Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 2
¶ The second Chapter.
Vers. 1.
¶ VntoUnto the Aungell of the Churche of Ephesus write. &c.
THat the Churches might vnderstand how proffitable this prophecie should be to the ages folowing, & therfore they might receiue it more reuerently, and keepe it more religiouslye, and spreade it abroad more diligently: the lord wold instruct them by some experience in them selues. The Church of Ephesus was as it were the mother citie of all Asia. Not that it had any aucthoritie ouer the rest (for there was no difference perceiued to be among the goldē Candelstickes) but yt it was gathered together in the moste famouse citie & therefore oughte cheefly to giuegive forthe hir lighte by example of doctrine and manners. And he writeth to the Aungels of the Churches that is to the Ministers and Pastours, not that those admonitions were necessarie to them onelyonly but because that, from them whether it be good or euill that proceaded, it flowed into the whole bodie of the Church whereof they had the gouernmēt, like as also in the Church whatsoeuer things were well or euill, they ought to be imputed either to there diligence or negligence.
¶ These thinges sayeth he that holdeth the seuen starres in his right hand, and walketh in the middest of the seuen golden Candelstickes.
THat the pastours of the Church might know how greatly they ought to esteme these admonitions, Christ foretelleth yt they all proceded frō him, which a litle before was perfectly described in the vision. As touching the pastor of Ephesus, he writeth, that it is the commaundement of him that holdeth the seuen starres. &c. That is, which by his ayed and succour doth defend as well the Churches them selues, as there pastours, and by his prouident care, doth kepe them in safetye, that he may acknowledge it to be his benefit, that being free from so many euils, and adorned and decked with so manye vertues, he should be praised of Christ.
Vers. 2.
¶ I know thy woorkes, and thy labour, and pacience.
BEcause nothing is more easy to hipocrites then to boast of faith which outwardly doth not appeare by any workes, or els doth glory in workes that are onelyonly coloured and deceyrable, he forwarneth all mē, that whatsoeuer fayth they boast themselues, in outward profession to hauehave, that he throughly seeth and knoweth what there workes are (.And thy labour) It semeth that the diligent care of this pastor in gouerning the Church was verie great, that the Lord doth counte it worthie of such praise. And truly this diligēce is most necessarie for the minister which hath the care of the Lordes flocke committed vntounto him, to which also he ought to ioyne pacience, because it can not be, that any can be able to execute diligently the office committed vntounto him, but that Sathan will deuise, and stere vp diuers persecutions and troubles against him, which that he may beare with a strong and stable minde, he hath neede to be armed with pacience.
And thou canst not forbeare them which are euil, and hast examined them which say they are Apostels and are not, & hast found them liers. &c. He doth also commende the zeale of this pastore, in driuinge Wicked men out of the church, and such as would not be brought to a better minde, and not onelye those whiche shewed them selues openly to be such, but euen those also, which shewed them selues vnderunder the honorable name of Apostels, when as in the meane time they were greuous plagues to the churches, of whiche sort are sayde to be, Nicholas, Ebion, Cherinthus, Marcion, Manicheus, which striued and labored with there newe opinions, to defyle the puretie of the gospell, whose subtilties and deceiptes by his diligence, and wisdome being found out, he perceiued, & when they were perceiued he strongly resisted them.
Vers. 3.
And thou hast suffered and hast patience and for my names sake hast labored and hast not faynted.
Although he could not beare there wickednes, yet he was cōstrained to suffer the troubles & persecutiōs which they stirred vp against him. Which because he bare paciētly, he declared that he did not boast of pacience, but that he had pacience in dede. Lastly that he would willingly susteyne so great labour for Christs names sake, and yt he neuer fainted as ouer come with any griefes, it is sufficiente proofe, that he was the seruaunte of Christ, and not of his owne belly, a pastor of the church, and not an heyering.
Vers. 4.
Neuerthelesse I hauehave somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy fyrst charity.
