the ryghtouse and that shall se the peace vpon Israell whan the lorde shall leade forth them with the euyll doers that hath yoked themselues with their lawes The lorde graunt vs ones to tast the prosperyte of Hierusalem Amen The .xv. Chapter NOt onlye for the common synnes of the worlde doth the lorde plage but most of all for vnthankefulnesse of all blaâ—â—phemyes the greatest For thaâ— spurneth agaynst knowlege and dyrectlye worketh agaynst the holye Ghost A double destruccyon or decaye both of sowle and bodye by the ryghtousnesse of God must nedes folowe the wylful contempte of hys veryte manifestlye shewed and openlye taught Yet ys the lorde so mercyfull that he willeth not the dampnacion of a synner Soche compassion hath he ouer oure manyfolde weakenesse that he premonysheth vs of his most terrible plages to call vs backe by feare yf loue will not do yt As here consequentlye in the first vysyon of this present reuelacyon to Iohan which foloweth after this sort in thys xv and .xvi. chapters The Text. 1 And I same another sygne in heauen greate and maruelouse 2. seuen Angels hauynge the seuen last plages 3. for in them ys fulfylled the wrathe of God 4. And I sawe as yt were a glassye see 5. myngled with fyre 6. and them that had gotten victorye of the Beast and of hys Image 7. and of his marke and of the nombre of his name 8. stande on the glassye see 9. hauynge the harpes of God 10. And they sange the songe of Moyses the seruauÌ„t of God 11. and the songe of the lambe saynge 12. Greate and maruelouse ar thy workes lord God almyghtye 13. iuste true are thy wayes thu kynge of sayntes 14. Who shall not feare o lorde glorifye thy name 15. For thu onlye art holye 16. and all Gentyles shall come aÌ„d worship before the. 17. for thy iudgementes are made manyfest ¶ The Paraphrase 1 And I sawe sayth saynt Iohan by the secrete goodnesse of my lorde God yet an other token in heauen great and maruelouse straunge and wonderfull For in the churche or congregacyon of God are euermore vttred his wonderfull and depe iudgementes vnto them only whom his grace appoynteth as vnto Iohan. And this is the token in mysterye 2 Seuen angels had in their haÌ„des the seuen last plages Some exposytours haue taken these Angels for the ryght mynisters in the .vij. ages of the christen churche Some haue thought them to be the peruerse preachers and vngodly mynisters of all the sayd ages suffred of God strongelye to delude the vnbeleuers that he which hurteth shuld hurte styll and that he which is in fylthynesse shuld styll be fylthye Vnto euerye age correspondynge an Angell to declare the nature of those deceytfull hyrelynges and lyenge masters And this maketh them so to vnderstande the text They are here expreslye noted to be in heauen Amonge the congregacyons of God are the false prophetes and dissemblynge hypocrites euermore as the chaffe amonge the corne the tares amonge the wheate and the fylthye dregges amonge the pure wyne For that kyngedome is as a nette throwne into the see and gatherynge all maner of fyshes both good and badde In all ages hath the wycked generacyon increased to impugne the truthe and styflye to stande vp agaynst God and his Christ whych is non other after their myndes than to mynistre the .vij. last plages here For no poyson is to the sowle so pestylent nor yet venime so noyfull as is false doctrâ—ne No plage can be thought more deadlye nor vyrulent than to depryue vs of that faythe of that veryte aÌ„d of that lyfe which is in Christ Iesu or to brynge vs out of that waye which he hath appoynted And all this semeth no small lykelyhode of the iust vnderstandynge of the texte here Yet geueth Frances Lanâ—bert a farre better iudgement callynge them the set sentences or vnvariable decrees of God diffinynge hys iudgementes agaynst the wycked in this latter age of the worlde at their appoynted tymes to be vttered For all these thynges are ioyntlye to be consydered These Angels came not onlye from heauen which is the congregacyon as they haue mencyoned but also out of the celestyall temple of the tabernacle of testimonye which is the omnipoteÌ„t God and his Chryst as the .xxi. chapter here of declareth They are also clothed with pure whyght lynnen gyrded with golden gyrdels they haue golden vyals delyuered vnto them by one of the .iiij. Beastes and one of them commonèth with Iohan declarynge vnto him the iudgement aÌ„d fall of the great whore Which are no argumentes that they are here to be taken for yll preachers thowgh they here mynistre the last .vij. plages Therfor shall we iudge them here to be Gods appoynted purposes or eternallye decreed pleasurs agaynst the wylfull obstynates and indurate rebellyous to the ende of the worlde These are called the last plages bycause they fall in the last age of the worlde whom Esaye Hieremye Oseas and Mycheas calleth the last dayes Iohan the last howre and Paule the endes of the worlde Seuen are they named here in a vniuersal respect both of the tymes parsones places and peruerse doctrynes of the whole worlde And also because of the .vij. seales and the .vij. trompettes to whose iudgementes they Ioyntlye agre as in the next chapter folowinge wyll apere more largelye 3 For in them sayth the text is fulfylled the wrathe of God The indignacyon of the lorde is in them whollye declared For what hate can he shewe more vnto manne than to withdrawe from him his grace to leaue him to him self to suffre him in his owne blynde iudgementes to geue hym ouer to his owne fylthye lustes and to sende hym the operacyon of erroure to his double dampnacyon A verye fulfyllynge of Gods anger is it also to appoynt vs a false Prophete or deceyuable curate a wanton Prynce or vngodlye gouernoure These therfor with soche lyke are those plages in whom is depelye accomplyshed the dyspleasure of God And they are here named the last plages for after them shall non other be seane the latter daye fynyshynge and clearynge all 4 And I behelde sayth Saynt Iohan in the same sayd vysyon as it were a glassye see or a great flowynge water in symylytude of glasse all myngled wyth fyre Non other is this see but the precyouse veryte of the Lorde so clere as glasse and so pure as christall This see gushed out of the harde rocke stone that was clouen a sonder in the desart Whan he sent forth his sprete these waters floweâ— forth in habundaunce 5 Most effectuall and quycke is this see And therfor it is here noted as myngled with fyre whych signifyeth the holye ghost For neuer is the veryte wythout Gods sprete A ferce fyerye streme calleth Danyel this see All fyerye is thy worde lorde sayth Dauid also and therfor thy seruaunt loueth it This is the fouÌ„tayne of lyuynge water spryngynge vp into the lyfe euerlastynge Vnto this
they blasphemed the omnipotent lorde of heauen for verye anguishe and dolour of their sores and woundes For non other are the frutes of a desperate conscience than blasphemyes of God as in Cain Iudas and soche other lyke Non other are the vtteraunces of an vnpenytenâ— hart but heauye hatefull mormurynges 6 And therfor yt foloweth that they repented them not of their dedes For in a crucyate or fearfullye vexed conscience can neuer dwell true repentaunce So vnquietouse alwayes ys the folyshe desperate mynde as is the troubled ragynge see A wycked hart is ladeÌ„ with sorowes heapynge synne vpon synne the Synagoge of proude Hipocrytes hauynge no helthe In the fift Seale openynge Trompet blowynge is more of thys misterye declared which agreeth moche with thys vyall of God lyke as doth the other with the other in their nombres though not in their figurs The Text. 1 And the sixte Angell poured out hys vyall 2. vpon the great ryuer of Euphrates 3. and the water dried vp 4 that the waye of the kinges 5. of the East shuld be prepared 6. And I sawe thre vncleane spretes lyke frogges 7. come out of the mouthe of the Dragon 8 and out of the mouthe of the beast 9. out of the mouth of the false prophete 10. for they are the spretes of deuyls 11. workynge myracles to go out 12. vnto the kynges of the earthe and of the whole worlde 13. to gather theÌ„ to the battayle 14. of the greate daye of God almyghtye 15. Beholde I come as a thefe 16. happye is he that watcheth 17. and kepeth his garmentes 18. least he be founde naked 19. and men se his fylthynesse 20. And he gathered them togyther into a place 21. called in the Hebrue tunge Armagedon ¶ The Paraphrase 1 In course now foloweth the sixt angell of Gods appoyntment vnder the â—ixt seale openinge shedinge out his Irefull vyall vpon the great ryuer Euphraâ—es a flood of the Assyrianes or of Babylon betokeninge