[The image of bothe churches after reulacion of saynt Iohan the euangelyst]

The seconde part of the Image of both churches / after the most wonderfull and heauenlye 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 spanne / 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 heauenlye 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 / and iudge all thinges . Non 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 geuen vnto the gentiles . 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 foundacyon 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 / ●o haue dominyon here in the middest of his enemies .

3 For vnto Iohan yt was sayd for this age . Aryse / from 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 commaundements or of mennes tradicions . And in so doynge trye by the scripturs the ●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 / vpon whom 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 wonders and soche signes in superstycion / as myght deduce into erroure ( yf God were not mercyfull ) the verie elect persons . The monkes 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 counsell my flocke that they go not forth . For God dwelleth in nothinge that is made with hande . In the faythfull hart is Christ onlye founde . 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 obseruacyon of dayes & tymes . They are not his sonnes / that for the ●euen of the Pharisees which ys the doctrine of hypocrites / forsaketh the bread of children which is his lyuinge worde . They are not his lambes but vyle gottes / that rather attendeth to the voyce of straungers / than to the trewe sheparde Christ .

7 And therfor the quere which ys wythin the temple / 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 and 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 Galaās bretherne / those marked Madianytes and cursed Ismaelytes . Allowe them not by the scripturs / commende not theyr counterfet ryghtousnesse . Admyt them not for the membres of Christ / but iudge them to be the sinagoge of Sathan . And speare them 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 menne . Medle not with that quere / haue not to do with that wycked generacion .

9 For it is geuen vnto the gentiles . Whollie are those Antichristes addict to the supersticiouse rytes of the heythen in their sacrifices / their ceremonies / their obseruations / their holy dayes / theyr vygils / fastinges ● praynges / knelinges / & all other vsages / contrary to the admonyshement of Christ . That they shuld in no wyse entre into the wayes of the gentiles . Wherfor God hath detested them with his owne mouthe / & cleane geuen them 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 Gentiles .

10 ▪ 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 fantasyed . 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 foundacion of the Apostles and Prophetes / euen vpon the harde rocke stone Iesus Christ . This is the plesaunt possession / 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 children of promes / the true of springe of Abraham / the chosen howse of Israel / and the kyngedome of the holie ghost . Pure / cleane / and holye hath Christ made this cyte / by non 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 tradicyons / that bryngeth in the Iewishe ceremonies / the gentyles supersticyons / paganes customes and heythen vsages / yokynge menne with importable burdenes of false worshyppinges for theyr owne fylthye lucre and auauntage . Not withstandynge 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 hondreth / & lx. dayes / in that God shall shorten the tyme for hys chosens sake . Thus after saint ●an●e also before the lords commynge / ther must be a departynge . The quere or chaunsel must be cast out / tha● 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 mottē / 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 them 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 Sathan . They must also be permitted to do all mischef in vnryghtousnesse / vpon the cytezeus of God / tyl he vtterlye consume them 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 tr●es 6. and two candelstyckes . 7. standynge 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 hondreth 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 persecution to deathe / yet shall yt not be forsaken . 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 them in theyr trobles / and to confort them in ther cares . Both Moyses and Christ / both the lawe and the gospell / both the prophetes & the apostles shall stande vpon their syde and be vpon ther part : yea / for so moche tyme as ther enemies shall vexe them / and for so moche space as ther aduersaries shal troble them 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 and 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 and Helias / and that they shuld come then from paradyse terrestre for the same puprose / because that Enoch was taken 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 from hence . Paradyse is the swete rest of God appoynted vnto them that depart hence in faythe . The peculiar translations 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 from deathe than 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 Steuen / 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 constantlye 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 / and temperaunce / as in helias and Iohan Baptist.

5 These wytnesses are two swete olyue trees / shedynge forth the fatnesse of the scripturs / and dulcet sauer of the sprete . God hath so blessed them / that their lippes are full of grace . He hath anoynted them 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 hydden misteries of the scripturs / to the confort of the gentyles & glory of the Israelites . They are not the lyght it self but onlye instrumentes ordayned to bere witnesse of the light . For there is but one light for al. Onelye a●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 conmandement 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 the earthe . 9. with all maner plages / as often as they wyll .

¶ The Paraphrase .

i Yf anye manne wyll attempte to do them s●athe / or presumptuouslye seketh by craf●ye colou●s / subtle reasons / and deceytfull argumentes / vpon daungers / doubtes / doctor● / olde customes / and auctoryte of fathers to hyndre their office / blemyshe their message / and darken their lyght● suche fyre shal procede out of their mouthes as shall consume theyr enemyes .

2 The eternall worde of the lord that they shall declare ( which ys the consuminge fyre ) shall vtterlye destroye them . So that nothynge shall be seane of that they were afore . Neyther cut showe nor corde / coule nor graye cote / bote nor blacke whode / rother nor scaplar / myter nor croser / sandale nor frocke / shauen crowne nor anoynting . For all these are theyr enemies .

3 Consumed are they to ther saluacion that with Matthew become of Publycanes trewe Apostles / and with Paule of ferce persecuters charitable teachers . Contrarye wyse are they consumed to theyr damnacyon / whych beynge ouercomen by the manifest veryte / wylfullye persist in their deuyllyshe errours with Antiochus and Pharao / with the Scribes and Pharisees .

4 For yt foloweth . And yf anye manne wyll hurte them / thys wyse must he be kylled . Eyther must he be mortified from the olde Adam / and changed into a newe man in Christ / or els by the seyd worde must he both be iudged and condemned for the vtter aduersarye of God / with sathan hys auncient captayne . So must he be kylled . And no deathe will be founde lyke vnto that deathe come they ones to the felynge of yt / though they account yt now verye lyght .

5 For these wytnesses haue powre a● had Helias / to shutt vp heauen / that yt rayne not in the dayes of their prophecienge / but yet non other wyse than by the afore seyd worde . For the worde of God ys the verye keye of Dauid / which openeth the kyngedome of God to them that faythfullye beleueth / and that speareth yt vp also from them which dwelleth in vnfaithfulnesse . For it is sayd / in the dayes of their prophecyenge . This powre therfor is of the worde / and not of the menne . The worde speareth and openeth / losoneth and byndeth / saueth and dampneth . He that beleueth ( sayth Crist ) shall be saued / he that beleueth not is iudged alredye . No moyster of grace nor godly wysdome can lyght where sturdye frowardenesse is roted . The dayes of their prophecyenge in figure is non other than the aforesayd tyme / tymes / and halfe tyme / or the thre years and .vi. monethes of Helyas .

6 In those dayes shall it not rayne vpon the wycked / they shall haue no grace to receyue the veryte . In parables and figurs shall that be hydden from them / that shall be euident ynowe vnto the faythfull . With eares shall they heare and not vnderstande / with eyes shall they se and not discerue . So blynde wyll their hartes be . For soche spake the prophetes in fygurs / Christ in parables / and the Apostles in misteries . The open truthe of this reuelacion shall not the wycked perceyue / tyll they tast the plages therof . Soche is the nature of Gods wisdom / that thowgh it be not in gloriouse wordes / fyne paputed termes / nor in perswasible reasons of mannes wytte / but in playne symple speakynge / yet can it not be knowne of the worldly wise . The swete dewe therof will not be receyued of them / in the aforesayd dayes of prophecie / but he that is blynde shall be blynde styll .

7 These wytnesses haue also powre ouer waters / to turne them into bloude . Whan they interprete and syncerely declare the pure berites of God / which are those wholsome waters that restrayneth the dampnable drynesse of the sowle / that refresheth the conscyence / and clenseth the harte of the synner / they can not chose but ernestlye condempne the peruerse iudgementes / the couetouse lawes / and hypocritishe workes of the vngodlye . And then is all vncleane vnto them / then is all bloodye . The gospell which was a stomblynge stone to the Iewes / and mad folyshenesse vnto the gentyles / is also now vnto them nowrye newe lerninge / sediciouse doctrine / and abhominable he resye . Yea / and they iudge them worthye to be burned that doth teache it . Thus is it abhorred of them that shall perishe and neuerthelesse to them that beleue / it is the powre of God vnto saluacyon .

8 Fynallye they haue powre to smyte the earthe with al maner of plages / as ofte as they wyll . Uerye ca●the are they that regarde not Gods truthe / as the lorde sayd vnto Adam after hys offence . Earth thu art / and vnto earthe shalt thu returne . Nothinge they esteme / but that whych ys earthlye . Nothinge they desyre / but that is carnall . The frowarde creature wyll in no case knowe that is of the sprete . The lyght ys hatefull vnto sore eyes Uerr peynefull is brede to the mouthe that ys not whole . A great mote was Crist to the Iewes / as hys true preachers are vnto the blynde worlde yet to thys daye . For they smyte the earthe .

9 They towche their lyuynge / they rebuke their falshede / they condempne theyr wyckednesse . They reproue them of synne / of ryghtousnesse and of iudgement . They force not to tell them of ther vnfaithfulnesse / frawde / and hypocrisye / of their philosophers / prelates / and relygyouse . No greatter ●lage ys yt to the vngodlye than to heare of theyr euyll doynges . No greater peyne / nor yet greatter ponnyshment / than to haue their fawtes opened / and their clonynge colours condemned . That fretteth them at the very harte . Deathe must be sought out for soche preachers . No wonder is yt though thys be here written for thys age of the churche . For neuer were more ernest wytnesses then are now / and more are lyke here after to folowe / tyll the manne of synne be fullye knowne / and his kyngedome clerelye ouerthrowne .

The Text.

1 And whan they haue fynished theyr testimonie . 2. the beast hat came out of the bottom lesse pytte . 3. shall make warre agaynst them . 4. and shall ouer come them . 5. And theyr bodyes shall lye in the stretes of the great cyte . 7. whych spirytuallye is called Sodome and Egypte . 8. where our lorde is crucyfyed .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And whan they haue ones fynyshed theyr testimonye ( sayth the lorde ) the beast that came out of the bottomlesse pytte / shal make warre ageynst them . No soner shal the witnesses of Gods veryte in allages be taken from the worlde / than he hath prefixed . After non other sort shall they be sent hence / than he hath appoynted by hys eternall decre . Iohan baptist was not enprysoned nor beheaded / tyll he had done hys offyce . Christ was not taken / condemned / and crucyfyed tyl hys howre was come . Paule was not putt vnto deathe / tyl he had fulfilled his course .

2 The beast of the bottomlesse pytte ys the cruell / craftye / and cursed generacion of Antychrist / the pope with hys byshoppes / prelates / prestes / and relygyouse in Europa / Mahomete with hys dettynge dowsepers in Affrica / and so forth in Asia and India / all beastlye / carnall / and wycked in their doynges .

3 These maketh warre ageynst Gods wytnesses / whan they hate them / curse them / blaspheme them / and persecute them . Whan they 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 be●e also the members . If the howsholder be called Beelzebub / the howsholde must suffre the same . No better is the seruaunt 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 and slaues / so washinge their owne holye handes from the shedynge of innocentes bloode .

5 They shall kylle them also by their counsell / 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 hange them / heade them / or burne them . And thowgh they laye no handes vpon them for soylynge their consecrate fyngars / yet must it be done by their ghostlye cownsel / and ordred also after their spyrituall appoyntment . Non other is it to lye in the stretes of their greate cyte / than after ●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 non of the world . They wyll be called the holy churche / good ghostlye fathers / godly dyuines / & spirituall menne / not considerynge of what sprete they are spiritual . They are those into whom 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 / and 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 Hierusalem / 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 them selues outwardlye for the peculiar chosen peple of God . Not onlye ys Christ amonge them persecuted / scourged / ponnyshed / and 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 them that dwelte on the earthe .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And as they lye thus dead in the stretes / or are contempned as heretykes / and 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 / and 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 them / 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 / and 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 ●a●elye seane here in Englande by Thomas hyttoon / Thomas bylueye Iohan frith / George baynham / William 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 Cobham , sir Roger ac●on knyght / sir Reynolde pecock byshop of chychester Master Iohan Ayshton / sir Willyam thorpe / sir Willyam ●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 William Tracye esquire / & in London the bodye of Rycharde honne merchande taylour . Moreouer Iohan colet deane of Paules in london also / was not farre from 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 chaunteryes / they subdewed no Princes / nor yet dyed for the lybertees of holye churche . They s●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 w●●es of their owne / & teache nothynge but Gods lawes .

4 And they that dw●ll vpon the earthe ( sayth the lorde ( or haue their felycite herewith the ryche glotton / shall reioyce ouer them and be gladde .

5 They shall clappe their handes whan these godlye wytnesses be brought out of the waye They shall common / ryote / and bancket / hauynge amonge themselues Ioye without measure that the heretykes be gone / so hatefull ys the lyght to theyr eyes / and the veryte to theyr wycked hartes .

6 And they shall sende gyftes or presentes one to an other for gladnesse / as for example . My lorde byshoppe hath had a summe of manye of the prestes for doynge hys part so well . My lorde abbote and master doctor haue had phesondes / plouers & partriches pigges / gese / & capons / for dysparynge / theyr matters so va●eauntlye ▪ Master persone hath bene commended for scoldynge / and ser saunde● smelle smocke our perryshe preste for bearynge false witnesse . Master fryre hath had a treu●all and father limit oure a bushell of ma●● or a che●● for playnge the knaues also . And hardelye my lorde chefe iustyce hath not bene without his rewarde / no● yet master Chauncelloure / neyther master Scrybe . What made Thomas More for his tyme with so prodigiouse ●y●an●●e to persecute the truthe and seus / Godfathe of Norwiche / wharton of Gongaye 〈◊〉 & Baker of k̄te / with soche other lyke● but auri sacra fames / as 〈◊〉 both call it . Thus do they 〈◊〉 triumphe whan they haue wrought my 〈◊〉 and moche it deliteth them whan they bene 〈◊〉 vngodlye thi●ges .

7 For 〈…〉 prophetes ( sayth the lorde ) vexed them that dwell on the earthe ▪ A great troble it is to them to haue their faw●es seane / a sore vexacion to haue their craftes knowne / and an excedynge displeasure to be put from their plesaunt Euphrates by the preachynge of soche busye heretikes . Moche was Herode offended with Iohan / the byshoppes with cri●t / the prelates & religiouse with Paule / and a sore grefe it was to their hartes / whan they rebuked their vyces .

The Text.

1. And after thre dayes and an halfe 2 ▪ the sprete of lyfe from God / entred in to them . 3. And they stode vp vpon theyr fete . 4. and great feare came vpon them which sawe them . 5 And they herde a great voyce from heauen / saynge vnto them . Come vp hyther . 6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a cloude . 7. and theyr enemyes sawe them . 8. And the same houre was the●● a great earthquake . 9. and the tenth part of the cyte fell . 10. And in the earthquake were slayne names of men / seuen thousande . 11. And the rennaunt were feared . 12. and gaue glory to God of heauen . 13. The seconde wo is past . 14. And beholde the thyrd wo wyll come anone .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And after thre dayes & an halfe ( sayth Saynt Iohan / ded the sprete of lyfe by the powre of God entre in to them . In the myddes of their Ioye and triumphe whan they thynke them selues well quyeted / the heretykes thus taken a waye / an other storme falleth vpon them moche worse than the other . Manye more aryseth out of their ashes to their confusion and to the chosens confort . And the same wytnesses they are agayne / geuynge the same testymonye / though they be not the same persones .

2 The same lyuynge sprete haue they / confessinge the same veryte / that had the other . No longe tyme can Christes congregacion be without faythfull testes / he promysinge to be with them to the ende of the worlde .

3 These witnesses stode vp / vpon their fete . In the tyme full past ys this spoken for the certente of the thynge / though moche of it be to come . For so certen is it / as it were all fynyshed . An ernest stomake shall they haue / and with moche boldenesse shall they speake . The ryghtouse shall stande vp ( sayth the boke of wysdome ) in great feruentnesse of sprete / agaynst them that hath extremelye handled them / and taken awaye theyr labours / persecuted them / and blemyshed theyr doctryne .

4. And great feare came vpon them which sawe them . Whan the Antichrystes se they can not preuayle / moche are they inwardlye anguyshed / vexed / and tormented . Then doubt they their falle / than feare they their vtter destruccion . They trymble and quake whan they se their lawes wyll no longar stande / nor their insurreccions no longar helpe them / lokinge for a terrible daye . With horryble feare shall they wonder ( sayth the aforesayd boke of wisdome ▪ at the comynge of the sodayne helthe / gronynge for sorowe / and mournynge for verye anguyshe of mynde / and saynge within them selues . These be they whom we somtyme had in deuysion . Vnwisely / we thought their lyues to be madnesse / & their endes to be without honour . And now they are rekened amonge the chyldren of God / & their porcion is amonge the Sayntes . Therfor haue we erred from the waye of truthe / & the lyght of ryghtousnesse hath not shyned vnto vs . We haue weryed owr selues / in the pathes of wickednesse but the waye of the lyuinge lorde haue we not knowne .

5 And they harde a great voyce from heauen / saynge vnto them . Come vp hyther . The Antichristes shall heare thys noyse / they shal knowe them to be in the fauer of God / & greate heuynesse it shall be vnto them . For this voyce is the fre eleccyon of God accordynge vnto grace and not after manes deseruynge . And it conmeth from heauen as doth all other good gyftes / from the father of lyght . It calleth vp them that afore walked sumwhat after the fleshe / and durst not for feare of ponnyshment wytnesse the veryte . It commandeth them to aryse vnto God / to be more perfyght / more spyrytuall / more godlye / and to haue their conuersacion in heauen . They attende vnto the voyce / they obeye yt / and do after yt . For yt foloweth .

6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a clowde . By the powre of God they are taken vp . From worldlye affectes are they changed to the pure loue of God / and from carnall prudence to the wysdome of the sprete . In a cloude are they rapte . Compassed are they with thys fleshe / the yll desyres taken from them . Euerye where resemble they Christ / and are daylye better and better . They cease not of theyr progresse / no peyne can separate them from the loue of Christ / tyl they perfyghtly come to the syght of the God of Goddes in the supercelestiall Syon .

7 And their enemies saue them . The Antichristes knoweth that they are gods seruauntes / the hypocrites perse●ueth they haue heauenlye knowlege Yea , manye tymes they so report them both in their wordes and writinges . In manye of them Chronycles they ●f●rme/t●at Bererga●ius / Ioannes scotus the elder / Iohan wycleff / Iohan husse / Hierome of Prage / Thomas thedonensis a whyght fryre of Bryttayne burned in Rome / Hieronimus sauonarola a blacke fryre burned in florence / & diuerse other more were menne of most excellent wyttes / of most hygh lernynge / of most godlye conuersacyon / of a most perfight lyfe / feruent / constaunt / & vnmoueable in in the tyme of their deathes . Bylney / Baynham Befeld / frithe / Tindale / Barnes & other / are yet reported ( yea of somewhich to this hewe hateth their opinions ) to haue dyed charetably and godly . Yet beleue they neuer the better / they come neuer the senner to God . Their malyce hath so blynded them / 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 contradiccion aryseth euer from the carnall Sinagoge / & from amonge the earthlye mynded hipocrites / whan the verite is ●awght / as it was afore tyme in Christ / & in his Apostles / specyallye in Paule / and now of late dayes in manye other poore preachers . Whan 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 commaunde 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 / and 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 Sathan 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 . vi● trompet blowing or the pure declaracion of Christes ioyfull tidinges for the last age of the churche / vnder the .vij. scale openynge / with the wonders & maruels that their after enseweth .

The text .

1 And the seuenth angel blewe 2 and there were made great voyces in heauen . 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 / and 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 them 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 spea●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 / whan they shall se the Antichrystes confused and not able to speake agayne . The kyngedomes of this worlde / that were ●ou● 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 t●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 s●ewe thy seruauntes / and burned vp thy peple .

10 But now is thy wrathe towardes them . Now will thy anger breake out / now wyll thy vengeaunce apere . Now shall thy terrible iudgement without mercye be declared from heauen vpon 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 affec●yons / thy glorye not ones estemed nor regarded . Herin maye we coniecture / that the seuenth seale ones opened / and 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 . Euydent 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 ●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 God● towardes soche enemyes of his veryte . The most terryble tempest of his I●e abydeth them . The Lorde shall breake into the lande ( sayth the Prophet● Esaye ) lyke a sore rempest of hayle that breaketh downe stronge holdes or castell●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 and 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 wonder in heauen . 2. A woman clothed with the Sunne . 3. and 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 Iohan ) a great token in heauen ▪ 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 ▪ For to Gods onlye electes ys the veryte shewed to auauntage . Not Marye Christes mother ys this woman / though manye hath so fantasyed in their commentaryes . But yt ys the true christen churche of whom Marye ys a most notable member

3 Thys woman the churche ( as Salomons cantycles specyfyeth ) ys fayre / louelye / plesaunt / swete / wholsome / dilectable / vndefyled as the Mone / excellent in clerenesse as the sonne / and gloryous as an armye of menne with their banners and stremers . Thys woman ys bewtyfullye decked with the shynynge sonne of ryghtousnesse . Non ys of her that hath not done on Iesus Christ / beynge renewed in their hartes by faythe . Her chyldren are not they that persecuteth Gods worde / no more than was Annas and Caiphas . Ioannes and Alexander .

Thys women 〈◊〉 to haue the mo●ne vnder her f●te . To the churche or congregacion of God are all other creature 〈◊〉 . ●ll 〈◊〉 thinges haue the lorde su●dewed vnto her . She ys the ryght ●heyre and inheritoure of them through Christ / they with her to be delyuered from the bondage of corrupcyon & to serue in liberte .

4 Vpon her head was also a crowne of twelue starres / which betokeneth not onlye the twelue Apostles declarynge the glorye of Christes kyngedome immediatlye after hys deathe / but all other godlye mynistres of the worde also / which haue done the same euer sens . Onlye regneth the true Christen churche by the worde of God / by the syncere scrypturs / by the doctryne of the Apostles / and neyther by superstycyons nor ceremonies / neyther by cownsels nor customes by doctors nor fathers / by myters nor rochettes / by typpettes nor whodes / by shauen crownes nor syne gownes / by crosses nor copes / by belles nor torches / by shrynes nor gyl●e Images / nor yet by .xii. cupples in a ●yuerye with golden cheanes and garden 〈◊〉 . Her bewtye consisteth onlye in faythe / and in the obseruacyon of Gods holye commandementes . Her true mynysters or preachers as verye chosen Starres / sheweth forth hys glorye to the edyficacyon of other / & not their owne pompe aod magnificence

5 And she was as ys the woman with chylde . She cryed trauelynge in byrthe / and was payned as one redye to be delyuered . With Christ ys the churche bygge whan her members are in full faythe . In the hart ys he euermore conceyued / and delyuered forth soche tyme as he ys declared vnto other . For thys cause Christ called them hys mother which had faythe and thervpon ded the wyll of hys father . Of faythe in the first promes that Christ shuld destroye the Serpent / was be first conceyued in Adam and Eua / and so grewe forth in ryghtouse Abell / in Seth / Enos / Enoch / Noe / Sem / Thare / Melchisedech / Abraham / and Loth. And as the promyses waxed stronger ( as in Abraham / Moyses / Dauid / and the Prophetes ) and the peple of God more in nombre / so wexed the woman byggar and byggar / tyll the fulnesse of her tyme was come that she shuld be delyuered . Which was soche tyme as Christ apered to the worlde / taught / and was conuersaunt here amonge menne . And this course haue she kepte euer sens / & shall do to the latter daye in them that beleue . Thus haue she had Christ in her wombe sens the beginninge .

6 And beynge full of hys heauenlye sprete / she hath cryed in the Patriarkes and Prhphetes / in the Apostles & faythfull mynysters / as one trauelynge in byrthe . Her crye was the myghtye and stronge declaracyon of Christes doctryne / the feruent zele and desyre of the glorye of God / and of all-mennes helthe in Christ . She trauayleth euermore a newe lyke as ded Paule / tyll Christ be fashioned in her Christen members . Wyth all her strengthe she laboureth that the promysed Sede maye increase in the faythe of all menne .

7 Fynallye she ys payned with labours / dolours / blasphemyes / trobles / and terryble persecucyons / and neuer ys delyuered without them . Neuer ys Christ ernestlye receyued / tyll some of her membres doth suffre . The constaunt sprete and inuyncyble standynge by the truthe in them / hath conuerted manye . And lyke as the payned woman in all her agonyes / ys moche conforted by the hope of a chylde / so are Gods faythfull wytnesses / trustynge that by their pacyent and glad sufferaunce / Christ shuld be receyued and ryghtlye fashyoned in manye . Yea / thys causeth them to reyoce in all aduersite / and lyttle to esteme their paynes .

The Text.

1 And there apered an other wonder in heauen . 2. for beholde a great reed Dragon . 3. hauynge seuen heades . 4. and ten hornes . 5. and seuen crownes vpon hys heades . 6. and hys tayle drue the thirde parte of the starres . 7. and caste them to the earthe .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 After thys ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) apered in heauen an other token or maruele / all dyuerse from the first . The true churche ( which is Gods kingedome ) was neuer yet without cōtradyccyon / nor with out the craftye assaultes of enemyes . Adam was not so sone created / but he was immedyatlye assaulted of Sathan . Christ entered not so sone the worlde / but he was bye and bye persecuted . The deuyll goeth aboute lyke a roaryngely on / sekynge whome he maye deuowre .

2 For beholde there was seane a great reed dragon / betokenynge the seyd deuyll with his whole retynewe / full of deceyt / craft / malyce / poyson / pryde / and fercenesse / to enforce the psore weakelynges to consent vnto hys falshede . All reed hys b●●ye semed / in token that they which are of hym / are all full of cruelte / spyght and bloud shedynge / afflyctynge the constaunt beleuers for withstandinge hys assaultes . Seldom ys ke out of the earthe / as wytnesseth Iob / but commonlye in the companye of menne / impugninge the faythfull . And no powre ys able to matche hym / vnlesse yt commeth from aboue .

