌ„ sitting by other meÌ„s fyers as many of you haue yet at this same day What is vyrginitie before god more thaÌ„ is mariage No more thaÌ„ is circumcision in comparison to vncircumcision And that is nothing No more maketh the one thaÌ„ the other to a Christian life Only is it â—aith effectually working by loue that the Lord requireth of vs. Only respected he the faith of Mary and not hyr virginity They which liue in matrimony after the word of god ar accepted afore hiÌ„ for virgins so are named of S. Paule An other cauillatioÌ„ they haue that none which hath offeÌ„ded afore can be of this number But they consider not what is spokeÌ„ here afore that they wer redemed from the earth that the spirit of the lord hath purified their hartes throughe faith Neither haue they grace to remember the Christes innocency is reckened for an whole perfecte rightuousnesse vnto them that beléeue in him but they must bring in such trifles as are their owne beggerly merites 19 And therefore it followeth also These faithfull beléeuers saith sainct Iohn were redéemed froÌ„ men being the first fruites to God to the lambe By none other were they redemed than by Christ. For of all the elect nuÌ„ber he is the only rightuousnesse wisdom holinesse redemption From the corrupt blinde froward multitude hath he called them taken them and cleared them And of deformed sinners hath he made theÌ„ faire of vile pure of wretched gloryous of blinde perfectly séeing of lyars true sayers of obstinate gentle of yll good and
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
great whore Whiche ar no arguments that they are here to be taken for ill preachers though thei here minister the last vii plagues Therfore shall we iudge them here to be Gods appoynted purposes or eternally decréed pleasures against the wilfull obstinates and indurat rebellions to the end of the world These are called the last plagues because they fall in the last age of the world whoÌ„ Esay Hieremy Oseas Micheas calleth the last daies IhoÌ„ the last hourâ— Paul the ends of the world Seauen are they named here in a vniuersall respecte both of the times parsons places and peruerse doctrins of the whole world And also because of the .vii. seales and the .viii. trompets to whose iudgementes they ioyntly agrée as in the nexte Chapter following will appeare more largely 3 For in them sayeth the text is fulfilled the wrath of God The indignation of the Lord is in them wholy declared For what hate can he shewe more vnto a man than to withdrawe him from him his grace to leaue him to himselfe to suffer him in his owne blinde iudgements to geue him ouer to his owne fylthy lustes and to sende him the operation of errour to his double damnation A very fulfilling of Gods anger is it also to appoynte vs a false Prophete or deceiuable curate a wanton Prince or vngodly gouernour These therefore with such like are those plagues in whome is déepely accomplished the displeasure of God And they are here named the last plagues for after them shall none other be séene the latter day finishing and clearin all 4 And I beheald sayeth Iohn in the same sayd vision as it were a glassy sea or a greate fllowing water in similitude of glasse all myngled with fyre None other is this sea but the precious verity of the Lord so cleare as glasse and so pure as christal This sea gushed out of the harde rocke of stone that was clouen a sonder in the desarte When he sente forth his spirite these waters flowed forth in abundaunce 5 Most effectual and quick is this sea And therefore it is here noted and myngled with fyre which signifyeth the holy ghost For neuer is the verity without Gods spirite A fierce fiery streame calleth Danyell this sea all fiery is the word Lord sayeth Dauyd also and therefore thy seruant loueth it This is the fountayne of liuing water springing vp into the life euerlasting Unto this water shoulde all they resort that are thirsty thereof to take refreshing 6 Upon this glassy sea were they séene of saynte Iohn that had obtayned victory of the beast of his Image of his mark and of the number of his name By whom are ment those constaunt christiaÌ„s which hath for al ages firmly affirmed the truth For none aduersitie declining from it Strongly haue these since the Apostles time resisted the aduersaries of God by his onelye word persisting therin vnto the death as did Stéeuen Iames and Antipas with such other his faithful witnesses Uictory haue they gotten by faith both of the beast and his Image both of the great Antichrist and his supporters of the pope and of Mahomet with their maintainers Emperours Kings and maigistrates and of al theÌ„ that vsurpe their title name seate aucthorytie pompe or power 7 They haue blemished likwise by the said word not only the mark of the