tradicyons that bryngeth in the Iewishe ceremonies the gentyles supersticyons paganes customes aÌ„d heythen vsages yokynge menne with importable burdenes of false worshyppinges for theyr owne fylthye lucre and auauntage Not withstaÌ„dynge thus must they do styll by the sufferaunce of God tyll the .xlij. monethes be finyshed which ys not els but the tyme the tymes and the half tyme or the thowsande two hoÌ„dreth lx dayes in that God shall shorten the tyme for hys chosens sake Thus after saint â—anâ—e also before the lords coÌ„mynge ther must be a departynge The quere or chaunsel must be cast out thaâ— the manne of synne the sonne of perdicyon and the aduersarye exaltynge hym self aboue God maye be knowne in hys owne colours It maye not be motteÌ„ or allowed by Gods worde but reiected as that plante whych the heauenlye father hath not planted that the mysterye of inyquite maye be vttered and perceyued of theÌ„ which shal be saued It must be geuen to the gentiles or addict to their supersticyons with all lyenge powre sygnes and wonders in all deceyuable doctrine by the subtile workinge of SathaÌ„ They must also be permitted to do all mischef in vnryghtousnesse vpoÌ„ the cytezeus of God tyl he vtterlye consume theÌ„ with the mighty breathe of his mouthe The text 1 And I wyll geue power 2. vnto my two wytnesses 3. and they shall prophecye a thousande two hondred and threscore dayes 4. clothed in sacke clothe 5 These are two olyue trâ—es 6. and two candelstyckes 7. staÌ„dynge before the God of the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I wyll geue powre sayth the lorde vnto my two faithfull witnesses they shall prophecie a thousande two hoÌ„dreth and .lx. dayes ageynst those enemyes to the confort of my peple So that though my cyte by troden downe by their cruell lawes of persecutioÌ„ to deathe yet shall yt not be forsakeÌ„ And though my peple be ouerloaded with their heythen superstycyons and blasphemouse worshippinges yet shal they not be lost nor left all wythout socoure 2 They shal haue my .ii. wytnesses with them to solace theÌ„ in theyr trobles and to confort theÌ„ in ther cares Both Moyses and Christ both the lawe and the gospell both the prophetes the apostles shall stande vpon their syde aÌ„d be vpon ther part yea for so moche tyme as ther enemies shall vexe theÌ„ aÌ„d for so moche space as ther aduersaries shal troble theÌ„ Euen a thowsande two hondred and .lx. dayes whych maketh thre yeare and an half and is more then the .xlii. monethes by foure score dayes aÌ„d foure Which signifieth that the enemies shal not euer more kepe downe his worde but their dayes shall be shortened for his electes sake The scole doctours with their sophistrie hath fantasied the sayd two wytnesses to be Enoch aÌ„d Helias and that they shuld come then from paradyse terrestre for the same puprose because that Enoch was takeÌ„ awaye of God Helias was carried hence in a fyery charet neyther vnderstandinge what paradyse is nor yet knowynge what yt is to be taken froÌ„ heÌ„ce Paradyse is the swete rest of God appoynted vnto theÌ„ that depart hence in faythe The peculiar traÌ„slatioÌ„s of Enoch and Helias were not onlye for a confirmacyon or strengthenynge of the fayth of the fathers for their tymes but also that they shuld be figurs of Cristes ascencion And what godlye wyse man can geue more to the figure than to the veryte More were not they preuileged froÌ„ deathe thaÌ„ was Christ though God wolde not then haue yt so openly knowne to declare hys wonderful powre Unlyke is it that God shuld cal wytnesses from the dead not promisinge yt by his worde hauinge powre also from stones to rayse vp Abrahams children and to geue the sprete of Helias to whome he pleaseth lyke as he ded to Iohan Baptist and as he doth now to manye other more in our age as all the worlde maye se and heare These wytnesses are two for so moche as the trewthe of the lorde in the mowthe of two or thre godlye persones ought to stande 3 These two wytnesses or faythful procestours of the afore seyd two testamentes hath continewed with the peple of God sens the death of SteueÌ„ for the more part secretlye and vnknowne to the worlde But now they are come a brode by the appoyntment of God to the vtter confusion of the great aduersarye and manne of synne as Paule doth call hym And vnto them in thys sixt age of the churche the lord hath geuen the greate powre of hys lyuynge worde or the sprete of his inuincyble veryte in moche more ample wyse then afore tyme for the abatement of the seyd enemies or synagoge of perdycyon 4 Clothed they shall be in sack clothe sayth the lorde No pompe shall apere in their aparell no glorye of the worlde in their behauer Neyther shal they be accompanyed with a garde of ruffelinge rutters Neyther shal they with Annas and Caiphas syt vpon life and deathe Neyther shal they blesse in the strete with myter crosse and cope Neyther clayme the hyger seates in syde gownes shauen crownes and typpettes Neyther shal their be sacke fryres nor franciscanes monkes chanons nor hipocrites They shal not disfigure them selues to seme religiouse nor saye longe prayers to apere holye but in a sober conuersacion auoydynge superstuite they shal coÌ„staÌ„tlye witnesse the truthe of God to the vniuersall worlde to his glorye and their edification For sack clothe in the scripturs is a signe of sobryete sadnesse aÌ„d temperauÌ„ce as in helias and Iohan Baptist. 5 These wytnesses are two swete olyue trees shedynge forth the fatnesse of the scripturs aÌ„d dulcet sauer of the sprete God hath so blessed them that their lippes are full of grace He hath anoynted theÌ„ with the oyle of gladnesse aboue their fellawes of myrre bawme aloes they dilectably smelle Non other thynges vtter they but hys infallible veritees 6 They are also two shynynge candelstickes settynge forth the lyght or clerelye openynge the hyddeÌ„ misteries of the scripturs to the confort of the geÌ„tyles glory of the Israelites They are not the lyght it self but onlye instrumeÌ„tes ordayned to bere witnesse of the light For there is but one light for al. Onelye aâ—e they the vessels of eleccion as was paule to carrye that lyght the worlde ouer They stande in the presence of the God of the earthe or the lorde of all as menne of most hygh acceptacyon before hym rebye to do hys wyll and to fulfyll hys conmandemeÌ„t and pleasure hauynge the oyle of hys sprete and the lyght of hys eternall veryte The text 1 And if anye manne wyll hurte them 2. Fyre shall procede out of their mouthes 3. and consume their enemyes 4. And if anye man wyll hurte them thys wyse must he be kylled 5. These haue power to shut heauen 6. that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophecyenge 7. and haue power ouer waters to turne them to bloude 8. and to smyte