THere is nothing throughly perfect in this corrupt nature of man. For he which a litle before semed to want nothing that shoulde make to the praise and commendation of a good pastor, is now accused, that he hath left his former louelove. For when as we ought to profit and goe forward daily in the study of godlines, and charity towards our neighbours, he went not forward, but into yt whiche was worse. For he had caste of muche of his former burninge zeale, whiche neuerthelesse, he ought dayly more and more to hauehave encreased. But it may be demaunded how his zeale should fyrst be commēded, and his vnweried exercise of labouringe. It may be aunswered, that his zeale was euē then also worthy commendation, although it were much more feruent before, and it may come to passe, yt one may he indued with a heroical spirit against the vngodly, and yet not louelove his brethren as he ought to do, for these two I ioyne together, pietie toward God and louelove towardes our brethren, because nether of them is without the other.
Vers. 5.
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first workes, or ells I will come against thee shortly and will remoue thy candelsticke out of his place except thou Amend.
THE disease beinge found out and shewed, although neuer so secreat, he counselleth and perswadeth to lay to it ye medicine of repentance, which that it may be healthfull, he commaundeth him two thinges. Fyrst to way and consider from how exellēt godlines he is cast down, out of what blessed state and condition he is fallen, and whether at length (excepte he take hede in time) of necessity he muste fall, whiche suffereth louelove by litle and litle to die in him selfe. The other is that he slatter not him selfe, like as hipocrites do in this daungerous estate, nether seeke coloures or clokes to hide and excuse his fault, but without delay recouer his former louelove, and doe his former workes, whiche thinges if he neglect, he shall shortlye proue, how daungerous a thinge it is, to despise the frendely admonitions of Christ, when as his candelsticke being remoued oute of his place, he maye looke for nothinge but horrible darkenes yea more then the darkenes of Egipt, to come vppon him. This place doth admonishe vsus how sharpely God wil punishe the neglecte of profiting and goinge forwarde in godlines. But it semeth contrary to all reason, that for one mans offence, ye whole church shold be punished wt so extreme & deadly a punnishment, but we ought to remember that this euill flowing out of the pastour him selfe, did runne ouer the whole Churche. For such as the ministers of the Church are such also we see the people for the most part to be.
Vers. 6.
But this thou hast that thou hatest the woorkes of the Nycholaites which I also ha…e. …c.
HE meaneth him to hauehave deserued, that euen oute of hande he should execute sharpe punishment vponupon him, but that he mighte not thinke his former vertues to bee defrauded of there iust rewarde, he sheweth that there is a time of repentaunce graunted, specially for this cause, that he fully hated the doctrine and woorkes of the Nicholaites which the Lord also pronoūceth to be worthy of his hatred. Whith workes if wee may beleue auncient writinges, were wicked and foule pollutions & defilinges of Matrimonie, and prostitutiones of there wiues, which they would hauehave in common among them and afte…warde Christ callethe it fornication, and eatinge of thinges offered to Idols. But the papistes shall here vnfitly moue any question as concerninge the desertes of workes.
When as also the Lorde doth seme often to giuegive some reward to the works of the wicked, which hauehave but an outward shew of goodnes as the fayned repentaunce of Achabe, whiche hee doth for this cause that he may shew how greatly those which are good workes in dede do please him, much more the vertues of the godly ought to be accepted of him which is ye aucthor of all goodnesse, not that they deserue any suche thing, seing they be vnperfecte, but because through his fatherly fauour, they are taken in good part.
Vers. 7.
¶ He that hath eares to heare, let him heare what the spirite sayeth to the Churches. &c.
LEast any should thinke these thinges to be spoken only to the pastours of the Churches, the holy ghost speaketh generaly to all, as manye as hauehave there eares opened to heare what the spirite sayeth, not onelyonly to the Aungells, but also to the Churches them selues. Whereby we doe well vnderstand, that these admonitiōs are not priuate to some perticuler persons, but common to all. For those that shall sinne after the the same maner, shalbe rewarded with the like punishment, like as also the same rewardes are appointed to those that couet to folow the same vertues which are here commended.