beast which is corrupted faith but also the number of his name which is the denial of God Them haue they to their rebuke vttered and to their confusion declared They haue proued their orders â—amnable their doctrin deuilish their religion hipocrisie their spiritualty playne wickednes condemning them by the scriptures as vngodly dissemblers denying the Lord which bought them These are they whom the lorde tenderlye nourished and graciouslye brought forth vpon the refreshing waters coÌ„uerting their soules to his godly feare and loue 8 These stand euermore on the glassy sea they set sure footing vpon the rocke stone Unmouably they perseuer in â— truth neuer deniyng it afore men 9 And they haue in their handes the harps of god which are deuout mindâ— geuen all vnto godlynesse and reioysing in spirituall things 10 Harmoniously they sing the tuneâ—able song of Moyses the faithfull seruant of god and the melodious swéetâ— song of the lamb Iesus Christ. 11 Of both testaments they make vtterance declaring the wonderful works and terrible iudgementes â—ute of the olde lawe and â—ute of the Gospell of gladnesse the moste swéetâ— mercy of the Lorde Withoute ceasing open they the the scriptures vnto other inwardly reioysing in spirituall Himnes and Psalmes hauing this euermore for the standing tenour of the song 12 Inestimably greate is thy goodnes and wonderfully maruelous are thy workes Lord God almighty 13 Iust are thy promyses and moste perfitely sure thy wayes thou gloryous King of sayntes gracious gâ—ydt of the Godly beléeuers 14 Who shall not euermore feare thée a mighty Lord who shall not alwayes in heart glorifye thy blessed name 15 Thou alone art holy iust and perfite for none is there good but thy selfe onely Thou arte our our only maker redéemer and comforter None other haue we for our God but thée 16 No doubt of it but the time will be that al kinds of people both Iewes and gentiles faythfull and Heaten shall seeke vnto thée and shall faythfully in verity and spirite worship before thée acknowleging thée for their only Lord God 17 Because thy wonderfull iudgements that somtime were secret are now to the world made openly knoweÌ„ and manifest Though this songe be litle and small yet is there in contayned all veritye that both Moyses and Christ confesseth at large Moreouer whatsoeuer the scriptures coÌ„preheÌ„deth either of the great omnipotency of god or of his most wonderfull works eyther of his louing mercy or of his benigne pittie towards man of his glorious name or mighty power or that he is to be magnified and feared or how that the faithfull pertaineth only to his kingdome or how that al people shall finally be conuerted vnto him Al is compendiously in this briefe songe here contained what though it be not so word by word expressed And as coÌ„cerning that is here last spoken that his iudgements are made manifeste it is to be vnderstaÌ„ded of those faithful creatures whom he calleth cleareth and iustifieth of none other For vnto them onely are his heauenly veryties knowne to whom he witsaueth to opeÌ„ them Though the other outwardely sée the iudgments of God yet doe they not inwardly perceiue theÌ„ though the bâ—st it neuer so much For it is geuen them so to doe They must haue eyes and not see eares and not vnderstand The Text. 1. And after that I looked 2. And behold the teÌ„ple of the tabernacle of testimonie 3. Was opeÌ„ in heaueÌ„ 4 and the vii Angels 5. came out of the teÌ„ple 6. vvhich had the .7 plagues 7. Clothed in pure and bright linnen 8 And hauing their breasts girded with golden girdles 9. And one
according to hys deades 18. And death 19 and hell vvere cast 20. into the lake of fyre 21. This is the second death 22. And vvhosoeuer vvas not found vvritteÌ„ in the booke of lyfe 23. vvas caste into the lake of fyre The commentary 1 A none after this I behelde saith Saynt Iohan in secrete mysterye an imperiall throne or seat of estate faire splendaunte and bewtyfull None other is this than the iudgement seate of the Lorde 2 Great it is for the Maiestie and power of hym that shall syt therevpoÌ„ is of inestimable magnificence greatnesse Fayre and whyte both for the celestyall cléerenesse that shall at that houre apere with hym and also for the purenesse equitie and ryght of his vniuersal iudgementes 3 From the aspect of whose fearefull countenaunce shall both the earth beneath and the other elemeÌ„tes aboue flée awaye All the creatures of his creacion shall wyth reuerence tremble quake at his mighty aperaunce The SuÌ„ne shall thaÌ„ be darkened the Mone shall not giue hir lyght The Starres shall fall downe from aboue the powers of heauen shal be moued The elementes shall melte wyth heate and the whole earth shall teare in péeces lyke a ragge 4 A terryble fyre shall go before