in mysterye the plesaâ—nt possessions and wauerynge delyghtes of the Papysticall clergye with soche lyke â— Into all filthye despres of carnall and worldlye lustes gaue the lorde their harâ—s ouer in the sixt age of the christeÌ„ churâ—he for their vnbeleues sake to do thoâ—e thinges which are vncomlye and beâ—stlye So that all their stodye trauayle â—nd laboure sought to non other ende â—ut onlye to habunde in them Whollyâ—â—ere they geuen thervnto and nothynâ—â— to the glorye of God in all their practysed obseruacions 3 Yet were the waters therof in processe of tyme dryed vp Their welthye ponâ—pes possessions and pleasurs their faâ—â—se feates ones knowne are and shalâ— be clerelye taken awaye from them For after Iesus Syrach the plante of sinnâ— shall be roted out in the proude Sinagoge of the wycked 4 And all this shall be to prepare the waye of the kynges from the sprynge of the sunne Neuer shall the gouerners walke in the wayes of the lorde nor rewle accordynge to Christes doctryne nor yet that doctrine be apert and open tyl the waters be dryed vp not one droâ—â—pe remayninge So longe as the Preâ—â—stes dwell in wanton delightes and vaâ—â—ne pleasurs eyther are the princes chylâ—dyshe or els tyrannouse accordynge aâ— their nedes requyreth 5 Neuer are they kynges from the spriâ—â—ge of the Sunne or accordynge to Chriâ—stes rewle sekynge Gods honor wytâ— Dauid and Iosias In Englande by thâ— Gospell preachynge haue manye of thâ—se waters bene dryed vp in the suppresâ—sion of monasteryes prioryes couenâ—tes and fryres howses yet are not aâ—â— thynges brought vnto Chrystes clerâ— institucyon A syncere Chrysten ordeâ— can not yet be seane there And a greaâ— cause whye For all is not yet dryed vp there The Byshoppes regne styll in as moche vayne gloryouse pompe and wyth as manye heythnyshe obseruacions as euer they ded As cruellye harted and as bloudye mynded are they yet as euer they were afore no myschef vnsought to holde in the waters Marke how Wynchester Durham Yorke London and Lyncolne worketh wyth soche other plesauntlye dysposed Euphratynes But be of good confort and praye in the meane tyme. For the holye Ghost promyseth here they shall wydder awaye wyth all that the heauenlye father hath not planted All that generacyon wyll the lordes breathâ— consume Now is the axe layed to the roote of the tree to hewe downe the vnfrutefull braunches the wyddred reserued to vnquencheable fyre God graunt the princes at that daye more christenlye to bestowe the waters of Euphrates than they haue yet bene bestowed no prouysyon made for the poore nor yet order sett for the Gospell preachynge For great part of it is now turned to the vpholdynge of dyse playnge maskynge and banketynge yeaâ— I wolde I coude not by iust ocrasyons speake it brybynge whorynge aÌ„d swearinge the townes peples aÌ„d howseholdes miserablye decayed whych wyll not one daye be vnplaged vnlesse they repent 6 Fardermore I sawe sayth Saynt Iohan in the same self visyon thre vncleane spretes one commynge out of the draâ—ons mouthe which signifieth Sathan the deuyll an other out of the Beastes mouthe betokeninge the vniuersall Antichrist aÌ„d the thirde out of the false prophetes mouthe compared afore to the two horned Beast And all they semed in maner as frogges both in their colours and facyons 7 Idolatrye was that yll sprete whych first went out from the Serpent hath coÌ„tynued euer sens in the worlde vnder the coloure of good workes as pilgrimage deuocyon and laboure 8 Erroure in abhominable fylthynesse was the sprete which came from the beastly Antichrist defilynge the whole christianite with innumerable supersticions vnder the coloure of chast lyuynge in presthode sacrifices and ceremonyes 9 Hypocrisye was the fowle sprete which yssewed fromthe false preachers poysoninge the catholyke faythe wyth false doctrine vnder the coloure of relygion pretendinge abstinence prayer aÌ„d clennesse These .iij. wycked spretes are not all vnlyke to the wylde fyre smoke and brymstone which the terryble ferce horses euometed in the .ix. chapter of this present prophecye â–ª For cursed false and vnpure they are Their doctrine is wyckednesse lyes and deuylishnesse aÌ„d the execrable wysdome of the fleshe In maner of frogges are they here descrybed for their dyuersite of colours in