To him that ouer commeth I will giuegive to eate of the tree of life which is in the middest of the paradise of God. &c. He teacheth that the godly hauehave a great strife, with this world & with the deuill, but all labours are to be set light by, in consideration of the inestimable greatnesse of the reward. To the conquerers therefore in this battaill, the Lorde whiche is our gouernour in the same, will graunt them to eate of the fruite of the tree of eternall life, which is in the middest of the heauenly paradise, from the vse whereof we know that oure first parentes for there sinne were iustly excluded. Here wee are taughte that it is Christ, that openeth the paradise vntounto vsus whiche was shute, whiche freely giueth vntounto vsus eternall life, whereof the tree of life was a sacrament, and yet, not vntounto such as are slouthfull and idle, but to those that fight valiantly against the enemies, and in the end by his vertue and power ouercome thē. We are here also put in mind, what a prouocatiō to stirre vsus vp to contend, the greatnes of the reward set forth to those that ouercome, ought to be, when as we dayly see the greatest labours to be borne for the obteyning of the smallest benefites of this corruptible life.
Vers. 6.
And vntounto the Aungell of the Church of the Smyrnians write, these thinges saieth he which is the first and the last which was dead and is aliue. &c.
SMyrna was ye chefest citie of Ionia, therfore he was cōmā ded to sende the seconde epistle to the Byshop of the same, this byshop as it semeth was a right faithfull Christian, whē as the Lorde counted nothinge in him worthie reprehension, not that hee was without sinne, but that as muche as mans weakenesse coulde, he was free from heynouse offences, and a faithfull administratour of the office and charge committed vntounto him. Whiche was doune so muche the more, because the Lord had exercised him with continuall temptations. For we se that idlenes bredeth carelesnes and securite. He had nede therefore of great consolation, because he was oppressed with many aduersities. Christ therefore vseth such a kind of preface, which should be most fit to confirme and strengthen him, that he is the first and the last, that is eternall God, therefore thoughe hee should suffer the most grieuouse affliction of all, which is death it selfe, yet Christ which hath ouercome death, and hell, liueth for euer, not for him selfe but for vsus.
Vers. 9.
I know thy workes and tribulation and pouertie, but thou arte riche. &c.
THat his workes are alowed of Christ, it oughte to bee asmuche as all rewardes, and a most notable comfort, for God can neuer forsake, those whose workes hee testifieth doe please him. But he proceadeth foreward, and first he sayth that he doth know his affliction and pouertie. The Deuill can lay nothing vponupon the godlye, rashly or without the determinat counsell of God the lord knoweth both. The weight of afflictions and the strength of his seruauntes, wherefore hee will not suffer them to be tempted aboue that they are able to beare, but he will shew a way out, euen of the middest of the maze of temptatiōs. He is not ignorant how heauie a burthen pouertie is, but yet he sayeth that this pastour is rich because he had an vncorruptible treasure layed vp in heauen. The riches of this worlde are thornes, by whiche the immortall seede is choked, therefore wee oughte not to bee grieued for the want of them. And it is verie like that by these twoo thinges, that is by affliction and pouertie, he was holden in his office, least he should waxe wanton, or be taken in the deceitfulnes of the worlde.
And I know the blasphemie of those that calle them selues Iewes and are not but are the synagoge of Sathan. &c. Thirdly he addeth the sclaunder wherwith the wicked did assail him, which falselye called them selues Iewes, that is the Churche of God when as there wickednes did bewray them, not to be the holy sede of Abraham, but ye prophane synagog of sathan, & as it is said in the history of Sufanna, ye seed of Chanaan and not of Iuda. Truly a noble mind & a clere conscience of all euils beareth this cauilinge slaunderings most greuouslye, but this ought to suffice the godly that Christ pronounceth them blessed, which for his cause hauehave all poisoned tounges armed against thē. And here he admonisheth that this blasphemie is not spronge vp from good men, but it was raised by wicked hypocrites, whose abominations were detested and abhorred of all the godly. This place doeth teache, that it is profitable to the godly pastors of the church, to be tried by afflictions, by pouertye, and sometime also by infamy and sclaunderinge, raised vp by the subtiltye of Sathan and his ministers, by whiche there faith, constancy, pacience, and innocencye, is better proued and tried, then if they should liue in happy estate all there life long not oppressed with any aduersities.