3 The seyd dragon had seuen heades / sygnyfienge all the craftye wyles / and subtle suggestyons / that he hath practysed and vsed agaynst Christ & hys worde vnder all the .vij. seales openynge & the vij . trompettes blowynge ▪ Verye easye yt is to coniecture what maner of heades they were / markynge other places of the scripture . A Serpentes head shuld seme to be the first / consyderinge that in the Serpent he deceyued our first parentes with his benemed craftes . This heade so malycyouslye poysened manne / that God repented hym of hys creacyon / and destroyed hys whole kynde in the flood .viii. persones onlye reserued . After the flood had he the head of a Calfe for the seconde / in sygnificacyon of the shamefull Idolatrye / and wycked worshyppynge that then begonne in Nemroth / and so contyned in the heythen . The thirde was the head of a lyon / full of pryde and oppression / expressed first in the cruell reigne of the Assyryanes and Caldeanes / and after in the proude byshoppes and prestes . The forth was a Beares / head / full of rauyne and cruelnesse / betokenynge the f●rce kyngedome of the medes and perseanes . Consequentlye hys fift head was lyke a leopardes head of manye colours / full of fycklenesse and change ablenesse . And that was the vnconstaunt reygne of the Grekes . Hys sixt was the head of a Beast farre vnlyke all other beastes / which sygnyfyeth the kyngedome of the Romanes with their monstruouse lawes more than nedeth . The seuenth ys not vnlyke to a mannes head / includynge all carnall wysdome / with all deuyllyshe polycyes and craftes / and thys ys the verye papacye here in ▪ Europa / whych ys the generall Antichrist of all the whole worlde almost / whych hath alreadye subdued and destroyed the Empyre of Rome . For he ys called the Apostata and manne of synne . By thys onlye head ys the Dragon named the enuyouse manne . The whole bodye foloweth the heades . As the deuyll ys malycyouse / wycked / ferce / cruell tyrannycall fal●e / execrable / and deceytfull / ●o are all hys members . In the prudence of the fleshe after him they walke in Idolatry / hipocreyse and all other fylthynesse . And lyke as afore Christes 〈◊〉 these heades were in the Serpe 〈◊〉 the golden Calues / in the kyngedome of Babylon / in Nemroth / in Pharao / in antiochus / and in the pharisees and S●ribes byshoppes / lawers / and prestes / so haue they bene sens hys tyme vnder the v● seales openynge / and the. vij . trompettes blowynge / after the same 〈◊〉 Under the first / he had a Serpentes head in the Iewes / ☞ most malycyouslye and subtyllye withstandinge Christ and hys Apostles / pretendynge the zele of God & hys lawes . Under the seconde / he had a calues head in the Idolatours / which sl●we the cons●eunt wytnesses of Christes veryte . Under the thirde / the head of a proude lyon in the bolde rable of heretykes / presumynge agaynst Gods worde to afferme vngodlye thynges . Under the forth / the head of a Beare / in the gredye multytude of holye hypocrites and spirituall Antichristes / which hath rauyshed vp the substaunce of thys worlde / vsurpinge the empyre of the same . For then begonne the papacye with Mahometes myscheff . Under the fift / the head of a leoparde / in the dyuersyte of pestilent sectes or execrable locustes / of whome euerye one reioyseth in hys owne colour and inuention . For then ded they sore increase . Under the sixt / the head of a Beast vnlyke to all other / in the Tyrannye of wycked gouer●●●●● blynded and perswaded by the Prestes to flee Gods seruauntes for the vpholdynge of their stynkinge generacyon . For then was and ys yet done moche murther / vpon soche as confesseth the truthe . Under the seuenth or last seale openynge / shall he haue yet styll the head of a manne / in fleshelye polycyes and falshede of the pope and hys prelates / in the doctours and prestes / tyll God vtterlye shall destroye them with the breathe of hys mouthe .

4 The seyd dragon had also .x. hornes / or all subtle wayes wherwith to impugne the feble weake nature of manne / or to prouoke hym euermore to rebell agaynst Gods commandementes .

5 Upon hys seuen heades he had .vij / crownes / sygnyfienge therbye that both he and hys members hath not onlye possessed the afore named vices / but also they haue ouer the worlde reigned in them and yet do to thys daye . In pryde / falshede / malyce / crafte / cruelte wyckednesse / & all other myscheues triumphe they yet .

6 And hys tayle drue towardes hym the third part of the starres ( & in conclusion shrewe them downe to the ●arthe . By worldlye promocyons / lucre / fauer / and other flatterynge / fan●asyes / hath he tangled manye lerned menne / and plucked them cleane from Christes true churche / and from the lyfe of the gospell / so prono●●ynge them whollye to geue them selues to the stodye of erronyouse doctryne and lyenge prophecyes / to seduce the worldlye multitude and kepe them in perpetuall blindenesse .

7 So that they are now cast into the earthe . They are become all carnall / fylthye and vngodlye in al their wisdome / stodye / and workes / in all their counsels / preachynges / and teachinges . Now are they the wycked Apostles of Sathan / no longar maye they shyne in the fyt mament .

The Text.

1 And the dragon stode before the woman / which was redye to be delyuered . 2. for to deuoure her childe as sone as it were borne / 3. And she brought forth a man chylde . 4. which shulde rule all nacyons with a rod of yron 5. And her sonne was taken vp vnto God / and to his seate . 6. And the woman fled into wyldernesse . 7. where she had a place prepared of God . 8. that they shulde fede her there . 9. a thousande / two hundred / and thre score dayes .

1 Before the afore seyd trauaylinge woman stode thys dragon / redye to deuoure her childe / so sone as it were borne . Euer more ●s the deuyll waytinge his praye / where as the gospell is syncerelie taught / least anye therbye shuld become the children of God .

2 He sel●eth all craftes / polycyes / and ingynnes / to take the worde from the har● / least they beleuynge yt shuld be saued . Thus Tought he to deuowre Christ after the letter / appoyntinge Herode to slee hym sone after hys byrthe . and whan he se that waye wolde not take / yet left he not of tyll the Iewes had slayne hym . Not thus yet satisfyed / he laboured by the byshoppes to extynguishe the faythe of hys resurreccyon / least that shuld profyght vnto lyfe . More ouer where as the Apostles and other godlye menne / hath geuen Christ vnto other in maner as they receyued hym / he hath left no cauteles vnsought by hys malygnaunt members euer sens to depryue Gods people therof .

3 Soche a man chylde ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) brought thys woman forth / as with an yron rodde shuld rewle all nacyons . Neuer ys the true churche Idle / but conceyueth Christ at the gospell preachynge / retayneth hym in faythe / and bryngeth hym forthe in teachynge other the same . No woman chylde ys he / impotent / weake and feble / but a manchylde / brynginge with hym alwayes a strange / myghtye / and inuincyble sprete / wher as he is vnfaynedly receyued . For he is the mightye lorde that ys valeaunt in battayle .

4 With the yron wande of hys worde inuyncible shall he gouerne hys meke spreted flocke / that non other lawes shall they require . With the same also shall he subdue al powers which are not of hym / and dryue them downe to the bottom of helle . For by faythe onlye in him to the victorye gotten ouer the worlde

5 This childe was also taken vp to God / and vnto his trone . Where as the deuyl thought to deuowre hym / and to wrappe hym vp for euer vnder deathe / he put hym besyde hys purpose . Uyctoryouslye he arose vp from deathe to lyfe / he ascended vnto heauen / and now sytteth vpon the ryght hande of God the father almyghtye . And where as he ys now / there shall hys faythfull folowers and mynysters be here after . for that is hys / is also theirs / byrthe / lyfe / deathe / resurreccion and ascencion .

6 The woman fledde after this into the wyldernesse . What els doth te iust people of God ? but flee the contagiousnesse / vanyte / tumulte / fornicacion / Idolatrye / and fylthinesse of this worlde ? sekynge God in the solytarye hart / and not in outwarde fantacies . I gote me awaye farre of ( sayth Dauid ) and remayned in the desert . Monkes / nonnes / chanons & fryres / hath fledde into monasteries / couentes / and howses / but nothynge after this sorte . For in all voluptuouse pleasurs haue they there lyued . The vnfayned solitarye manne after Hieremye / continueth peceablye with him self / and hath his hart aboue .

7 In the sayd wildernesse had she a place prepared of God . Which is non other but Gods proteccion / defence / & sauegarde / promised in the scripturs . That the lord shuld preserue vs as he ded his chosen peple of Israel / whan he wente before them in a clowde vpon the daye / and in the nyght in a pyller of fyre . Dauid boasted hym self that God was his refiuge / and that he dwelled vnder the defence and shaddowe of the hyghest . So longe as the lorde is my gouernour ( sayth he ) I can wante nothinge . He fedeth me / he sustayneth me / I doubt no daunger / for he ys with me . Hys staffe stayeth one / hys worde and promes ys my whole confort .

8 And there wyl the lorde fede her ( sayth saynt Iohan ) for the space of a thousande / two hondreth / and .lx. dayes . Non other are fende with the scripturs & promises of God ( which ys the bread of children not to be geuen to dogges ) but they which fleeth into thys desert from the Dragon / forsakynge both head and tayle / both suggestions / and lawes / both customes and constytucions . For all are deuyllyshe . Non other escaped the plage of Sodome / but they which fledde cleane from thens . Lor●es wyse but lokynge backe onlye towardes yt agayne / was turned into a salt stone .

9 The nombred dayes here are non other but the afore wrytten tyme of the two witnesses / the tyme of Helias preachinge / the tyme of Iohans preachynge / the tyme of Christes preachinge / or the tyme of the gospell preachynge from Christes ascencyon to the latter ende of the worlde . That ys the verye tyme of the feadynge of hys churche . And not open ys thys feadinge here / but secrete in the wldernesse / amonge a sorte vnknowne to the worlde / hauynge the pouerte of sprete without shauynge / anoyntinge / or Hipocrytes apparell . And not onlye hath the lorde thus noryshed hys peple in this spirituall respect / but also in bodye . Whan they haue bene greuouslye handled / spoyled of their goodes / impresoned / and exyled / gracyouslye hath he releued them / and prouyded for them both solate and confort a● the handes of them whom they neuer sawe afore . So that the iust hath not felt hym selfe forsaken / nor his childrēseking bread .

The Text.

1 And there was a great battayle in heauen . 2. Michael and his angels . 3. fought with the Dragon / and the dragon fought and his angels . 4. and preuayled not . 5. neyther was theyr place founde anye more in heauen . 6. And the great dragon / that olde Serpent / called the deuyll and sathanas . 7. was caste out . 8. which deceyued all the worlde . 9. And he was caste in to the earthe / and his angels were caste out wyth hym also .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And there happened at that tyme ( sayth saynt Iohan ) a great battayle in heauen . In the churche is euermore variaunce and stryfe without ceasynge / betwixt the sprete and the fleshe / the good and the badde / the faithfull and the vnfaithfull . Non other is this battayle but a verye contradiccion / a dyuersite in faythe / stodye / opynion / wyll / and worke / about the lawes or commaundements of God / and also about the lawes and tradycyons of menne . Thys battayle is wayghtye in cause / multitude / and continuaunce . The cause therof is Christ / the gospell / faythe / rightousnesse / mannes helthe / Gods hygh honour / and soche other lyke on the one partye . Vpon the other partye the cause is / errour / hipocrisie / lyes / ydolatrie / auarice / pryde / cruelte / fylthynesse / with all soche other . So great is the multitude / that non is fownde out of its Non is there but are in this armye . Eyther they are good or badde / faythfull or vnfaythfull / ryghtouse or vnrightouse . The rightouse are of the hoste of Michael / the vnrightouse are vpon the dragons syde . Continued haue this battayle from the first beginninge / and so shall styll to the latter ende . Yea / thowgh the dragon be bownde or tyed vp vnder the .vij. seale openynge / that he rage not then as he hath done afore . Yet shall the sprete of wyckednesse / and a mynde to do mischef reygne inwardlye styll in his members . for a Sathan can be but a Sathan / and a deuyll a deuyll .

2 Michael and his angels fought vale auntlye with the dragon . Spyrituall are they which hath done on Christ after the mynde of Paule / and spirituall is their armour . Their gyrdinge is verite / their brest plate rightousnesse / their shilde a sure faythe / their weapon the worde of God / their helmet the hope of helthe / and for stedefastnesse of their fete their showinge the gospell . By interpretacion is Michael to saye / who is as God ? or who is lyke vnto God ? And he betokeneth the constaunt ministers and syncere teachers of the gospell . The angels of Michael are all they that in a sure faythe confesseth the eternall magnificence of God / and that non is lyke vnto hym . Contrarye wyse the dragons angels are the hipocrites / lyenge prophetes / and erronyouse teachers .

3 These fyght with the dragon / and the dragon and hys angels with them . For he that ys not with Christ / ys agaynst hym . With the ryghteouse ys Michael . For mynystrynge spretes are the angels ordayned for the confort of them which shall be saued . And commanded they are to wayte vpon the faythfull / to preserue and defende them . The wycked sort haue the deuyll & hys chaplaynes to fyght for them / the ryghtouse haue Michael and hys angels . The wycked fyghteth with errours and lyes / the ryghteouse with the onlye veryte of God .

4. As vengeable and as ferce as they are / yet preuayle they not / neyther ys theyr place fownde anye more in heauen . Faythe hath the vyctorye by the promyse of God / though the blynde worlde seyth it not . Ouercomen are the wycked whan their enterpryses taketh not / and cleane ouerthrowne whan their beggerye ys contempned . And neuer ys the full vyctorye gotten / no more than yt was in Christ / tyll the tabernacle of thys bodye be layed a syde . At that daye ys the crowne gotten / whom the lorde hath layed vp for the ryghtouse . And lyke as there ys daylye fyghtynge / so ys there in some / daylye vyctorye . Dayly are the angels of darkenesse ouerthrowne / daylye are they cast out of heauen / whych ys the true churche . Daylye are they condempned by the worde of God / & iudged for rebels agaynst the holye Ghost / whose synne ys neuer forgeuen .

5 No place haue they anye more with the chosen / no eleccyon nor acceptacyon / afore God . The more light they haue had & the more they haue tasted of the truthe now forsakinge yt & rebellyng against yt with the deuill / the farder they are from God / & the more nygh vnto dampnacyon . Neuer beleued he trulye / that so had receyued the worde . Lett non thynke to be saued / vnlesse he perseuereth to the ende .

6 And the great Dragon / or captayne of all the vnfaythfull sort / that olde croked Serpent whych deceyued Adam & ys called the deuyll or malycyouse accuser / yea / & also Sathan the most cruell aduersarye with all hys elyentes & spirituall adherentes / are certayne & sure to be cast out .

7 With the ryghtouse shall they haue no porcyon for all their gloriouse tytles . With the godlye shall not their names be regestred / for all their holye vnccyons . But with the prince of this worlde they shall be throwne forth .

8 For he by them / & they by hym / hath deceyued all the worlde / in lyenge tokens & wonders / & in the operacyon of errours / to the vtter dampnacyon of all them that consenteth to theyr wyckednesse .

9 And he was cast into the earthe / & his angels also were cast out with him / which is not els but that they are reserued to eternall dam●nacion . For seruynge the creature rather than the lorde that made all / God hath forsaken them / and geuen them ouer to their owne shamefull lustes . All grace and goodnesse hath he taken from them / and in all darkenesse hath he lefte them . Nothinge is now behynde but helle fyre / prepared for the deuyll and his angels . The churche thus first bryngynge forth Christ amonge the Iewes / and so by their cruelte dryūe out into the wyld desert of the Gentyles / hath bene there fedde of God in persecucyon euer sens / and shall be styll tyll the terme come out of the aforesayd thowsande / two hondreth / and thre score dayes / whose ende is in the lordes handes .

The text .

1 And I harde a loude voyce / which sayd . 2. In heauen is now made saluacion / and strength . 3. and the kyngedome become our Gods . 4. ● the power his Christes . 5. For he is caste downe which accused them before God daye & night . 6. And they ouer came hym by the bloude of the lambe . 7. and by the worde of their testimonye . 8. And they loued not theyr lyues vnto the deathe . 9. Therfor reioyce ye heauens / and ye that dwell in them . 10. No to the inhabyters of the earthe and of the see . 11. for the deuyll ys come downe vnto yow . 12. whych hath great wrathe . 12. bycause he knoweth that he hath but a short tyme .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And I harde a myghtye great voyce ( sayth saynt Iohan ) which is the whole agrement of all the sacred scripturs . And the voyce sayd thus vnto me .

2 Now is there in heauen saluacion . In the churche is the helthe of sowle now that the Idolatrie with other abhominacions is throwne forth / & she cleane delyuered from their beggerie . Now apereth the power of the lorde / that his gospell is trulye preached .

3 Now is it become our Gods kyngedome / that their doctrine is not of menne .

4 Now hath yt the whole srengthe of hys a noynted . All Christes labours / merytes / and deseruynges / hys natyuyte / passyon / resurreccyon / and ascencyon / ys now her owne good . Christes vyctorye ys theirs / hys crowne / hys scrpture / hys seate / & kyngedome ys theirs . Yea the possessyon of hys fathers ryght hande vs theirs .

5 For the enemye of oure bretherne is throwne downe / which cruellye accused them before God daye and nyght . The ad̄uersarye Sathan which quareled before the lorde agaynst pacient Iob / and vexed hym sore in hys substaunce and fleshe / neuer ceasynge to thys daye to troble the ryghtouse with Antichristes and tyrauntes / ys now ouer comen by the vyctorye of faythe / and hys power greatlye demynyshed in hys members . Now is the kingedome of God increased / moche peple beinge vnfaynedlye conuerted vnto Christ

6 Conquerred hym they haue by no power of their owne / neyther merytes nor workes / but through the inestimable strengthe which ys in the bloud of the immaculate lambe Iesus Christ / and through the in vyncyble worde of hys veryte / which they to the worlde haue testyfyed .

7 In the wytnesse therof haue they constauntlye suffred / and through faythe in them haue they with hym aptayned vyctorye ouer the worlde / synne / helle / deathe / & the deuyll Not their owne bodyes haue they spared to wynne this conquest .

8 But moche more haue they loued Christ and hys truthe than themselues / accountynge yt auauntage to geue theyr lyues for hym .

9 Therfor reyoyce ye heauens / and all yow that in them doth dwell . Ye angels a boue ordayned for mannes confort / ye sayntes departed from the myst●yes of this worthe / ye faythfull beleuers remay●inge in this lyfe / and ye feruent fauorers of the lordes veryte / be glad that your bretherne hath gote the vyctorye of the deuyll and his angels to the glorye of Christ .

10 But woo vnto the wreched inhabitauntes of the earthe / and of the see . No small daunger is towardes them that hath harde the voyce of the lorde / and styll yet wyll folowe the course of thys wordle . No light parel hangeth ouer thier heades / that are inconstaunt / fickle / and wauerynge / geuynge backe with euery blast for the plesure of their fleshe .

11 Take hede of yt therfor / for vnto yow that are soche / the deuyll ys come downe with hys subtle suggestyons and craftes / with hys wylye cauteles and ingyns . ●monge yow doth he remayne watchynge to haue his praye / as he ded amonge the chyldren of Israel / whan they were become vnfaythfull .

12 Tares wyll he sowe to destroye the good sede / for his wrathe is great to se him self thus deiected / and his hate is excedinge / beholdinge his kingedom decayed . Amonge yow must he wreake his anger / for he cannot harme the faythful . Through his enuye same deathe first in to the worlde . If ye wyll escape his snares / loke ye geue no place vnto hym / but in faythe resist him manfullye .

13 He wexeth now madde / and fretteth with him self . He mindeth to make hauock and to do moche myschef / because he knoweth that his tyme is shorte . No longe season shall he haue from hence forth to deceyue . The latter daye he perseyueth not to be farre of / wherin great tormentes abydeth both him & his . And that maketh him so wode . That maketh him so insaciablye desyerouse to noye / not carynge what spyght he worketh agaynst God . And no wycked wyle leaueth he vnsought / to perfourme his cruell intent . Woo vnto them therfor that in these dayes taketh no hede . Woo vnto them that Rombreth in wanton pleasurs / whan most daunger is / and the deuyll most bysye / not attendynge to the call and warnynge of God .

The Text.

1 And whan the dragon same / that he was caste vnto the earth 2. he pursued the woman / which brought forth the man chylde . 3 And to the woman were geuen two wynges of a great Egle. 4 that she myght flye into the wildernesse . 5 into her place / where she is noryshed for a tyme / tymes / and halfe a tyme . 6. from the presence of the Serpent . 7. And the Dragon caste out of his mouthe water after the woman / as it had bene a ryuer . 8. that he myght cause her to be caught of the floode . 9. And the earthe holpe the woman . 10. and the earthe opened her mouthe . 11. and swalowed vp the ryuer / whych the Dragon caste out of hys mouthe . 12. And the Dragon was wroth with the woman . 13. and went and made warre with the remnaunt of her sede . 14. which kepe the commaundementes of God . 15. and haue the testymonye of Iesus Christ . 16. and he stode on the s●esande .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And whan the Dragon or most furyouse serpent the deuyll / the head master of pryde and father of lyes / sawe that he was throwne downe vnto the earthe by the valeaunt ho●te of God . Or soche tyme as he perseyueth the Idolatrye / superstycyon / pompe / Hipocresye / and other abhominable fylthynesse / destroyed by the worde of God in hys malygnaunt Synagoge of proude paynted prelates .

2 Than persecuteth he the poore woman / whych brought forth the manchylde . Than vereth he the true congregacyon that teacheh non other but Christ / & confesseth non other sauer / helthe / & redemer . Them doth he torment and ponnyshe by hys mytred Mahowndes & hys shauen Sodomytes / subduynge vnto them for that purpose the power of kynges / and myght of magistrates . Then sytteth Annas in consystorye / and Cayphas in sessyons vpon lyfe and deathe . Then bryngeth the woman her chylde forthe in peyne . By the martyrdome or deathe of godlye wytnesses ys Christ delyuered / and lefte here behynde in the hartes of manye .

3 And vnto the woman were geuen two wynges of a great egle / or the two testamentes of God / contayninge the Prophecye and Gospell / with the loue of God and oure neyber . And these myghtye wynges were geuen her that she myght flye with them into the wyldernesse . Euermore whan daungerouse persecucyon ys / the members of Christes congregacyon ( which are left here behynde ) hath auctoryte of the olde lawe to flee from yt wyth Iacob / Moyses / Dauid / and Helias / of the newe lawe also with Christ and hys Apostles . If they pursue ye in one cyte ( sayth the lorde ) flee yow into an other . Not onlye to saue your bodies / but to f●uctifye in the peple . Set ye into the desert . Teache them that were not taught afore . Yf ye can not be suffred openlye to preache / instructe menne priuatelye in howses . Playe not the sluggardes in the lordes vyneyarde . Be not niggardes ouer his fre treasure . But as ye haue plēiuouslye receyued it so liberallye distrybute it agayne .

4 From the face of the dragon hath the woman thus power to flye into the wildernesse by the scripturs / whan her chylde is delyuered and taken vp to the trone of God for the vnthankefulnesse of the peple / that they haue not in faythe receyued him . And in moche daunger are they lefte / hauynge the deuyll and his angels throwne downe amonge them wyth theyr wyles and craftye snares . In moche more parell are they / them they were afore .

5 A place hath she in this desart apoynted of God / wherin she is norryshed for a tyme / for tymes / and for the halfe tyme / which is not els but his speciall proteccion amonge them that be poore in sprete / and are iudged outcastes of the worlde . There is the true churche norryshed wyth the pure worde / not mixed wyth the leuen of Pharysees . There is the faythfull congregacion at all tymes fedde / without the tradicyons of hipocrites . Onlye are they releued with the veryte / & satisfied with the lyuinge prom●ses / & haue bene sens the tyme of Christ . Yea / sens the tyme of Daniell and afore . And thys fedynge tyme of the lorde in secretnesse / hath bene somtyme shorter / sumtyme longer / and sumtyme shortest of all / accordynge to the tymes of persecucyon / and of blyndenesse in the enemies .

6 To flee from the presence of the Serpente / haue they euermore had commandementes of the lorde / and to shurne the suggestions of hys angels . Warned they haue bene in no wyse to go forth / whan they saye / Christ ys here and there / for so moche as their craftes are soche as wolde ( yf yt were possible ) deceyue the verye electes .

7 And the Dragon ( sayth saynt Iohan ) ded cast out of hys mouthe water after the woman . A● doctrine , of Hypocresye / errours / and lyes hath alwayes passed from the Synagoge of Sathan . Non other frutes hath gone from them / than waverynge superstycyons / Idolatry / and Heythen ceremonies . These hath ●lowed forth lyke a great ryuer . Daylye , haue they augmented / and contynuallye increased . Innumerable are the comberouse and vnprofitable burdens of their fantasyes and dreames / wherwith they noye mennes conscyences / drowne their small faythe / & ouerloade their sowles .

8 Thys stynkynge water ded the Serpent vomete out by hys rauenouse Antichristes ) which are hys insacyable mouthe ) to stoppe the passage of the woman ▪ He powred yt forth in habundaunce that he myght cause her to be caught of the flood . Soche ys alwaies the myscheuouse nature of the deuyll and hys angels . Vengeable assaultes haue they / and innumerable craftes to deceyue the innocent not knowinge them . Oure first mother Eua was thus trapped in the begynnynge / & so had bene drowned with Adam her husbande / had they not had faythe in the promysed sede . An innumerable multytude hath bene and are yet to this daye swallowed vp of this flood and without great difficulte non escapeth yt . Excedinge ys the compasse / stodye / and practyse of this false generacyon . Evermore powre they out their poyson / they dyspute their matters with errours & lyes / with counsels and customes / hauynge vpon their syde the darkened powers .

9 Yet ys the lorde mercyfull to hys pore congregacyon / that they are not drowned with al this fylthye floude . Non of yt ones toucheth their hartes . No parte of their faythe doth all thys ryff raff hynder . This dyrtye baggage accombreth not their sowles . Onlye are they satysfyed with the wholsom doctryne of Christes sprete . And the earthe ded helpe the woman ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) The carnall multitude / the wyse menne of this worlde / the verye reprobates from God / all drye with out the true faythe / dranke vp this fylthye water .

10 They opened their mouthes wyde / and swallowed vp the great ryuer cleane / which the Dragon cast out of hys mowthe . This erroniouse doctryne was euer more plesaunt vnto them . Moche more haue they alwayes delyghted in lyes / and olde wyues dreames than in Gods truthe . Therto haue they geuen their eares / with all auydyouse gredynesse and superstycyouse deuocyon haue they embraced them . But the lyuinge waters of the lorde sauoreth not in their mouthes / their owne broken cys●e●nes doth please them best . Better ys to a swyne a fylthye puddle / than a swete ronnynge water . No where wyll he drynke / but where he maye wallowe hys earkas . No doctryne pleaseth them / vnlesse yt maynteyneth their synne .

11 In drynkynge vp this flood / yet ease they this woman . In seeke multytude ys chrystes smal flock not myssed , no● lo●ed for / nor yet manye tymes in their abhominacyons perceyued to be absent . So gracyouse to them ys the lorde / that in no wyse are they harmed with those vnwholsom waters . They are not caught of that pestilent flood . It ouerwhelmeth not their faythe .

12 And the dragon was wrothe with the woman ( sayth sayth Iohan ) frantycke and madde ys the Synagoge of Sathan / whan their wanton ware is forsaken / abhorred / and despysed . Than frette they for anger / than swelle they for wodenesse . Than wher they their tethe vpon the innocent sowles / and wolde teare them in peces for verye spyght . Than Imagyne they newe cawteles and wyles / and therupon procure they newe lawes to be made / to trappe them in snares that they escape no waye .

13 For the dragon in hys wrathe / made warre with the remnaunt of her sede / which kepte the commandementes of God . All maner of wayes hath thys Serpente assayed to destroye Christes true churche . The Apostles he vexed with the Pharisees and P●estes / for the first age . With false bretherne and tyrauntes trobled he their successours for the seconde age . For the thirde / with innumerable Heresyes ded he accombre them . For the fourth / with damnable sectes of Hypocresye ded he oppresse them . For the fifte brought he the worlde into a damnable peace of Idolatrye and supersticyon . 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 th● gospell / and poore fauorers of Gods truthe .