ceremonyes doctrynes and sectes for their filthye dwellynge in the dyrtye tradycions of menne and for crookelynge of their vnknowne psalmodye and seruyce dysquietynge wyth their idle customes the consciences of the simple multytude 10 These are the verye spretes of deuyls the ympes of Sathan workynge soche sygnes and myracles as wolde deceyue the verye chosen persons aÌ„d brynge them into erroure if it were so possible But the lorde euermore defendeth his 11 A stronge power haue they by the workynge of Sathan to shewe lyenge wonders and deceyuable signes amonge them that shall peryshe for detestynge the truthe 10 These shall by the permissioÌ„ of God be suffred to go at large they shall strongelye delude the kynges of the earthe and blynde the gouernours of the
the fifte brought he the worlde into a damnable peace of Idolatrye and supersticyoÌ„ And for the sixt seynge he can not yet preuayle he maketh open warre vpon the remnaunt of her sede 14 Now doth hys Synagoge of Prelates Prestes Hypocrites and tyrauntes make wycked lawes agaynst them Now do they persecute them for kepynge the commandementes of God in marryage in receyuinge meates with thankes geuynge and in not goynge out to seke Christ here and there in their Masses and mutterynges in their outwarde colours and shaddowes 15 Now put they them to deathe which haue the Testimonye of Iesus Christ preachynge hym for an onlye teacher necessarye for an onlye mediatoure and aduocate for an onlye sauer and redemer for our onlye ryghtousnesse wysdome and helthe For their warre ys onlye agaynst them that kepe Gods commaundementes and that haue the wytnesse of Iesu Neyther ys yt agaynst bawdes nor whores agaynst murtherers nor theues agaynst Idolatours nor Hypocrites sorcerers nor Sodomytes aduowterers nor glottons Idyotes nor lyars Idle prestes nor vagabondes scysmatykes nor traytours Non of these seke they out Non of these accuse they as their sessyons but the onlye readers of thâ— gospell and poore fauorers of Gods truthe 16 Vpon the â—re sande stande they euer more with their graÌ„de captayne to fyght thys battayle NoÌ„ other lawes haue they to grownde themselues vpon but their owne tradycyons and â—customes with soche fantastycall actes as they daylye make or procure to be made of Princes for their owne wycked purpose And as their lawes are beggerlye and weake so is their vsurped auctoryte so are their proude tytles so are their myters their anoyntinges and pompouse funccyons All are sande duste and rotten powder before God not grounded vpon hys worde All are vnprofytable chaffe Yea their selues are a grounde vnfrutefull sandye and vnsure fytt for the dragon to staÌ„de vpon to fyght agaynst Christes members For they are the verye seate of Sathan and hys contynuall dwellynge place And that he can not do by hymselfe he bringeth euermore to passe by them Innumerable also are their deuyllyshe practyses their wyles aÌ„d their subtiltees to vpholde their master as aâ—â— the sandes of the see The .xiij. Chaptre By the monstruouse owgelye and most odyouse Beast rysynge out of the see with .vij. heades and .v hornes ys mente the vnyuersall or whole Antichrist compreheÌ„dinge in hym all the wyckednesse furye falshede frowardnesse deceyt lyes craftes slayghtes subtyâ—tees â—ipocresyet tyrannye myscheffes pryde aÌ„d all other deuyllyshenesse of all hys malycyouse members which hath bene sens the begynnynge The excedynge presumpcyon of them that hateth the blessed lorde sayed Dauid aryseth daye by daye Contynuallye thyne enemies growe alwayes they increace and euermore they prospere in thys worlde Not from the stedefast or sure grounde which are the lordes peple aryseth this beast but out of the waueryâ—ge see or from the fyckle felyshyppe and moueable multitude of the vngodlye For the wycked sort after Esaye are the ragynge see that can not rest whose water fometh with the myre and grauel No peace ys amoÌ„ge the vngodly sayth the lorde no vnyte no charyte nor mutuall christeÌ„ loue It pleased therfor the holye ghost to prouoke Iohan after hys secrete vysyon to describe thys myghtye Antichrist thus in hys ryght colours accordinge to that he had seane to the fore warnynge of Christes peple The Text. 1. ANd I sawe a Beast ryse out of the see 2. hauynge seuen heades and ten hornes 3. and