Vers. 10.
Feare none of those thinges that thou shalt suffer, be holde it shall come to pas that the deuill shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried.
AFter that he hath testified that he knoweth his labours, least that he might thinke any thing to come vpō him by chaūce or at the will and pleasure of the aduersaries, that he mighte perceiue he was strengthened by the aied of god, that hetherto he did not faint in the troublesome waues of afflictions: he doth instruct & arme him against the stormes folowing against the most bitter hatred of Sathan, which he shoulde shortly tai… of by experience. For the madde rage of the deuill shoulde procede so far, that he woulde cast certaine of his flocke into prison, for the testimony of the gospell, but he sheweth that the diuine prouidence of god would so moderate this his furious rage, that this tribulation should not bringe destruction to the children of god which Sathan sought to bring to pas, but a triall which is profitable for them. Here we se by whose leadinge the enemies of the Church rage in cruelty against the faithfull, that is by the inspiration of the Deuill, whiche hathe the gouernaunce of all there workes, and also worketh in them. We are put in mind with what kind of weapons and armoure we ought to be furnished against this spirituall aduersarie, that is with spirituall armour.
And ye shall hauehave tribulation ten dayes. &c. The nūber of tenne in the scriptures, according to the phrase of the Hebrew toung, is the number of fulnesse or perfection. As in Genes. 31. Num. 14. Iob. 29 He declareth therefore vntounto them, that so long as they remayne in this worlde, they must not hope to hauehave an end of there afflictions. Neuerthelesse he mitigateth the griefe of the continaunce thereof, in that he noteth that time, by dayes and not by yeares, as if he should saye, for a few dayes, whiles ye liue in this worlde ye shallbe subiect to troubles and afflictions, which being finished ye shall inioye eternall blessednes in heauen.
Be faithfull vntounto death and I will giuegive the a crowne of life. &c. We see now what shield he counselleth vsus to hold out againste all these weapons, that is faithe, whiche hee commaundeth vsus to kepe constant, & stable euen vntounto death that it may be adorned with the crown of immortality, He teacheth that afflictions are not to be suffered heauiely or sorowfully, throughout the short course of this life, when as they are to be rewarded with perpetuall felicite, and that death is manfully to be suffered for Christ, which eternall life shall recompence, reproche and ignominye is not to be feared, which doth bring vsus to the crowne of glory.
Vers. 11.
¶Let him that hath an eare heare what the spirite saieth to the Churches he that ouercometh shall not be hurt of the second death. &c.
AGaine the holy ghost doth witnesse that this is a voice which all the godly should diligently way and consider: He that ouercommeth shall not be hurt of the second death, that is hee shall be deliuered from euerlastinge damnation. The first death is of the bodie onelyonly, the second both of bodie and soule. A wonderfull comfort that they which be tormented with sundrie kindes of afflictions in this world, after death hath finished this wretched life, shall liue for euer in most blessed estate, and voyed of all feare of death. For this mortal life is euē for this cause miserable, yt it is in feare of death alwaies hanging ouer it, not onelyonly of the body but much more of the soule, except in those in which by ye deth of Christ, the stinge of deathe beinge broken, they are called to the hope of blessed, and immortall life.
Vers. 12.
And to the Aungell of the Church which is at Pergamus write, this sayeth he which hath the sharpe swoord with two edges.
PErgamus was the cheefe citie of Phrygia, to whose bysshop the third epistle is sent, with this preface, yt it was sent from him, which hath the twoo edged sword, whose doctrine can suffer no mingling of prophane opinions, but cutteth of all peruerse doctrines from the Church, as perniciouse plagues to the same.