but also of her excedynge great abhomynacyons 16 And most of all I wondered that the almyghtye God coulde with so moche paâ—cyence suffre her in soche myschefe The Text. 1 And the Angell sayde vnto me 2. wherfor meruaylest thu 3. I wyll shewe the the mysterye of the woman and of the Beast that beareth her which hath seuen heades and ten hornes 4. The beast that thu see it was 5. and is not 6. and shall ascende out of the bottomlesse â—ytte 7 and shall go into perdiâ—yon 8. And they that dwell on â—he earthe shall wondre 9. whose names are not wrytâ—en in the boke of lyfe from the â—egynnynge of the worlde 10. whan they beholde the Beast â—hat was and is not ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And as I was thus wyth my selâ—â—aruelynge the Angell or a fore named â—ecre of the Lorde sayd vnto me these wordes â— Wherfor dost thu thus maruele thu mortall manne For thy gentyll and meke expectacyâ—n I shall shewe vnto the the misterye of this wretched woman aÌ„d of the cruâ—ll Beast that beareth her which hath â—ij heades and .x. hornes By this shalâ—â—hu knowe the true churche from the â—alse the iust preachers from the hypoâ—rites the syncere doctrine from theyr subtyle sophysmes aÌ„d their lawfull anâ—â—oryte from their cruellye vsurped presumpcyons For that sheweth the lorde vnto his electes that he wyll not haue knowne of all menne 4 The execrable Beast or carnall kyngedome of Antichrist which thu hast se aâ—ne here in misterye was as concerninge his beginninge in Cain first of all aÌ„d so continued forth in the fleshlye chyldren of menne in the chaplaynes of Pharao Hieroâ—oam Baal aÌ„d Bel in the cruell byshoppes prestes and lawers with soche other lyke tyll the deathe of Chryst and so forthe 5 And now the sayd Beast is not in power and aucâ—oryte as he hath bene For in Iohans tyme serten years before the wrytinge of this reuelacyon was the proude clergye of the Iewes vtterlye destroyed by Titus aÌ„d Despasiane in the terrible syege of Hierusalem Not withâ—standinge yet shall this beast ryse agayne in the Romyshe pope and Mahomete aÌ„d in their false prelates doctours 6 He shall ascende out of the bottomlesse pytte from the stinkynge denne of Sathan exaltynge him self in worship aboue all that is called God But in the conclusion he shall haue an ende 7 Into perdicyon shall he go wythout fayle The Lorde shall first vtter his wickednesse as now in this age and than with the sprete of his mouthe consume him and destroye him So that his high clymynge vp shall at the last be the chefe cause of his fall Yet shall his wicked remnaunt ones agayne sett vp theyr crystes and persecute a freshe but that shall â—â—e no full rayse vnto him 8 And the rable of reprobates which dwell on the earthe or for earthlye commodytees contempneth Godes truthe shall wonder ones agayne not without moche inwarde reioyce that their churche ryseth agayne out of the olde hypocresyes 9 Whose names are not regestred in Christ which is the large boke of lyfe and hath bene both the lyfe aÌ„d the lyghe of menne sens the first constitucyon of the moueable worlde No they are not nombred amonge those ryghtouse that shall regne with him in glorye 10 These aduersaryes of God and his worde shall haue moche gladnesse in their wycked hartes whan they beholde the Beast thus commynge vp agayne that was of soche magnificence and now is but a thynge of nowght that was estemed aboue God and now is proued dampnacyon So longe is this beastlye Antychryst as he worketh the mysterye of iniquite in the reprobâ—te vesselâ— and whan he leueth that workynge than is he no longar Marke in this processe past the nature of Gods eternall decre for this age of his churche First it sheweth and than it condempneth the cursed Sinagoge of the deuyll In significacioÌ„ wherof the true preachers of our tyme hath many festly opened her wickednesse vnto all the worlde wherupon her vtter destruccyon must shortlye followe Watche good Christen reader aÌ„d praye ernestlye The Text. 1 And here is a mynde that hath wysdome 2. The seuen heades are .vij. mountaynes 3 wheron the woman sytteth 4. They are also seuen kynges 5. Fyue are fallen 6. and one is 7. and the other is not come 8. Whan he commeth he must contynue a space 9. And the Beast that was and is not is euen the eyght 10. and is one of the seuen 11. and shall go into destruccyon ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Here is a meanynge which comprehendeth wysdome A syncere vnderstaudynge shall herin be requisyte Necessarye it is therfor to take hede least thu holde the harlot and Beast for that they boast them selues to be to thy dampnacyon 2 The .vij. heades of the Beast aforemencyoned by the playne diffinicyon of the holye ghost are here to be taken for vii mountaynes or the vniuersall princelye monarchies of the .vij. clymates of the worlde 3 Upon these the woman that Babylonyshe harlot Rome from whome hath yssewed all spirytuall whoredome in most proude maner sitteth hauinge ouer them a vniuersall dominyon For in Iohans tyme to Rome was all the worlde subiect Under whose cruell regne was Christ done to deathe so hath his faythfull members bene ener sens by a newe rayseâ— kyngedome