vpon hys hornesten crownes 4. and vpoÌ„ hys head the names of blasphemye 5. And the Beast whych I sawe was lyke a Catte of the mountayne 6. and hys fete were as the fete of a Beare 7. and hys mouthe as the mouthe of a lyoÌ„ 8. And the dragon gaue hym 9 hys power 10. and hys seate 11. and great autoryte ¶ The Paraphrase 1 I behelde sayth Saynt Iohan an execrable Beast verye odyouse and hatefull to loke vpon rysynge out of the rauenouse roarynge see For the wycked auaunceth themselues as the grene baye tree in vngodlynesse and the Synagoge of proude Hipocrytes ryseth vp aloft settynge vp their cristes as doth the fatte Cedar trees of libanus All beastlye are they as was Elymas the sorcerer full of fylthynesse gyle and falshede yea the verye whelpes of the deuyll subuertynge the wayes of God Non other ys this Beast here described than was the pale horse in the forth age the cruell multytude of locustes in the fift age and the horses of incomparable wodenesse for the sixt 2 SeaueÌ„ heades and .x. hornes had thys cruell beast not vnlyke therin to the aforesayd rede dragon or Serpent For â–ª loke what pestyleÌ„t suggestyons in errours and lyes and what deceyuable power in sygnes and wonders hath regned in the deuyll for all ages the same also hath regned in the wycked members of hys Besty all bodye in the furyous byshoppes lawers doctours prestes Hypocrytes and false magistrates for their heades are their vnyuersall craftes and their hornes their tyrannouse auctorytees vsurped primacyes or malygnauÌ„t magistrates Thy stroÌ„ge myghty power lorde sayth Dauid hath broken the dragons heades in the ragynge waters Thu hast smytteÌ„ in peces the heades of the greateleâ—â—athan Inhaunce not yowr hornes so hygh ye styffnecked Antichristes for the hornes of the vngodly wyll the lorde plucke downe and exalte the hornes of the ryghtous in the howse of Dauid hys seruaunt More are the hornes here in nombre than are the heades For greatter ys the power than ys the suggestyon the vsurped auctoryte than the crafte the Mageste than the erroure and moche more myscheff maye worke 3 Thys Beast had vpon hys .x. hornes .x. crownes sygnyfyenge hys vyctorye domynyon and prymacye ouer the vnyuersall worlde and that he through the wyckednesse of the peple ys the vnworthy captayne and prince therof In thys onlye poynt â—yffereth the Dragon from the Beast the deuyll from hys members or sathan from hys carnall Synagoge He had .vij. crownes vpon hys .vij. heades They haue .x. crownes here vpon their x. hornes For that he hath but in symple suggestyon they haue in double power of coaccyon Where as he doth but dallyenglye persuade they maye enforce and coÌ„pell Where as he doth but easelye moue they maye by rygorouse auctoryte constrayne Whan he hath propowned aÌ„ erroure they maie by their power establyshe yt for an infallyble truthe and make of yt a necessarye artycle of the christen beleue as they haue done of purgatorye pardons confessyoÌ„ sayntes worshyppynge latten seruyce hearynge and soche lyke WhaÌ„ he hath ones made a lye as he ys the father of all lyes they maye auctoryse yt for an vnwritteÌ„ veryte lyke as they haue done manye Moche more myscheff maye they do beynge hys spyrytuall instrumenteâ— than he can do alone as largelye apereth by their workes Neuer coude Sathan haue putt Christ vnto deathe had he not entred into Iudas and so betrayed hym had he not entred into the
here for the .vij. heades of this beast But I fynde an other thynge in it the bodye of these .vij. heades beynge but one and styll contynuynge so For thowgh all were at that tyme vnder her yet is it not so now aÌ„d yet styll remayneth this beast Therfor I do take it for one vnyuersall Antichrist as I ded afore comprehendynge in hym so well Mahomete as the Pope so well the ragynge tyraunt as the styll hypocrite and all that wyckedlye worketh are of the same bodye The seuen heades of this Beast maye so well be his presumptuouse doinges for the .vij. ages of the churche as anye thynge els and yet no preiudyce done to that hath bene sayed afore What shuld ayle this wounded head here not to sygnyfye his supremyte suppressed his vsurped auctoryte and power dyminihsed and his whole prodygyouse occupyenge condempned in this latter age of the churche I suppose nothynge more manifesâ— vnlesse we