the iudge to burne vp hys enimyes on euery syde The places of them that lyued here supersticiously and voluptuously shall no more after that be founde Neuer shall they resort agayne hither to theyr olde wantoÌ„ pleasurs Of their bewtyfull Cyties shall not one stone be lefte vpon an other Their proude paynted Synagoges as duste in the wynde shal be scattred away from the earth Neither shall the skye nor yet the ground beneth be as it was but both they shal be renewed chaunged They shal be deliuered from corruption and so appere both a newe heauen and a newe earth according to the expectation of the creatures 5 Immediatly after that sayth saint Iohn the iudge thus sitting vpoÌ„ the scaâ—e of his eternall Maiestie I sawe styll in mysterye after the blast of the truÌ„pet that all they which were deade arose out of the earth And that both hygh and lowe great and small good and badde King and begger prelate and plough man tirant and perscecuted innocent Yea the sucking babe the died in the cradell so well as the aged maÌ„ 6 All they séemed vnto me to stande before their generall iudge Iesus Christ to whome the euerlasting father had giuen ouer his whole iudgementes which there appeared as hée was in dede a verie omnipotent god All we shall appere sayth Paule before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery one of vs maye receyue according to that he hath done be it good or ill 7 And the bookes of reckennings which are the seuerall consciences of men were open before the iudge That afore was hidde will thaÌ„ be manyfest and that was secret wyll than come to light be disclosed Euident it wil be vnto him who hath fulfilled the commaunded works of mercy who hath left them vndone their owne constences bearing witnesse to the same For what can be hid from him which seeth both the inwarde reynes and the secret thoughtes of the harte In this generall rekening yet shall prayse with the eternall rewarde redowne vnto them from the mercyfull Lorde whose walking here hath bene accordinge vnto fayth There shall they be reproued to haue bene pitiful to the poore hongry thursty nedy naked sicke in prison 8 After this was an other booke opeÌ„ed of a farre diuerse nature froÌ„ the other bokes for it was the swéet boke of lyfe wherin be regestred al that were predestinate to be saued froÌ„ the worlds beginning And this boke is the eternal predestinatioÌ„ of God 9 Before the worlds fouÌ„datioÌ„ saith s. Paule the lord predestinate vs into the addoptioÌ„ of his childreÌ„ through Iesus Christe Of this booke made Moyses mencion whan he said Eyther pardon thys people or els race me out of thy booke which thou haste written And Christ also to his seuentie disciples Be glad sayth he that your names are written in heauen Moreouer Iosue called this the booke of the ryghtuous and Iohn here the boke with seuen claspes This sheweh the holy ghost here vnto vs much after the custome dayly vsed among vs. For of the most notable men and women our maner is bothe longe to remember the names and also to speake of them as occasion giueth So equall is thys eternall iudge that no personage respecteth he in iudgment neither of Emperours nor Pope Kinge nor Byshope Lorde nor prieste But as he is ryghtuous of himselfe so iudgeth he rightuously 10 For they that were dead sayeth saynt Iohan or that had ledde their lyues here without fayth and the spirite of Christ were iudged of hym there according to the thinges which were regestred in the bokes of their coÌ„scieÌ„ces 11 That is to say according to the fylthy workes wherof their desperat coÌ„ciences accused them Onely are the wicked to be takeÌ„ here for the dead For the rightuous shall thaÌ„ haue nothinge wherof their coÌ„scieÌ„ce may accuse them Neyther shall the euill doers as witnesseth Dauid be of couÌ„sell with theÌ„ at the day They hauing the lyfe euerlasting shall not than be iudged though they than appere but shall sit with Christ in iudgement and reioyce in the condempnation of the vngodly blasphemers The rewarde of their vnfaythfulnesse shall thaÌ„ be powred vpon theÌ„ to their perpetuall care At that daye shall none bée absent but all shal be séene eyther to honour or els to reprofe 12 Neyther shall the depth of the sea nor the darkenesse of death nor yet hell that is bottomelesse bée able to hide any froÌ„ the face of this iudge For the sea sayth saynt Iohn that is myghty and greate shall at that daye delyuer vp cleane hir deade or those whome the Lorde suffered hyr to swallowe in for their outragious sinnes 13 Lyke as were the giauntes in the floude of Noe the great host of Pharao in the red sea and such other more 14 So shall gréedy death doe also which after many strange sortes hath consumed the enimies of God As for an example Cain by a chaunce vnsought