Vers. 13.
¶ I know thy workes. &c.
FIrst Christ doth knowledge, and confesse that he doth alowe, whatsoeuer thinges are well donne of him, and yet this doth not hinder, that hee should lesse frely shewe, what soeuer he noteth in him worthie reprehension.
And where thou dwellest, euen where Sathans throne is and thou kepest my name. &c. How muche more grieuouse the perils were which cōpassed him in on eueryevery side, so much more commendable was his faith and the inuincible constancie of his minde. He dwelled wheare the throne of Sathan was, that is, where all godlynesse was troden down, and vngodlines bare all the swaye. Where as Sathan sitting as it were in the stately seat of his kingdome ruled all thinges according to his owne pleasure. In that place, as it was necessarie that all wickednes shold aboūd, so likewise the greatest crueltie and tyranny. It was an argument of a couragiouse and heroicall spirite, and a plaine proofe of diuine constancie, in so great daungers, to holde a free and sound confession of the faieth.
And hast not denied my faith euen in those dayes when Antipas my faithful martyr was slaine amōg you where Sathan dwelleth. &c. He testifieth that the constancie of this confession of his faith, was not broken by any deniall, no not euen then when persecution did moste of all rage againste the church, that is, euen at that time when as the faithfull martyr of Christ Antypas was cruelly murthered, with those whiche being led and gouerned by Sathan lyke rauening wolues doe cruelly rage against the flocke of Christ. This place doeth teach that whersoeuer c…uelty and tyranny doth rage against the children of God, there is neither the seat of Christ nor of the Apostels, but of Sathan, as it is in the Church of Rome. Moreouer that deniall of faith, although it be in extreme daungers, is not permitted to christians, as the false Nychodemits mainteyne. And lastly what honorable mention Christ maketh of his martyre whiche was slaine, that we should not doubt how precious the death of them is to the Lorde, to whome it is graunted, by there death to glorify God.
Vers. 15.
But I hauehave a few thinges against thee.
CHrist doth not kepe close that whiche was wanting in him that is to say the zeale which he had commended in the pastor of Ephesus, that he could not suffer the wicked, and speciallye the Nicholaites whose doctrine also the lord testifieth that he hateth, this pastor of Pergamus didde not so manfully and stoutlye resiste such kind of persons.
Because thou hast there, them that maintaine the doctrine of Balaā, which taught Balac to put a stumbling blocke before the children of Israel, that they shoulde eate of thinges sacrifised to Idols and cōmit fornication. &c. That he might make those menne more to to be abhorred he compareth there doctrine, with the doctrine of the olde false Prophete Balaam whiche for rewardes sake, taught and instructed Balac, withe what engines the helth and safegard of the Israelites might he ouerthrowen, that is, that by the whorishe women of the Madianites they mighte be enticed to fornication and idolatrye, whiche came so to pas, as we reade in Numery 14 and 25. and the Nicholaites did teach ye same thinges, that is to hauehave wiues in common and without any difference to eate those thinges that were offered to Idols, whereby it is gathered, that as they were giuen to foule pleasures of the fleshe, so also couetously minded, which for filthy …ukers sake taught those thinges yt were not mete. The pastors are here admonished that they ought not to wincke at the aucthors and teachers of errours, and false doctrine no not euen then, when as persecution is most cruell and bitter, for it is great daunger, tha… the poison should spred further abrode, and deuoure the whole and sincere shepe of Christ.
Vers. 16.
But be conuerted, or els I will come vntounto the shortly and will fyght against them with the swoorde of my mouth. &c.
WE must nedes confesse that he had heynousely sinned, that he should be called to repentaunce, and that vnderunder this condition, that excepte he should spedely returne in to the right way, the Lord himselfe will fight against them, & …lea them with the swoord of his mouth. For this is the force and strength of his worde, that those which it doth not bringe to a better minde it maketh subiect to eternall curse. But here the question may be asked, what this did pertayne to the pastour of Pergamus which was of a right iudgmēt in the faith, if the Lord iustly punish the Nicholaites being heretikes. I aunswere that the Lord comprehendeth him in the number of the same persons, so long as he shall not leaue of to communicate with them in there sinnes, by fauouring, and wickinge at the same. For he will require there bloud at his handes, if he shalbe negligent in doing his office, either in correcting, or driuing them out of the Church.