haue eyes aÌ„d wyll not se. Are not now in manye partes of Germanye and in Englande also the Popes pardons layed asyde His power put downe his name abolyshed his purgatorye pelgrimages and other peltryes vtterlye exyled and so lyke to be wythin short space in other regyons also If thys be not a deadlye woundynge of one of the Beastes heades I thynke there is non If thys be not an apparent lykelyhode of his falle there is non to be loked for 2 But the healynge agayne of this mortall wounde is lyke to marre all and make the last errour worse thaÌ„ the first In manye places where as the gospell hath bene preached the Byshoppe of Rome deposed sectes shrynes and sanctuaries destroyed monasteries prioryes and fryeryes turned ouer remayneth styll their poyson with those same instrumeÌ„tes wherwith they haue wrought all myschef Styll continueth their more than Iewyshe ceremonyes their prestybulouse presthode their vowynge to haue no wyues and their Sodomyticall chastite Styll remayneth their sale masses of all abhominacioÌ„s the principall their prodigiouse sacrifices their sensynge of Idols their boyeshe processyons their vncommaunded worshyppinges and their confessions in the eate of all trayterye the fountayne wyth manye other strauÌ„ge obseruacyons whoÌ„ the scripture of God knoweth not Nothynge is brought as yet to Christes clere institucyon and syncere ordynaunce but all remayneth styll as the Antichrystes lefte it Nothyng is tryed by Gods worde but by the auncyent auctoryte of fathers Now passeth all vnder theyr tytle Thowgh the olde Byshoppes of Rome were of late years proued Antichrystes and theyr names raced out of owr bokes yet must they thus properlye for olde acquaytaunce be called styll owre fathers If it were nought afore I thynke it is now moche worse For now are they become lawdable ceremonyes where as before tyme they were but ceremonyes alone Now are they become necessarye rytes godlye constitucyons semelye vsages and cyuyle ordynaunces where as afore they had no soche names And he that dysobeyeth them shall not onlye be iudged a fellon and worthye to be hanged by their newe forged lawes but also condempned for a traytoure agaynst hys kynge though he neuer in hys lyfe hyndred but rather to his power hath furdered the common welthe To se this also wyth soche lyke put in execucyon the Byshoppes haue auctoryte euerye moneth in the yeare yf they lyst to call a sessyon to hange and borne at theyr pleasure And thys is ratyfyed and confermed by acte of Perlament to stande the more in effect If thys be no healynge of Antichristes wounded head neuer is lyke to be anye Whan menne shall defende fre wyll and allowe their popyshe Masse to be a sacrifyce fatysfactorye for the quycke and the dead latoure they anye other thynke yow than the healynge of thys wounder He lykewyse that in an open audyence mainteyneth owr owne workes to iustifye by Dimitte nobis and other not ryghtlye vnderstanded scripturs doth he anye other than prepare a salue for the same Nay surelye No lesse also doth he that setteth menne to open penaunce at Paules crosse for holye water makynge for procession and sensynge with other popetishe gawdes constraynynge them to promyse the anauncement of the olde faythe of holye churche by soche fantasticall fopperyes as Bonner bishopp of London ded now of late to the lawhynge game and wonderment of all the worlde Alas how is the peple abused Non other do they but mocke Christen princes with flatterye that geue them olde popyshe tytles and blasphemouse names of Antichrist As to call them most Christen kynges and defenders of the catholike faythe meaninge the Popes olde tradicions to heale the head of the beast This is surelye non other but with the sayd Beast to receyue auctoryte seate and power of Sathan Lete them therfor take hede least they be fownde the same Antichristes that they haue condempned and so throwe them selues double vnder the same plage Necessarye it is they beware what they drynke or what tytles they take vpon them at their appoyntment least they forgettynge them selues be founde dronken by takynge excesse of the Babylonishe cuppe and so peryshe with the wycked Marke here dilygentlye this worde head and ye shall well perseyue how wonderfullye the storye agreeth with the mysterye 3 And all the worlde