in the same 4 These heades are also .vij. kynges or goueunours of the aforesayd monorchyes seduced by all kyndes of craftye errours and deuylyshe suggestyons of that Beast So that yâ—yâ— marke well this place the head with the tayle and the cause with his effecte in these present significacyons shall no preiudyce be founde to that hath bene sayd in the other though they seme verye dyuerse For both the gouernours and also the landes or the peples subiect vnto them haue vniuersallye bene blynded by their wylye toytchecraftes And so haue the worldlye porentates wyth the spyrytuall Antychrystes agreed that both they haue vsurped one malygnauÌ„t medlynge ouer the sowles of menne to corrupt their faythe the prynces applyenge their powers vnto the same And that causeth the holye Ghost here to call them the beastes heades vnder the tytle of mountaynes and kynges For vnder their princelye auctoritees hath all their myschefes bene fulfylled to vpholde this whoore agaynst Christ and his worde 5 Fyue of these heades are fallen from the vnyuersall monarchye of Rome All the dominyons of Affrica and Asia hath renounced the obedyence of her empyre Onlye cleaueth Europa vnto her which is the least of the thre and yet not all therof Whan the Papacye grewe the whole empyre of the Grekes called Constantynople fell cleane from the laâ—nes and became with other dyuerse monarchyes the possession of Mahometes secte or of the Agarenes and Turkes Of the other empyres maye a lyke coniecture be had Thus haue they declyned from her not so goynge forth nor yet rysynge vp vnto Christ for only is it sayd here that they were fallen 6 And one head is sayth the text at
christen reader and with all theÌ„ that seaketh of the scrypturs the sauynge helthe in them coÌ„tayned without quarellynge Amen The seconde part of the Image of both churches after the most wonderfull and heaueÌ„lye Reuelacyon of Saynt Iohan the Euangelist ce ¶ Compyled by Iohan Bale The .xi. Chaptre UNto Iohan was delyuered after that he had thus deuowred the boke a rede not vnlyke to the metewande of .vi. cubites longe and a spaÌ„ne whych was geuen vnto Ezechiel nor verye farre different from the measurynge lyne in Zacharie And what ys this els but that the administracion of Gods heaueÌ„lye verite is secretlye of him committed vnto them whych hath afore receyued yt and in faithe digested it that they shuld ther with ryghtlye measure discerne aÌ„d iudge all thinges NoÌ„ other is yt to prophecye ageyne in this sixt age but thus to mete the temple the aulter and the worshippers therin and to proue them in length bredeth heyth and depeth ¶ The text 1 ANd than was geuen me a reede 2. lyke vnto a rodde 3. and yt was sayd vnto me Aryse 4. and meete the temple of God 5. and the aulter 6. and them that worshippe therin 7. And the quere which is within the temple cast out 8. meete it not 9. for it is geueÌ„ vnto the geÌ„tiles 10 And the holye cyte shal they treade vndre fote xlij monethes 1 And there was geuen me sayth saynt Iohan a rede Both receyued I the wysdome of God and also a mouthe to vtter yt So that my tonge became the penne of a redye writer For so moche as I abhorred iniquite the lord anoynted me in wardlye with the oyle of gladnesse and gaue me stomake to vtter hys worde 2 The rede which God delyuered me was lyke vnto a rodde For hys worde ys the rodde of right order And the scepture of hys kingedome With this rodde spredde he oute the heauens and layde forth the fyrst fouÌ„dacyon of the earthe This rodde of his power hath the lorde now graciouslye sent us out of Syon by menne hauinge his speciall grace as by Iohan â—o haue dominyoÌ„ here in the middest of his enemies 3 For vnto Iohan yt was sayd for this age Aryse froÌ„ vayne stodye from cares of the bodye from consideracion of earthlye causes 4 And mete the holye temple of God which is his congregacion or churche Proue all beleues whether they be right or no. Examyne their workes whether they springe of Gods commauÌ„demeÌ„ts or of mennes tradicions And in so doynge trye by the scripturs the â—orne from the chaffe Marke out the peple of God from the synagoge of sathan and delaye not to norryshe them with the swete frutes of the sprete 5 Measure the aulter also which is Iesus Christ vpoÌ„ whoÌ„ the full sacrefice of redemptyon was offred For manye false cristes are a brode in the worlde to seduce the peple The pope boasteth hym self for gods owne vicar Mahomete calleth him self the grete prophete of the lorde And both they to subdewe the gospell hath sett vp newe lawes The pope hys detestable decrees and Mahomete his abhominable alchorane Both thei haue wrought soche woÌ„ders and soche signes in superstycion as myght deduce into erroure yf God were not mercyfull the verie elect persons The moÌ„kes sayth that Christ ys in the desert the prestes sayth he is in the boxe but admonishe my peple that in no case they beleue yt The chanons sayth he is here the fryres sayth he is there but couÌ„sell my flocke that they go not forth For God dwelleth in nothinge that is made with haÌ„de In the faythfull hart is Christ onlye fouÌ„de There remaineth he That is his dwellynge place 6 Therfor now last of all measure them also that worshipp in the temple Considre them onlye to be his peple which seke hym in sprete and in veryte and that worship not in outwarde shaddowes nor in the elementes of this worlde nor yet with obseruacyoÌ„ of dayes tymes They are not his sonnes that for the â—euen of the Pharisees which ys the doctrine of hypocrites forsaketh the bread of children which is his lyuinge worde They are not his laÌ„bes but vyle gottes that rather atteÌ„deth to the voyce of strauÌ„gers thaÌ„ to the trewe sheparde Christ. 