16 Vpon the ●re sande stande they euer more with their grande captayne / to fyght thys battayle . Non other lawes haue they to grownde themselues vpon / but their owne tradycyons and ●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 stande 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 / and their subtiltees to vpholde their master / as a●● 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 comprehendinge in hym all the wyckednesse / furye / falshede / frowardnesse / deceyt / lyes / craftes / slayghtes / subty●tees/●ipocresyet tyrannye / myscheffes / pryde / and 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 wauery●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 amonge the vngodly ( sayth the lorde ) no vnyte / no charyte / nor mutuall christen 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 vpon 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 lyon . 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 Seauen heades and .x. hornes had thys cruell beast not vnlyke therin / to the aforesayd rede dragon or Serpent . For ▪ loke what pestylent 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 malygnaunt magistrates . Thy stronge / myghty power lorde ( sayth Dauid ) hath broken the dragons heades in the ragynge waters . Thu hast smytten in peces the heades of the greatele●●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 ●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 compell . Where as he doth but easelye moue / they maye by rygorouse auctoryte constrayne . Whan he hath propowned Turrian 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 / confessyon / sayntes worshyppynge / latten seruyce hearynge / and soche lyke . Whan he hath ones made a lye ( as he ys the father of all lyes ) they maye auctoryse yt for an vnwritten veryte / lyke as they haue done manye . Moche more myscheff maye they do / beynge hys spyrytuall instrumente● 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 Bysshoppes and lawers and so condempned hym . Neuer had the Apostles / nor all other godlye preachers sens their tyme / bene sent out of the waye / had not those mytred Mahometes ' and prestes wrought styll their olde feates .

4 Vpon thys be astes head was written the names of blasphemye agaynst the lorde and hys Christ . Which are non other than the proude glitterynge tytles / wherwith they garnyshe their vsurped auctoryte / to make yt seme gloriouse to the worlde / hauynge within them contayned / the great mysterye of inyquite . What other els ys pope / Cardynall / Patriarke / lega●e / Metropolytane / primate Archebysshoppe / Dyocelane / Prothonotarye / Archedeakō / Offycyall / Chaunceller / Commissarye / Deane / Prebende / Person / vycar / my lorde Abbott / master doctor / and soche lyke / but verye names of blasphemie ▪ For offyces they are not appoynted by the holye Ghost / nor yet ones mencyoned in the scripturs . What other ys yt but abhominacion / the pope to wryte hymselfe the most holye father / the generall vycar of Christ / the supreme head of the Chris●en churche / and the onlye dystrybuter of the treasurs of God ? The bysshoppes and prestes also to call them selues their churches brydegromes / sytters in Gods stede / forgeuers of synne / and our ladyes chaste knyghtes ? Non other are they so abusynge their flocke in leauynge the iust office of syncere preachynge vnder soche vayne tytles / after the mynde of Zacharye / but verye shamefull Idols in dede . Their decrees / decretals / Constytucions / Canons / Rewles / Statutes prouyncyall and synodall / tradycyons / lawes / fatherlye customes / and vsages / not grounded vpon Gods commandementes / are verye deuylyshnesse and Hipocresye / blasphemynge the name of God . For whye / to haue the name of blasphemye vpon their heades / is non other / than vnder a gloryouse tytle to maynteyne that thinge whych ys blasphemouse / gloryfyenge themselues in the same . The vngodlye ( sayth Dauid ) with mockes hath dysdayned the lorde / and with open mouthe hath vttred wyckednesse agaynst God .

5 And the strange fashoned beast ( sayth Saynt Iohan / whom I sawe in thys vysyon / was lyke in similitude to a catte of the mountayne / full of manye coloured spottes in token of inconstancye / varyete / and fycklenesse .

6 Hys fete were as the fete of a beare / ferce / rough / and yll fauored / in sygnyficacyon of cruelte / stubbernesse / and vnclennesse .

7 And hys mouthe semed as the mouthe of a lyon / declarynge hym to be full of pryde / rauyne / and excesse . To soche beastes as here are mencyoned compareth Danyel vnder hidden misterye / serten myghtye kingedomes of the worlde . As to the lyonesse ( which here ys called a lyon for the more cruelte now vsed than was in those dayes ) the proude kyngedomes of the Assyryanes and Caldeanes . To the Beare the cruell kyngedomes of the Medes and Parthyanes . And vnto the Catte of the mountayne / the vnstedefast kyngedome of the Grekes . Of pryde / spoyle / and roborye are the Assyrianes and Caldeanes condempned by Esaye / Nahum / and Abacuch the Prophetes . The Medes and Parthianes helde captyue the peple of God / as wytnesseth Hester / Paralipomenon / and Esaye . The Grekes most spyghtfullye were bent agaynst them vnder the cruell kynge Antiochus / as in the Machabees ys euydent . No abhominacion nor mysterie of inyquyte / as Paule calleth yt / was euer founde in these kyngedomes / but now reygneth manyfolde in the detestable Papacye or monstruouse kyngedome of Antichrist / as all the worlde maye se. No where was euer more pryde vanyte and cruelnesse / Ydolatry whoredome and fylthynesse / hypocresye falshede and fycklenesse / extorcyon vayneglorye and couetousnesse / sorcerye superstycion and vnfaythfulnesse . More than all the vnfaythfull kyngedomes vnder heauen / haue thys sodomyticall spyritualte defyled with their wytcherye the ho●ye temple of God / whych is the Christen churche . They haue most shame fullye abused gods chosen peple / which are the vessels ordayned to hys glorye . They haue holden hys fre seruantes most myserablye captyue / vnder their wycked decrees and tradycions . The cruelte of Pharao / Antiochus / and Cayphas / compared to their tyranny / ys but as yt were a playe / dallyaunce / or shaddowe . In them ys all letherye and vnclennesse / all ragynge lustes and wantonnesse / all fleshly abuses and beastlynesse / no naturall order obserued . Nothinge in a maner are the cruell constytucions made ageynst the Iewes by the suggestyon of Aman / and by Antiochus / to their wycked lawes and ordynaunces . For they were onlye ageynst the bodye / theirs are ageynst mennes sowles . So that the papysty call kyngedome of antichrist are to be sonne both the lyon / the Beare / and the Catte of the mountayne / they not onlye partycypatynge with all vnfaythfull regyons / but also doublynge with them in all abhomynacyons vnder the skye . The mouthe they haue of a lyon / roaryng out euermore blasphemies curses / and bytternesse . The fea●e of a Beare / sygnyfieth their rauenous affeccyons / ronninge vnto all pernyciouse euyls / ●erye swyft also to the shedynge of bloude .

cencyon .

11 And finallye as concernynge auctoryte / lyke as Christ beynge manne toke power of God to do soche myracles as non els coulde do / so ded he of the deuyll / beynge his wreched bodye to worke pro●igyouse maruels and wonders in hipocrisye amonge the vnfaythfull multitude / by the secrete sufferaunce of God . So that in all peruertynge power / supremyte / and auctoryte / he foloweth his father Sathan / yea / in euerye poynt . For lyke as he depryued simple Iob / a manne that feared God / of his substaunce / catell / chyldren / and seruauntes / and vexed him in his fleshe with most greuouse botches / so doth this gredye leuiathan / this malyciouse murtherer / the manne of synne / and bodye of the deuyll / with his deuourynge locustes / robbe the poore peple of their sweare / labours / trauayle / and necessarye lyuinge / sparynge neyther sycke nor soco●rlesse / poore wydowe nor fatherlesse / no goods gotten by thef●e / mannesslawter / extorcyon / bryb●rye / pollage / Idolatrye / bawdrye / and all other vngodlynesse commynge to them amysse in their priuate confessyons . And ( that is most to be lamented ) they defyle ●heir sowles wyth all supersticions / false beleue / and deuylishnesse / leauynge their consciences all doubtfull / desperate / and confortelesse . Finallye to conclude / lyke as in the bodye of Christ dwelleth the whole fulnesse of the godhede corporallye / so dwelleth there in this bodye of Sathan the whole fulnesse of falsehede / crafte / subtylte / malyce / with power to worke all maner of myschef / effectuallye / reallye / substanciallye and corporallye .

The Text.

1 And I sawe one of his heades as it were wounded to deathe . 2. and his deadlye wounde was healed . 3. and all the worlde wondered at the beast . 4. And they worshipped the Dragon which gaue power vnto the Beast . 5. and they worshypped the Beast . 6. sayenge . 7. Who is lyke vnto the Beast ? 8. Who is able to warre with hym ?

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And one of his heades ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) semed vnto me / as it had bene wounded vnto deathe . And it was not so in dede / for his deadlye wounde was healed agayne . Euydent it is that in Iohans tyme / Rome the mother of all who redome had subiect vnto her the .vij. clymates or vniuersall partes of the worlde / with all their powers / gouernours / kynges / possessions / pompes / false worshyppinges / and soche lyke . Whome some writers suppose mete to be taken 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 / and 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 manifes● / vnlesse we haue eyes and 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 than 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 instrumentes 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 abhominacions 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 straunge obseruacyons whom 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 / dependeth 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 / and 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 contempne Christes doctrine / as doth the filthye familye of the do●●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 thynge / as the maner of the scrypture is .

7 Who is lyke vnto the Beast / in outwarde glitterynge workes / or in the e●terne obseruacions of counterfett relygyon .

8 Who is able to warre with her the worldlye powers now so depelye maynteyninge her quarell ? All seketh the papistes that they can in the worlde Imagyne / to vpholde the glorye / magnificence / and bewrye of their holye whoryshe churche / or malignaunt muster . No cautels nor c●aftes leaue they vnsought nor vnserched out / to cause the peple to esteme her of incomparable power . No small labour toke standyshe in hande in whittington College / whan he made his more than folyshe boke of reproche ageynst Barnes beynge dead . Nor no lesse dylygence the wyse Poete Iohan Hontyngton / whan he regestred in his Genealogye of heretykes without grace / wyt / and lernynge the names onlye of soche godlye menne as were the popes enemies / no heretyke agaynst God ones mencyoned . Nomore ded Thomas Smythe / Richard Dallyson / William Stawne / Steuen Prowett / frire Adriane / quarrye the pardoner / wyth soche other blynde Popishe Poetes and dirtye metristes / whan they vttered their shitten ●ymes and poesies . And sure I am that manye more be yet abrode of the same wycked zele and sprete / to the great blasphemye both of God and his truthe / now that the Beastes wounde is made whole agayne / by so manye new● actes / so manye newe tytled Bishoppes so freshe sale of benefyces / mastershyppes / and dignitees / spirituall offyces / degrees / and auctorytes / as plentuouse as euer was in Rome . And least we shuld be depryued of our newe plesaunt Euphrates / and so be compelled by the worde of God to folowe the Monkes / Chanons / Nonnes / and fryers in their bannyshementes . We haue procured serten actes to be made for our commodyte / and those onlye to be publyshed amonge the peple ones in a quarter / or so oft as shall please vs / to blemyshe all godlye preachinges of the scripturs . Thus seke we our selues and not God / our owne strengthe and not hys / our owne glorye & not Iesus Christes . But lete vs not thynke that he sleapeth with Baall the false God , knowinge the most hydden toughtes of the harte / but that he wyll within short space sende forthe hys lyghtenynges and scatter vs / bryngynge our heythnyshe deuyses to nought . For the kyngedome of one fayth in vs and the pope thus manyfestlye in certen poyntes deuyded / must surelye decaye .

The Text.

1 And there was geuen vnto hym a mouthe . 2. to speake great thinges and blasphemyes . 3. And power was geuen vnto him to do .xlij. monethes . 4. And he opened hys mouth vnto blasphemye agaynst God / to blaspheme hys name / and hys tabernakle / and them that dwell in heauen . 5. And yt was geuen vnto hym to make warre with the sayntes . 6. and to ouercome them 7. And power was geuen hym ouer all kynredes / tongue / and nacyon . 8. And all that dwell vpon the earthe worshypped hym . 9. whose names are not wrytten in the boke of lyfe . 10. of the lambe . 11. which was kylled from the begynnynge of the worlde . 12. If anye man haue an eare / lete hym heare . 13. he that leadeth into captyuyte / shall go into captyuyte . 14. He that kylleth with a swerde / must be kylled wyth a swerde . 15. Here is the pacyence / and the faythe of the Sayntes .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 To this beast ( sayth Iohan ) was geuen a mouthe / not of God but of Sathan / to speake great mightye thinges and blasphemies . So well is this spoken of the one as the other / so manye as hath done vpon the Antichristes lyuerye / title / power / auctorite / or name . Whan the veryte of the lorde was opened before them / they gaue no thankes for it / but became vayne in their thoughtes / wherfor God gaue them ouer into a lewde mynde / darkenynge their hartes . So that now thynkinge them selues wyse / they apere more folyshe than afore .

2 Now speake they great thynges in theyr conuocacyons seanes and sermons / and all are sore blasphemyes agaynst God & his Crist. Now must they serue God by most streyght commaundement with olde Romyshe beggerye / though he most hyghlye abhorreth it / and no scrypturs maye be red in the tyme therof . For the scripturs must onlye passe as we wyll haue them . How shuld the Beastes head els be healed agayne / or how shuld our churche be knowne els to be his owne Image ? Oh beastlye abhomynacion / and most hellyshe decre . Now must Christ be taken for no sauer at all without owr deseruynges . The supper of the lorde that was sumtyme a mutuall pertycypacyon of Christes bodye and bloud / must now be a newe crucyfyenge of him / one traytoure playnge all partes / Iudas / Annas Cayphas / Herode / Pylate / and the Iewes . Matrimonye must be iudged vnclennesse thowgh it be the ernest institucyon of God . No Popyshe vowe maye be dissolued / though it be well knowne a matter so deuilyshe / as hath made an hondreth thowsande Sodomytes . The Eucharystye maye not be receyued in both kyndes / thowgh it be the expresse commaundement of Christ so to be vsed . Without the blynde bussynges of a Papyst / maye no synne be soluted / for that is the vpholdynge of theyr kyngedom / wyth manye other lyke blasphemyes . Certen other great thynges are vttered by this mouthe / which now I passe ouer least I shuld be tedyouse to the reader . How be it thys one great blasphemye that ys spoken / I can not leaue vntowched .

Where as they boast themselues yet styll alone to be the holye churche / by the onlye vertu of their vnccyons and shauynges receyued first of the pope / the layte secluded . And vndre thys most falselye vsurped tytle / they wyll styll be taken for the redemers of mennes sowles . For they saye that their Masses are satysfactorye sacryfyces for the quycke and the dead / iustyfienge / releuynge / and sauynge them both from dampnacyon / ex opere operato . And ouer that abhominable swarme of Antichristes fylthye mynysters / make they now their kynges the heades most blasphemously / onlye to be by them vpholden now in all their myscheues . Truthe yt is that a kynge is the ●polytyque head / supreme gouernour / and great staye vndre God / of the peple to hys charge commytted / & after that sort / their myghtie monarke also by the scripturs / which they haue afore thys tyme denyed / worshyppinge them for most holye sayntes / which haue most presumptuouslye rebelled in that behalfe . But ouer that whoryshe churche of theirs ( whom Chryst neuer planted ) is Sathan the onlye head / by the holye Ghostes fore iudgementes here . For to that beastlye brode gaue the Dragon hys power / hys seate / and hys myghty auctoryte . God forbidde therfor that anye Christen prynce shuld at their false suggestyons / admitt so blasphemouse a tytle . The deuyll ( sayth Iob ) ys the onlye head ouer all the chyldren of pryde . That voyce therfor maye be blasphemouse / as commynge from the mouthe of the serpent / yf yt be not take good hede to .

3 * And power was geuen to the Beast to do these thynges for the space of .xlij. monethes / which is the .iij. years and an half of Helyas / the tyme / tymes / and half tyme of Danyell / and the thowsande two hondred and thre score dayes of Iohan. Not onlye for thys age of the churche / but also for all other ages / and by other heades also / hath the mouthe of thys Beast vttered great thinges in blasphemy / lyes in Hypocresye / and wonders vnder a deceytfull power . But as concernynge thys latter healed head of the Beast / the tyme therof wyll be short / as here after shall ap●re in the .xvij. chapter .

4 He opened hys mouthe ( sayth the text ) in reproues agaynst God / speakynge yll of hys name / of hys tabernacle / & of them that dwell in heauen . Thys is in a maner all one with that was spoken afore in the .xi. chapter of the temple / the au●ter / and of them that worshyp in the temple / saue onlye that hys name ys here for hys temple . In token that whan hys temple ys blasphemed ( whych ys hys congregacyon ) hys name ys blasphemed by the same / so ys hys tabernacle Iesus / in whom bodelye dwelleth , the fulnesse of the Godhede / so are also they that dwell ●n heauen / wherbye ys ment the true churche / from whom the angels are not secluded / beynge their fellawe seruauntes . These dwellerrs be they that haue their conuersacyon in heauen vnder an vndefyled faythe / that seke those thynges which are aboue and not vpon earthe / that worshyp the father in sprete and veryte / and that perseuereth true christyanes to the ende . Manye entreth thys heauen of the lorde / but all contynueth not in yt to the ende of their lyues / the more ys the pyte .

5 Power was also geuen vnto this beastlye Antichrist / / to make battayle with the sayntes / and to ouercome them . Contynuallye do they with vyolence vexe by their cer●all polycyes / auctoryte / and lawes / the syncere wytnesses or preachers of the lorde / sanctyfyed of hym through faythe in his holye worde as were hys Apostles / lyke as ded the malycyouse clergye of the Iewes-Yea / they ded resist them with their more than tyrannouse proclamacyons / commissyons / and commandementes wyth cruell Pharao / Amam / and Antiochus / to proue Christ in them the sygne of contradyccyon & stone of reproche . They seke here / they honte there / and neuer leaue ragynge tyll they haue closed them vp in presons .

6 Yet are they not so contented tyll they haue ouercomen them in the syghe of the blynde worlde / though not before God . Eyther shall they be compelled shamefullye to recante / or yf they persyst in the veryte / to suffer most peynefull deathe . By one waye or other they must be ouercomen / to holde the peple in erroure . The Gardyner of wynchester was not ashamed now of late as I harde yt credyblye reported ) to saye vnto one that was accused of hys malygnaunt multitude / whan he was no longar able to withstande the manif●st truthe . Master Seyton we knowe ye are lerned / and plentuouslye knowe ye are lerned / and plentuouslye endued with knowlege in the scripturs / yet thynke not that ye shall ouercome vs . No / no / sett your hart at rest / & loke neuer to haue yt sayed that ye haue ouercomen the byshoppes / for yt shall not be so . In dede yt is truthe . For neyther Christ nor hys Apostles ded euer yet ouercome yow .

Their vyctorye ouer yow ys not in thys worlde / your kyngedome beynge here . But be certen and sure of yt ye shall be ouercomen to your moche more rebuke / at the latter daye whan all wronges and iniuryes shall be reuenged / which is not farre of . Your lordelye estymacyon ( which maye not be hyndred here ) wyll apere there not verye precyouse . Yet do ye well to holde vp a proude pecockes head as longe as ye maye . Lose not an ynche of your hyght hardelye / but with your gogle eyes loke vp lyke a manne with a garde at your tayle / lyke a sort of tormentours in a playe . And with your lyenge iudgementes ouercome these beggerlye vagabondes / and burne them also rather than fayle / to fulfill the measure of your holye fathers .

7 And autoryte was geuen to thys Beast vpon euerye kyndred / peple / tonge / and nacyon . For non these Antichristes spare / neyther hygh nor lowe / ryche nor poore / sycke nor hole / lerned nor vnlerned . But a iurisdiccyon they must haue ouer them / though yt be vsurped . Ones in the yeare must they haue them in confession / to knowe which waye they are bente . That salue haue they gotten in ageyne / to heale vp their wounded head . Be he nary●e or be he straunger / be he a rewler or be he commoner / he must obeye them no remedye / or els stande forthe at the sessyons with Christ amonge theues . Not in one regyon / or where as one maner of language ys vsed / haue they thys auctorite / but in euerye lande / in euerye shere / in euerye towne / and in euerye famylye must they haue to do / corruptynge euerye mannes faythe .

8 For all that dwelle vpon earthe must worshyp thys Beast . They must agree to the great thynges / no remedye . They must blaspheme God as they do . But blessed be the lorde / non doth that in their hartes but they onlye that dwell vpon the earthe / that haue their felycyte here / that seketh the prosperyte of thys worlde / and regardeth non other lyfe than therin is . The lambes of Christes folde geueth hede to hys voyce / they regarde hys calle / they folowe hys worde / they walke in hys lyght . They seke for no holynesse but onlye in hym / neyther in water nor bread / ashes nor palmes / robes nor relyckes / masses nor anoyntinges . He ys their onlye sufficient wisdome / ryghtousnesse / holynesse / and redemption . His worde ys their lyuinge water / the fode of their sowles / the lanterne that shall gyde them / and the lyfe that wyll not fayle them . Non other doctryne do they couete / nor yet other preceptes of lyuynge . Though they be here in the earthye / yet dwelle they not vpon yt . No contynuynge cyte haue they here / but they seke vnto an other of moche more bewtye and pleasure / not buylded of menne . And for that they are redye rather to render by their lyues / than to renounce the very●e . Onlye they which dwelle here doth worshyp the Beast / louinge themselues better than God / and their fleshe better than hys truthe / hauynge their whole trust in the mangye merites and dyrtye deseruynges of these beastlye Hipocrites / and no thynge at all in his swete promyses .

9 And therfor are not their names written of the lambe in the boke of lyfe / which lambe was slayne from the begynnynge of the worlde . Christ hath not allowed them by hys worde and promes . With the ryghtouse are they not regestred / as members of one mystycall bodye in hym . In the similitude of hys deathe are they not grafted vnto hym as the braunches vnto the vyne / to be partyners of hys resurreccyon . Their porcyon ys not in the lande of the lyuynge with hym . They are non of those / whom the father hath geuen hym / to partycipate with hym in one sprete . Predestynate they are not vnto lyfe by hym / nor so written vp in the foreknowlege of God . Chosen they were not of the lorde before the worldes constitucyon / to be hys vndefyled children in Crist.

10 He ys the meke lambe that was slayne . He alone taketh awaye the synnes of the worlde . In hym onlye ys the lyfe / for he is the lyfe yt selfe . Yet ys he the lyfe of non other / but of those that onlye beleue in hym .

11 In that he was kylled from the worldes begynnynge / is sygnifyed / that he dyed for all them which were create to be saued / and that hys onlye deathe ys all their helthe / rayse / and remedye / by the promes of God . For all they haue eaten of one spyrytuall meate / and dronke of one spyrytuall rocke / though yt came in the fleshe longe after them . He onlye trode downe the head of the Serpent . Sens the begynnynge hath he bene slayne in hys members also / as manyfes● yt ys ●n ryghtouse Abell / Hyeremy / Iohan Baptist / & soche other lyke . They that are not wrytten of the lambe in the boke of lyfe for the chyldren of God / are regestred in the boke of deathe for the chyldren of perdycyon / reserued to eternall deathe for their infydelyte / with the deuyll and hys angels .

12 He that hath an eare ( sayth the text ) lete hym take good hede . He that hath an vnderstandynge / lete hym be admonyshed / by that which foloweth here . Or he that hath receyued the wysdome of the sprete / lete hym iudge hereof accordinge vnto yt . Thus doth the holye Ghost aduertyse the faythfull to consider / that what so euer thinges are written / they are written vnto owr lerninge .

13 He that leadeth into captiuite / shall go into captiuite . And he that kylleth with a swerde must with a swerde be slayne . This warninge geueth the lord / take it if they list . For he will haue his right iudgements knowne . He that vexeth or afflicteth the iust beleuers in bodye by outwarde ponnishmēts / he shall be afflicted in the sprete with an inwarde darkenesse or blindenesse of the sowle / that he maye be the more captiue to synne and to Sathan . God will delyuer him vp into a lewde minde / and will geue him stronge delusion / to beleue al maner of lyes / that he might be dampned .

14 He that killeth the poore innocent for his faythe with the prōswerde / or sleeth him with anye other torment / with the swerde of the sprete ( which is the lordes worde ) shall he be both iudged and condempned . The worde that I haue spoken ( sayth Christ ) shall iudge them at the latter daye . And this is in maner all one with that was sayed in the .xi. chapter afore . If anye manne will hurte them / fyre shall procede out of their mouthes / and consume their enemies .

15 Neuerthelesse to the christiane is persecucion necessarye . For here in this life is the pacience of the sayntes proued / and their faithe required . Here was Abraham tempted and Iob sore vexed / and both they were founde Gode true faythfull seruauntes . Here were the Apostles contempned / reioysinge that they were founde worthye for Christes sake to suffer rebuke . The rightouse the lorde trieth as golde in the fornace . He chasteneth euerye seruaunt that he loueth / and scourgeth euerye sonne that he receyueth . Onlye is it faythe that all the euyls of this worlde by pacience ouercommeth / and so obtayneth the victorye . The frute which riseth to eternall lyfe / is peaceable sufferaunce in faythe . And that must be here in this lyfe / where as we are vnperfight / to make vs perfight .

The Text.

1 And I behelde an other beaste . 2. comynge vp out of the earthe . 3. And he had two hornes lyke a lambe . 4. and he spake as ded the Dragon . 5. And he dyd all that the fyrst Beast coulde do . 6. in his presence . 7. And he caused the earthe / & them which dwell therin . 8. to worship the first Beast / whose deadlye wounde was healed . 9. And he ded great wonders . 10. so that he made fyre come downe from heauen . 11. in the syght of men . 12. And deceyued them that dwelte on the earthe by the meanes of those sygnes which he had power to do in the syght of the Beaste . 13. sayenge to them that dwelte on the earthe / that they shulde ma●e an Image . 14. vnto the Beaste / which had the wounde of a swerde and dyd lyue .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And I behelde ( sayth saynt Iohan ) in thys secrete reuelacyon of my lorde / an other Beast arysynge out of the earthe . A figure ys thys of all false Prophetes and vngodlye preachers . Beastlye are they euermore / vayne / carnall / and corrupt in their stodyes / abhominable in the pract●synges of their wicked hartes / not sehinge God but their bellyes / not Christes glorye but their owne pryde and vayne glorye .