Nadah and Abyn by fyre Achan by standing Holofernes Saull by the swerde Naball by excesse of wyne Iesabell by treading of horses Daniels accusers by the lyons Menelaus by breaking his necke Iudas by hanging himselfe Herod by wormes the children of Israell by swerd fyre serpentes and soden death and such other lyke 15 Hell whych is insaciable shall in lyke case render vp the innumerable swarme of the dead whom he wyth open mouth hath swallowed in quicke for their abhominations 16 Of whose number were Chore Dathan and Abiron with their affinitye the Cytyes of Sodome and Gomorre the vncircumcised gyauntes the ryche rourer and the ryche glotton in Luke Symon Magus wyth dyuerse other Hell hath gaped meruelouslye wyde sayeth Esaye and hath rauenouslye deuoured the hygh mynded
by my onely reuelation or shewing whiche am the eternall spouse of the church hath he receiued them to their singular health and comforte 3 And as cōcerning me without faile I am the originall roote or grounde of saluation in Dauid after the word and after the flesh I am of his stocke or generation For in mée are fulfilled all promises of health that euer god made for that faythfull housholde By mee had Dauid his beginning for I made him and by me shall he and all other true Israelites in him haue for euer a glorious continuaunce for I saued them in that fleshe 4 To all them which walke after Dauids fayth am I the bright mornyng starre of grace remouyng the filthye cloudes of errour The shyning clearenesse of godly vnderstanding finishing the darke night of ignoraunce I bring with me the day of mercy health and rightuousnesse and the Sabboth of full reconciliation to God I giue light vnto them that sate in darkenesse directing their féete in the path way of peace 5 For my worde is spirite and veritie resurrection and lyfe And where as it shyneth in the hartes of mortall men it maketh them the children of light To séeke vnto this necessarye light the eternall spirite of God the holy Ghost dayly moueth and prouoketh by many inwarde callings vpon saying alwayes 6 Come with a sincere fayth Drawe nygh vnto him and be lightened and your frayle consciences shall neuer be confounded Resorte vnto him all you that are loaden and he shall refreshe you The bryde or congregation of the Lorde thus taught sturred and prycked forewarde of his spirite sayth also in hyr heart euermore with a feruent desyre Oh come my moste delectable spouse lord Iesus Christ my health ioye and swéetnesse Apply that the immortall glory of the chosen children of God may be séene of all creatures iniquitie cōdempned for euer Accomplish the mariage appointed from the worlds beginning Permit the prepared spouse with hir appoynted number to enter into thy eternall tabernacle of rest 7 Moreouer sayth the Lord whatsoeuer they be that shall heare and beleue this prophecie let them desire the consummation therof and so conforme them selues vnto Christ his church saying also 8 Come moste mercifull sauiour and redéemer and fulfill the godly promyses of this booke to the eternall comforte of man Make hast to the iudgement seat for a full deliuerance of the whole chosen number that thy seruaunts may be where as thou art in perfecte glory and ioy 9 Fynally let him sayth the Lorde that in faith is a thirst or that hath in him a desire to be saued hast him selfe forewarde and come also Let hym onely beleue For the plentuous fountaynes of the lyuyng waters mencioned afore are withholden from no seruaunt of God Nothing is denyed vnto him that asketh in fayth In prayer are all spiritual commodities graūted 10 Whosoeuer therfore hath a wil◠conformable vnto Gods will let hym take fréely without price or payment without satisfaction or merite the pleasaunt water of the lyfe for euer refreshing hys soule in the plentuousnesse thereof 11 Of grace and fauour is saluation in Christ layde forth Onlye is héere required but a will to séeke for it Not that it shall so be deserued For neyther is it of hym that willeth nor yet of him that runneth But the gracious Lorde whiche calleth men to these waters putteth into thē a stomake thirst desire to couet them Yea he mynistreth strēgth to the séeking of thē least some of the glory therof shuld remayn vnto their deseruings and not all to his mercy alone Thus standeth the doctrine of our worke braggers voyde which neither féedeth nor satisfieth considering that not for our rightuous doings but alone for his owne mercyes sake hath he saued vs. The text 1 But I testifie vnto euery man that heareth the vvordes of prophecie of this booke 2. if any man shall adde vnto these things 3. God shall adde vnto him the plagues 4. that are vvrittē in this booke 5. And if any man shall mynish of the vvordes of the booke of thys prophecie 6. God shall