7 And therfor the quere which ys wythin the teÌ„ple cast out The prelates prestes and religiouse which are not of the common sort seclude from Christ from his churche and from the companye of true worshippers Throwe forth the bonde woman aÌ„d her sonne the Rome churche with her children and Mahomete with hys rable For the bonde shall not inherete with the fre 8 Measure not out that chaunsell of charmers that college of GalaaÌ„s bretherne those marked Madianytes and cursed Ismaelytes Allowe them not by the scripturs coÌ„mende not theyr couÌ„terfet ryghtousnesse Admyt theÌ„ not for the meÌ„bres of Christ but iudge them to be the sinagoge of SathaÌ„ And speare theÌ„ out of the kingedome of God with the keye of Dauid For they are those swine that tread perles vnder their fete those cruell dogges that turne agayne to deuowre meÌ„ne Medle not with that quere haue not to do with that wycked generacion 9 For it is geueÌ„ vnto the geÌ„tiles Whollie are those Antichristes addict to the supersticiouse rytes of the heytheÌ„ in their sacrifices their ceremonies their obseruatioÌ„s their holy dayes theyr vygils fastinges â— praynges knelinges all other vsages coÌ„trary to the admonyshement of Christ. That they shuld in no wyse entre into the wayes of the geÌ„tiles Wherfor God hath detested theÌ„ with his owne mouthe cleane geueÌ„ theÌ„ ouer vnto theyr owne fylthye lustes Now reygne they al in their owne wisdome thinkynge euermore their owne fleshlye fantasies best wholly they are become GeÌ„tiles 10 â–ª And the holye cyte of whom gloryouse thynges are spoken they shall treade vndre fote the space of .xlij. monethes Not the earthlye Hierusalem ys thys cyte buylded of menne and made holye by the out warde obseruacions and ceremonies of the iewes as manye expositours hath faÌ„tasyed For of that like as Christ prophecied ys not left one stone standinge vpon an other But thys cyte ys the sure buyldinge of God grounded vpon the stronge fouÌ„dacion of the Apostles aÌ„d Prophetes euen vpon the harde rocke stone Iesus Christ. This is the plesaunt possessioÌ„ the wholsom howsholde the sure holde and the dylectable vyneyarde of the lorde of hostes This ys the liuynge generacyon of them which feareth loueth and seketh their lorde God in faith sprete and veryte and not in outwarde shaddowes These are the childreÌ„ of promes the true of springe of Abraham the chosen howse of Israel and the kyngedome of the holie ghost Pure cleane aÌ„d holye hath Christ made this cyte by noÌ„ other thinge but the onlye shedinge of his preciouse blood 11 Thys cyte treade they vnder fote that kepeth downe the treuthe of the gospel that persecuteth sleeth goddes people for it that defeateth his worde for their owne
withstande them with their craftes impugne them with their lyes and vexe them wyth their deuyllyshnesse as necessarye it is they shuld do For yf they haue trobled the head they must beâ—e also the members If the howsholder be called Beelzebub the howsholde must suffre the same No better is the seruauÌ„t than his lorde nor the massenger than he that sent hym 4 They shall also ouercome them not with the scripturs but with their beggerlye customes constitucions lawes decrees tradicyons They shall scourge them or dysgrade them in their synagoges They shall delyuer them vp to iustyces debitees and rewlers makynge them their bothers aÌ„d slaues so washinge their owne holye handes froÌ„ the shedynge of innocentes bloode 5 They shall kylle theÌ„ also by their couÌ„sell to fulfyll the measure of their fathers that all ryghtuouse bloude maye lyght vpon them which hath bene shedde vpon earthe Yet shall they not hurte their sowles but through faythe they shall haue victorye bothe ouer them and the deuyll 6 And their bodyes shall lye in the stretes of the great cyte In this worlde shall their carkases remayne where as they haue rewle and domynyon Here shall they be iudged and condempned At their pleasure shall it be to haÌ„ge theÌ„ heade them or burne them And thowgh they laye no handes vpon them for soylynge their coÌ„secrate fyngars yet must it be done by their ghostlye cownsel aÌ„d ordred also after their spyrituall appoyntment Non other is it to lye in the stretes of their greate cyte than after â—oche lawes as they haue practysed toke brought vnto deathe 7 For spiritually is their cyte called A gloryouse name vsurpe they as though they were noÌ„ of the world They wyll be called the holy churche good ghostlye fathers godly dyuines spirituall meÌ„ne not coÌ„siderynge of what sprete they are spiritual They are those into whoÌ„ the vncleane sprete hath entred with .vij. other spretes worse than hym self With the sprete of falshede the sprete of fylthynesse the sprete of lyes the sprete of wytchecrafte the sprete of erroure the sprete of blindenesse aÌ„d the sprete of cruelte And of these onlye with soche lyke are they spyrituall and of no godlye sprete as their frutes declareth And therfor the sprete of god doth iudge here this great cyte not to be called HierusaleÌ„ but stinkinge Sodome most myserable Egypte the prophecyes and other scripturs agreynge to the same For loke what fylthynesse and abhomynacion was in Sodome what Idolatrye and deuylyshnesse was in Egipt the same is now reygnynge in this paynted spyritualte and is accounted there great holynesse 8 Amonge this consecrate multytude or smered sort is Christ yet crucyfied as he was amonge the Iewes whych knewe hym not yet boasted theÌ„ selues outwardlye for the peculiar chosen peple of God Not onlye ys Christ amonge theÌ„ persecuted scourged ponnyshed aÌ„d put vnto deathe in hys membres but also he ys proued of them an vnsufficyent Sauer without their dayly doynges Their masses must be satysfactory sacrifices profytinge both the quicke and the dead And that must menne beleue vnder peyne of deathe and dampnacyon Thus crucyfye they Christ ageyne and make a mocke of hym as wytnessed Paule and yet do they call hym their lorde not vnlyke to the tormentours whych crowned hym with thorne and saluted hym with Aue rex Iudeorum The Text. 1 And some of the peple and kynredes and tunges and of the nacions 2. shall se theyr bodyes thre dayes and an halfe 3. and hall not suffre theyr bodyes to be putte in graues 4. And they that dwell vpon the earthe 