2 From the earthe they aryse / all geuen to earthlye wysdome . The onlye affectes of thys worlde doth moue them to teache / and no good zele of the truthe . Eyther are they tyckled with ambytion / prycked with auaryce / or els sturred with malyce to inueye . These are the common affectes of the wycked . Thys goynge vp haue they from wyckednesse to wyckednesse & shall haue still tyll the lorde destroye them / lyke as haue the iust beleuers from vert● to vertu in the sprete / tyll soche tyme as they see hym face vnto face in the euerlastynge Syon . From the worldes begynnynge hath this Beast rysen vp in Cayn the first murtherer / in the fleshelye chyldren of menne / in Cham the shamelesse chylde of Noe / in Ismael and Esau / in Iannes and Iambres / in Balaham and Baals prophetes / in the Beniamytes and Bels chaplaynes / in Phassur and Semeins / in Iudas / Annas and Cayphas / in Barichu and Diotrephes . And now sens their tyme most of all in Mahumetes doctours and the Popes queresters . Yea / styll they are aloft in their beastlye beggerye / and wyll be tyll their mysschef be fynyshed . Who seeth not now adayes that hath lyght in the sprete / the malygnyte / Hypocresye / haw●e / crafte / and deceyt / in serten false Prophetes at Paules crosse in London / and in other places els .

3 This Beast had .ij. hornes lyke the lambe at 〈◊〉 blushe / but all counterfett and false in verye dede / for he spake as ded the Dragon . The hornes of Christ / are hys hygh kyngedome in the worde . Onlye aryseth hys churche by faythe in the glad tydynges and promysys of God . That worde ys the scepture of Christes power / and the rodde of ryght order where as he regneth . Non other straunge scepturs are there / neyther tradycyons nor customes . Seuen hornes had Christ / for in hym was the fulnesse of the veryte . This Beast hath but two / and yet they are but false and counterfe●t . They seme to be Christes ad are not . These are the corrupted letter of the .ij. testamentes / falselye interpreted / and for a carnall purpose alleged . And therfor yt ys but apparent / Hypocrityshe / and deceytfull / yea & cleane repugnaunt to the lordes meanynge / not hauynge the iudgement of hys sprete . Thys letter without the holye Ghost is deathe / and nothynge perteyneth vnto Christ . He ys the veryte and lyfe / this ys but a fable or fyccyon . Hys worde ys sprete and lyfe / thys is but a brasse pot sowndynge / or a latten candelstick , tynkelynge / fantastycall and ●aynt / sophistycall & slayghtye . Though these seme lyke Christes / yet are they non of hys / but the verye hornes of the Beast . For they vpholde Antichristes kyngedome and not hys / a worldlye glorye and not hys / for hys kingedome ys not of thys worlde . No longar are they hys wordes / hys lawes / nor hys testimonyes than they maynteyne hys ryght honoure No newlye practysed worshyppynges alloweth he for hys / but vtterlye abhorreth them all as thynges rawe and vnsauerye .

4 And therfor yt foloweth / that thys Beast spake as ded the Dragon . The doctrynes and teachynges of these false Apostles and deceytfull masters / are lyes in Hipocresye / and the verye doctryne of deuyls / vnder tytle of the veryte repugnaunt to the same . Not vnlyke to that the Serpent sayd vnto the woman / ye shall not dye yf ye eate of the forbidden frute / but ye shall be surely as Goddes / knowinge both good & euyll . They do as ded Sathan in the desart . Alwayes they perswade vs / eyther of stones to make bread / or els to throwe our selues downe warde / or els to worshyp the deuyll . That is / to change the good creaturs of God from their ryght vse / as trees into Idols / sylkes / veluettes clothe / golde / and syluer into superstyciouse ornamentes / chast Marryage into stynkynge whoredome and Sodomye with soche lyke . To declyne from the dewtyes commaunded of God to their Idle obseruacyons / so makynge hys commaundementes of non effect for the bayne tradycyons of menne . And fynallye to fall vnto forbidden worshyppynges or abhomynacyons of Idolatrye / of whome they are full . And for these they haue with Sathan also their mangled scriptur● to laye for them / to proue that the helpe of dead sayntes ys necessarye / their masses / merytes / & workes more than nede / expedyent / & the fyre of purgatorye a fearefull thynge with the deuyll and all of soche fantasyes . These are the prelates of Antichristes churche / the . i● . horned monsters or great bellyed Byshoppes / ryghtelye described here of the holye ghost in this two horned beast . These beastlye bushardes are not ashamed both to saye and to wrytte / that in their myters they beare the fygure of both testamentes / whose veryte they impugne with ●o●he and nayle . Verye trulye they saye / that they carrye the fygure for in dede yt ys but a shaddowe they bere . Not to gloryfye God / but their owne beastlye bodyes with golde / pearle / & stone / lyke Mahownde● in a playe / for hys truthe they most cruellye persecute . These are the verye false Prophetes / the instrumentes of Sathan / the deceyuers / wolues / wagelynges / Iudasses / dreamers / lyers / Idols / aduersaryes / adders whelpes / foxes destroyenge the lordes vyneyarde / deceytfull workemenne / desperate shepeherdes / blynde watchemenne / dumme dogges / deuyls incarnate / wycked sede / vnsaciate beastes / whose God ys their bealy & glory their confusyon . To all these & to manye other soche doth the Holye Ghost compare them / for that they haue with their errours and lyes turned the swetnesse of the scripturs into bytternesse / scarselye leauynge one place therof vndefyled with their fylthye dregges .

5 Thys Beast ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) ded all thynges that the first Beast coulde do / euen be fore hys owne face . The same lyenge power to deceyue in Hypocresye hath thys beastlye brode that the great Antichrist hath / the same wylye craftes / and the same beastlye kyndes of Idolatrye / and so doth vse them . The same abhominacyons maynteyne they the worlde ouer / that the pope maynteyneth at Rome / and Mahomete in barbarye of Turkeye . Yea / the same supersticyons and sorceryes / the same execrable tradycions & beggeryes . The same ceremonies haue they / that he hath / the same vnccions / the same orders / and the same Masses . The same idle obseruacions with vnknowne cloynynge / clatteringe / and wawlinge are styl vsed in Englande / lyke as they were vsed afore / & with no lesse blasphemy to God .

6 To do soche thinges in the first Beastes presence / is to do them where his power and auctorite is raygnynge / or where as is the seate of Sathan / which is euerye place that admitteth straunge worshippinge .

7 Both the earthe and them that dwell in the earthe compell they to worship this first Beast . Not onlye enforce they them to wycked Idolatrye / that neuer wolde knowe the truthe / but also manye of those which hath great knowlege in the same . Oh / how manye are in Englande / and in other regions also that in these dayes worketh agaynst faythe / knowlege / and the holye ghost / admittinge the prestes abhominacions ? Rather had they to dwell styll in the earthlye beggerye with the blasphemye of God / than eyther to be out of fauer / or to loose ther offices to haue their goodes hindred / or to hasarde their lyues / so swete are these wanton worldlye pleasurs . Rather had they to peryshe with the sonnes of Hel● and Samuel for abusynge the ordinaunces of the lorde / and with Core / Dathan / and abiron for rebellinge agaynst them to synke vnto hell / than with Christ to take peynes in pouerte . But let not them thynke to be worthye of Christ / that better loueth their owne carnall commodyte / than his heauenlye veryte .

8 Well / the Beast must they worshyp whose wounde is made whole . His olde rustye rewles newe bournished / and his olde Romishe ragges new patched / by a newlye confermed auctorite / must they enbrase in peyne of deathe . The lambe shall not yet be suffred to apere . Styll for a tyme must these terrible te●magaūtes haue more worship than God / their tradicions preferred to his most pure worde . And whye shuld it not be so ? haue they not now a newe refourmed churche / in whom the Beastes wounded head is newlye restored ? So longe as it is lyke the popes churche / it must folowe his rewles / and cleaue to his ordynaunces . It shall not folowe Christ in faythe and in doctryne / tyll it apere lyke that churche which he left here behynde him whan he ascended . And that is not lyke to be yet .

9 First must there be wrought great wonders . Fyre must be compelled to come downe from heauen in them syght of menne / by this twohorned Beast . The discyples of Antichrist with their byfurked ordinaries must violentlye pluck● from the true christen churche ( whose regne is not of this worlde ) the eternall worde of the lorde .

10 Then must they take from them the consumyge fyre that Christ sent downe into the earthe of mennes hartes to drye vp all malyce and synne . Yea / they must depriue them of the clouen fyerye tonges / which the holye ghost poured vpon the Apostles / to the confort of all the worlde . The treasure that Christ hath left here to socoure vs / they must hyde vnder the grounde / and the candle that he lyght vs to se ouer the howse / conuaye vnderneth the bushell .

11 And these wonders shall they worke in the presence of menne . All redye haue they taken in Englande / from the Bybels / the annotacions / tables / and prefaces / to perfourme this their dampnable enterpryse . They haue streyghtlye forbydden the readynge therof / for tyme of their Romyshe seruyce . Some haue they burned / and some put to sylence / and all in the face of the peple . Yea / they reysed the maydes of Ipp●swhy●e and of kente to worke wonders & maruel● / and now of late the folyshe North●n menne to fyght for their churche . What practyses they haue had in that eare / and that eare / to fetche awaye the true fauorers and preachers of the Gospell at dyuerse tymes / he that well considereth / maye saye that the holye ghost hath here ryghtlye described them / callynge them workers of wonders . The discrete cytezen of London master Packyngton was slayne with a gonne at saynt Thomas of Acres ( as they call it ) not without their preuyelegerdemayne . But this with other of their miracles I intende to declare more at large / in an other treatyse the lorde lendynge me lyfe . It is not longe ago also sens Alexander Seyton an excellent lerned manne with poore master Tolwyn / recanted at Paules crosse . Nor yet longe afore sens good do●tour Crome was compelled to do the same . And now last of all / to take the scripture cleane awaye / they haue sought out great fawtes in the translacyon of it / and thervpon taken them awaye from the common peples readynge . Great peynes they take to put it downe / but they neuer swerr yet in the settynge vp of yt . Thus mynde they to worke their wonders / tyll they haue buryed it all in the earthe . They lacke now but .iiii. knyghtes to hyre / to kepe yt downe styll / that it ryse no more vp . O very 〈◊〉 of helle / and lymmes of the deuyll / how vayne are your stodyes / and how wycked your practyses ? I haue no doubt but within short space God wyll destroye the counsels / and dyssypate the strengthes of them that please menne . Yet lete no manne maruele though they do these feates for the tyme . For yf the gospel were taught without checke / in a whyle ▪ shuld nothinge remayne of that generacyon / neyther myter nor rochet / shauen crowne nor anoyntinge / and that knowe they wele ynough . For the worde of the lorde ys the breathe of hys mouthe that shall destroye them / and the deuowringe fyre that shall consume them .

12 By the meanes of these sygnes ( sayth the text ) which thys Beast had power to do in the syght of the other Beast / or where hys abusions doth reygne with outchecke / he deceyued them that dwelt on the earthe . Manye in thys age are wonderfullye abused / through the dysseytful workinge of Sathan in these horned . whoremongers / but yet non other than are earthlye mynded . Of some menne in dede the eyes are bleared with their craftes / of some menne the weake iudgementes blemyshed wyth their subtiltees / for want of dyscernynge the scripturs . Some menne are tangled with doubtes / some trobled with terrour / some tormented with feare / consideringe that for thys newe lernynge ( as they will haue yt called ) some haue bene hanged / as were the thre poore yonge menne of Sothfolke for the rotten rode of Douercourt / Some burned / some be headed for thinges of nought / as ys knowne to all the worlde These thinges daseth their wittes / and amaseth their myndes . And earthe ys the cause of all this . Were yt not that they moche more loued this worldes pleasures than Godt / it shuld neuer be so .

13 All the perswasyons of Antichristes prelates and preachers hath euermore bene / and are now styll vnto soche earthlye inhabitauntes / that they shuld make an Image lyke vnto thys Beast . Which is alwayes to chose soche an Emproure with other worldlye gouernours as shall be for their commodyte . He must by the worldlye peple be compelled to take autoryte / sceptur / and crowne at their handes / so sworne to maynteyne their fleshelye libertees . He must also be fashioned by their wycked doctrynes and false counsels in confessions / lyke them in all superstyciouse lyuynge / and in the tyrannouse murther of innocent Christen menne . Where soche an head Ruler ys appoynted / there ys hys owne fygure made / and where soche a Gouernour ys constitute / there ys hys own Image se● vpp . For we must consyder that this reuelacion is in all poyntes no storye / speciallye here / as manye wryters haue thought it to be / in supposynge an Antichrist to be borne at the latter ende of the worlde . But it is a misterye comprehendinge in it but one generall Antichrist for all / which hath regned in the churche in a maner sens the Ascencyon of Christ . And in this one poynt are all the commentours that I haue seane / most fowlye deceyued / yea / the best lerned of them . I knowe wele if there be anye yet to come / he shall be but a member of this . Agayne to owr purpose .

14 Speciallye must they make a ryght Image of that Beast / which had the wounde of a swerde and ded lyue . This betokeneth that in these dayes they shall sturre about them / & leaue no ca●tels vnsought / neyther anye false counsels vnfet from other realmes / to do their feates with / and to fashyon the Christen Gouernours to their myndes . As winchester ded the last tyme he was in Fraunce . After whose comminge home / manye great wonders were wrought in Englande / and fyre was made to come downe from heauen . Consider the storye afore / for the storye declareth the misterye . That wounded head now healed / must be vp holden .

15 He had a greuouse wype with the ●worde ( which is the lyuynge worde of the lorde ) whan he lost his monkes / chanons and fryres / his purgatorye / pilgrimages / and shrynes . Yet was he not all dead . For thowgh their cowles / coctes / and ro●hettes were of yet had they styll the same popyshe hartes and the same super●●iciouse frowardenesse / that they were wonte to haue . This myght haue bene founde true / if it had bene serched / w●an serten popishe prestes of mastre whartons retinue not farre from Bongaye in Sothfolke ded calke for Cromwell and for other els , if the worlde had no●●hāged to their myndes . I write not this thinknyge they can harme by the●e calkinge where as faythe is resident / but onlye to shewe / that their hartes are yet alyue & how vertuously they are occupied . Manye thinges I considre at this instaunt poynt concerninge prince Edwarde / whom I doubte not but the lorde hath sent for the singular confort of Englande . Not that I ●em●rously diffiue / anye thinge to come concerninge him / consideringe it onlye in the lordes powre . But I desyre the sayd lorde to preserue his bringinge vp / from the contagiouse drinkes of these false phisicianes . And this is to be prayed for of all menne / if ye ponder well the text / & marke their wonderfull workinges / where the beastes head is restored .

¶ The Text.

1 And he had power to geue sprete vnto the Image of the Beast . 2. and to make that the Image of the Beast shulde speake . 3. and shulde cause that as manye as wolde not worshyp the Image of the Beast / shulde be kylled . 4. And he made all / both small and great / ryche & poore / free and bonde . 5. to receyue a marke in their ryght handes . 6. or in their fore heades . 7. And that no man myght bye and sell. 8. saue he that had the marke . 9. or the name of the Beaste . 10. eyther the nombre of hys name .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 For power they haue to geue sprete to the Image of the Beast . It ys surelye geuen them of the deuyll / whan they haue ones fashyoned out the Beastes ryght Image / or made of an Emproure a tyr●●●t / or set in the place of a godlye gouernour / 〈…〉 murtherer vp of gods peple / by flatteringe prayses to encorage them to all my chefe / and by wycked counsell to prycke them forewarde to make cruell actes of murther for vpholdynge their beastlye genera●yon . The sprete that they do ministre vnto princes euermore / ys not the correccyon of synne / the amendement of lyfe / redresse of the common welthe / prouisyon for the poore / nor the sekynge of Gods glorye . But by flatterynge prayses to vpholde them in their euyls / moche after thys soort of speakinge . Your magestes or graces are called most vertuous / most valeaunt / most worthye / most wyse / most myghtye and best lerned amonge all Christen potentates . They are all but Asses / in comparyson to your worthynesses . If yt be your magestes pleasurs to do this or that within your owne domynyon / who shall be so bolde to withstande yow ? No / though Gods holye lawes be an hundred tymes agaynst yt . Support the olde relygyon of holye churche agaynst te Heretykes / and ye can not chose but prospere in all your affayres . Lete it be treason agaynst your owne persones accordynge to the actes of the Emperour Sigysmundus and of kynge henrye the fift / if they do but ones speake agaynst be● corrupt customes . Make cruell cōst●●uc●ons apace & proclame them abrode to shewe your selfes the popes liuely Images .

2 Our office it is to cause the Beastes Image to speake . Let therfor your voyces be harde . Be no dumme Idolles ▪ but speake with bolde stomakes . In hys sprete make vtteraunce without Gods worde of his olde Romishe rewles . Sende forth your proclamacions to be publyshed euerye where / concernynge his masses / his confessions / his ceremonies and his whorishe chastite . Let all thynges be blowen forth vnder your tytles / names / and auctoritees / to be obserued vnder peyne of deathe . If other realmes report that ye abuse the dewtye of heysers or kynges ( whych is the offyce of God esteme not their saynges / but stande well in your owne consaytes . Interprete the scripturs at your owne lust and pleasurs as your lawe master of Rome hath done afore your tyme .

3 Cause so manye to be kylled / as wyll not worship the Image of the Beast / or obeye soche wicked lawes agaynst the veryte of God / as hath bene made by those Emprours that were the popes eldest sonnes / by the kynges of Fraunce which were his yonger sonnes / or by other princes els which were the defenders of hys churche / lete non escape your ●andes that inueyheth agaynst our kyngdome / but make hauocke of them on euerye syde as of heretykes and traytors / to proue the holye ghost true here in hys fore iudgemente● . For that is your offyce / not appoynted of God but of Sathan . And in our cōmssiyon from him also we haue it / to be no slacke mouers of yow thervnto . So hath Christ tolde afore in this reuelacyon vnto saynt Iohan the Euangelist . This is the ghostlye counsell that we the horned Beastes / thus haue in commission to geue vnto yow from the mouthe of the Dragon . Whan soche an Image or Id●louse prince is thus vpset or constytuted by auctorite ( his othe ones made that he shall alwayes defende them ) he maye in no wyse speake but out of that sprete that their coniurers / confessours I shuld saye / haue put in to him . He maye make no lawes but at their spiritual appoyntment / lyke as the Emprour Carolus doth now in these dayes . Moche after this sore became the emprour Nero this beastes Image immediatly after Cristes ascension by the subtle slaightes of that spiritual sorcerer Simon Magus / at Rome to withstande the Christen preachers Peter and Paule / as largelye witnesseth Egesippus in hys thirde boke de Hierosol●morū exci-dio / the seconde chaptre . This Simon Magus by flatteringe prayses crepte first into his fauer / promisinge him helthe / longe lyfe / increace of power / and enlargement of his empyre / with contynuall vyctorye ouer hys enemyes / in case he wolde folowe hys counsell / vpon thys became he / not onlye hys chefe counsellour / but also the hygh byshop of hys sowle and conseruatoure of hys bodye / the preseruacyon of hys whole helthe & lyfe to hym committed onlye . All thynges after that was done by hys counsell to stoppe the Apostles preachynge / he taken for the Emprours most familyar frynde / and a manne most profitable to the common welthe of the Romanes / and they sone after suppressed and putt vnto most cruell deathe .

4 And he made all ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) both great and small / ryche and poore / free and bonde / to receyue a marke in their ryght handes / or in their fore heades . Whan this newe raysed Image of the Beaste / or sworne power to Antichrist / ys ones raysed vp or admitted by their autoryte / be he kynge or Reyser / prince or other potentate / he must strongelye defende that Synagoge of the deuyll / with whole mageste / crowne / and scepture . By their onlye counsell must he than make lawes ( for they must geue hym sprete ) and sende out commandementes abrode that their holye decrees be obseued . Commissioners and vysy●ours must out vndre that autoryte / as we le to the clergye as layte . Than must all be sworne to it and so obeye yt / both hygh and lowe / both Gentylman and ye man / both owner and farmer / both zytezen and townesman / both merchande and plowgh man / both mastre and seruaunt / both natyue dweller and denyson . Yea / both Prystes in their colleges / Monkes in their abbayes / Chanons in their couentes / and fryers in their cloysters must after their sorte do the same . Thys rewle hath bene alwayes for the commodyte of that kingedome / where as the powers haue bene thus by them peruerted . Moche were it to shewe the manyfolde examples in that behalfe . Charles the .v. now emproure / to make thys good / and to shewe hymselfe to be the seyd Beastes Image / caused soche actes to be publyshed through out hys whole domynyon agaynst the Christen doctryne / wherin all they are declared heretyques / scysmatyques / and excommunicates / which taketh not the pope for sayn● Peters onlye vycar and head of the christen churche / non excepted / neyther kynge nor Coruester / as there are now dyuerse of the contrarye opynyon . The artycles of the louanyanes vndre hys pryuilege / and the actes of the parysyanes vudre the frenc●e kynges autoryte / proclamed in thys present yeare of our lorde A . M. CCCCC.xlv . wyll make all this matter good .

5 And what is this els both in theyr clergy and commons / but to receyue a marke in their right handes or forehea●es ? for in admittynge those artycles & actes / they graunte to obeye those blasphemouse doctrynes that shall both corrupt their lyfe and faythe / both their workes and conseyence . For in consentinge vnto errours in their faythe / they spott their foreheades / hauynge so their consciences marked with an hote yron . In full grauntynge also to do them in effecte / they defyle their handes / perfourminge soche workes as are vnpure before God . If they were gone quyte from Christ that wrapped them selues agayne with the workes of the lawe appoynted of God before his commynge / moche more are they gone from him that tangle them sel●es with soche workes of bondage as he neuer knewe / as are all their Idell obseruacions hauynge no expresse commaundementes of the worde of God . Onlye loke we ( saith Paule ) in sprete to be iustyfied through faythe / which by loue is mightye in operacyon .

6 And for them that so beleueth is this disiunctyue or / put betwyn theyr handes and foreheades . For all they that outwardlye kepe these heythnishe obseruacyons / haue not their conscyences defyled with them / for their inwarde faythes sake / though they perfourme the outwarde workes / doubtynge the terrour of the lawes . Yet wolde I counsell them not therin to trust / but at the worde of the lorde to go from it . For though loth dwelt in Sodome / yet at the lordes voyce he departed from thens .

7 This Image made also that no manne myght vye or sell / saue he onlye that had the Marke or the name of the Beast / or at the least the nombre of his name . The actes of Iustynyane the Emproure / shall make this good / so shall the constitucyons of Adelstane and Edgare and manye other kynges here in Englande which for the ordre and commody●e of the clerge made manye polytyque lawes . Specyallye kynge Inas Gouernour of the west Saxons / which first gaue the Peter Pens vnto Rome / and made him selfe a monke there . But in thys spyrytuall generacyon amonge them selues / is non allowed for a merchande vnlesse he come in by Symonye . Non was made bysshopp / pastoure / nor ●urate / but payed for it their taxed sommes / byshoppes / to the pope / and the prestes to the byshopps / besydes Irem in brybes .

Non myght els be allowed to vtter to auauntage the wares of the beast / or distribute the rytes of that holye whoryshe churche .

8 Neyther were anye made free of that marte / vnlesse they had the marke of the beast / which is not onlye the outwarde sygne of their head shauinge and anoyntinge of their fingars / but also the inwarde prynte of their consciences / receyued by profession made to that wicked monster . For lyke as true faythe in Iesus Christ is the marke of a perfygh● christiane / so is a false beleue in popishe tradicions a token of Antichristes member . By their frutes ( sayth Christ ) shall ye knowe them . For the one foloweth the rewle of Gods worde / the other hath counterfet workes of mennes prescripcion .

9 Els must they haue the name of the Beast / to be called spyrituall menne / or the holye consecrate nombre / as his holye fatherhode is called .

10 Or at the least they must haue the nombre of his name / which is a note of magnificence and worthynesse . Lesse can they not be called than lordes / so manye as are sworne to that spirituall markett . The most ragged ronegate / and idle ydiote amonge them / is no lesse than a ●yre / which is a lorde in the Lattyn / as sir Iohan / sir Thomas / sir Willyam . In the Lattyn onlye hangeth their great lordeshippes . Amonge their vnknowne lattyn howres / their masses / and their dyrigees / lyeth their plentuouse patrimonye in their portasses and masse bokes . No● he that leaueth all wyth poore peter / maye be called from fishynge / nor wyth Mathew from the custome howse / to do these offices . But he that catcheth all with Iudas and Symon Magus must come from Symonye to do them . Not he that is called of God as was Aaron shal haue cure of sowle / but he that offereth to Corban with Annas and Cayphas . Soche a worlde hath it bene and is ye● styll in the worlde abrode amonge them .

The Text.

1 Here is wisdome . 2. lete him that hath wytte . 3. counte the nombre of the Beaste . 4. For it is the nombre of Manne . 5. And his nombre is / sex h●ndred / sextye / and sixe .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 Here is wysdome to be had ( sayth saynt Iohan. Lete hym that hath wytte / count the nombre of the Beast / for it is the Nombre of manne . And his Nombre is sixe hondred / sixtie and sixe .

2 For so moche as Christ hath willed vs diligentlye to searche the scripturs / and the holye Ghost here doth committ the iudgement of this secrete to the witte of manne / some wryters hath deducted thys Nomber out of serten Greke wordes / betokeninge thys great Antichrist / because thys present Reuelacion was first written in the Greke language . As out of antemos / which signifyeth one contrarye to Gods honoure / out of Arnume / which signifieth a denyer of God / and out of Teitan / which betokeneth the sunne . All these .iii. vo●ables / though they seme dyuerse / yet contayne they after the Greke rewles / neyther more nor lesse than thys sett Nomber . And all this maye stande both with scripture and reason . For he that ys not with Christ / ys agaynst hym / callynge that ys good yll / and that ys yll good / mynystrynge darkenesse for lyght . Soche lyenge masters as hath brought in sectes of perdicyon / hath denyed the lorde that bought them . They are not the lyght as they boast themselues to be ( for all they loke to be called spyrituall ) but they are the fallen Starres and verye Apostaraes from God / & Sathans trāsfonemynge themselues into the angels of lyght by dyuerse kyndes of Hypocresye .

3 Some expositours leauynge the Greke / hath practysed the same thynge by these .ii. latyne wordes . Dic lux / contaynynge in numerall letters the same set● Nombre . Which sygnifyed that they call them selues the lyght / or menne of a spyrytuall sort / beynge nothynge lesse . For they in dede are the same self darkenesse that wyl in no wyse receyue the light / but rather persecuteth yt with most spyg●t and cruelte . After thys sort myght I brynge in Diabolus incarnatus / or filius perdictonis / the deuyll incarnate or the sonne of perdycyon / for both they are the names of this beastlye Antichrist by the scripturs / the one wantynge in the numerall letters but .iiii. of the Nombre / & the other but .vi. which myght be supplyed in the other letters . But a monge all these thys worde Arnume most nyghlye towcheth the my●erye / which ys as moche to saye / as I denye . Euydentlye semeth he to haue the marke of the Beast / or to be sealed with the Nombre of hys name / that sayeth whan he heareth the manyfest veryte / I wyll neuer admitt ye whyle I haue a daye to liue / it is ageynst good order / yt standeth not with laudable custome / our doctours agree not th●● vnto / our holye canons alloweth yt not / yt hath not the holye fathers consent / vs pray● and hope / for it hath great likelyhode of a moche farder apperaunce .