take avvay hys parte out of the booke of life 7. and out of the holy citie 8. from the things vvhich are vvritten in this booke 9. He vvhich testifieth these things sayeth 10. Yea 11. I come quickely 12. Amen 13. Euē so 14. come lord Iesus 15. The grace of our Lorde Iesus 16. be vvith you all 17. Amen The Commentary 1 As my dutie is sayeth saint Iohn to premonish afore hande I faithfully proteste by this my present testimony vnto all those men that shall hereafter receyue the wordes of this wonderful prophecy here written in thys booke eyther by reading or hearing 2 That if any of them shall presumptuously take vpon him to adde any thing thervnto in purpose to peruert the truth or cōtrary to the holy ghostes meaning as Carpocras Hebion Cerinthus and other antichristes hath done with the other scriptures 3 Be certayn and sure of it that the eternall god from whom nothing can be hid shal adde vnto him for so doing the most terrible and woful plages regestred afore in thys worke 4 That is to say he shall suffer him to runne in to moste déepe errours giue him ouer for euer into the sinne against the holy ghost whervpon all other plages of dampnation dependeth Ye shall put nothing sayth the Lorde vnto the worde that I haue giuen you neither shall ye take any thing from it Put thou nothinge vnto his sayinges sayth Salomō of thine owne imaginytion least he reproue thée for a dāpnable liar Nothing is this against thē which by the other scriptures and histories doth expounde thys reuelacyon to make it to theyr vnderstandynge more playne For than should Saynt Augustyne saint Hierome Isydorus Beda Rabanus dyuers other great pillars of the church be vnder these plages for doeing that charitable office So should also the doctrine of this booke be against it self in the .xiii. chapter where as libertie is giuen to hym that hath writ to count the number of the beast in other places els But this is here spoken from them that corrupteth the text to mayntaine their blasphemous lyes for aduauntage or that séeketh to blemish the right sence therof least men should behold thē in their right colours as the wicked papists hath don euer since their begīning so drownning the authoritie maiestie thereof 5 Moreouer sayth saynt Iohn if any mortall man shal presume to deminish the wordes contayned in the volume of this heauenly Prophecye vnreuerently so controuling the wysdome of God 6 The sayd omnypotent god and reuenger of al vngodlinesse shall clerely wype away his porcion out of the booke of lyfe so that he shal be none of theyr number whych are predestinated to the glory of his children 7 Neyther shall such be alowed for cityzens with the saintes in the holy cōgregation of hys newe Hierusalem nor yet be accepted
will neither merites nor yet soule masses helpe neyther blessinges nor knéelings sacrifices nor sensings wawlings nor ringings bussings nor singings but will she nyll shée néedes must shée abyde his heauy and tirrible sentence 15 And there fell great hayle sayeth the texte as it had bene waightie talents Alwayes must it be remembred that commonly the tyme paste is vsed in this hrophecie for the tyme to come for the certayntie of the things héere spokē This haile is none other thē the heauy tempest or plague of the said fearfull tirrible iudgements of the Lord which shal on that woful day fal sodaynly as a thicke hayle vpon the miserable multitude of them that boasted thē selues to be the holy church vpon their wicked folowers cōpared here vnto Babilon 16 This plague is here also for none other cause lykened vnto talents but for that it is in wayght measure to bée ministred vnto them by the preordination of God So much paine and sorow is due vnto that whorish generation as shée hath glorified hir selfe in filthy delightes so many punishmentes to be rewarded hir Yea double must shée haue according to hir workes 17 Out of heauen shall this vehemēt hayle fall from the fearful sentence of the Lord Iesus Christ which shal than sit as a Iudge in the myddest of hys faithful congregatiō they fitting with him as the body with the head in condempnation of the wicked 18 And vpon the men shal it light For the great whore or the citie called héere Babilō is in this place to bée takē for that it comprehendeth euen for men in whom also are included women by the common vsage of the scriptures 19 These men shall spightfully blaspheme God bicause of the hayle plague or terrour of their torments They shall crye out of him wishing that hée had no such power so to torment them 20 For the tempest is great and the sufferaunce thereof excéeding painfull As the Lorde is mightie so are hys iudgements whan they fal Uehemēt fierce and strong is the Lorde sayeth Esay as is the tempest of hayle breaking out on euery side bearing down