5. shal reioyce ouer them and be gladde 6. and shall sende gyftes one to an other 7. for these two prophetes vexed theÌ„ that dwelte on the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And as they lye thus dead in the stretes or are contempned as heretykes aÌ„d despysed as wycked doars some of the peple peruerted by these enemies some of the kynredes or sectes of dyuysion some of the tonges or blasphemouse bablers aÌ„d some of the nacyons of al wycked workers shall beholde their bodyes iij. dayes and an half 2 They shall for all ages abhorre them hate theÌ„ reuyle them and spyghtfullye report them In ther cronycles shal they wryte them for seducers of the peple in their storyes regestre them for dampnable heretykes For the .iij. dayes an half dyuided into .vij. halues betokeneth the .vii. ages of the churche wherin they haue and shal styll both persecute and blaspheme 3 And these wycked sortes of peple kynredes tonges and nacyons or of false iustyces prestes lawers and relygyouse shall not suffre their bodyes to be putte in graues But be these wytnesses ones iudged heretykes by the clergye aÌ„d so condempned by the layte eyther shall their bodyes be resolued in to ashes by fyre or els consumed by the fowles of the ayre Seldome shal ye se a knowne heretyke buryed amonge them but most commonlye burned Examples of thys hath bene â—aâ—elye seane here in Englande by Thomas hyttoon Thomas bylueye Iohan frith George baynham WilliaÌ„ tindale Iohan lambert Robert barnes Wylliam Hyerome Thomas garade Rycharde spenser and in Partrick hamilton of Scotlande with manye other more And longe afore our tyme in sir Iohan olde castell the lorde CobhaÌ„ sir Roger acâ—on knyght sir Reynolde pecock byshop of chychester Master IohaÌ„ Ayshton sir Willyam thorpe sir Willyam â—awtre sir Richarde with sir Iohan balle sir Willyam tayloure and sir willyam whyght prestes with dyuerse other The body of Formosus was first taken vpp by Steuen the .vi. Bishopp of Rome and disgraded After was yt beheaded mangled and throwne into the flood of Tyber by Sergius the thyrde Saynt Herman after .xx. years from hys buryall was taken vpp and burned at Ferraria in Italie by Boneface the ryhht The bones of Master Iohan wycclef were taken vpp and burned also the .xl yeare after hys death as waldene wytnesseth to hys boke de Sacramentalibus ti .ix. Capi .lxxxix. So was of late yeares in worcestre dyocese the bodye of master WilliaÌ„ Tracye esquire in LondoÌ„ the bodye of Rycharde honne merchande taylour Moreouer Iohan colet deane of Paules in londoÌ„ also was not farre froÌ„ the same for readynge of Paules Epistles by hys lyfe had not other wayghtye matters bene in the waye Soche heretykes shall not rest in their cyte they shall not be buryed amonge them They shall not be shryued canonysed nor allowed for Sayntes for they buylded no monasteries they sett vpp no chauÌ„teryes they subdewed no Princes nor yet dyed for the lybertees of holye churche They sâ—ode not in defence that prestes doynge Idolatrye thefte murther wytche crafte whoredome buggerye with other abhominacyons shuld remayne vnponnyshed But rather to the contrarye that they shuld worshypp but one God lyue by their labours take wâ—â—es of their owne teache nothynge but Gods lawes 4 And they that dwâ—ll vpon the earthe sayth the lorde or haue their felycite herewith the
vnyâ—ersall worlde makynge them dronken wyth the cuppe of all abhomynacyons 13 And all this shall they do to gather them togyther by their wycked counsels and to brynge them into one cruell consent of battaylynge agaynst Christ and his members to receyue the penalte therof in the great daye of the lorde almyghtye 14 Most busylye they gather them to battayle whan they moue them to persecute the iust beleuers wyth full vngodlye actes as now most of all in owrage whych God hath promysed in short space to reuenge Of this wyll more be spoken in the .xix. chapter folowynge Least anye manne knowynge the truthe shuld tangle his owne conscyence with their spirituall sorceryes for feare of princes lawes vnder the vayne hope of repentaunce in the ende of theyr lyues yt foloweth in playne sentence 15 Beholde sayth the lorde Iesus Christ or ernestlye take hede vnto it for I come daungerouslye vnloked for as commonlye doth the thefe to thy hyndraunce yf thu watche not in faythe but lyue in superstycyon Though thys not wythout reasonable cause maye be taken in a geueralte for the last iudgemeÌ„t daye yet is it here spoken partycularlye of euerye mannes departynge As a premonyshment he geueth this here of loue least anye manne shuld peryshe without warnynge 16 Blessed is he sayth that Lorde which watcheth in the true christen beleue and lyueth not in the vayne but in the sure hope of lyfe sealed with the iust promyses of God For all that he â—oth shall prospere and turne hym to great aduauntage in the conclusyon 17 Happye is he also that holdeth fast vnto him his garmentes or workes of Gods prescripcion whych are the frutes of the sprete or that hath done on the Lorde Iesus Christ gyrdynge him sure vnto him self by faythe 18 Least he be fownde a naked hypocrite without faythe veryte iustyce charyte wyth soche lyke or least the ryghtouse nombre at the latter daye se his filthinesse vncouered and reioyce at his condempnacion 19 He ys blessed whych at that daye shall be couered with the whight garment of the lambe not hauynge his sinnes imputed vnto him 20 To shewe the certente of the aforesayd battayle Saynt Iohan sayth thaâ— the deuil gathered together those wicked newlers into a serten place called in the Hebrâ—â—â—onge Armagedon The vncleane spretes that afore are named thre of â—heir dyuerse workinge in the Dragon Beast false propheâ—e are here brought into one as all of one lyenge sprete whoÌ„ Christ calleth the father deuill This one lyenge sprete which hath bene a murtherer from the begynnynge comprehendynge in him all vncleane spretes lyke as doth the Beast all Antichristes hath coÌ„byned together