● Sens the worldes begynnynge haue the misterye of iniquite wrought in Ca●n and in hys posteryte / and so contynued in the Beastlye members of Antichrist and so shall do styll to the latter daye . Therfor is yt no lesse than the Nombre of manne / sixe hondred sixtye and sixe . Thus ys he tokened with all wyckednesse / that admitteth the false faythe of this Beast / and foloweth the same in hys lyuynge by the subtle perswasyons of the Bishoppes and their lyenge Prophetes / and ys sealed vp to eternall dampnacyon / vnlesse the lorde call hym in tyme . Not onlye in Englande ys healed the beastes wounded head / but also in other serten regyons . But for so moche as yt ys most lyuelye done there / and thys boke written in that language / I haue onlye brought forth here examples therof in that purpose .

The .xiiii. Chapter .

IN thys present chapter declareth the lorde vnto Iohan / and vnto hys faythfull seruauntes by him / the degre / estate / and condycyon of hys true beleuynge churche / now after he hath afore lyuelye described the bestyall churche of Antichrist and of hys horned spyritualte by the afore named .ii. monstruouse Beastes . And thys ys that hys louers shuld knowe what they be which are of hys howsholde / and what an helper they haue of hym in the middes of their aduersitees / to the confort of their sowles . And though they be here a monge those ragynge tyrauntes in terryble agonyes and peynes / persecucions and trobles / he ys neuer absent from them / nor wyll not be tyll he hath rewarded them with vnspekeable Ioyes .

The Text.

1 And I loked and lo / a lambe stode in the mounte Syon . 2 and with him an . C. and .xliiij. thousande . 3. hauynge his fathers name written in their foreheades . 4. And I herde a voyce from heauen 5. as the sounde of manye waters . 6. and as the voyce of a great thundre . 7. And the voyce that I herde / was 8. as the harpers that playe vpon theyr

harpers . 9. And they sange as it were a newe songe . 10. before the seate 11. and before the foure Beastes . 12. and the Elders . 13. And no man coulde lerne that songe . 14. but the hundreth and xliiij . thousande . 15. which were redemed from the earthe . 16. These are they which were not defyled with women . 17. for they are virgynes . 18. These folowe the lambe whither so euer he goeth 19. These were redemed from menne . 20. beynge the first frutes vnto God and to the lambe 21. and in their mouthes was founde no gyle . 22. for they are without spotte before the trone of God .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 I ●oked ( saith saynt Iohan ) on the other syde / and in a thought as it were / I behelde that a lambe stode vpon mounte Syon . Euen the lambe of God Iesus Christ / that alone toke awaye the synnes of the worlde . Alone doth he gouerne his faythfull churche / as the onlye and immediate head therof / hauynge non other to assist him in that office . For who is the kynge ouer Syon but he ? Who shall reduce Israel agayne to his folde but he ? Onlye is he with his congregacyon / to ayde them with his worde / to bolden them with his sprete / & to strēg●then them with his grace .

2 And with him were present an hondreth and .xliiij. thousande / hauynge his fathers name written in their fore heades . So manye as haue in hart receyued his worde / and in faythe digested his ve●e / are the verye chyldren of Abraham / and are marked vpp for the sonnes of God by the seale of the holye Ghost .

3 For power haue they geuen them to be Gods chyldren that beleue in hys name . And thys is yt to haue hys name written in their fore heades . For their faythe declareth them Gods sonnes . Lete thys set Nombre be non impediment to the reader / to be taken here for the vnyuersall multitude of the faythfull / as well of the Gentiles as of the Iewes that beleueth / though yt otherwyse apereth in the .viii. chapter of thys boke . For so well ys the Gentile that hath faythe / a perfyght Israelyte , / as ys the Christen Iewe. Yea / moche rather was . Zacheus for hys faythe iudged Abrahams chylde / than was Symon for fulfyllynge the workes of the lawe . For God ys not parcyall . What so euer he be that feareth hym / and worketh ryghtousnesse / ys accepted with hym . And so ys yt ment here . And therfor ys not the difference written here as in the other place / but all ys Ioyned in one / to comprehende all vnder one . And as touchynge the equall certente in Nombre both here and there . Lyke as yt ys ther● certeynlye knowne vnto God / euen so ys yt here / though yt be vnto vs both innumerable and vncertayne . Not as concernynge the Nombre yt self / but the common vnderstandinge therof in the scripturs . For yf the Nombre of one seuenth be an infinite Nombre there / moche more of many seuenthes .

4 And I harde a voyce from heauen ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) which ys all one with the aforeseyd Syon / and ys the vnyuersall congregacyon of Christ / all clere from the superstycyons af menne . For / from Syon cometh the lawe of the lorde after Esaye / and the worde of God from Ierusalem .

5 Thys worde ys as the noyse of manye waters / whan yt ys in the mouthes of manye dyuerse peples / of dyuerse natyons and languages / one not vnderstandynge an other / and yet knowynge yt yche peple amonge themselues .

6 Verye lyke ys yt also to a great thonder cracke / myghtye / feare full / and terrible to the fleshe . Very harde ys thy worde lorde ( sayd Christes disciples ) who is able to abyde yt .

7 And the voyce that I harde ( saith Iohan ) was moche after the noyse that the harpers make whan they playe vpon their harpes . Full of agrement are the holye scripturs / yea / full of swete hermonye and concorde . More precyouse are the verytes of the lorde than ys golde / and their melodye more swete than honye .

8 With them reioysed Dauid before the arke of the lorde . In them toke Paule a stomake / and confounded the Iewes at Damas●us .

9 And swetelye they vttred with their voyces a songe that semed all newe / before the seate of the lorde / before the .iiii. Beastes / and before the auncyent elders . This songe is the worde of the lorde / all newe both to the good and to the yll . The faythfull it reneweth in the sprete of their myndes / prouokynge them to do on a newe manne in Christ . The hartes of the vnfaythfull it so hardeneth / that they in disdayne and spyght doth call it newe lernynge / as ded the ignoraunt multitude at Capernaum / and the worldly wyse menne of Athenes .

10 Before the seate of the lorde was this songe vttred / which is the godlye disposed multitude . For lyke as the harte of an hipocrite is the verye seate of sathan / so is the hart of a faythfull manne the seate of God and habitacle of the holye Ghost .

11 Before the .iiii. Beastes was it opened also by this nomber of godlye teachers . Which Beastes are the pryuate congregacions of the lorde / remayninge here yet in the fleshe / in the .iiii. quarters of the worlde .

●● Finallye before the elders was it songe also . For non other doctrine is it / nor Gospell of glad tydinges / than hath bene sens the begynnynge / nor than hath bene thankefullye receyued of owr olde auncetours the Patriarkes / the Prophetes / the Apostles / and the faythfull fathers .

13 And no manne coulde lerne that newe songe / but the aforesayd hondred and xliiii . thousande / which were redemed from the earthe . On mightye / wonderfull / yea and terrible sentence of the lorde . Non that take them selues for the peple of God / can be accepted afore him for the true sede of Abraham / nor for the iust ministers of his worde / vnlesse they betokened afore with the holye sprete of his promes / and so predestinate to the lyfe euerlastinge .

14 Non can syncerelye do that godlye office to the profight of other / vnlesse he be whollye taken from all fleshlye and worldlye affectes . No manne canne come vnto me ( sayth Christ ) vnlesse it be geuen him of my father .

15 The wilfull Iewes beleued not because they were not the shepe of his marke . Neyther is it of him that willeth no● of him that ronneth but of the only martyr of the lorde . Necessarye is it therfor that his sprete draweth moueth / and in●meth the hart . Els can not the songe be swete / neyther in hym that singeth nor yet in the hearer . The notes of thys newe songe are Gods heauenlye verytees / regestred in the faythfull hartes .

16 And they that ded synge them to the prayse of the lorde / were not defyled with women . Wyth no straunge doctrynes / nor yet Prophane worshyppynges ys their faythe contamynate / that vnfaynedlye haue done on Iesus Christ . No● the spowsage of their sowles haue they broken by no fylthye tradicyons of menne . Onlye haue they with Dauid sought the Testymonyes of God / and thought non lyke vnto them . Onlye ded they cleaue to hys precyouse lawes / estemynge all other but chaffe / and verye whoredome in the sprete .

17 Therfor are they virgins marryed vnto Christ in faythe / as were the Corynthyanes by Paules preachynge / whom he wyshed to continewe a chast virgine vnto Christ . Neuer ys the maydenhede of the sowle lost / tyll erronyouse doctrine be receyued from the massengers of Antichrist the Byshoppes and Hipocrites .

18 The virgins / or vncorrupted beleuers doth folowe the lambe whersoeuer he becommeth . They go after Christ / that beleuynge hys worde / doth fashion their lyues vnto yt . Lyke as they folowe Antichrist / that fashion their workes to hys doctrine . They walk in hys steppes / that forsake themselues with him / that beareth the crosse of persecucyons with him / or that suffreth death for the truthe with hym . And not they that seke themselues / lyuynge here in all pompe / voluptuousnesse / and Tyrannye . From thys place fatche the blinde Papistes / a great argument for their wyuelesse chastyte / and that non foloweth Christ but they in this muster / because they are vnmarryed . Neyther maye Abraham / Moyses / nor Dauid / Zacharye / Peter / nor Philip / walke in this Nombre / because they had wyues . So parelouse a thynge yt ys to haue a wyfe . It ys great maruele they ad●itt Marye Christes mother to yt / because she had a husbande . Oh / ignoraunt Assee / and verye beastlye Idiotes . I thynke yow folowe Iudas which had neyther wyfe nor chylde / vnlesse he had than syttynge by other mennes fyers / as manye of yow haue yet at thys same daye . What is virginite before God more than is marriage ? No more than is circumcysyon in comparyson to vncircūcysyon . And that ys nothynge . No more maketh the one than the other / to a Christen lyfe . Onlye ys yt faythe effectuallye workynge by loue / that the lorde requyreth of vs .

Onlye respected he the faythe of Marye / and not her virginite . They which lyue in matrimonye after the worde of God / are accepted afore him for virgyns / and so are named of Saynt Paule . An other ca●illacion they haue / that non which hath offended afore / can be of this nombre . But they consyder not what is spoken here afore / that they were redemed from the earthe / and that the sprete of the lorde hath puryfyed their hartes through faythe . Neyther haue they grace to remember that Christes innocencye is rekened for an whole & perfight rightousnesse vnto them that beleue in him / but they must bringe in soche tryfles / as are their owne beggerlye merytes .

19 And therfor it foloweth also . These faithfull beleuers ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) were redemed from menne / beynge the fyrst frutes to God and to the lambe . By non other were they redemed / than by Christ ▪ For of all the elect nombre / he is the onlye rightousnesse / wysdome / holynesse / and redempcion . From the corrupt / blynde / and frowarde multitude hath he called them / taken them / and clered them . And of deformed synners / hath he made them fayre / of vyle pure / of wreched gloryouse / of blinde perfyghtlye seynge / of lyars true sayers / of obstinate gentyll / of yll good / & of vnfrutefull profytable . For he yt is that taketh awaye the stonye harte / and geueth a softe harte for yt / so makynge vs Abrahams children . Thus are we redemed from menne / wh● we are taken by hys goodnesse from soche corrupt vsages as mannes nature is inclined vnto .

20 And for non other purpose / but to be the first frutes vnto god / as were the aulter offeringes in the olde lawe / in the handes of the high prestes . For so moche as the elect Nombre are but a fewe or a serten taken out from the vnyuersall multytude / & are the porcyon of the lorde ( as were the seyd offerynges ) perteyninge vnto Christ the onlye byshop of our sowles / they are his first frutes . Yea / and hys owne verye mysticall members / and all but one offerynge vnto God the father by hym . For he is the onlye lambe that dyed for them / hys owne bodye beynge the onlye oblacyon and sacrifice .

21 And in their mouthes was founde no gyle . For non other wordes vttered they but hys pure testymonyes . Non other taught they but hys vndefyled lawes . Non other perswaded they to be obserued of other / but hys immaculate Gospell or easye burden of Christ . No importable yokes layed they vpon mennes / shulders / neyther of Ceremonyes / fastinges / nor masse hea●ynges .

22 For they are without spotte before the trone of God . Both before them that are faythfull and haue right iudgement in the sp●e●e ( which are the verye seates of God ) apereth their doctrine pure / and also their lyfe innocent / before God him self . Neyther are they spotted with fylthye tradicions / nor yet with vncomlye examples . And as concernynge their former synnes / they shall not be imputed vnto them . They are remitted in Christ / and so forgotten afore God . Though this that here hath bene spoken be concernynge the whole Christen multytude and her preachers / yet doth it most specially touche the Iewes or Israelytes that shall in this latter age be conuerted vnto Christ . And so do I counsell the reader to vnderstande it . For the mounte Syon after the fleshe was theirs . Not defyled are they wyth vnmarryed wemen / which are the whoryshe lawes and vncleane Supersticions of the Gentyles / vpon non other harpe haue they commonlye harped but vpon the scripturs / though it hath not bene to the pleasure of God / tyll now in thys latter age / wherin they shall whollye turne vnto Christ .

The Text.

1 And I sawe an Angell . 2. flye in the myddes of heauen . 3. hauynge an euerlastynge gospell to preache vnto them that sytte and dwell on the earthe . 4. and to all nacyons / kynredes / and tonges / and people . 5. saynge with a lowde voyce . 6. feare God . 7. and geue honoure to him . 8. For the houre of his iudgement is come . 9. And worshyp hym that made heauen and earthe . 10. and the see / and the fountaynes of water .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 An other Angell sawe I ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) flye in the myddes of heauen . For Chryst was the first Angell or massenger of the euerlastynge couenaunt of the father . This Angell here mencyoned is non other than he that had the seale of the lyuynge God in the vii . Chapter / and he that was clothed wyth a clowde in the tenth chapter . And he betokeneth those feruent mynysters wh●m God hath sent in this latter tyme / to admonishe his peple to fle from the errours of Antichrist and returne to his heauenlye veritees .

2 He flyeth in the myddes of heauen . An ernest / feruent / and faythfull course take they in the middes of Gods congregacion ( which is his heauenlye kyngedome here / to whom this reuelacion is written / lyke as ded Paulus / Sylas / & Barnabas / Timotheus / Titus / and Clemens / with other of the Apostles / syncerelye to declare his worde . Mightye stomaked are they in Gods cause / both in their wordes and wrytinges .

3 An euerlastinge gospell had this angell to preache vnto them that sytte and dwell vpon the earthe / & to all nacions / kynredes / and peple . His eternall testament and couenaunt of peace hath the lorde geuen vnto them / to preache delyueraunce to the captiue / helthe to the wounded / lyfe to the dead / and remission to the sinnefull . Yea / to vtter that worde that is stronger than is heauen or earthe / and that shall neuer fayle him that trulye beleueth .

4 The sounde of this gospell must go the worlde ouer / as in the Apostles tyme . Euery where must it be spredde to the increase of faythe . Amonge all nacions of the earthe / amonge all kynredes of the Israelytes / amonge all languages of the worlde / and amonge all kyndes of peple / of what sort so euer they be / whether they sytte vpon the earthe or dwell vpon the earthe / whether they be hygh or lowe / gouernours or subiectes / masters or seruauntes / owners or fermers . So that they sytt not nor dwell not within the earthe / or haue their felicyte here . For that is holye shuld not be geuen vnto dogges / nor yet pearles layed before swyne .

5 And he cryed wyth a lowde voyce . With a mightye feruent sprete do they beate it into the heades of menne / both by wordes / writinges / and all they can make / to haue the feare of God / and to geue him his dewe honoure . And this is the doctrine they teache / and the counsell they geue .

6 Feare ye God in all that ye do for the first poynt of godlye wysdome is to dreade least we offende him . Be constaunt in the worde / and feare no displeasure of menne . For nomore can they do in their anger but slee the bodye / and brynge it to the rest of God . No power haue they ouer the sowle . Feare him onlye therfor / that whan he hath destroyed both / maye throwe them into helle .

7 Geue honour vnto him / worship him / and serue him alone . Prayse him / and glorifye him aboue all . But yet after non other sort than he hath appoynted / which is in faythe / sprete / and veryte / and not in outwarde shaddowes with obseruacyon of tymes . He trulye honoureth him that trusteth in hym / that beleueth hys worde / and that in spyght of all Antychristes confesseth it afore all menne . After this sort therfor feare him / and worshyp him / nothynge doubtynge the assaultes of enemyes .

8 For the howre of his iudgement ys come . At hande is it that all the Antychristes and hipocrites shall by the invincyble worde of God be iudged / condempned / and destroyed . From heauen shall his wrathe be declared vpon all their vngodlynesse . With the sprete of his mouthe shall the lorde consume them / and not longe after wyll the great daye of his indignacion towardes them lyght sodenlye vpon them .

9 With all faythfull obsequy worship him therfor that create heauen and earth in wonderfull strengthe and bewtye .

10 That made the see and the fountaynes of water with all that in them doth moue / whose power is eternall / knowlege non other God but hym . Non other helper / redemer / nor sauer but his Crist. For all other Chrystes not sent of him are but Antychrystes . Onlye bowe your knees vnto him / for onlye is hys strength euerlastynge . Onlye obeye his lawes / for onlye a●e hys lawes cleane .

The Text.

1 And there folowed an other Angell saynge . 2. She is fallen / she is fallen / euen Babylon that great cyte . 3. for she made all nacions drynke of the wyne of her whoredome .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And there folowed an other angell ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) which betokeneth an other sort of preachers / whose offyce is here appoynted them of the holye ghost to declare vnto the peple the certente of the fall / of the aduowterouse / cursed / and malygnaunt churche of hipocrites / here fygured by wreched Babilon . For though all the true prophetes and preachers haue but one worde of God in their mouthe / yet passeth it diuerslye from them . Vnto yche of them is geuen a dyuerse vtteraunce of the sprete to edifye . One is softe meke and gentyll / as was Dauid / Iohan / and Peter / an other is boystuouse / harde / and vehement / as was Helias / Esaye and Paule . And all this worketh the self same one sprete . This diuersyte of teachers was neuermore plentuouse in the worlde than now in owr tyme figured here by these two angels . Praysed by the lorde therfor .

2 And the tenoure or grounde of this latter sort of preachers is this . She is fallen / she is fallen / euen myserable Babylon th●● great cyte of whordome / because she made all nacyons to drynke of the wrathefull wyne of her fornycacion . So sure is it that the execrable churche of Antichrist shall be ouerthrowne / and vtterlye destroyed / as it were now perfourmed in dede . Nothing shall be vnroted out that the heauenlye father hath not planted . Sonner shall heauen & earthe peryshe / than this promes be vnfulfylled .

3 For with the stinkinge whoryshnesse of her supersticiouse worshippynges / haue she poysened all nacions & peples / vnder heauen . The great gouernours / and lerned lawers of the worlde / hath she made in maner of beastlye dronkerdes / wytlesse / faythlesse / and gracelesse / by their prostibulouse doctrine . And this shall be declared more at large in the .xvij. chapter folowynge / where as she is more plentuouslye described .

The Text.

1 And the thirde angell folowed them . 2. saynge with a lowde voyce . 3. If anye worshypp the beaste and his Image . 4. and receyue his marke in his forehead / or on his hande . 5. the same shall drynke of the wyue of the wrathe of God . 6. which is poured in the cuppe of his wrathe . 7. and he shall be punnyshed in fyre and brymstone . 8. before the holye angels . 9. and before the lambe .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 The thyrde Angell also ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) folowed them in the thyrde kynde of preachynge of the same self massage / that in the mouthe of .ij. or .iij. faythfull wytnesses all veryte myght stande .

2 And by this angell are they signifyed / that by the worde of God stifflye impugne their wicked lawes and vngodly ordynaunces / whose maner of ernest preachinge is this .

3 If anye man worship the Beast / which is the great Antichrist . And his Image / which are those gouernours that taketh vpon them his blasphemouse titles / names / auctoryte / or defence . If anye manne also receyue his marke in his forehead / beleuynge their lawes to be a chrysten doctrine / or haue the pryn●e of hys seale vpon his ryght hande / which is to fashion his outwarde workes after the same . The same manne shall drynke of the wyne of Gods wrathe / whych are the dregges of the pure wyne powred in the cuppe of his hygh dyspleasure . He shall tast of the euerlastynge dampnacyon / that is reserued in the latter curse or fearefull sentence of their most terryble iudge . To worshyp the Beast and his Image / is to accept them in conscyence / and in the outwarde obedience with full consent of the hart . For that they blasphemously● pretende / without gods auctoryte . As the Pope for Gods vycar or forgeuer of synnes / Mahomete for the great Prophete of the lorde / the ●ewlers of the earthe for the popes elder or yonger sonnes / for most christen kynges / and defenders of the faythe of that holye churche .

4 To receyue the Beastes marke in their fore heades and handes / is both to agre to soche decrees / tradycyons / lawes / constitucyons / actes / and proclamacyons / as they vnder those tytles haue made / onlye for their owne couetousnesse and pompe / and neyther for the glorye of God nor yet for the right mayntenaunce of the chrysten common welthe / as I haue declared afore . And also to be sworne to the same / to subscrybe to it / to geue counsell or ayde to it / to maynteyne it by lernynge / to mynister in it / to execute vnder it / to accuse / ponnyshe / and put to deathe for yt / or to thynke yt lawfull and godlye with soche lyke .

5 These marked worshippers shall tast of the cuppe of Gods indygnacyon / of calamyte sorowe and wrechednesse in the dayes of their fall here / and after the last iudgement of vnspekeable peynes and most greuouse tormentes / in euerlastynge fyre prepared for the deuyll and his angels .

6 The dregges that the lorde hath poured out ( sayth Dauid ) shall the wycked of the earthe drynke . Cleane contrarye are these Angels to the horned mynysters of Antychryst . For they maynteyne the Popes errours / these the onlye verytees of Chryst. They laboure for the glorye of theyr Pope / these seketh the onlye honoure of God . They pra●e that their holye churche shall continewe / these saye it shal downe with shame . They requyre worshyp to the Beast and his Image / these will report it blasphemouse / and the rewarde therof dampnacyon . Marke in these .ij. sortes the preachers of owr tyme / and iudge which are of God . Agaynst both beastes in Chrystes quarell shall these Angels contende . Agaynst the Pope and his bishoppes / Mahomete and his doctours / wyll these godlye mynisters replye ( whom the lorde hath sent in thys latter age for that purpose ) condempnynge by the scripturs their auctoryte / iurisdiccion / and power / declarynge also the plages that wyll fall vpon them for wytholdynge the truthe of God in vnryghtousnesse .

7 For these Antichristes and their worshippers with so manye as beareth their token shall be ponnished in fyre and brymstone / before the holye Angels / and before the lambe . Fyre shall be kyndled ( sayth Moyses ) in the anger of the lorde / and shall burne vnto the bottome of hell . Vpon the vngodlye ( sayth Dauid ) shall he rayne snares . Fyre / brymstone / storme / and tempest shall be ther porcyon to drynke . The vehement indignacion and myghtye iudgement of God / shall lyght vpon them / as vpon Sodome and Egypt / and shall both deuoure them and consume them .

8 And this shall be in the syght of Angels . Which are not onlye the spretes of heauen / but also the churche of the faythfull . Yea / the ryghtouse shall reioyse whan he ●●yth the destruccion / and shall washe his handes in the bloude of the wycked .

9 In the presens of the lambe shall it be also . For he is euermore with his flocke / and shall be vnto the ende of the worlde / wherin he shall sytte and con●dempne them .

The Text.

1 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore . 2. And they haue no rest daye nor nyght . 3. which worship the Beaste and hys Image . 4. and who so euer receyueth the prynt of his name . 5. Here is the pacycyence of Sayntes . 6. Here are they that kepe the commaundementes . 7. and the faythe of Iesu.

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore / as the flame of a fornace wyth most horryble stynke / for a perpetuall sygne of their ponnyshment / lyke as it ded from Sodome and Gomor / whan the lorde ouerthrewe them .

2 So that they haue no rest neyther day nor nyght / so manye as worship the Beast and his Image / receyuynge the print of his name .

3 Both in this lyfe are they crucyat● with a troblouse and doubtfull conscience / and also after this lyfe with vnspekeable peynes . For neyther shall theyr worme dye / nor yet their fyre be quenched / all fleshe abhorrynge them .

4 Thus shall they be wyth the Beast tormented / which haue the sprete of the beast . For lyke as all the faithfull ( which hath bene from the begynninge ) belongeth to one mistycal bodye in Christ / and shall be preserued by hym / so doth the wicked perteyne to one mystycall Antichryst / hauynge all one sprete with him / and so shall with him perishe .

5 Here is the pacience of the Sayntes . In this lyfe are their trobles . No pleasure is for them in this worlde / but hate / rebukes / slaunders / lyes / persecucions / & deathe of their bodyes . Their lyfe vpon earthe is continual affliccion / but gloryouse is the frute of their labours . Manyfolde are the mysfortunes of the rightouse / but the lorde cleareth them of all .

6 Here are they vexed that kepe the commaundementes & the faythe of Iesu. Here are they had in derision / that behaue them selues as the ministers of God in moche pacience / affliccions / nede / anguyshe / laboure / strypes / imprisonment / & soche lyke .

7 Here are they chastened of the lorde with many sore stormes / that they shuld not be dampned with this worlde . Moche haue they here to suffre of enemyes / that onlye cleaueth to the worde of God in lyfe and doctrine .

The Text.

1 And I herde a voyce from heauen sayenge vnto me . 2. write . 3. Blessed are the dead / which hereafter dye in the lorde . 4. ( euen so sayth the sprete ) that they maye rest from their labours . 5. but their workes shall folowe them .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And I harde a voyce from heauen ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) saynge vnto me .

2 Wryte with thy penne / or marke surelye this sentence folowinge for them that here suffreth in the truthes quarell .

3 Blessed are the dead / or they which are alredye departed / and that also shall here after depart in the lorde . This voyce from heauen are the infallyble scripturs / assertanynge the faythe of Iohan / of the swete rest of the Sayntes in the handes of God . And that their ende is not without honoure / as the vayne sort supposeth / but they are counted amonge the dere chyldren of God . Let them therfor that suffer in this age be ernestlye spreted / and not feare the tormentes of the enemyes in Christes cause .

4 For from hence forthe ( the sprete sayth ) that they rest from their labours . In a wonderfull quyetnesse dwell they / by the verye sentence of the holye ghost / and shall neuer more fele of anye woo . God hath cleane wyped awaye all teares from their eyes / all sor●wes and peynes from their bodyes / the first daungers beynge past . Happye are they therfor and most godlye fortunate / that are slayne for Christ / because they wyll not worshyp the Beast and his Image / nor corrupt their faythe with their wycked lawes / but in a pure Christen beleue departeth from hence to the lorde . Theyr porcyon is in the lande of the lyuynge / and their lotte amonge the holye ones .