Vers. 17.
¶ He that hath an eare to heare let him heare what the spirite sayeth to the Churches. &c.
HE doth alwayes repeat this, that wee may know, that it is the purpose of the holy ghost to set forthe this doctrine not for one man or one Churche onelye but generallye for all men.
To him that ouercommeth I will giuegive to eate manna that is hid and will giuegive him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth sauing he that receyueth it. &c. Like as he threteneth punishment to the dispisers of his worde, so also he promiseth reward to the faithfull that shall ouercome all temptations: that beinge made partakers of the heauenly table, they shalbe satisfied with angells bread. Not with that manna which there fathers did eate fortie yeares in the wildernesse and yet are dead, but with that liuinge bread which came downe from heauen, and giueth eternall life to as many as shal eate it. Of which the former manna was but a figure & shadow. And he semeth to allude to that manna which was hid in the arke, which being kept by the commandement of God, remayned many hundred yeares vncorrupted, when as that notwithstanding which the Israelites did eate, being kepte but vntounto the nexte daye woulde putt…ye and slincke. A white stone, in election of officers did assigne him, which should be made a magistrate. By this white stone thefore the Lorde doth signifye, what great honour he will be stowe vponupon him, which shall ouercome the vaine enticementes of this worlde. By the name written in it, which none doth vnderstand, but he which receaueth the stone, I vnderstand that by the earnest of the spirite shalbe sealed in his hart, the full assuraunce of eternall life, of which euerie one is priuie to him selfe alone. He doth promise therefore, not onelyonly of the hiden manna plentie & fulnesse, but also euerlasting tranquilitie of mind, through the feling of Gods mercy. The new name signifieth the grace of regeneration, that a new name may agree to a new man. Woe be to our cowardlye sluggishnes, if pleasing our selues in the vaine pleasurs of this world we either dispise or litle esteme so ample rewardes, and like to the Israelites, desire flesh to be giuen vsus insteede of manna, and being called to the dignitie of the children of God, we had rather serue in Egipte, in most miserable bondage.
Vers. 18.
And vntounto the Aungell of the Church of the Thyatirian…, write this saith the sonne of God, which hath his eyes like vntounto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fyne brasse. &c.
HE is commaunded to write the fourth epistle to ye pastor of the Church which is at Thyatira a citie of Lydia. He maketh this preface that the sonne of God is the aucthor of this Epistle, from whose fiery eyes no spotte or blemish of the Church can be hid, whose feet being like fine brasse, do signify the perfection of his waies, neither doe they admit any forged myxtures.
Vers. 19.
¶ I know thy woorkes and thy charitie, and seruice, and fayth, and thy pacience. &c.
THere are manye vertues commended in him, but yet not without some spotte of negligence. Very properly and fitly he ioyneth seruice to charitie, and pacience to faith. For if we louelove our brethren with vnfayned louelove, we shal not be greued to do the duetyes of charitie towardes them. And if wee hauehave a liuely faith in God, we will for his glories sake, suffer patiently all the calamities which he shall lay vponupon vsus.
And thy workes. &c. which sprong and flowed out of these vertues, faith in God and louelove towardes our neighbours. It was not a bare and emptie name of faith & charitie, but he was endued with true faith which worketh by charitie.
And the last are moe then the first. &c. This doth almost excede the other praises, and commendations, that he had not left his former louelove, as the pastour of Ephesus had, but the studie of godlinesse did increase in him dayly more and more. Which thing although it be straitly requyred of all men, yet we finde but fewe which do not the contrarie, that is that either they profit not in godlines at all, or els are changed into worse. We must therefore hauehave great care to imitate and folow this Church and the pastour of the same, that we may do our indeauour, that the procedinges may not onelyonly be agreable to the beginninges, but also excell the same.