into â—n exeâ—rable zele of fatherlye tradicyons all vayne gloryouse and vngodlye mynded gouernours agaynst God and his Christ. And this hath not bene without the secrete permission of God willynge to proue his electes by stronge sufferynges that they myght receyue at his hande the rewarde of stronge victorye or of his habundaunt ryches 21 This place here called in the Hebrue Armagedon betokeneth in misterye an hyll of dylectable frutes interpreted of some for the hyll of the Gospell and is commonlye taken of the Hebrues for that is swete or of value And this without fayle is the churche which oft tymes in the scripturs ys called the plentuouse hyll of God the hyll of Gods howse the hyll of myrhe the hyll of olyâ—es the hyll of Syon Carmelus and â—thanus with soche other lyke In thys mounte euermore are they bent to battayle There slee they the innocent lambes of Christ. All their power malyce and tyrannie is there extremelie vttred at the Antichristes laboure and desyre which are excedynglye dronken in the bloud of holye martyrs which hath bene shedde vpon earthe from ryghtouse Abell vnto this daye But whan the almyghtye setteth kynges vpoÌ„ the earthe it shall be clere euen in the darkenesse that the hyll of Basan is Gods hyll The Text. 1 And the seuenth angell poured out hys vyall 2 into the ayre 3. And there came a great voyce out of heauen from the seate sayenge 4. It is done 5. And there folowed voyces thoÌ„derynges and lyghtenynges 6. and there was a great earthquake 7. soche as was not sens men were vpoÌ„ earthe 8. so mightye an earthquake and so great 9. And the great cytye was deuyded into thre partes 10. And the cytyes of the nacyons fell 11. And great Babylon came in remembraunce before God 12. to geue vnto her the cuppe of wyne of the fearcenesse of his wrathe 13. And euerye Ile fled awaye 14. and the mountaynes were not founde 15. And there fell a great hayle 16. as it had bene talentes 17. out of heauen 18. vpon the men 19. And the meÌ„ blasphemed God bycause of the plage of the â—ayle 20. for it was great and the plage therof was sore ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Finallye the seuenth Angell went forth vnder the seuenth seale openynge as God had eternally determined throwynge out the content of hys vyall into the ayre For the seuenth age of the christen churche by the verye set purpose of God are manye conuerted to the truthe and become with Paule the vessels of eleccion that afore were wyth Iudas the vessels of wrathe vnder the great aduersarye of God Neyther is it anye blemishe vnto them to be called here that they were afore vyals of wrathe consyderynge that Simon leprosus beynge ones healed of his leprosye was euer after called a leper In case lyke Paule after his conuersyon was not ashamed to report hym self both a Pharyse and also the sonne of a Pharyse 2 These by the myghtye determynacion of Gods stronge iudgement are sent into the ayre Most effectuallye are they lyghtened wyth the sprete of God and prouoked stiflye to stande vp agaynst the aereall powers regnynge in the fyckle fantasticall Antychrystes and hypocrytes condeÌ„pninge by Gods worde their vnyuersall doctrines and deuyllyshnesse These powers are no lesse than deuyls whoÌ„ Christ calleth fowles of the ayre Peter aÌ„ IohaÌ„ mannis aduersaryes saynt Paule the gouerners of the esâ— darkenesses in spyrytuall wyckednesse 3 Whils these thinges are in doynge out of heauen which is the vnyuersall congregacion yea from the verye trone of God which is the electe faythfull nombre for they are onlye the seate of God came a voyce of reioysinge saynge after this sort 4 It is done All thinges are fynyshed Chrystes glorye ones manyfestlye knowne â—ke worlde is at an ende The wycked hath done all their myscheffes and the nombre of owr bretherne is fulfylled Thus shall they preache a full delyueraunce of the captyues and the peceable yeare of the lorde Thys ys the sylence of an halfe howre space mencyoned afore in the .viij. chapter and the returne of this worlde vnto Chryst in the .xij. Chapter Not that there shall in those dayes be no enemies for the remnaunt shall styll remayne but that they shall not then openlye dare rage persecute and kyll the worlde beynge at
to God Their malyce hath so blynded theÌ„ and the clowde of ignoraunce so darkened their knowlege that styll they blaspheme and most cruellye persecute 8 And in the same howre sayth saynt Iohan there happened a greate earthquake A terrible coÌ„tradiccion aryseth euer from the carnall Sinagoge froÌ„ amonge the earthlye mynded hipocrites whaÌ„ the verite is â—awght as it was afore tyme in Christ in his Apostles specyallye in Paule and now of late dayes in manye other poore preachers WhaÌ„ newe witnesses aryse then waxe they more madde fearce and felle then they were afore Then empreson they then ponnyshe they then make they actes and coÌ„maunde in peyne of deathe nomore to speake in that name Yet do they rather loose than wynne falle than ryse dysprofyght that profyght 9 For the tenth part of theyr cyte felle to the grownde Their buyldinge vpon sande wyll in no case endure That God hath not planted must vp by the rootes Their holye whoryshe churche whych is here called Sodome and Egypte is ruynouslye decayed Their monasteries of monkes their howses of fryres their colleges of Idle prestes with their nonnes chanons and chanteryes in manye places are downe Tythes are not as they haue bene nor trentals nor other deuocions Images are not sought nor pardons in confession The people inclineth to newe lernynge and goeth from their olde beleue of holye churche They that were monkes prestes and fryres are now become gospell teachers Soche as afore were dead standeth vpp now agaynst them boldelye This fallen part is here the tenth for it is the lordes by the lawe It is the same shepe that afore was lost now is brought to Christes folde These were called awaye from thens by the wytnesses the other stande yet styll aÌ„d are euery daye