5 For certen●ye their workes doth folowe them . The promise●●●warde of God for constantlye standynge by the veryte / for the frutes of their christen pacience / and for other exercyses of theyr faythe / is euermore to their glorye present with them . Not as deserued of them / but of Christ / in whose faythe they wrought here / and for the promes sake / that they shuld be Gods heyres togyther wyth Chryst. The lyuelye worde also / which they ernestlye receyued here and so roted in their faythe / wyll neuer suffre them to peryshe / nor to be hurt of the ●conde deathe .

The Text.

1 And I loked / and beholde . 2. a whyte cloude . 3. and vpon the cloude one sittynge lyke vnto the sonne of manne . 4. hauynge on hys head a golden crowne . 5. and in hys hande a sharpe syckle .

¶ The paraphrase .

1 I loked yet further ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) and euydentlye before me apered a whyght cloude / which betokeneth the true mynisters of Gods worde . Whom the holye ghost calleth cloudes by Esaye / Dauid / Peter / and Iudas . For from them falleth vpon the peple the swete droppes of hys verytees .

2 Whyght they are as mylke for their faythe in the worde . And for their Christen conuersacyon not blotted with Hypocresye of mennes corrupted customes .

3 Vpon this cloude was one syttynge lyke vnto the sonne of manne / which ys verelye Christ / in hys gloryfyed manhode . For euermore ys he amonge hys trewe preachers / geuynge them soche vtteraunce and wisdome / as all their enemyes are not able to withstande . Alwayes walketh he amonge the .vij. candelstyckes / which are hys congregacyons as we had afore

4 He had vpon hys head a golden crowne / in token of hys eternall and vncorrupt kyngedome / & in hys hande a sharpe syckle / which ys the sharpe iudgement or ryghtuousnesse of hys worde / for ther with shall he reape hys latter harnest . Accordynge to hys worde and promes shall he iudge good and euyll .

5 Thys syckle receyued he of hys euerlastynge father / soche tyme as he gaue ouer vnto hym hys vnyuersall iudgementes . By the order of thys vysyon shuld the preachers seme in the last age of the churche / moche to admonyshe the peple of the latter daye / with the commynge of Christ agayne to iudge both the quicke & the dead as ys in their crede / or beleue .

The Text.

1 And an other Angell came out of the temple . 2 cryāge with a lowde voyce to hym that satte on the cloude . 3. Thrust in thy sycle / & reape . 4. for the tyme is come to reape . 5. For the corne of the earthe is rype . 6. And he that satte on the cloude . 7. thrust in hys syckle on the earth 8 and the earthe was reaped .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And an other Angell ( sayth saynt Iohan ) came out of the temple / which ys the congregacyon of faythe / consecrated as an holye temple vnto God in the bloude of the vndefyled lambe Iesus . This Angell betokeneth those iust menne / that with Symeon and anna the doughter of Phanuell / in this latter age are desy●rouse of the glorye of God / and of the fynall redempcyon of man from bodelye corrupcyon .

2 These shall crye with a loude voyce / with a feruent sprete shall they call vnto Christ / which sitteth vpon the cloude .

3 And this shall be their sainge . Thrust in the syckle and reape . Sende forth thy 〈◊〉 worde . And lyke as yt hath created all thynges / so lete yt now trye and iudge all thinges .

4 For the tyme ys at hande to reape . For we are those vpon whome the endes of the worlde are come .

5 And doubtlesse the corne of the earthe y● rype / the worlde is at the best that yt will do . As it hath bene euer / so ys yt styll / all togyther sort vpon myscheff . Lete thy worde therfor fynyshe all / as yt hath beganne all . With the breathe of thy mouthe / 〈◊〉 the great Antichrist / 〈…〉 of synne / the sonne of perdycyon / and the aduersarye that hath exalted hymself aboue God . Poure out thy indygnacion vpon the kyngedomes that will neyther knowe the / worshyp the / nor alone call vpon thy name . Thu hast called thy haruest the ende of the worlde / lete it now fynyshe all in dede . Diuyde the chaffe from the corne / the wicked sort from the ryghtouse . Gather the wheate into thy garner / and burne the chaffe in vnquencheable fyre .

6 And he that satte on the cloude thurst in hys syckle on the earthe / and anon the earthe was reaped .

7 He hath sent hys myghtye worde / so quycke in operacyon as fyre . Which shall not onlye consume the wicked generacyon of the Beast / but also reserue them to eternall dampnacyon .

8 The earthe shall be cleared of them as of all other fylthye corrupcions / and hell replenyshed with them / to their perpetuall care .

The Text.

1 And an other Angell came out of the temple . 2. which ys in heauen . 3. hauynge also a sharpe syckle .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And an other angell ( sayth saynt Iohan ) came out of the temple which ys in heauen or from the great nombre of Angels / hauynge also a sharpe syckle in his hande .

2 This Angell betokeneth those heauenlye spretes that the lorde shall sende forth to gather togyther hys chosen from the iiij . wyndes / whan hys token shall apere in heauen These are the reapers of the lordes haruest . These are they that shall go forthe to gather all nacyons / and to separate the gottes from the lambes / the yl from the good / and shall cast them into a furnace of fyre / where as shall be waylinge and gnashinge of tethe .

3 And therfor ys their syckle here named sharpe . Non other is their syckle / but this appointed office . Non other ys their haruest / but thys gatherynge togyther . But these massengers shall not forthe tyll they haue commandement . And therfor sayth Saynt Iohan consequentlye .

¶ The Text.

1 And an other Angell came out from the aulter . 2. which had power ouer fyre . 3. and cryed with a lowde crye vnto hym that had the sharpe syckle / and sayde . 4. Thrust in thy sharpe syckle . 5. and gather the clusters of the earthe . 6. for her grapes are rype . 7. And the angell thrust in hys syckle on the earthe . 8. and cutte downe the grapes of the vyneyarde of the earthe . 9. and cast them into the great wynefatte of the wrathe of God . 10. And the wynefatte was troden with out the cytye . 11. and bloude came out of the fatte . 12. euen vnto the horse brydles . 13. by the space of a thousande and sixe hundred fourlonges .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And an other Angell came out from the aulter which had power ouer fyre . This ys the lorde Iesus Christ / whom Malachias calleth the Angell of the couenaunt that was longed for . He ys the aulter of the ryghtouse / and by hym are they a swete sacrifice vnto God . Els coude they be but verye abhominacyon . Tyll the iudgement daye shall he be an aulter of meanes makynge to God the father for vs . But that daye ones come / no longer shall he be an aulter or an aduocate / but go cleane from yt . He shall than become a iudge ouer all the worlde / rewardynge euerye one accordynge to their workes . Hitherto hath he mekelisytten vppon the cloude / and not cutte with his syckle . He hath had in hys hande the iudgement / and not iudged .

2 But now hath he power ouer fyre . By fyre ( which ys vnder hys obedyence / as are all other creaturs els ) shall he at that daye iudge the vnyuersall worlde . And more sharpe / vehement / quycke ferce / myghtye / and terryble shall hys sentence be to the wycked / than ys any fearefull / flaminge / or consumynge wilde fyre .

3 For with a lowde voyce shall he crye vnto him that hath the sharpe syckle . An ernest charge and commandement shall he geue at that daye to the ministers of his yre / for to cast them into exteryoure darkenesse / after thys sort here vttred in mysterye .

4 Thrust in thy sharpe syckle / and gather the clusters of the earthlye vyneyarde / for the grapes therof are r●pe .

5 Execute the vengeaunce committed vnto yow / and rote out this ranke ry●●ouse generacyon of the rauenouse Epicures .

6 For now are their myscheues at the full . Now are they most curyous in their facyons and fedynges / most couetouse in their compassynges / most vayne in their stodyes and most cruell in their doynges . For with them shall yt be ( sayth Christ ) as yt was in the dayes of Noe and Loth. They shall buylde and banket / ruffle and ryot / bye and sell / and plante for their pleasurs .

And sodenlye as a snare shall that terrible daye lyght vpon them vnbewares / as ded deathe on the couetouse iourer .

7 And the Angell ( sayth Iohan ) thrust in hys syckle on the earthe / he cutte downe the grapes of the vineyard of the earth / and so ded cast them into the greate wyne fatt of the wrathe of God .

8 Accordynge to their commission they shall plage the earthlye mynded / for here ys the tyme past for the tyme commynge vsed / for the certente of yt . Wyth soden deathe shall they perce them in this worlde / that contempnynge Christes doctryne hath folowed the course therof in all concupiscence .

9 And fynallye they shall throwe them into the lake of myserye / the pyt wythout water ●nto the stynkynge ●regges of hel●e / where as fyre and brymstone shall be rewarded to drynke . For the vyneyarde of the earthe ys the carnall Synagoge of Hypocrites ● and the grapes therof are the gloryouse glottons / and franke f●dde porkelynges of that gredye gulfe / euen the enemyes of Christes crosse / whose God ys their bellye / whose glorye is their confusion / and whose ende ys their dampnacyon / for they are earthlye mynded . This wyne fatte of the wrathe of God ys non other than hys greate bengeaunce / to be poured vpon the vnfaythfull . Or els helle / prepared for the deuyll and hys angels . Greate / not onlye for the innumerable multytude that yt hath and shall receyue / but also in that yt is insacyable .

10 And this wyntfatt was trodden without the cyte . Nothynge perteyneth yt to that cyte ( of whom famouse thynges are spoken ) which ys the congregacyon of God / nor yet to the good creaturs of God . No / not vnto thys worlde / which shall at that daye be tryed and pourged by fyre . But vnder the earthe shall yt be / and farre without thys worlde / secluded from the face of heauen in fylthye and vnspekeable darkenesse .

11 For bloud wyll come out of thys fatte / euen vnto the horse brydles . Wherin is expressed not onlye the terrour of the place / but also of the peynes ther in contayned . For bloud shedynge and murther are thynges verye horrible & fearefull to beholde / contayninge in them depriuacyon of lyfe / which ys most terrible of all . The habundaunce therof betokeneth the greatnesse of the grefe in the sufferaunce of them . The treadinge downe also sygnyfieth / that no rayse towardes anye relefe is to be loked for of them that be there . Vnto them which at that daye shall be in the cyte / wyl he that sytteth in the trone make al thynges newe . All dolour / affliccyon / so rowe / peyne / penurye / / wrathe / condempnacyon / and deathe / shall be past with them . Onlye shall they be trodden downe in this wynefatt of Gods wrathe / that lyued here lyke beastes without reason / and that wandred here lyke horses and mules in their owne filthye lustes .

12 All shall be ponnyshed there / that was here vnbridled / vnordred / and vngouerned after the worde & pleasure of God . And therfor yt ys here sayd / vnto the horse brydles . Euerye manne shall receyue in bodye accordynge to that he hath done / whether yt be Good or euyll . They that haue wrought the storke of God in faythe / shall reape accordynge vnto yt . The brydles also betokeneth the measure of gods iudgement / not as concernynge the tyme which ●s euerlastynge / but concernynge the peyne ryghtlye measured accordynge to the in aquite . For the lorde hath sett his iudgementes ouer the wicked in wayght and measure / the stripes agreynge in quantyte to the excesse of synne / so moche torment to haue / as their reioyse hath bene in wyckednesse .

13 The space of these terrible tormentes or ponnyshmentes of hell / ys a thousande and .vi. hondred furlonges . A furlonge of the Grekes ys called the ●onne of hercules / and yt ys in lenghte an hondred and .xxv. passes or steppes . And commonlye they vsed accordinge to that lenghte / to measure their playenge places . Of whome Paule maketh mencyon to the Corinthyanes beynge Grekes / by them that ronneth in a course / and that proueth mastryes . In thys thousande and .vi. hondred furlonges here / ys comprehended the whole and vnyuersall course of the wycked for the .iiii. quarters of the worlde . The nombre of an hondred ys euermore an whole complete and perfyght nombre . And .iiii. hondred .iiii. tymes nombred ys .xvi. hondred / which maketh this nombre of a thousande and .vi. hondred / the nombre of .iiii. respectinge alwayes the .iiii. climates of the worlde / which are the common habitacions of sinners . In them course they in all wanton kyndes of lyuinge . In them worke they their mastryes of all vngodlye obseruacyons and false worshyppinges / walkinge in the large or open waye which leadeth vnto deathe . Accordynge to the nonbre & measure of this course / hath God here measured the place and ponnyshment . Not withstandinge neuer ys he without mercye . Maruelouse he ys in hys workes and iudgementes / which are vnsercheable . Blessed ys he that shal haue his part in the cyte or congregacyon of 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 bla●●phemyes the greatest For tha● 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 seruaunt 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 and 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 handes 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 doctr●ne . No plage can be thought more deadlye nor vyrulent / than to depryue vs of that faythe / of that veryte / and 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 Lan●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 omnipotent 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 and 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 flowe● 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 fountayne of lyuynge water spryngynge vp into the lyfe euerlastynge . Vnto this water shuld all they resort that are thurstye / therof to take refreshynge .

6 Vpon this glassye see were they sene of Saynt Iohan / that had obtayned victorye of the Beast / of hys Image / of his marke / and of the nombre of his name . By whom are ment those constaunt christianes / whych hath for all ages firmelye affermed the truthe . For non aduersyte declinynge from it . Strongelye haue these sens the Apostles tyme resysted the aduersaries of God by his only worde / perfystynge therin vnto the deathe as ded Steuen / Iames / and Antipas with soche other his faythfull witnesses . Uictorye haue they gotten by faythe both of the Beast and his Image / both of the great Antychryst and his supporters / of the Pope and of Mahomete / wyth theyr maynteyners Emprours / kynges / and magistrates / and of all them that vsurpe theyr tytle / name / seate / auctoryte / pompe or power .

7 They haue blemyshed lykewyse by the sayd worde not onlye the marke of the Beast / whych is a corrupted faythe / but also the nombre of hys name / whych is the denyall of God . Them haue they to theyr rebuke vttered / and to their confusion declared . They haue proued their orders dampnable / their doctrine deuyllyshe / their religion hypocrisye / and their spiritualte playne wyckednesse / condempnynge them by the scripturs / as vngodlye dyssemblers denyenge the lorde which bought them . These are they whom the lorde tenderlye norryshed / and gracyouslye brought forth vpon the refreshynge waters / conuertynge their sowles to his godlye feare and loue .

8 These stande euermore on the glassye see / they sett sure fotynge vpon the rocke stone . Unmoueablye they perseuer in the truthe / neuer denyenge yt afore menne .

9 And they haue in their handes the harpes of God / whych are deuoure myndes geuen all vnto godlynesse / and reioysynge in spirituall thynges .

10 Harmonyouslye they synge the tuneable songe of Moyses the faythfull seruaunt of God / and the melodyouse swete songe of the lambe Iesus Christ .

11 Of both testamentes they make vtteraunce / declarynge the wonderfull workes and terrible iudgementes out of the olde lawe / and out of the gospell of gladnesse the most swete mercye of the lorde . Wythout ceasynge open they the scripturs vnto other inwardlye reioysinge in spirituall hymnes and psalmes / hauynge this euermore for the standynge tenoure of their songe .

12 Inestimablye great is thy goodnesse / and wonderfullye maruelouse are thy workes O Lorde God almyghtye .

13 Iust are thy promyses / and most perfightlye sure thy wayes / thu gloriouse kynge of Sayntes / and graciouse gyde of the godlye beleuers .

14 Who shall not euermore feare the / o mightye lorde ? who shall not alwayes in hart gloryfye / thy blessed name ?

15 Thu alone art holye / iust / and perfight / for non is there good but thy self onlye . Thu art owre onlye maker / redemer / and confortoure . Non other haue we for owre God but the.

16 No doubt of it but the tyme will be that all kyndes of peple / both Iewes and Gentyles / faythfull and heythen shall seke vnto the / and shall faythfullye in veryte and sprete worship before the / acknowlegynge the for their onlye lorde God .

17 Because thy wonderfull iudgementes that sumtyme were secrete / are now to the worlde made openlye knowne and manifest . Though this songe be lyttle and small / yet is therin contayned all veryte / that both Moyses and Christ confesseth at large . Moreouer what so euer the scripturs comprehendeth / eyther of the great omnipotencye of God or of his most wonderfull workes / eyther of hys louinge mercye or of his benigne pytie towardes manne / of his gloriouse name or myghtye power / or that he is to be magnifyed and feared / or how that the faythfull perteyneth only to his kingedome / or how that all peple shall finallye be conuerted vnto hym . All is compendiouslye in this brefe songe here contayned / what though it be not so worde by worde expressed . And as concernynge that ys here last spoken / that his iudgementes are made manyfest / it is to be vnderstanded of those faythfull creaturs whom he calleth / clereth and iustyfyeth / and of non other . For vnto them onlye are his heauenlye verit●es knowne / to whom he wytsaueth to open them . Though the other outwardlye se the iudgements of God / yet do they not inwardlye perceyue them / though they boast it neuer so moche . For it is not geuen them so to do . They must haue eyes and not se / eares and not vnderstande .

The Text.

1 And after that I loked . 2. & beholde the temple of the tabernacle of testymonye . 3. was open in heauen . 4. And the seuen angels . 5. came out of the temple . 6. which had the seuen plages . 7. clothed in pure and bryght lynnen . 8 and hauynge theyr brestes gyrded wyth golden gyrdels . 9 And one of the foure Beastes gaue vnto the seuen Angels . 10. vij . golden vyalles . 11. full of the wrathe of God / whych lyueth for euermore . 12. And the temple was full of smoke . 13. for the glorye of God / and for his power . 14. And no man was able to entre into the temple . 15. tyll the seuen plages of the seuen angels were fulfylled .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And a non after that ( sayth Sayn● Iohan ) I loked yet more aduysedly . And sodenly as it were / the euerlastynge temple of the tabernacle of wytnesse was open in heauen .

2 A mysterye this is verye ernestlye to be marked / as a thinge of great wayght . The lorde almyghtye is this eternall temple . He is the temple not made wyth handes / vncreated / gloriouse and full of mageste / comprehendynge in him all thinges / and he within non agayne comprehended . He is the lorde of all . He measureth heauen wyth his spanne / he ouer reacheth all the worlde with his .iij. fingers . In hym we lyue / we moue / and haue owr beynge . The tabernacle of wytnesse is the lambe Iesus Christ . He is that verye tabernacle of God that was here amonge menne / bearinge that faythfull wytnesse which geueth wysdome to babes . He is the propiciatorye or mercye seate / wherin we are harde and forgeuen . Neyther was thys tabernacle of thys maner buyldynge / but moche more perfyght and greatter . This holye tabernacle is within the aforesayd temple / for Christ dwelleth in the father and the father in him .

3 Open is this temple in heauen / and the tabernacle seane / whan God is knowen by true preachynge / and Chrystes doctrine beleued . For he came into the worlde / and for that purpose was borne / to beare wytnesse vnto the truthe / whom the father wylled onlye to be harde / concernynge faythe .

4 This temple and tabernacle open / or God and his worde ones knowne in thys latter age / the seuen Angels cometh forth . The eternall decrees of Gods secrete iudgementes apereth / and are fulfylled in their tymes . As Angels or massengers of God they haue in his eternyte their iust plages in their season appoynted to be exhybited .

5 And therfor are they seyd to come out from the temple which is God . Nothynge hath he purposed to the worlde / but he hath decreed yt afore the worldes constitucyon . For his purpose / mynde / and pleasure / is as he is / euerlastynge . And as it falleth to the worlde by his assignement / it becometh a massenger / goynge out of the temple . So manye hath he sent of soche massengers / as he hath fulfylled decreed purposes . And maruele not though they be here called Angels / consyderynge that it ys the common maner of the holye scrypturs euermore to call them Angels whych vttereth the wyll / pleasure / and commaundement of God / as they do here . After thys sort are the prestes called Angels / so ys Aggeus the holye Prophete / so is Saynt Iohan Baptyst / so are Chrystes dyscyples / and also the publyque preachers .

6 What the plages are that they shall shed out of theyr vyals / wyll be shewed clerelye in the next chapter folowynge / one after an other .

7 These angels are aparelled in pure whyght lynnen / bryght shynynge as chrystall / and gyrded about theyr brestes with gyrdels of fyne golde / which betokeneth theyr syncere clennesse / and their gloryouse perfyghtnesse . For what can be more pure and precyouse / than the eternall decrees of the lorde ? What can be more perfyght and gloryouse than hys prediffyned purposes ? The lawes of God are vndefyled / the testimonyes are true / the statutes are ryght / the wayes are sure / the commaundementes are clere / the iudgementes are godlye / the wordes are pure and precyouse . Yea / the gyftes that come from the father of lyght are euermore perfyght and good .

8 The gyrdynge of their brestes / ys the streyght spearynge vpp of the secrete meanynge of Gods iudgementes from owr carnall vnderstandynge / tyll soche tyme as he openeth them vnto vs by hys sprete . For yt belongeth not vnto vs to decerne soche secretes as the father reserueth to hys owne power .

9 And one of the .iiij. Beastes or congregacyons ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) delyuered vnto the aforesayd .vij. Angels vij . golden vyals replenished with the wrathfull dyspleasure of God whych lyueth for euermore . Though the congregacyons be in the fyrst chapter .vij. and in the forth .iiij. vnderstanded by the .iiij. Beastes / yet are they here in ●his place brought all vnto one / and called one of the .iiij. or els of the .iiij. made one / for so moche as the vnyuersall christen churche is of one consent / one faythe / one batyme / one God / and perteyneth to one Christ . For so moche also as it confesseth / beleueth / and teacheth one doctrine of helthe . One is my d●ue ( sayth the holye ghost ) one is my derely beloued darlynge . A Beast is it here noted / as lyuinge in the fleshe / and not yet mortifyed by deathe .

10 The vyals of Gods wrathe are the vngodly reprobates / fytt onlye for destruccyon . Golden are they here named / because they apere gloryouse in the worldlye iudgementes of menne . Verye paynted tombes are the dyssemblynge hipocrites / within full of stynkinge bones . A shynynge name of lyfe haue they and yet are they inwardlye dead . For all that they do is to be seane of menne .

11 Full of wrathe are they / wherbye is ment a synnefull vnderstandynge / with dampnable doctrynes . For verye swyft are they to all vngodlynesse . The .vi. propertees haue they which the lorde hateth / and the seuenth which he vtterlye abhorreth . A proude loke / a dissemblynge tonge / bloudye handes / a wycked hart / fere rydye vnto myschef / wayes to practyse lyes / and sowynges of dyssencyon amonge bretherne . These are geuen of the true christen congregacion to the .vij. Angels / or decreed purposes of God to be iudged as they haue eternallye diffyned . For non other is their continuall prayer / but that his wyll be fulfylled / and that his predyfined intentes agaynst the peruerse multytude be fynyshed at their conuenyent tymes . Non other is it to putt into the Angels handes the vyals of Gods displeasure / than thus to committ them by faythfull prayer to his purposed decrees or foreset ordinaunces .

12 But because that commonlye whan Gods iudgementes begynne to waxe knowne / all thynges are commoued and trobled / therfor is it sayd here consequentlye that the temple was full of smoke / by reason of the mageste of God and of his gloryouse power . This smoke are serten mysteryes / representynge vnto vs the hydden mageste of Gods eternall presence . Whose bryghtnesse can no frayle vnderstandynge abyde . Nor / all the worlde cowde not sustayne it yf all thynges were open and playne concernynge it . In no wyse coulde Moyses presentlye se the face of God / onlye myght he be suffred to se his backe partes . For no manne can se God and lyue . Onlye is he seane here in this lyfe as in a glasse or vnder a darke speakynge . He apereth vnto vs here in a mystycall smoke / lyke as he ded to the Patriarke Iacob in slepe / to Moyses in the flamynge bushe / to Helias in the horle wynde / to the Apostles in fyerye tonges / and vnto Ananias in a secrete vysyon .

13 Vnder the shaddowe of fygurate locucyon is his glorye of the electe persones and faythfull beleuers knowne . The vnfaythfull reprobates beholdeth the smoke / but neyther perceyue they in it the glorye of God / nor the mageste of his presence . They neyther conceyue his wonderfull workes / nor yet his godlye iudgementes . Their folyshe hartes are so darkened / that though they knowe God / yet glorifye they him not . They set the smoke and perceyue the worlde trobled ( as it is alwayes whan the veryte apereth ) but neuer the more faythe nor godlye knowlege haue they . But that which is vnto the faythfull a rayse / is vnto them a ruyne . That is vnto the other the power of God vnto helthe / is vnto them slaunder and folyshnesse . And that is vnto the other a sauoure of lyfe vnto lyfe / is vnto them a sauoure of deathe vnto deathe . They remember not that the lorde came downe in fyre vnto Moyses vpon mount Synay whan it smoked all togyther lyke a burnynge fornace / and therfor bere they awaye no glorifyed faces / or consciences depured by a true perfyght faythe .

14 And no manne was able ( sayth the text ) to enter into the temple / tyll the .vij. deadlye plages of the .vij. angels were whollye fulfylled . For though the true beleuers perceyue in the misteries of the scripturs / the present mageste and myghtye power of God / yet enter they not in to full knowlege of him / beynge as yet subiect vnto vanyte . For here is theyr knowlege vnperfyght / and their prophecyenge also . And therfor acknowlegynge their imbecillite / and also waytynge for the reuelacion of the children of God / they saye with Saynt Paule . O the wonderfull depenesse of the wysdome and knowlege of God . How incomprehensible are his iudgementes / and how vnsearcheable his wayes .

15 And at this poynt . shall they styll be tyll the last iudgement daye fynishe all . For the full enterynge into the temple is non other than a whole perfyght or consummate knowlege of God and hys misteryes . Which can not fullye be had / tyll that which is vnperfyght be done awaye / the creature delyuered from bondage of corrupcyon . And tyll deathe be swallowed vp / the vessell of corrupcyon becommynge incorruptyble / and the mortall bodye becommynge spyrituall . The ryghtouse shall than shyne as doth the sunne in the kyngedome of their father / and glyster as doth the bryght Starres worlde without ende . What the .vij. plages are / and what ys their fulfyllynge / wyll in this 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 Iohan out of the temple . A perfyght / stronge / and ernest assuraunce had he of the lorde by a spirituall premonyshment / that the vnvariable decrees of hys sert iudgementes 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 and the .vii. trompettes blowinge after this sort . Go your wayes forth fulfillinge the purpose ye be ordayned vnto . Poure ou● 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 contempneth my eternall veryte . Consequentlye sende them 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 and Hermogenes / bryngynge in agayne circumcysyon with certen ceremonyal obseruacyons to blemyshe the Gospell of Christ . These with soche lyke subuer●ed whole howses ( sayth Paule ) teachynge thinges that they ought not to haue ●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 menne which had the marke of the Beast / or an vnchristen beleue through their perswasyons .

7 And vpon them 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 supers●y●youse women lo●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 se●ne in their mortall fleshe . For in this lyfe he proueth his electes with Abraham and Iob to saue them / and to make them iust folowers of Christ / whom yt behoued to suffre ere he entered 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 than .x. Gybles after Nauclerus and 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 manne . 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 daunger / 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 and 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 vpon the watterye flowdes and 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 / strongelye to delude the vnbeleuers .