Vers. 20.
Notwithstanding I hauehave a few thinges against the, that thou sufferrest that woman Iezabell which calleth her selfe a prophetuse to teach and to deceyue my seruauntes, to make them committe fornication and to eate meate offered to Idols. &c.
THis pastour is reproued, for his neclect of ecclesiasticall displine, that hee did not putte to silence, those pratling wemen which taught wicked thinges. Whereby we gather, that it is the office of the minister, to represse the insolent pride of those which arrogantly take vponupon them the office of teachinge not being called thereto by the Church, much more it perteyneth to them, to represse false Prophetes, which set forth there peruerse opinions. Like as this minister is here firste reprehended, that he suffered a woman, whether she were but one, or whether they were moe, to teach, which is not agreable to the comlines of ecclesiasticall discipline: & after, that he did beare wt hir teaching so wicked thinges. And he calleth hir Iezabell bycause that according to the example of the wicked wife of Achab, she deceyued the people & seduced them into errours. Which although she pretended to hauehave a spirite of prophecy in here impieties, yet she is knowne by this, that she fayned new reuelations, to establish the damned doctrine of the Nicholaites. For she taught with these Nicholaites, these thinges, to committe fornication & to eate meate offered to Idols. This was no smale necligence of the pastour, that hee suffered the seruauntes of God, the shepe of Christ, by his carelesnes to fall hedlonge into so deape a dongeon of errours. Wee may note here the craftiues of sathan, which that he may make his false stuffe sailable amonge men, inuented newe reuelations contrarie to the woorde of God. So Simon sheweth of on Selen, Apelles of Philemena, Montanus of Prisca & Maximilla, the Papistes hauehave there Brigites, and in oure age also they suborne certeine prophesing wenches, as now of late in Kent a certeyne nunne named Elizabeth Barton, all of them that they may defile the pure doctrine of the Gospell, set forth in the holy writinges of the Apostles with newe and vnpure opinions, vnderunder the shew of heauenly reuelations. Such pestilent sores as these are diligently to be eschewed.
Vers. 21.
And I gaue hir space to repent of hir fornication and she repented not. &c.
IT is meruail that the most mightie God would not straitway strike downe with thunder these greate blasphemies and the Aucthores of the same, so sone as they were broughte forth, but his gentlenesse is wonderfull, by which he graunteth a time of repentaunce euen to such persons, which when they shall dispise, as it is sayd this arrogante woman did. He recōpenseth his slackenes, with increasing the punnishement.
Vers. 22.
Beholde I will cast hir into a bed, and them that committe fornication with hir into great affliction except they repent them of there workes. &c.
HE threteneth not her onelyonly, but those also which willingly applie there corrupt ears to heare her adulterate doctrine, that excepte they repente in time they shalbe taughte by moste sharp punishmentes, that it is no light matter or such as shall escape vnpunished, to defile the heauenly doctrine with these deuilish deuises. By the bed he himself expoūdeth to be mente great affliction, and the Metaphor doth fitly agree, for as adulterers hauehave beddes seruing for there filthy plesures, which they esteme as the greatest delights, so the Lord will caste thē into a bed of the greatest miseries, out of which they can not rise without extreme and finall destruction.
Vers. 23.
And I will kill hir children with death, and all the Churches shall know that I am he which search the remes and harte and I will giuegive to euerie one of you according to his workes. &c.