worse and worse 10 In the earthquake were slayne names of menne to the nombre of seuen thowsande An innumerable multytude hath bene sent out of the waye by these Antichrystes in theyr furye but yet nothynge haue they slayne but their names Onelye haue they hurte theyr bodyes vpon their sowles haue they had no powre nomore than had SathaÌ„ vpon the sowle of Iob. Yet haue not their names peryshed before God for of hym are they wrytten in the boke of lyfe In no case are the wycked of the godlye here putt vnto deathe thowgh some do so vnderstande it but rather of the wycked the godlye For they neuer retayle their wronges but rather praye for their enemyes 11 And the remnaunt or resydewe were feared sayth saynt Iohan and gaue glorye to God of heauen Of soche as were left in their earthquakes or terryble persecucions some remayned in presone Some were beggered some were eryled some fledde some lost their estimacion and fryndes and yet gaue prayse vnto God 12 In all their aduersitees they gloryfyed the name of their heauenlye father and Lorde Thus haue we here what is done alredye and what is yet to come vnder thys sixt trompet blowynge where vnder we are now whych all be longeth to the seconde woo 13 And these thynges ones accomplyshed the seconde woo wyll be past And then loke bye bye for the thirde woo for it wyll folowe anone after without fayle yea so sone as thys seconde woo is done 14. In the latter age of all shall thys thyrde woo reygne soche tyme as Gog and Magog most extremelye shall rage And the vniuersall iudgement shall fynyshe that woo as here after more euydentlye wyll opere But consyder that these woes are to the infydels The faythfull feareth them not but receyuynge the worde in a pure hart they brynge forth frute in pacyent sufferaunce ¶ The .xii. Chapter NOw foloweth in order the viâ— troÌ„pet blowing or the pure declaracion of Christes ioyfull tidinges for the last age of the churche vnder the .vij. scale openynge with the woÌ„ders maruels that their after enseweth The text 1 And the seueÌ„th angel blewe 2 and there were made great voyces in heaueÌ„ 3. saynge The kyngedomes of this worlde are our lordes and his Chrystes 4. and he shall raygne for euermore 5. And the .xxiiij. elders whych sate before God on their seates 6. fell vpon their faces and worshypped God saynge 7. We geue the thankes lorde God almyghtye whych art and wast and art to come 8. and For thu hast receyued thy great myght aÌ„d hast raygned 9. And the nacyons were angrye 10. and thy wrathe is to come 11. and the tyme of the dead that they shulde be iudged 12. and that thu shuldest geue rewarde vnto thy seruauntes the prophetes and sayntes 13. and to theÌ„ that feare thy name small and great 14. and shuldest destroye them whych destroye the earthe ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the seuenth angell blewe sayth Saynt Iohan The seuenth sort of syncere preachers shall vtter their message accordyng to the wyll of God they shall declare his pleasure as he hath appoynted them For thowgh it be spoken here as past and done for the certente of the thynge yet is it not fulfylled in effect The worde of God was wythout begynnynge and hys promes euerlastynge yet ys yt not all perfourmed in his creaturs but manye thynges are yet to come 2 After this blast of the angell were made greet voyces in heauen Manye the congregacyon or kyngedome of God his Gospell ones purelye publyshed by the preachers shall speaâ—e godlye thynges to the edyfycacyon of other The symple poore weakelynges idyotes and infantes shall vttre the hydden wysdome of God to the confusion of the great wyse menne and sage senyours of thys worlde Yea the liones in the strete the out castes of the worlde the forsaken people shall wonderfullye prayse the lorde 3 And these shall be their saynges whaÌ„ they shall se the Antichrystes confused and not able to speake agayne The kyngedomes of this worlde that were â—ouâ— tyme wycked cruell and vnfaythfull are now become the lordes hys Christes of his onlye grace and goodnesse Now fall they to the worde that afore thought it folyshnesse Now cleaue they to the truthe that sumtyme ded abhorre it Now haue they in hande the gospell that afore ded persecute it as sidiciouse lernynge and heresye 4 And in thys congregacyon shall he reygne euermore Continuallye is he with them that in faythe retayneth his veryte All this shall they vttre wyth no small reioyce For doubtlesse after the seuenth seale openynge and the gospell preachynge than a paceable tyme shall be and fygured it is by the half howre spoken of afore For it shall not continewe to the ende Longe maye not Christes churche be vnpersecuted But yet thys peace for the tyme shall not onlye be an inwarde peace in the conscyence as ys alwayes amonge the faythfull but an outwarde quiet also or a season wythout persecucyon abrode 5 And the .xxiiij. elders sayth saynt Iohan or the greatt nombre of sayntes departed which sitteth before God on their seates or resteth in hys swete peace in soche graces of the sprete as
he gaue them by theyr lyfe tyme as charyte stedefastnesse loue ioye peace mekenesse ryghtousnesse and soche other lyke fell downe flatte vpon their faces 6 Most humblye haue they euer submytted them selues referrynge vnto God the father the benefyght of theyr creacyon and vnto Iesus Chryst hys sonne the fre gyfte of theyr redempcyon Yea specyallye at thys tyme beynge vnder the aulter of God and knowynge by his mere goodnesse the nombre of theyr bretherne shortlye to be fulfylled and them selues wyth them to be at a gloryouse lyberte after their ghostlye sort they lawde hym saynge 7 From the verye depeth of owr spyrytuall hartes we render vnto the most hygh thankes Lorde God almightye eternall father Sonne and holye Ghost which art one essencyall God and werst without begynnynge and shalt be without endynge 8 For thu hast taken vpon the thy grete myght Now hast thu shewed thy wonderfull powre Euer hast thu raygned amonge thy peple