2 These lyghted vpon the swete waters / by whom are ment the sacred scripturs refreshinge the drye sowles . Who so euer drynketh ( sayth Christ ) of the waters that I geue / he shall neuer be more a thirst .

3 Of these waters haue they defyled both the ryuers and welspringes with bloud . Both the lawe and Gospell / the fygure and veryte / the commaundement and promes / the doctryne of Prophetes and Apostles haue they corrupted with their false interpretacyons and gloses / with frowarde dryftesand opynyons / with vayne tradycyons and worshyppynges / and with carnall wysdome and murtherynges . Of thys sort were Eut●ces and Artius with soche other lyke / as in the .viij. chapter afore .

4 And I harde ( sayth Saint Iohan ) an Angell / betokenynge those syncere wytnesses / to whom God had opened for that age his secrete iudgementes . And thys Angell sayd .

5 Omnipotent creator and lorde which art not onlye of thy self at thys present instaunt / but wart also essencyallye in thy self without begynnynge .

6 Thu heauenlye lorde art faythfull in thy wordes and holye in thy workes .

7 For as yt apereth before our eyes / the decrees and fore iudgementes that thu madest afore / are now fulfylled in effecte .

8 For the relygyouse mourtherers that of cruelnesse caused the bloud of thy holye ▪ Sayntes and Prophetes / Apostles and Preachers to be shedde / haue now by thy iust appoyntment verye bloud to drynke as they are most worthye .

9 For sleynge of them whose massage they contempned / they had their iust plage . Not onlye became they vayne in their thoughtes / their folyshe hartes darkened ( not vnlyke to them that hath eares ādheare not / eyes and se not ) but also there remayned vnto them after this lyfe a perpetuall vengeaunce without mercye for their cruell oppressyons / as a due rewarde of their errour .

10 Yet an other Angell harde I ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) euen out of the aulter whych ys Christ . Thys Angell sygnyfyeth those wytnesses that suntyme confessed the truthe here / and now resteth from their labours in the lorde . These though they be departed / afferme that the other hath seyd afore . In token that now beynge departed they forget not that truthe which they afore confessed / lyuynge styl yet in the same . He that holdeth my worde ( sayth Christ ) shall neuer tast of deathe .

11 And this ys their saynge in mysterie / or wordes comprehendinge their secrete confessyon .

12 Euen so lorde God almyghtye . As the lyuynge beleuers sayth of the by mouthe / so saye we now in the sprete .

13 That thy decreed iudgementes are euer more true / and thy maruelouse workynges ryghtouse . The first ys called in some translacyons the Angell of waters / the other here reported to come from the aulter / to sygnyfye both sortes .

The Text.

1 And the fourth Angell poured out hys vyall . 2. on the sunne . 3. And power was geuen vnto hym to vexe men with heate of fyre . 4. And the men raged in great heate / and spake euyll of the name of God . 5. which had power ouer those plages . 6. and they repented not / to geue hym glorye .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 Consequentlye by the appoyntment of God / the for t Angel in the forth Seale openynge poured out his vyall of Gods wrathe on the sunne . As the lorde had eternallye prefixed / in the forth age of the Christen churche . For the whole worldes pannyshmēt / was Christ sore blemyshed which ys the clere sunne of ryghtousnesse . Sore ded the dissemblynge . Antichristes in those dayes darken the true glorye of God with their many folde sectes of Hipocresye . The pope had for hys part an innumerable swarme of shorne smered Sodomytes / and Mahomete a fowle flocke of frantyck fabyllers / which with their newlye paynted relygyons and prodygyouse obseruacyons / made first all the worlde to wonder and than to worshyp Bel●al for Christ / takynge darkenesse for lyght / and synne for ryghtousnesse .

2 These beynge verye aduersaryes vnto Christ / toke vpon them hys auctoryte and seate / the one boastynge hymself for hys generall vycar in earthe / the other for the great Prophete of the lorde / and so were receyued of the excecate worlde . Nedes wolde they seme to be the sunne / beynge the verye shaddowes of deathe .

3 Permytted was this heersackye sunne to vexe menne with heate of fyre . Syttynge in the temple of God which ys with in manne / with soche wycked lawes as they made vnder the name of God and of Christ / they terribly vexed / tormented / and cruciated the weake consciences of menne / leauynge them commonlye in most peynefull desperacyon .

4 So that the menne raged in greate heate / speakynge euyll of the name of God / which had power ouer those plages . At their abhominable perswasions was Christ of them not taken for a mercyfull sauer and gentyll ▪ redemer / but for a frowarde chorle & vntractable tyraunt / vnlesse he were mollyfyed by the merytes and callynges vpon of other / & that coude not be had without money .

5 Power hath the lorde ouer plages / to holde them or remoue them . By hys ryghtfull iudgement / at hys onlye pleasure he hardeneth . As the potter / maye he breke them / or make them vessels of dyshonour .

6 In no wyse ded this peruerted multytude repent their wycked blasphemyes to geue hym glorye / for all their confessions / Masse hearynges / pylgrymages and satisfaccyons without nombre . For they were not accordynge to his prescripcyon .

7 After non other sort wyll he be pleased and glorifyed / than he hath by hys scripturs appoynted . Nothynge lesse are their fantasyes than true repentaunce .

The Text.

1 And the fifte Angell poured out his vyall . 2. vpon the seate of the Beaste . 3. and his kyngedome waxed darke . 4. And they gnewe their tonges for sorowe 5. and blasphemed the God of heauen for sorowe / and payne of their sores . 6. and repented not of their dedes .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 In order succedeth by the dyuyne ordinaunce the fi●t Angell vnder the fift seale openynge / pourynge out hys vyall of Gods indignacyon vpon the seate of the Beast . After non other sort than the lorde had afore predyffyned for mannes vnfaythfulnesse sake / was the proude beastlye kyngodome of the Papacye / and the execrable regne of Mahomete replenyshed with all filthye abhomynacyons vnder the sunne . For in the other age afore they ded but crepe into the hartes of menne through the glytterynges of hypocresye and dissimulate sanctyte .

2 But here haue they obtayned the power / seate / and auctoryte of the Beast / and so gotten vnto them the myghtye Monarchyes of the vnyuersall worlde . Here regned they without checke in all vayne glorye / hawtynesse / malyce / pryde / murther Hipocresye / superstycyon / Idolatrye / and blasphemye of Gods name .

3 And therfor their kyngedomes as all one in deuylllyshenesse / became all darke / without the lyght of Gods veryte / full of the stynkinge smoke of the bottomlesse pytte . Than went the locustes abrode / and fylled the worlde with ygnoraunce and blyndenesse .

4 Euerye where gnewe they their tonges for verye sorowe . In detractynge the veryte / moche grefe they suffred in their desperate hartes their wormes not dyenge / nor their fyre quenched / the scorpyons of the earthe stynginge them also .

5 Spyghtfullye 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 vnpenyten● 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 laden 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 them 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 ●ixt seale openinge / shedinge out his Irefull vyall vpon the great ryuer Euphra●es a flood of the Assyrianes or of Babylon / betokeninge in mysterye the plesa●nt possessions and wauerynge delyghtes of the Papysticall clergye with soche lyke .

● Into all filthye despres of carnall and worldlye lustes gaue the lorde their har●s ouer in the sixt age of the christen chur●he for their vnbeleues sake / to do tho●e thinges which are vncomlye and be●stlye . So that all their stodye / trauayle / ●nd laboure / sought to non other ende / ●ut onlye to habunde in them . Wholly●●ere they geuen thervnto / and nothyn●● to the glorye of God in all their practysed obseruacions .

3 Yet were the waters therof in processe of tyme dryed vp . Their welthye pon●pes / possessions / and pleasurs ( their fa●●se feates ones knowne ) are and shal● be clerelye taken awaye from them . For after Iesus Syrach / the plante of sinn● 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 dro●●pe remayninge . So longe as the Pre●●stes dwell in wanton delightes and va●●ne pleasurs / eyther are the princes chyl●dyshe or els tyrannouse / accordynge a● their nedes requyreth .

5 Neuer are they kynges from the spri●●ge of the Sunne / or accordynge to Chri●stes rewle / sekynge Gods honor wyt● Dauid and Iosias . In Englande by th● Gospell preachynge haue manye of th●se waters bene dryed vp in the suppres●sion of monasteryes / prioryes / couen●tes / and fryres howses / yet are not a●● thynges brought vnto Chrystes cler● institucyon . A syncere Chrysten orde● can not yet be seane there . And a grea● 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 breath● 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 / yea● I wolde I coude not by iust ocrasyons speake it brybynge / whorynge / and swearinge / the townes / peples / and 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 dra●ons mouthe which signifieth Sathan the deuyll / an other out of the Beastes mouthe betokeninge the vniuersall Antichrist / and 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 contynued 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 / and 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 ▪ For cursed / false / and vnpure they are . Their doctrine is wyckednesse / lyes / and deuylishnesse / and 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 and 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 permission of God be suffred to go at large / they shall strongelye delude the kynges of the earthe / and blynde the gouernours of the vny●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 iudgement 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 ●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 tha● the deuil gathered together those wicked newlers into a serten place called in the Hebr●●●onge Armagedon . The vncleane spretes that afore are named thre of ●heir dyuerse workinge in the Dragon / Beast / & false prophe●e are here brought into one / as all of one lyenge sprete whom 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 combyned together into ●n exe●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 oly●es / the hyll of Syon / Carmelus / and ●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 vpon 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 / thonderynges / and lyghtenynges . 6. and there was a great earthquake . 7. soche as was not sens men were vpon 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 I le 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 men blasphemed God / bycause of the plage of the ●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 / condempninge by Gods worde their vnyuersall doctrines and deuyllyshnesse . These powers are no lesse than deuyls / whom Christ calleth fowles of the ayre / Peter Turrian Iohan mannis aduersaryes / & saynt Paule the gouerners of the es● 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 / ●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 so the a vniuersall quyet .

5 Yet shall there happen in those dayes voyces / thonderynges / and lyghtenynges . Voyces of swete blessynges and dylectable promyses to the faythfull congregacyon . Thonderynges of terrour to the vnfaythfull multytude / commaundynge thynges contrarye to the fleshe . And fearefull lyghtenynges of condempnacyon to the reprobate hypocrytes and desperate obstinates .

9 And all from one worde of the lorde or one Gospell preachynge in dyuerse respectes / no small earthquake folowynge vpon the same . What commocyons / heuye complayntes / fearefull tremblynges / sorowes / cryes / grefes / syghynges / waylynges / grudgynges / gruntynges / gronynges / wepynges / and handes wryngynge wyll be amonge the earthlye mynded Antichristes and hypocrites / byshoppes / prestes / prelates / holye water mongers / and parryshe clarkes / lawers / whores / caruers / paynters / and waxe sellers / whan their who●ishe churche shall be turned ouer by the iudgement of the sayd worde / yt is easye to coniecture .

7 Soche a one wyll this earthquake be ( sayth the text ) so myghtye and so stronge / as neuer was yet sens menne war vpon the earthe / or sens that earthlye generacyon first beganne . Than shall be cleane taken awaye the carnall churche of Antychryst or the smered Sinagoge of sha●elynges . Neyther shall the Pope wyth hys dysgysed rable anye more be seane here / nor yet Mah●mete with his monstruouse muster .

8 In soche wyse shall their lawes / secdes / and ceremonyes be destroyed in those dayes / that no manne shall be fownde so bolde as ones to allowe one of them openlye . Than shall the glorye of christes name shyne the worlde ouer / he makynge of his enemyes / hys f●te stole .

9 More ouer in this terrible earthquake the great spyrytuall cyte called Sodome and Egypt / or the holye whoryshe mother the churche shall be disseuered into in partes / of the which .ij. shall styll be wycked / the thirde conuerted vnto godlynesse . Two partes shall be dispersed ( sayth Zacharye ) the thirde shall remayne to the lorde . Of them which haue and shall go out of mynsters and monasteryes / collegys and couentes / churches and cloysters / patryshes and nonneryes / one sort shall inwardlye be geuen to Antichristes superstycyousnesse and Hipocresye . An other sort vpon dyuerse fleshelye consideracyons / shall faynedlye fall to the Gospell . The thirde sort onlye of loue towardes God and zele of helthe in their neybers / shall vnfaynedlye cleaue to the Scripturs . Thus shall the vngodlye sort be coupled styll with the Godlye in euerye lande and prouynce and be the moche greatter nombre . Yet shall they for that tyme attempt nothinge agaynst them / the trewthe so strongelye regnynge . Neuerthelesse yet ys yt not to be thought that they shall than haue nothinge to suffre / consyderynge that it is a kyngedome of sufferaunce . Christ to head of that congregacyon suffred oned incommodyte or other alwayes / so longe as he was here lyuynge . It shall therfor behoue them / which are his misticall members / alwayes to suffre . For the seruaunt is no better than his lorde / nor the souldiour than his head captayne . And to make his good / the lorde sayth in Zacharye . The same third part wyll I leade through fyre / and pourge yt as syluer or golde in the fornace . Than shal euerye godlye creature folowe Christ in bearynge hys crosse . They shall mortyfye their fleshlye members / s●●ynge all fornicacyon / fylthynesse / Idolatre / couetousnesse / pryde / anger / and malyce . They shall helpe / suffer / and forbeare one an other / hauynge pytefull compassion vpon the weake / sycke / and nedye . No dewtye besemynge a chrystyane shall they leaue vndone .

10 Therfor this great or generall cyte thus deuyded / all other particuler or nacyonall cytees must also fall . The blasphemouse Pantheon of Rome ones peryshinge / all other churches of the vnfaythfull must nedes folowe sone after in their course . For the found acyon taken a waye / the buyldynge can not endure . So that from thens forth shall be no popyshe sectes / no supersticiouse ceremonyes / no heythnyshe obseruacions / nor open Idolatrye in all the worlde . But whan the remnaunt of the wycked shall attempt a freshe to rayse vp agayne soche abhomynacions / the lorde shall so●enlye wythout warnynge fall vpon them with his most fearefull and terryble last iudgement .

11 Great Babylon the aforesayd mother of all whoredom and fylthynesse / shall than come in remembraunce before God . He shall than consyder her abhomynable blasphemye / her pryde / cruelte / murther / and synnes wythout nombre / wayenge them in right balaunce accordynge vnto iustyce .

12 He shall also rewarde her to drynke / the fearce cuppe of his wrathe or wyne of his great indignacyon / which is the perpetuall deathe of sowle . The verye dregges of his Ire shall she tast / yea vnspekeable sorowes and peynes without ende . For non other is it to come in remembraunce before hym at that daye / but to be condempned / and receyue ponnyshment accordynge to her dedes .

13 Than shal leuerye Ile ( which is a place of refuge within the see ) flee awaye and not tarye . The mountaynes that are wonte to geue socour vnto them that be on the lande / shall not at that daye be fownde . No confort shall she than haue nor sure helpe anye where .

14 No remedye wyll be at that daye to flee from the fearefull face of the iudge . Than will neyther merytes nor ye● sowle Masses helpe / neyther blessynges nor knelynges / sacrifices nor sensynges / wawlynges nor ryngynges / bussinges nor synginges / but will she nyll she / nedes must she abyde hys heuye and terrible sentence .

15 And there fell great hayle ( sayth the text ) as yt had bene wayghtye talentes . Alwayes must yt be remembred that commonlye the tyme past ys vsed in this prophecye for the tyme to come / for the te●tente of the thynges here spoken . This hayle ys non other than the heuye tempest or plage of the seyd fearefull and terryble iudgementes of the lorde / which shall on that woofull daye fall sodenlye ●s a thycke hayle vpon the miserable multytude of them that boasted themselues to be the holye churche / and vpon their wycked folowers compared here vnto Babylon .

16 This plage ys here also for non other cause lykened vnto talentes / bu●●●r that yt ys in wayght and measure to be mynystred vnto them by the preordynacyon of God . So moche peyne and sorowe ys due vnto that whoryshe generacyon / as she hath glorifyed herself in fylthye delyghtes / and so manye ponnyshmentes to be rewarded her . Yea / double must she haue accordinge to her workes .

17 Out of heauen shall this vehement hayle fall / from the fearefull sentence of the lorde Iesus Christ / which shall than sit as a iudge in the middes of his faythfull congregacyon / they sittynge with hym as the bodye with the head in condempnacyon of the wycked .

18 And vpon the menne shall yt lyght . For the great whore or the cyte called here Babylon / is in this place to be taken for that yt comprehendeth / euen for menne / in whom also are included women by the common vsage of the Scripturs .

19 These menne shall spyghtfullye blaspheme God because of the hayle / plage / or terrour of their tormentes . They shall crye out of hym / wysshinge that he had no soche powre so to torment them .

20 For the tempest ys great / and the su●●feraunce therof excedynge paynefull . As the lorde ys myghtye / so are hys iudge●mentes whan they fall . Vehement / ferce and stronge ys the lorde ( sayth Esaye ) 〈◊〉 ys the tempest of hayle breakynge ou● 〈◊〉 euerye syde / and bearinge downe stronge holdes .

The .xvij. Chapter .

OFt hath occasyons be geuen me in this boke to speake of great Babylon / and of the exec●able Beast / but here is place offred to describe them more at large .

The Text.

1 And there came one of the seuen Angels / which had the seuen vyalles . 2. and talked with me . 3. sayenge vnto me . 4. Come . I will shewe the. the iudgement . 5. of the great whore . 6. that sytteth vpon manye waters . 7. with whom the kynges of the earthe haue commytted whoredome . 8. and the inhabyters of the earthe are dronken with the wyne of her fornicacion . 9. And he caryed me awaye . 10. into the wildernesse in the sprete .

¶ The Paraphrase

1 After this came ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) one of the .vij. Angels or vnuaryable decrees of the lordes eternall iudgementes / which had the .vij. vyals of his wrathe as afore hath bene declared .

2 And this Angell or sett purpose of God / as an heauenlye massenger talked with me in mysterye .

3 Of fauorable goodnesse in secrete maner he assertayned me therbye of this wonderfull iudgement here folowinge / to be fulfilled at the latter ende of the worlde . And thus yt sayd vnto me .

4. Come hyther frynde Iohan / I wyll shewe the in secretenesse the terryble iudgement of the great whore or counterfett churche of Hipocrites / as God hath appoynted yt . Nedes must thys whore b● Rome / for that which ys here after spoken / that she ys the great cyte which re●neth ouer the kynges of the earthe . Euident yt is both by the scripturs and cronycles / that in Iohans dayes Rome had her domynyon ouer all the whole worlde . And beynge infected with the abhominacyons of all landes / ryghtlye ys she called Babylon or cyte of confusion / not onlye in this reuelacyon but a●so in the first Epistle of Peter . And lyke as in the scripturs oft tymes vnder the name of Ierusalem ys ment the whole kingedome of Iuda / so vnder the name of Rome here maye be vnderstanded the vniuersall worlde with all their abhominacyons and deuylyshenesses / their Idolatries / withchecraftes / sectes / supe●stycyons / papacyes / presthodes relygyons / shauinges / anoyntings / blessinges / sensings / processions / and the deuyll and all of soche beggeries . For all peples sens Christes ascencyon hath this Rome infected with her pestylent poysons gathered from all Idolatrouse nacyons soche tyme as she helde ouer them the monarchyall suppremyte . And lyke as Babylon had the Israelytes captyue vnder a bodylye trybute / so hath this Rome had the Christianes both in their bodyes and sowles . At the writynge of this Prophe●ye felt Iohan of their cruelte beynge exyled into Pathmos an Ile of Lycya for the faythfull testymonye of Iesu. And so ded I poore creature with my poore wyfe and children at the gatheringe of this . present Commentarye / fleynge into Germanye for the same .

5 No maruele though she be here called a great whore . For no where were euer yet seane so manye Idolle wurshyppynges so many vayne obseruacyons so manye superslycyouse sectes / so manye errours in Hipocresye / so manye false Prophetes / and so manye prodygyouse kyndes of fylthynesse / no / not in Sodome yt self nor yet in miserable Egypt .

6 This Babylonyshe whore or disgised Synagoge of shorelynges / sitteth vpon manye waters or peples that are fantasticall / fyckle or folyshe . For non are in conscience subiect vnto her / that are constantlye grounded in the sure doctryne of faythe . Onlye alloweth her tradycyons the wauerynge witted multytude / the slypper and vnstedefast nombre / obeynge them in their hartes of feare and not of loue / so throwynge themselues into a most confuse Chaos or vawte , of doubtfull do●rage .

7 With this stynkynge strompett haue the myghtye potentates of the vnyuersall earthe / the Emprours / Kynges / Princes / and other notable gouernours commytted most shamefull whoredome in the sprete by manye straunge worship pynges / agreynge amonge themselues to her wyckedlye decreed lawes and customes . To longe shuld we stande here in this place / yf we shuld describe them all seuerallye in their colours at large as they be .

8 Through the craftye legardemayne of the Prestes on the one syde / and the cruell constytucyons of Princes on the other syde / the dwellers of the earthe or worldlye mynded multytude are dronken with the wyne of her fornycacyon spyrituall / or practysed worshypyynges besydes the prescripte rewles of Gods worde . Not onlye they which haue bene couetouse / carnall / lewde / and wretched hath folowed their abhomynacyons / but also an innumerable sort of the electe nombre hath beleued their lyes and errours . Yea / they haue bene so dased with their dottages / and so tangled with their customes / that as menne losynge their wittes without all godlye remembraunce / reason / wysdome / dyscressyon / vnderstandynge / iudgement / and grace / the lawes of God layed a part / the commaundements neglected and the scripturs despised / they haue no● onlye kneled / crossed / kyssed / set vp lyg●tes / and holden vp their handes before rotten postes / but also called them thei● fathers in heauen . Yea ( I axe God mercy● a thousande tymes ) I haue bene one o● them myself . And this ys to thys daye ● principall religyon of that whoryshe chu●●che / called deuowte pilgrymage or ho●lye stacyons of prayer / manye great pa●●dons graunted and manye false promy●ses made to allure the peple thervnto●

9 But blessed be the lorde / whose wo●●de in this age both admonyshed many● as the Angell ded Iohan / and brough● them also cleane from her abhominacy●ons / into a secrete consideracyon of th● sprete / vnknowne to the worlde / ther● both to se her pryde and also to vnder●stande her iudgement . For yt foloweth i● the text / that the angell conuayed Iohan awaye into the wildernesse in the spret●●

10 In mysterye here the holye ghost d●●clared afore what the lorde shuld work● in menne hauynge hys grace / at the latte● dayes of the worlde . Into the wylderne●●se flee they with Dauid / which leauy●●ge the customed wayes of menne / afte● the course of the scripturs seke vp thei● lorde God in faythe / worshyppinge hym onlye in sprete and in veryte .

The Text.

And I sawe a woman sitt vpon . 2. a rose coloured Beast . 3. full of names of blasphemye . 4. which had seuen heads and ten hornes . 5. And the woman was ●rayed . 6. in purple and rose coloure . 7. and decked with golde / precyouse stone / and pearles . 8. and had a cuppe of golde in her hande . 9. full of abhominacions . 10. and fylthynesse of her whoredome . 11. And in her fore heade was a name written . 12. A mysterye . 13. Greate Babylon the mother of whoredome and abhomynacyons of the earthe . 14. And I sawe the wyfe dronken with the bloude of Sayntes / and with the bloude of the wytnesses of Iesu. 15. And whan I sawe her . 16. I wondred with great maruayle .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And I sawe / sayth Saynt Iohan / in mysterye a woman ( for an whore at the first blushe semeth onlye a woman ) syetynge vpon a rose coloured Beast . This Beast ys the great Antichrist that was spoken of afore / or the Beastlye bodye of the deuyll / comprehendynge in hym Popes / Patriarkes / Cardynalles / legates / Byshoppes / Doctours / Abbottes / Pryors / Prystes and Pardoners / Monkes / Chanons / Fryres / Nonnes / and so forth . Temporall gouerners also / as Emprours / Kynges / Princes / Dukes / erles / lordes / iustyces / deputyes / iudges / lawers / mayers / balyues / constables / and so forth / leauynge their owne dewtyed offyces as to mynyster ryghtlye / to serue their abhominacyons .

2 All rose coloured ys thys Beast / in token of tyrannouse murther and bloud shedynge ouer those that wyll not agree to their deuyllyshnesse .

3 Full of blasphemouse names ys this Beast also / as your holynesse / your grace / your lordeshyp / your fatherhode / your mastershyp / your reuerence / honor / hyghnesse / worshyp / magnyficence / goodnesse / Gods vycar / spirituall syr / ghostlye father / phesycyan of sowles / defender of faythe / head of the holye churche / and so forthe / besydes the names of their propyrtees / feates / and pagentes / as processyon / byshoppynge / anelynge / purgatorye / pylgrymage / pardon / Masse / mattens / euensonge / placebo / candelmasse daye / palme sondaye / ashe wedynsdaye / holye roode daye / Saynt Thomas daye / and so forth .

4 This Beast had .vij. heades and ten hornes / sygnyfyenge his vniuersall craftes and suggestyons to destroye the graces and gyftes of the holye ghost / and also hys falselye borowed primacyes and tyrannouse auctorytees to withstande the commandementes of God .

5 Upon this Beast sitteth a woman . For what els auaunceth or beareth out thys malygnaunt muster ▪ in their copes / crosses / oyles / myters / robes / rellyckes / ceremonyes / vygyls / holye dayes / blessynges / sensynges / and folynges / but a wanton folyshe and fantastycall relygyon / a vayne gloryouse pompe / and a shynynge pretence of holynesse in superstycyon callynge yt their holye churche ? She ys seyd here to sitt vpon this bloudye Beast / as to be stayed / quyeted / and satled by them . Marke what labours and peynes that craftye and wylye Winchester taketh with Bonner To●stall and other of hys faccyon / as her owne sworne ●ouldy our to holde vp this gloryouse whore in her olde estate of ●omyshe religyon . Oh / he grunteth and groueth / he sweteth and swelleth / he fretteth and belleth / he bloweth and panteth / he calke●●s and ●anteth / he sturreth and neuer ceaseth / to brynge hys matters to passe .

6 In token that this hipocriticall churche standeth in the murther of innocentes / thys woman ys here gorgyouslye appareled in purple / as gyltye of their deathes which hath bene slayne / and also in freshe scarlett as euermore freshe and rydye to continue in the same bloud shedyng . For yf soche terrible slaughter were not / the true Christen faythe shuld increase / to the great dymynyshment of her glorye .

7 She ys in lyke case floryhshynglye decked with golde / precyouse stone / and pearles / not onlye in her manyfolde kindes of ornamentes / as in her copes / corporasses / chesybles / tunicles / stooles / fannoms and myters / but also in mysterye of counterfett godlynesse . Manye outwarde bragges maketh this paynted churche of Christ / of hys gospell / and of hys Apostles / sygnyfyed by the golde / precyouse stone / and pearles / which ys but a glytterynge coloure . For nothynge mindeth she lesse than to folowe them in conuersacyon of lyuinge .