THe disciples of the prophetes are called there sons. This woman therefore which chalinged to hir selfe the name of prophetisse had hir disciples which are here called hir childrē. These the Lord doth adiudge to death, and pronoūceth that he will punish them most sharpely and extreamely. That it may be made manifest to all Churches, that no hipocrisy can deceyue Christ, which perceth euen vntounto the depe and secret thoughtes of the reines & hart. All men peraduēture wil acknowledge this in voice and woordes, but yet manye doe so fauour and flatter them selues in grose disimulation that they hope that they can auoyed Gods iudgement, & therefore to themselues, they let lose the bridle to all vngodlines. But whē god shall performe, yt which hee hath promised, that he will render to euerie man according to his works, then they shall perceiue howe horrible a thing it is to reiect the grace offered vntounto thē & to continue in there accustomed croked path of wickednes obstinatly vntounto the ende. But of the desertes of good workes here can nothing be gathered, for this far differeth, that God will geue to eueryevery man accordinge to his workes, from this that the papistes defend, that God doth respect the merites of workes in iustifying a man.
Vers. 24.
And vntounto you I say the reste of them of Thyatyra as many as hauehave no this learning neither hauehave knowen the depenes of Sathan as they terme it I will put vponupon you none other burthen.
IT appeareth that there were many in this Church whiche did not onlye not fauour this wicked and deuilishe doctrine but also by all meanes did oppugne & resist the same. Those Christ doth not charg in the same fault with the rest, but doth onlye exhorte them, that they suffer not the simplicite of there faith to be corrupted with anye fained inuentions of new reuelations, howsoeuer the aucthors of the same boast nothing else but the depe misteries of God, which neuertheles rather deserue to be called the secrets of Sathan. Except peraduenture they them selues called the secreates of there knowledg the depthes of sathan, as the words pretend, which commeth all to one ende. Truely Paule had respect to an other thinge, when he sayed that the depe cogitations of Sathan were not vnknowen to him.
Vers. 25.
But that which ye hauehave alredy, hold fas… till I come. ….
HE warneth them to be content with the doctrine deliuered vntounto them from the Apostles, and to admit no new opinions, but that they kepe the same euen vntounto his comminge again, and to reuerence it as sacred & holy. Whatsoeuer therefore the Romane Antichrist & other Heretikes striue to bring into the Church, which is manifest not to hauehave bene deliuered to the Churches from the Apostles, we may strongly reiect it, as an other burthen wherwith the Lord will not hauehave vsus to be loden.
Vers. 26.27.
For whosoeuer ouercommeth and kepeth my workes to the end, to him will I geue power ouer nations, and he shall rule them with a rodde of iron and as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shyuers.
HE sheweth who they be which in the end shall get the victorie, not those that for a time shal stande stoutly in the fore front, and afterward be subdued, but they which shall fight euen to the ende of the battail. And Christ doth set his woorks as contrarie to the workes of the Nicholaites, as also his doctrine is contrarie to there doctrine. For as of true and sound doctrine good works doe spring and flow, so of necessitie euill workes folow vnpure opinions. The reward which hee setteth forthe by so diuers figuratiue speaches, is notwithstanding but one, and the same common to all the godly: which is the partaking of him selfe, so when Christ calleth vsus to take part of his kingdome, whereof he is the right heire, he giueth all thinges vntounto vsus which are his, foreasmuch as we are made one bodye with him, hee promiseth therefore a gouernemente ouer the gentils, and that of such power, that we shall rule the rebelliouse and stubborne with an iron scepter, and shall bruse them in peces, like erthen vessels. That is, all our enemies being troden downe, and all the thretninges of our aduersaries, brought to naught, we shall quietly inioye the possession of the heauenly kingdome vnderunder Christ which is our head.
Vers. 18.
¶ Euen as I receyued of my father so will I geue him the morning starre. &c.
WHatsoeuer thinges, Christ by reason of his manhode is sayd to hauehave receiued of his father, he receyued them for vsus, and not for him self, he is that morning starre which rising in our hartes, driueth away all darckes of blindenesse.
And we also as morning starres, ye as the sunne it (self by his benifit) shall shine in his heauenly kingdome, howsoeuer the deuill and his ministers, with infinite sclaunders and lies oppressing our innocencie, do labour to obscure and darcken our name.
Vers. 19.
Let him that hath an eare heare what the spirite saith to the Churches.
AT euerie seuerall admonition he repeteth this, least wee should let them pas without due consideration.