but neuer so gracyouslye so plentuouslye and so gloryouslye for owr behoue 9 The heythen euermore were angrye whan thy tâ—wthe apered Madde were the wycked Antychrystes whan thy glorye shyned and their pryde demynished They fretted for anger they swelled for wodenesse yea they sâ—ewe thy seruauntes and burned vp thy peple 10 But now is thy wrathe towardes theÌ„ Now will thy aÌ„ger breake out now wyll thy veÌ„geauÌ„ce apere Now shall thy terrible iudgemeÌ„t without mercye be declared froÌ„ heaueÌ„ vpoÌ„ all vngodlinesse of those cruell enemies that with-holde thy truthe in vnryghtousnesse 11 Now shortelye enseweth the tyme of the dead wherin they shall be iudged some to ioye some to heuynesse some to glorye some to peyne 12 Now approcheth the glad season wherin thu hast appoynted to rewarde the true seruauntes the prophetes and the faythfull beleuers made sayntes by the onlye deathe of thy sonne and all them that yet feareth thy name wyth eternall felicyte 13 Non wylt thu seclude from this thy lyberall goodnesse for no weakenesse nor pouerte But so well the small as the great the lowe as the hygh the poore as the ryche the sycke as the whole the vnlerned as lerned shall tast of thy inestimable clerenesse 14 Onlye shalt thu destroye them that destroyed the earthe compellynge both it and all that therin is not to serue the their heauenlye creator but theyr owne stynkynge desyres lustes and corrupt affecâ—yons thy glorye not ones estemed nor regarded Herin maye we coniecture that the seuenth seale ones opened aÌ„d the .vij. trompet blowne the last iudgement daye is not farre of Blessed is he that watcheth for the lordes commynge The Text. 1 And the temple of God was opened in heauen 2. and there was sene in hys temple the Arke of hys Testamente 3. And there folowed lyghtenynges and voyces and thondringes and earthquake 4. and moche hayle ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And the temple of god sayth Saynt Iohan was opened in heauen EuydeÌ„t wyll the godlye and spirituall estate of the true Christen churche seme in those dayes the gospell syncerelye preached In faythe shall menne seke their lyuinge father and not in dead Images nor other corruptible thinges In sprete and veryte shall they worshyp hym and not in dumme ceremonyes nor outwarde shaddowes Speared is Gods temple whan hys true worshyppynge is hydde And opened it is agayne whan that is clerelye seane Tyll Chrystes commynge in the fleshe nothynge therof apered With the keye of Dauid opened ke the misteries therof Wherbye throwgh faythe the conuersacyon of manye is now and hath bene euer send in heauen 2 This temple thus open anon the Arke of Gods holye testament was seane therin Christ sheweth hym self in his owne colours whan the gospell is truly receyued which is that Arke wherin all the ryches of Gods couenauntes and the preciouse treasure of his promes is reposed to mannes behoue And speciallye those by whome we are reconcyled and saued By him are we onlye brought to Gods fauer agayne and graciouslye redemed Yea all the sort of vs haue receyued of his habundaunt and ouerflowynge fulnesse The syght of this Arke in the temple is non other than a clere knowlege of hym in hys congregacyon So oft are his mysteries euydent as this temple is opened So manye tymes are they knowne as his worde is truly tawght 3 And no small frute is to be thought to come therof For there folowed lyghteninges voyces thonderinges and earthquakes Dyuerse respectes hath the veryte of God accordynge to dyuerse audyences In maner of lightenynge it moueth some makynge of earthe heauen and of synners godlye people A sownde or a noyse onlye it is to some menne not regardynge the frutes therof To some it is an occasyon of anger spyght and madnesse and to some of open blasphemye agaynst the Holye Ghost For what els doth the clergye malycyouslye withstandynge it but wylfullye worke agaynst knowlege And what doth the vndyscrete â—ayte blynded by them but Bable they woote not what 4 And a great hayle also folowed which betokeneth the vehement and sharpe iudgementes of Godâ— towardes soche enemyes of his veryte The most terryble tempest of his Iâ—e abydeth them The Lorde shall breake into the lande sayth the Prophetâ— Esaye lyke a sore rempest of hayle that breaketh downe stronge holdes or castellâ—s And the proude crowne of the dronken Ephraemytes shall be troden vnder fote Not onlye ys the last age appoynted to these thonderynges and earthquakes but they beganne also so sone as Christ apered in the fleshe No sonner was the yonge babe borne but Herode for madnesse sought to slee hym in hys verye infancye The Pharisees aÌ„d Scribes the byshoppes prestes and lawers swelled at hys preachynge and neuer left tyll they had slayne hym And this rewle with the prelates and hypocrytes hath contynued euer sens and styl shall do tyll the latter daye Onlye ys there and shall be a moderacyon that somtyme yt ys not so extreme as at some For yf yt were alwayes a lyke there shuld non be left The Text. 1 And there apered a great woÌ„der in heauen 2. A woman clothed with the Sunne 3. aÌ„d the Moone vnder her fete 4. and vpon her head a crowne of .xii. Starres 5. And she was with childe 6. and cryed trauelynge in byrthe 7. and payned redye to be delyuered ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And there apered sayth Saynt IohaÌ„ a great token in heauen â–ª For no wonder ys thys token here to be taken as in other places of the Scripture but for a type or fygure contayninge vnder mysterye greate thynges 2 A woman was seane clothed with the sonne yea of Iohan â–ª For to Gods onlye electes ys the veryte shewed to auauntage Not Marye Christes mother ys this woman though manye hath so fantasyed in their commentaryes But yt ys the true christen churche of whom Marye ys a most notable member 3 Thys woman the churche as Salomons cantycles specyfyeth ys fayre louelye plesaunt swete wholsome dilectable vndefyled as the Mone excellent in clerenesse as the