8 More ouer ●n her hande which ys hee exteryoure mynistracyon / she hath a golden cuppe / full of abhomynacyons and fylthynesse of her execrable whoredome . This cuppe ys the false relygyon that she daylye mynistreth / besydes the chalyce whom her merchantes most dampnablye abuseth . And yt contayneth all doctryne of deuyls / all Beastlye errours and lyes / all deceytfull power / all glytterynge workes of Hipocrites / all craftye wysdome of the fleshe / and subtyle practyses of mannes wytte / besydes philosophye / logyck / rhetoryck / and sophystry . Yea / all prodygiouse kyndes of Idolatrye / fornicacyon / sodometrye / and wyckednesse . Outwardlye yt semeth golde / pretendynge the glorye of God / the holye name of Christ / the sacred scripturs of the Byble / perpetuall virgynyte of lyfe / and all are but counterfet colours and shaddowes of Hipocresye in the outwarde letter and name .

9 Full of abhominacyons ys the drynke of the execrable faythe of that Romyshe relygion receyued of other / and full of fylthynesse also . For both retayneth the peple therof innumerable kindes of Idoll worshippinges vnder the tytle of Gods seruyce / and also their shauelyn●ges of prodygyouse beastlynesse in lech●●rouse lyuynge vnder the coloure of cha●●tyte . Here were moche to be spoken o● Saynt Germanes euyll / Saynt Sythe keye / Saynt D●c●mbers ores / maste● Iohan shornes bote / Saynt Gertrude rattes / Saynt Iob for the poxe / Sayn● Fyacre for the ague / Saynt Apolyne fo● tothe●ake / saynt Gracyane for lost thrif● Saynt walstone for good haruest / sayn● Cornelis for the fowle euyll / and all o●ther Sayntes els almost .

10 Of the buggerye boyes also amon●ge prelates and prestes / ghostlye father and relygyouse / might moche be sayde h●●re / were yt not for infectynge mennes e●●es / eares & vnderstandynges . For all th●se noyfull nocumentes are the holye fr●●res of the whoredome of that holy●whoryshe churche .

11 In the forehead of this glytteryng whore / which ys her outwarde shew● ys wrytten a name / expresselye decla●rynge what she ys . By her vngodlye fr●●res ys she knowne to the elect seruan●tes of God / hauynge the lyght of th● Scriptur● ▪ In their consciences aperet● she non other than a postyferouse who●re / by the iudgementes of the same .

12 Averye mis●●●ye is this shewe to th● infydels / an hydden secrete / an vnkno●ne wonder . For they are so blynded with her foppryes and tangled with her toyes / that they iudge all that she doth / holye / relygyouse / and perfygh● . And all this suffreth God for their vnbeleues sake / destroyenge neuerthelesse the wysdome of the wyse and prudence of the prudent in his .

13 Her verye name agreynge to her frutes / ys thys . Great Babylon / in myschete farre aboue the cyte of the Cha●deanes / and moche more full of confusyon . For she ys the oryginall mother / the cause / the begynninge / the rote / the sprynge / and the fountayne of all spirituall fornyca●yōs / and in a maner of all fleshlye abhominacyons also done vpon the earth . Thys is to the faythfull sort / as a written name of her / euydent / clere open and manyfest . But to the vnfaythfull yt ys onlye as a mysterye / hydden / darke / obscure / and neglect . For so are the secretes that God openeth to babes / and hydeth from the wyse .

14 And I ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) perceyued yt euidentlye in mi fore vnderstandinge / that this woman the verye wyse of the deuyll and of hys beastlye bodye ( for the Byshoppes are the husbandes of their Romyshe churches ) was all dronken in the bloudye slaughter of the Sayntes / or ernest Christen beleuers / & in the excedinge tyrannouse murther of th● faythfull wytnesses of Iesu or syncere● preachers of hys worde . For neyther o● both she spareth . Besydes all Godly● wysdome ys she / and forgetfull of her self / through this same bloudye dronke●●nesse / so great excesse hath she taken .

15 And whan I perseyued and sawe her with all her adders whelpes so beas●●ty she ( sayth Saynt Iohan ) with excedynge wonder I marueled . Not onlye tha● she was thus ouersett with bloud drin●kinge or outragyouse murtherynge o● innocentes / but also of her excedynge great abhomynacyons .

16 And most of all I wondered that the almyghtye God coulde with so moche pa●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 ●ytte . 7 and shall go into perdi●yon . 8. And they that dwell on ●he earthe shall wondre . 9. whose names are not wrytten in the boke of lyfe from the ●egynnynge of the worlde ) . 10. whan they beholde the Beast ●hat was / and is not .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And as I was thus wyth my sel●●aruelynge / the Angell or afore named ●ecre of the Lorde sayd vnto me these wordes .

● Wherfor dost thu thus maruele / thu mortall manne ?

For thy gentyll and meke expectacy●n I shall shewe vnto the / the misterye of this wretched woman / and of the cru●ll Beast that beareth her / which hath ●ij . heades and .x. hornes . By this shal●●hu knowe the true churche from the ●alse / the iust preachers from the hypo●rites / the syncere doctrine from theyr subtyle sophysmes / and their lawfull an●●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 a●ne here in misterye / was as concerninge his beginninge in Cain first of all / and so continued forth in the fleshlye chyldren of menne / in the chaplaynes of Pharao / Hiero●oam / Baal / and 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 auc●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 and Despasiane / in the terrible syege of Hierusalem . Not with●standinge / yet shall this beast ryse agayne in the Romyshe pope and Mahomete / and 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 ●●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 and 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 reprob●te vessel● / 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 significacion 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 / and 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 rayse● 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 y●y● 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 malygnaunt 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 la●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 this present tyme remaynynge / the other head is not come as yet / but wyll come her after . This head remayninge is the sixt / and it is that feble empyre that Rome now holdeth / and haue holden sens Iohans tyme . The power of this empyre is ruynouslye demynyshed / and the notable fame therof decayed betwixt the Popyshe prelates and the Frenche menne / a great part of the landes becommynge Saynt Peters patrimonye . To make it a fytte head of the Beast to the vpholdynge of this whorishe churche ( the auctoryte therof maynteyninge her lawes ) Gregorye the fift Pope commytted the emprours chosynge vnto .vi. princes of Germanye .iij. of them beynge Archebyshoppes . He appoynted also the kynge of Bohem for the seuenth / than beynge trybutarye vnto him and his owne feed man as an odde persons to waye vpon their sydes / yf nede / place / and tyme shuld requyre yt . Prouyded alwayes that he shuld take his othe and receyue his crowne imperyall at Rome . So that now thowgh it styll be the same in tytle that it was in Iohans dayes / yet is it so dyuerse from it through dimynishment of power / and so vnlyke in outwarde magnifycence / as it neuer had bene the same .

7 The seuenth head that is not yet come / is the Papysticall kyngedome of owr Romyshe spiritualte . For therof apered nothynge in Iohans tyme / nor yet more than .v. hondreth years after it . The Byshoppes of Rome ( as they call them ) from Peter to Syluester / were verye poore sowles / symple creaturs / and menne not regarded but despysed of the worlde . They were no newe lawe makers for the more part / but rather they gaue their whole dilygence to se those lawes obserued / whom the holye ghost had made to their handes . Neyther were they anye Masse sayers / sowle syngers / or procession goers / but as was Saynt Paule with the other Apostles / symple preachers onlye / and for theyr syncere preachynge / they suffered the deathe of theyr bodyes . But after the Donacyon of Constantyne and other plentuouse almesses commytted vnto theyr handes for the socoure of the poore / they became all confessours / and toke them to their ease at home . Than was laboure verye tedyouse vnto them / preachynge verye troblouse and peynefull . Than stodyed they all to please the powers / peceablye to holde styll their plesaunt possessions / and by spyrituall polycyes to increase them more and more / the poore in a maner forgotten . Then came in that holye ceremonye and that / with latten howres / seruynge of Sayntes / and prayenge for the dead / to prouoke men to offer to Corban . Thus crept they vp in hypocrisye daye by daye / tyll soche tyme as Iohan of Constantinople contended with Gregorye of Rome for the supremyte . In the which contencion thowgh Gregorye layed for him self Saynt Peters keyes with manye other sore argumentes and reasons / yet was he commaunded by Mauricius the Emperour after the generall Synode / to obeye the sayd Iohan / as the vnyuersall head bisshop of the whole worlde . Than were these holye fathers compelled to tarrye a layser / and vnder craftye colours to wayte their praye . In processe of tyme whan Phocas was Emprour / Bonifacius the thirde a manne of a wylye practyse / perceyuynge him moche geuen to bayne glorye and couetousnesse / greatlye also to dissalowe the actes of Mauricius his predecessour / through flatterye and mede obtayned of him that the churche of Rome shuld be holden from thens forth for the head churche of the worlde / and he for the head byshop . Whan this was ones gotten / than rose they vp so hygh / that the Emprour became their fore stole / and all other chrysten princes their waytynge ●laues / to ryde and ronne / make and marre / stryue and fyght / slee and kyll / at their commaundement and pleasure . Thus became the Romyshe Pope the seuenth kynge / that was in Iohans tyme yet to come . If thu marke in the crouycles good reader / thu shalt fynde that Phocas the first Pope maker slewe his master the Emprour Mauricius / signifyenge in my sterye the sayd Pope makynge to be an vtter destruccyon to the empyre . The Popes name was also at that tyme Bonifacius / which is as moche to saye as bona facies / a good face . Which betokened that this newe raysed kyngedome shuld shewe a fayre face euermore / or a shynynge pretence of holynesse / what myschef so euer it wrought eyther agaynst God or manne in abhominable supersticyon .

8 And whan this seuenth kynge commeth ( sayth the text ) he must contynue a space / or abyde a lytle season . He must haue a tyme by the permyssion of God / strongelye to delude the vnbeleuers / whych wyll neyther se nor heare / reade nor yet thankefullye receyue his worde of saluacyon / so gratyouslye offered them . So corrupt are the fleshelye affectes of menne / that moche more prone they are to lyes and supersticyons / than to the veryte of the lorde / which is to be lamented . Chryst came first in the name of his heauenlye father / but him wyll they not receyue . The Pope commeth in his owne wycked name / and to hym ronne they by heapes . Whose contynuaunce here hath bene but a tyme . For yet is it not a thowsande years sens the Papacye first beganne vnder Phocas / which is but as a daye before God / and that daye wyll he shorten by hys owne promes for hys electes sake / whych to remember is their great conforte . And a great cause whye . For sone after that shall they be fullye restored in to the perfyght nombre of the chyldren of God .

9 And the execrable beast ( sayth the text ) that of late dayes was in auctoryte ouer all the worlde / yea / syttinge aboue God in the conscyences of menne / and now is become of no reputacyon amonge menne ( God openinge his myscheffes ) is euen the eyght in nombre . And yet neuer the lesse is one of the .vij. heades . For both is he the beastlye bodye it self comprehendynge in him the vnyuersall abhominacyons of all the earthlye kyngedomes / and in that poynte dyuerse from the seuen heades / and so the .viij. in nombre .

10 And also he is one of the .vij. heades and the seuenth in nombre / in vsurpynge this proude worldlye kyngedome thus after a vayne temporall sort . Ouer & besides all this / maye he also be called the eyght in the cursed remnaunt which after the peceable sylence of christen lyberte ( Sathan loosoned ) shall most cruellye persecute Chrystes congregacyon a freshe / as in the .xx. chapter here folowynge wyll apere .

11 This Beast with his carryage / the Antichrist with his churche / or Sathan with his Sinagoge / shall not onlye go in to destruccyon here by the mightye breathe of Goddes mouthe / or the true preachinge of his Gospell / but also into dampnacyon euerlastinge in the ende of the worlde with the deuyll & his angels .

The Text.

1 And the ten hornes which thu sawest / are ten kynges . 2. whych haue not yet receyued the kyngedome . 3. but shall receyue power . 4. as kynges . 5. at one houre with the Beast . 6. These haue one mynde . 7 and shall geue their power & strengthe vnto the Beast . 8. These shall fyght with the lambe . 9. and the lambe shall ouercome them . 10. For he is lorde of all lordes . 11. and kynge of all kynges . 12. And they that are on his syde . 13. are called / and chosen / and faythfull .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And the .x. hornes ) sayth the Angell vnto Iohan ) which thu sawest here vpon the heades of this rose coloured Beast / are in significacyon .x. kynges . Some hath taken these .x. kynges for all those Emprours of the larynes sens Charle mayne / which haue sworne them selues obedyent to the Bishop of Rome . Some haue thought them to be those prynces which here in Europa haue afore tyme bene subiect to the Empyre of Rome . As the kynges of Englande / Fraunce / Spayne / Portyugale / Castele / Denmarke / Scotlande / Dngarye / Goheme / and Napels . But these considre not that they be yet more in nombre / as Aragone / Nauerre / Cycyle / Cypresse / Sardyne / Swethen / Pole / and soche other / and are all included in the seuen heades as members of the afore rehersed empyres . Neyther marke they that they are aboue the heades as hornes / and more in nombre than the heades / betokenynge a rygorouse auctoryte and ferce power / which they proudelye vsurpe ouer them euerye where . Afore they were but suggestyons / but here are they ernest doers . For in euerye region hath the beastlye Antichrist of Rome his Metropolytanes and primates . As in Englande are Caunterberye and Yorke / in Fraunce / Thuronensis and Remensis / in Spayne Tholetanus and Te●raconēsis / in Portingale Hispalensis and Bracarensis / in Irelande Armachanus and Dublimensis / in Dennemarke Lundensis and Opsalensis / in Germanye Colon●ensis and Maguntinus / in Hungarye Serigon●ensis and Colocensis / in Italye Pisanus and Rauennas / in Sycyle Panormitanus and Messanensis / with an infynite nombre of byshoppes / prelates / prestes / and religiouse / besydes the fyghtynge orders of the Rhodes / the Prussyanes / the Redemers of captyues / the Aragondes / the Beorgyanes called de alga / the Monteseanes / the Castylyanes / the Lusitaneanes / the Calatraneanes / and Saynt Iames warryours .

2 These had not yet at that tyme receyued the deuylyshe kyngedome of pestilent vsurpacyon ouer the sowles of menne . For though in Iohans dayes arose certen Antichristes / as Hebion / Cerinthus / Diotrephes / Carpocras / and so the lyke / yet were they nothing to these .

3 But now in dede they haue receyued the same self auctoryte and power with the Beast / that he toke afore of the Dragon / in maner of kynges to rewle in the hartes and consciences of menne to his behoue .

4 For so moche as their auctoryte is not of God lyke as is the auctorite of kynges / it is sayd here as kynges / or as menne counterfeatynge them / in vsurpynge a gouernaunce not frelye geuen them of God / but of the deuyll .

5 All at one houre receyued they thys auctoryte wyth the Beast . And that ( I suppose ) was in the generall counsell of Laterane at Rome / gathered vnder the tytle to recouer Hierusalem agayne . Where as confession in the eare was cruellye extorted of Christen peple vnder peyne of deathe and dampnacion by the whole consent both of the princes / and bishoppes / at the former suggestion of innocent the thirde / besydes other wicked thinges . As to heare lattyn seruyce / to go procession on Sondayes / to praye vnto dead Sayntes / to worship Images / to bye Masses for the dead / to fast the fridayes / with purgatorye / pardons / merytes / and fryres orders . In the sayd counsell became the Metropolytanes as kynges / 〈◊〉 by the auctorite therof appoynted they that 〈◊〉 . Balyues / and other 〈◊〉 / as byshoppes Curates / and Pari●●he Prestes to haue cure and charge of so idle / and in the sayd eare confession to receyue theyr accountes .

6 These counterfett kynges are all of one deuyllishe mynde / practyse / and purpose agaynst God and his ▪ veryte .

7 And fullye they are fixed to geue their whole power / their stodye / and theyr strengthe vnto the behoue of the Beast ▪ Not accordinge to Gods mynde wyll they rewle / but all after his wyll & pleasure / agreynge alwayes vnto him as members to their heade / to serue wickednesse after wickednesse in Babilon . His popisshe decrees wyll they seke / his deuylishe decretals wyll they folowe / his ceremonials wyll they obserue / & nothynge of the sacred scripturs . What lerning so euer they haue / what giftes of nature / fortune / or grace / all must be to the maintenaunce of his fantastycall fopperyes . To hym are they sworne to do hym homage / to obeye his lawes / to kysse hys fete / & for hys gloryes sake to persceut● the Gospell .

10 And in so doynge they shall fygh● with the lambe / which ys Iesus Christ . They shall impugne hys truthe whan they thinke to do hym seruyce . For that myschese they do to one of his / they do to hys owne persone .

9 But be they neuer so dogged / yet shall the lambe ouercome them in hys faythfull members / yea / by pacyent sufferaunce onlye . The vyctorye ( sayth Sayn● Iohan ) which ouercometh the worlde / is a sure Christen faythe . Vpon their syde fyghteth he which ys most myghtye and stronge / yea the lorde that ys valeaune in battayle . And he shall first ouercome them in this lyfe with the myghtye breathe of hys mouthe / scatterynge them awaye as dust from the earthe . And after thys shall hys terryble iudgement for euer condempne them .

10 For he ys by the auctoryte geuen hym of hys father / the lorde of all lordes and by hys owne eternall Godhede the Kynge of all kynges / hauinge all power in heauen and in earthe . He ys constyt●●te iudge of the quycke and the dead / hauynge alone the euerlastynge Empyre with his father and the holye ghost / and of his kingedome shall neuer be an ende ▪

11 By his permyssion doth all kinges regne / he hath their hertes in his hande and iudgeth their thoughtes . Both maye he geue them hys sprete / and also take yt from them / and of his enemyes he shall make hys forestole . He ys the same sto●ne after Danyell that without anye ha●●des was cut out of the mounte / which breaketh the Iron / the copper / the earthe / the syluer / and the golde in peces . By whome are ment the vnyuersall kyngedomes of this worlde .

12 Of this hys vyctorye are all they pa●●tyners with hym / which are vpon hys sy●de by faythe . Most specyallye those tru● seruauntes of hys / which after they ar● called by grace and chosen by faythe / perseuer styll constaunt / feruent / fayth●full / and sure in his veryte to the latte● ende of their lyues .

13 Not onlye the lambe therfor shall o●uercome the Beast / but they also afte● the doctryne of Paule that are called and chosen in him / not fallynge from his tr●●che for anye temptacyon or grefe / but stā●dinge fast by yt vnto the verye deathe . For those that the lorde hath prefixed afore / he hath called / iustifyed / and allowed . These auaunceth not themselues with the proude / but mekelye they submit their crownes / referrynge all vyctorye to the lambe / as menne that coulde haue done nothinge in that behalfe with out hym .

The Text.

1 And he sayde vnto me . 2. The waters which thu sawe it / where the whore sitteth . 3. are people / & folke / and nacyons / and tunges . 4. Ad the ten horns / which thu sawest vpon the beast . 5. are they which shall hate the whore 6. and shall make her desolate / & naked . 7. and shall eate her fleshe 8. and burne her with fyre 9. For God hath putte in their hartes / to f●lfyll hys wyll . 10. and to do w●th one consent . 11. for to geue her kyngdom vnto the beast 12. vntyll the wordes of God be fulfylled . 13. And the woman which thu sawest / is the greate cytye . 14. which reygneth ouer the Kinges of the earthe .

¶ The Paraphrase .

1 And after this longe communicacyon ( sayth saynt Iohan ) the aforeseyd Angel sayd thus vnto me / to make vp his tale with .

2 The wauerynge waters which thu sawest here now of late in mysterye / where as the Babylonyshe whore sitteth vpon the rose coloured Beast / are in sygnyficacyon all maner of peples of the carnall nacyons / and the superstycyouse folke of manye sondrye tonges .

3 Not onlye in one place of the worlde rewleth this wanton relygyon of Antichrist / but in euerye lande / in euerye domynion / in euerye cumpanye / amonge all occupacyons and languages . The folyshe multytude euerye where / beynge blynded by their subtyle sorceryes / & neyther hauynge faythe nor yet the feare of God before their eyes / as a ragynge flood ( the bankes broken downe ) ●o●●eth headlynges into all blasphemie and deuyllyshnesse .

4 More ouer the afore named .x. hornes ( sayth the Angell ) which thu by the will of God beholdest here in sprete / vpon the seyd Beast of destruccyon / are those verye persones which also shall hate the whore . Her abhominacyons ones knowne by the Gospell preachinge / they shall abhorre her lawes / despyse her auctoryte / and contempne her customes . They shall defeate her of those landes and possessyons which now she vniustlye ho●deth .

5 They that afore were her fryndes shall than be her mortall enemyes / denyenge her both tribute / obedyence / and seruyce / so leauynge her without all co●fort . Not onlye are these the temporall gouernours / as the kynge of Englande / the kynge of Denmarke / the Duke of saron / the Landgraue of hesse / and other Princes of Germanye / with soche other as wyll here after folowe the same pryncyples / but also the Metropolytanes and Byshoppes / the Doctors and Prelates . As are all redye Thomas Crāmere the arche Byshop of Caunterburye / Hermannus de weda the archebyshopp of Coleyne / Godryck the Byshop of Holye / Barlowe the Byshop of Saynt Dauids / Byrde the Byshop of Chestre / Thu●●leby byshop of Westmynstre / 〈◊〉 tymer and Nicolas Sharton of late years Byshoppes of Worcester and Salysburye / with soche other lyke as wyll here after folowe their trade . Though they were afore the hornes of the Beast for defence of the whore / yet are they now fallen from hym / and more shall euerye daye to make her desolate of honoure and naked of rentes and possessions .

6 So shall they chace that Babylonyshe harlot Rome with their preachers / that neyther shall they leaue her coloure nor yet bewtye . Considre what Iohan Reuclin / Martyne Luther / Erasmus / Occolampadius / ●winglius / Pomeran / Buter / Capito / Melanchton / Grineus / Calninus / Brencyus / Frances Lambert / Bullinger / and soche other hath done agaynst her alredye . Lyke wyse here in Englande / Bylneye / Cyndale / Frith / Barnes / Cromwell / Couerdale / Turner / George Ioye / Rose / Rydleye / Warde / Becon / and other els / leauynge her neyther Rellyques nor Rodes / Sectes nor Shrynes / Abbeyes nor Pryoryes / manye more commynge after them of the same sort . These shall make her so desolate that no manne shall in processe of tyme regarde her . They shall leaue her so naked / that all the worlde shall abhorre her that shall lo●● vpon her . Yea / in the conclusyon they 〈…〉 her fleshe .

7 Besydes the takynge awaye of her carnall profyghtes and pleasurs / they shall confounde her fl●shelye vnderstandinge of the scripturs / and vtterlye consume the superfluouse obseruacyons of her whoryshe c●remonyes .

8 Finallye with fyre shal they burne her / in brynginge vnto nought all her abhominable rewles / customes / & kyndes of Idolatrye . All these ones plucked awaye by the euydent worde of God / no longar shall this harlot apere . For no longar contynueth the whore / than the who redome ys in pryce . Take awaye the rytes and Ceremonies / the Iewels and ornamentes / the Images and lyghtes / the lordeshyppes and fatherhodes / the aulters and Masses / with the Byshoppes and Prestes / and what is their holye whor●she churche any more ? Not onlye is this fleshe eatynge and burnynge declared now adayes in outwarde experymentes / as in the rebellyouse Monkes and Prestes of Englande / and in them that arose there in the Northe / specyallye in fryre forest and Margare●● Chenye / which were for their churche consumed / lyke as were Baals chaplaynes at the broke of Cyson by Helyas / but also misticallye in that is spoken of here afore .

9 For God hath ( sayth the Angell ) all blindenesse secluded / put it into the hartes of those and soche other Godlye menne by the infusyon of his sprete / to fulfyll hys decreed will so pleasure in this behalf / as vtterlye to destroye the Popyshe relygyon or fylthye abhominacyons of Antichrist .

10 He hath geuen yt them more ouer to do these thynges to hys glorye / through the agrement of faythe that they haue in the vnyte of his Godlye truthe / to the abolyshment of all Sectes / false Prophetes / and coniurers of Egypte .

11 Fynallye by hys grace he hath moued them / through knowlege of his worde to rendre vp her blasphemouse kyngedome ( whom sumtyme of ignoraunce they vsurped ) vnto the malygnaunt Beast agayne / as the hornes of hys pestylent heades . After this sort ded good Latimer and Shaxton geue ouer their Bysshop-ryckes / and so hath dyuerse other Godlye menne their promocyons and liuinges / as manye more yet here after wyll do .

12 For as they haue begonne so shall they contynue in demynyshynge the abhomynacyons of this whoryshe churche / tyll the wordes and promyses of God by hys Apostles and Prophetes / which can neuer fayle / be whollye fulfilled in effect / and tyll hys last iudgement do fynyshe all . But thus do not all they which haue done of the yoke of the Popes obedyence or blotted out hys name . For the greatter nombre of them retayneth styll the blasphemouse obseruacyons and Ceremonies of hys Romyshe relygyon / some makynge newe lawes of deathe for the establyshment of the same / as ys in Englande the acte of the .vi. Artycles with dyuerse other more . And for this remayneth here styll the Beast as receyuynge the rendred kyngedome of the whore . In whome ys also comprehended the wycked remnaunt that shall worke the last myschefe / whome the lorde shall ende with hys seyd iudgement . This Beast ys not without hys lyuelye Image styll workynge the same feates that hymself wrought afore / though his head be greuouslye wounded in diuerse quarters of the worlde . Neyther ys he without craftye . Phesycyanes / to mynystre lyfe to the same . Who euer forswore the Pope more ernestlye / than ded Stokyslaye and Sampson / Gardyne● and Tunstall / wylson and fryre wattes / with soche other holye prelates ? Yet labour they tothe and nayle to haue Babylon styll Babylon / Sodom Sodom / & Egypte Egypte . But maruele not of the ordynaunce of the lorde / which all at one tyme prouyded Moyses to gyde his peple and yet hardened Pharao agaynst them which sent his sonne Iesus Christ to saue them / and yet suffred the Prestes to murther hym / consideringe he ys that potter which maketh both the vessels of honoure and dishonoure .

13 Breuelye to conclude the whole of this matter ( sayth the Angell ) the gorgyouse aparcled woman / or glytteringe churche of antichrist / which thu sawest here of late in misterye / ys also in resemblaunce the great cyte Babylon / the mother of all the spirituall abhominacyons and Idolatryes done vpon the earthe . For lyke as from Syon hath the lawe commen forth and the worde of God from Hierusalem / so hath yssewed forth from this Babylonyshe Rome soche a false Relygyon into Emprours / princes / and peples / as with fylthyr superstycyons hath poysoned all the worlde .

14 For a kyngedom she hath ouer the kynges or noble gouernours of the earthe / a false power / a vsurped auctoryte / and a seate of verye pestylence . Alas for pytye that so worthye potentates shuld be in subieccyon to so slynkynge an whore / to so vyle an harlott / beynge so the seruauntes of synne and captyue slaues to all wyckednesse / from the which the lorde ones delyuer them . Amen .

¶ Thus endeth the seconde parte .