sayth saynt Iohan wondred at the Beast All folyshe carnall and worldlye peple not vnderstandynge the wysdome of Gods holye sprete depeÌ„deth all vpon their beastlye baggage thinkinge all that they do to be godlye meritoryouse spirituall They magnifye it prayse it and haue it in most hygh estimacion yea they haue it in moche more pryce than anye thinge that is of God In no wyse wyll they from their olde frenesye soche is their excedinge blindenesse For whan they here tell their customes shall continewe their gouernours agreynge to the same they clappe their handes for Ioye and synge Gaudeamus with the prestes 4 Yea they worshypp the Dragon which gaue soche power to the Beast With their hartes they reioyce trustinge vpon longer contynuaunce whan they se his head restored agayne in their rewlers the godlye teachers burned aÌ„d the preachers put to sylence 5 They worship also the Beast so manye as worshipped the Dragon For as they which worship Christ worship his father also so they that worship Antichrist agreynge to his lawes and decrees doth also worship the deuyll of whom he receyued his pryde They wonder with the Iewes that seketh cauyllacions to coÌ„tempne Christes doctrine as doth the filthye familye of the doâ—â—ynge dodypolles prestes and vnlerned lawers They worship with the heythen that admitteth their power and alloweth their factes as doth the folyshe multytude that neuer wyll be godlye wyse Non other iudgement remayneth in these dayes to these wonderers and worshippers of the newlye restored head of the Beast than ded vnto them that wyth double deuocion agreed to the abhominacions of Mahomete and the Pope 6 And thys wyll be theyr saynge as foloweth in the text spoken in the tyme past for the certente of the
chapter folowynge apere ¶ The .xvi. Chaptre The Text. 1 And I herde a great voyce out of the temple 2. saynge to the seuen Angels 3. Go your wayes 4. poure out your vyalles of wrathe vpon the earthe 5. And the first went and poured out hys vyall vpon the earthe 6. and there fell a noysom a sore votche vpon the men which had the marke of the Beaste 7. and vpon them that worsypped hys Image ¶ The Paraphrase AN other great voyce harde IohaÌ„ out of the teÌ„ple A perfyght stronge and ernest assuraunce had he of the lorde by a spirituall premonyshment that the vnvariable decrees of hys sert iudgemeÌ„tes shuld be fulfilled at their tymes of hym appoynted Yea assertayned he was infallyblye that they shuld in their dewe seasons come to passe For vnto his fryndes openeth he hys secrete counsels alwayes as he ded in olde tyme vnto hys wele beloued Israel vnto Moyses Zacharye Ezechiel and Daniel with soche other 2 And the voyce was vnto the .vii. Angels vnder the .vii. Seales openynge aÌ„d the .vii. trompettes blowinge after this sort Go your wayes forth fulfillinge the purpose ye be ordayned vnto Poure ouâ— your vyalles of wrathe vpon the earthe 4 Declare them first of all to the worlde to be the reprobate vessels of dishonour which of wylfulnesse conteÌ„pneth my eternall veryte Consequentlye sende theÌ„ into most depe errour that they maye wexe worse and worse and not onlye to erre in themselues but also to brynge other into errour that they maye receyue the double rewarde therof abydynge my most fearefull iudgement 5 And in soche tyme as the lorde appoynted the first Angell went fourth vnder the first seale openynge and poured out hys vyall vpon the earthe For in the first age of the churche to trye her as golde in the fornace permytted the lorde by his eternall decre the malycyouse Synagoge of the Iewes to rage and to do their vngodlye feates In the which their furyouse madnesse not onlye ded they persecute the Apostles and first preachers of Christ from cyte to cyte but also peruerted the earthlye mynded multytude by manye and dyuerse vngodlye kyndes of false doctryne in hipocresye Of thys sorte was Himineus and Pheletus becomminge of Sadducees false Christyanes and denyenge the latter resurreccion whom Paule ded excommunycate So were also Phigellus aÌ„d Hermogenes bryngynge in agayne circumcysyon with certen ceremonyal obseruacyons to blemyshe the Gospell of Christ. These with soche lyke subuerâ—ed whole howses sayth Paule teachynge thinges that they ought not to haue â—aught for fylthye lucres sake 6 And whan they