strong holdes The xvij Chapter OFte hath occasions bene giuen me in this booke to speake of greate Babilon and of the execrable beast but here is place offered to discribe them more at large THE TEXT 1 And there came one of the seuen Angels vvhich had the seauen vyalles 2. and talked vvith me 3. saying vnto me 4. Come I vvill shevve the iudgement 5. of the great vvhore 6. that sitteth vpō many vvaters 7. vvith vvhō the Kinges of the earth haue committed vvhoredome 8 and the inhabiters of the earth are dronken vvith the vvyne of hyr fornication 9. And he caryed me away 10. into the vvildernesse in the spirite The Paraphrase 1 After this came sayth Saint Iohn one of the vij Angels or vnuariable decrées of the Lordes eternall iudgements which had the vij vyals of hys wrath as afore hath bene declared 2 And this Angell or set purpose of God as an heauenly messenger talked with me in mysterie 3 Of fauourable goodnesse in secreat maner he ascertayned me thereby of this wonderfull iudgement héere following to be fulfilled at the latter end of the worlde And thus it sayde vnto mée 4 Come hither friende Iohn I will shew thée in secretnesse the tirrible iudgment of the great whore or coūterfaite church of hypocrites as God hath appointed it Néedes must this whore be Rome for that which is hereafter spokē that she is the great citie which reigneth ouer the kings of the earth Euidēt it is both by the scriptures Cronicles that in Iohns dayes Rome had hyr dominiō ouer all the whole world And being infected with the abhominatiōs of all landes rightly is shée called Babylon or citie of confusion not onely in this reuelation but also in the first Epistle of Peter And like as in the scriptures ofte tymes vnder the name of Ierusalem is ment the whole kingom of Iuda so vnder the name of Rome here may be vnderstanded the vnyuersall worlde with all their abhominations and diuillishnesses theyr Idolatryes witchcraftes sectes superstitions papacyes priesthoodes relygions shauings anointings blessings sensings processiōs the diuil all of such beggeryes For all the people since Christes assēcion hath this Rome infected with hyr pestilent poisōs gathered from al Idolatrous nations such time as she held ouer them the monarchial suppremit And like as Babilon had the Israelites captiue vnder a bodily tribute so hath this Rome had the Christians both in their bodies soules At the wryting of this prophecy felt Iohn of their crueltie being exiled into Pathmos an I le of Licia for the faithfull testimony of Iesu. And so did I poore creature with my poore wife children at the gatheringe of this present commentary flyinge into Germamye for the same 5 No maruail though she be here called a great whore For no wher were euer yet séene so many Idole worshipinges so many vaine obseruatiōs so many supersticious sects so many errours in hipocrisie so many false prophets and so many prodigious kindes of filthynes no not in Sodom it selfe nor yet in miserable Egipt 6 This Babilonysh whore or disguised sinagoge of shorelings sitteth vpō many waters or peoples that are fantastical fickle or folish For none are in conscience subiect vnto hyr that are constantly grounded in the sure doctrine of fayth only alloweth hir traditions the wauering witted multitude the slipper and vnstedfast number obeying them in theyr hartes of feare not of loue so throwing them selues into a moste confuse Chaos or vawte of double dotage 7 With this stinking strompet haue the mightie potentates of the vniuersall earth the Emperours Kings Princes and other notable gouernours cōmitted most shamefull whoredome in the spirite by many straunge worshippings agréeing among them selues to hyr wickedly decréed lawes customes To long should we stande here in this place if we should discribe them all seuerally in theyr colours at large as they be 8 Through the craftie legerdimaine of the priests on the one side the cruel cōstitutiōs of Princes on the other side the dwellers of the earth or worldly minded multitude are dronken with the wyne of hyr fornication spirituall or practised worshippings besides the prescript rules of Gods word Not only they which haue bene couetous carnall leude wreched hath followed theyr abhominaciōs but also an innumerable sort of the elect number hath beleued their lies and errors Yea they haue bene so dazed with theyr dotages so tangeled with theyr customes that as men losing theyr wittes without all godly remembrance reason wisdom discressiō vnderstāding iudgement grace the lawes of God laid apart the commandementes neclected and the scriptures despised they haue not only knéeled crossed kissed set vp lights holdē vp their hāds before rottē postes but also called thē their fathers in heuē Yea I axe God mercy a thousand times I haue