were thus by the decreed purpose of God shed vpon the earthe or left vnto their owne earthlye beastlynesse all destytute of his grace for contempnynge hys worde so gracyouslye offred there lyghted a noysome and tedyouse botche vpon those meÌ„ne which had the marke of the Beast or an vnchristen beleue through their perswasyons 7 And vpoÌ„ theÌ„ also that worshypped hys Image or accepted them for Godlye that made lawes repugnaunt to hys lawes For the greate headed Rabynes of the Iewes ded not onlye sporte the consciences of the Israelytes their owne natyue contre menne but also of the Grekes and latynes the Asianes Romanes compellynge them for their owne tradycyons to make Gods commandementes of non effect These hauynge a pretence of Godlye lyuynge denyed the power therof Of this sort were they which entred into howses and brought into bondage supersâ—yâ—youse women loâ—en with synne For a more depe vnderstandinge herof conferre thys with the first Seale openynge and the first Trompet blowynge and lyke wyse the other .vi. folowynge The Text. 1 And the seconde Angell shed out hys vyall 2. vpon the see 3. and it turned as it were into the bloude 4. of a deade man 5. And euerye lyuynge thynge dyed in the see ¶ The Paraphrase 1 After this went fourth the seconde Angell of the seconde Seale openynge effundynge hys vyall vpon the see Accordynge to the decree of God almyghtye for the seconde age of the Christen churche regned amonge the Christyanes deceytfull bretherne and peruerse teachers betraynge the true mynysters and delyuerynge them vnto deathe for Iesus Christes sake that hys lyfe myght be seâ—ne in their mortall fleshe For in this lyfe he proueth his electes with AbrahaÌ„ and Iob to saue them and to make theÌ„ iust folowers of Christ whom yt behoued to suffre ere he eÌ„tered into his glorie 2 Upon the see or wauerynge multytude was thys vyall shedde Onlye are the false Prophetes receyued and taken of the folyshe fantastycall and slypper wytted sort as a rede shaken of euerye wynde Non regardeth them which hath sett sure fotynge vpon the harde rocke Christe Soche a vyall or vessell of Gods Ire was Mair the Idomyte which made the Talmud of the Iewes a boke more thaÌ„ .x. Gybles after Nauclerus aÌ„d other Historianes full of blasphemyes and lyes condempnynge the doctrine of Christ. So was Rabby Moyses the Egypcyane Rabyna and Rabasses with soche other confyrmynge the same 3 All bloudye was thys see the vyall ones shedde thervpon All fleshlye were the peple in their iudgementes their hartes fulfylled with cruelte and mourther agaynst Christes true witnesses through their peruerse preachynges Yea in that furiouse rage they thought they ded god great good seruyce whan they putt hys seruauntes vnto deathe 4 Thys bloud was also in a maner as the bloud of a dead maÌ„ne For dead was the doctryne that they taught euen the sleyng letter yt self Dead were also their Ceremonyes their rytes and their ydell obseruacyons So that euerye lyuynge thynge dyed in that bloudye see All they which semen through glytteringe hypocresye to lyue wanted the verye lyfe which ys hydde in Christ and that ryseth offaythe in hys lyuinge worde So ded they also which depended all vpon the vayne pleasurs of this lyfe exercysinge here tyrannye both in wordes and doynges Neyther were they out of the same dauÌ„ger that fell from the veryte ones knowne nor yet they which durst not receyue yt for feare of persecution but both peryshed in this see The Text. 1 And the thirde Angell shed out hys vyall 2. vpon the ryuers and fountaynes of waters 3. and they turned to bloude 4. And I herde an Angell saye 5. lorde which art waste 6. thu art ryghtouse aÌ„d holye 7. bycause thu hast geuen soche iudgementes 8. For they shed the bloude of sayntes and Prophetes 9. and therfor hast thu geuen them bloude to drynke for they are worthye 10. And I herde an other Angell out of the aulter 11. saye 12. Euen so lorde God almyghtye 13. true and ryghtouse are thy iudgementes ¶ The Paraphrase 1 Next in his course went out the thirde Angell vnder the thirde Seale openinge and he poured out his vyall vpoÌ„ the watterye flowdes aÌ„d fowntaynes and all they became verye bloude By his sett decree for the thirde age of the churche suffred the lorde false heretykes to rage in all kindes of erroure