The Image of Both Churches in Revelation 2, Chapter 16
¶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 vponupon the earthe. 5. And the first went / and poured out hys vyall vponupon the earthe. 6. and there fell a noysom & a sore votche vponupon the men which had the marke of the Beaste. 7. and vponupon them that worsypped hys Image.
¶The Paraphrase.
AN other great voyce harde Iohā out of the tēple. A perfyght / stronge / and ernest assuraunce had he of the lorde by a spirituall premonyshment / that the vnvariable decrees of hys sert iudgemētes 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 vntounto his fryndes openeth he hys secrete counsels alwayes / as he ded in olde tyme vntounto hys wele beloued Israel / vntounto Moyses / Zacharye / Ezechiel / and Daniel / with soche other.
2 And the voyce was vntounto the .vii. Angels vnderunder the .vii. Seales openynge ād the .vii. trompettes blowinge after this sort. Go your wayes forth fulfillinge the purpose ye be ordayned vntounto. Poure ou… your vyalles of wrathe vponupon the earthe.
4 Declare them first of all to the worlde / to be the reprobate vessels of dishonour / which of wylfulnesse contēpneth my eternall veryte. Consequentlye sende thē 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 vnderunder the first seale openynge / and poured out hys vyall vponupon 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 ād 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 hauehave …aught for fylthye lucres sake.
6 And whan they were thus by the decreed purpose of God shed vponupon the earthe / or left vntounto their owne earthlye beastlynesse / all destytute of his grace for contempnynge hys worde so gracyouslye offred / there lyghted a noysome and tedyouse botche vponupon those mēne which had the marke of the Beast / or an vnchristen beleue through their perswasyons.
7 And vpō thē 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. vponupon 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 vponupon 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 vntounto 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 Abrahā and Iob to saue them / and to make thē iust folowers of Christ / whom yt behoued to suffre ere he ētered 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 vponupon 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 thā .x. Gybles after Nauclerus ād 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 vntounto deathe.
4 Thys bloud was also in a maner as the bloud of a dead māne. 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 vponupon the vayne pleasurs of this lyfe / exercysinge here tyrannye both in wordes and doynges. Neyther were they out of the same daū ger / that fell from the veryte ones knowne / nor yet they which durst not receyue yt for feare of persecution / but both peryshed in this see.
The Text.
1 And the thirde Angell shed out hys vyall. 2. vponupon 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 ād 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 / vnderunder the thirde Seale openinge / and he poured out his vyall vpō the watterye flowdes ād 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 vponupon 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 hauehave they defyled both the ryuers and welspringes with bloud. Both the lawe and Gospell / the fygure and veryte / the commaundemēt and promes / the doctryne of Prophetes and Apostles hauehave they corrupted with their false interpretacyons and gloses / with frowarde dryftesand opynyons / with vayne tradycyons and worshyppynges / and with carnall wysdome ād 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 iudgemētes. 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 / hauehave 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 ōlye 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 vntounto 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 Iohā) euē out of the aulter whych ys Christ. Thys Angell sygnyfyeth those wytnesses that sūtyme 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 iudgemētes 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 vntounto 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 fort 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 vntounto Christ / toke vponupon 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 sū ne / beynge the verye shaddowes of deathe.
3 Permytted was this heersackye sunne to vexe mēne with heate of fyre. Syttynge in the temple of God which ys with in manne / with soche wycked lawes as they made vnderunder the name of God and of Christ / they terribly vexed / tormented / and cruciated the weake consciences of menne / leauynge them cōmō lye 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 tyraūt / vnlesse he were mollyfyed by the merytes and callynges vponupon 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 confessiōs / 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. vponupon 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 vnderunder the fift seale openynge / pourynge out hys vyall of Gods indignacyon vponupon 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 abhomynacyōs vnderunder the sunne. For in the other age afore they ded but crepe into the hartes of mēne through the glytterynges of hypocresye and dissimulate sanctyte.
2 But here hauehave they obtayned the power / seate / and auctoryte of the Beast / and so gotten vntounto 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 / ād fylled the worlde with ygnoraunce and blyndenesse.
4 Euerye where gnewe they their tō ges 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 ladē with sorowes heapynge synne vponupon 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. vponupon 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. vntounto the kynges of the earthe / and of the whole worlde. 13. to gather thē 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 / vnderunder the …ixt seale openinge / shedinge out his Irefull vyall vponupon 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 christē 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 hauehave 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 vntounto 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 hauehave 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 / ād swearinge / the townes / peples / ād 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 / ād 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 cōtynued euer sens in the worlde vnderunder 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 vnderunder the coloure of chast lyuynge / in presthode / sacrifices / and ceremonyes.
9 Hypocrisye was the fowle sprete which yssewed from|the false preachers / poysoninge the catholyke faythe wyth false doctrine vnderunder the coloure of relygion / pretendinge abstinence / prayer / ād 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 / ād 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 ād brynge them into erroure if it were so possible. But the lorde euermore defendeth his.
11 A stronge power hauehave 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 permissiō 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 / vnderunder 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 vntounto 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 iudgemēt daye / yet is it here spoken partycularlye of euerye mannes departynge. As a premonyshment / he geueth this here of louelove / 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 vntounto 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 vntounto 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 vntounto 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 whō 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 cōbyned 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 vponupon earthe from ryghtouse Abell vntounto this daye. But whan the almyghtye setteth kynges vpō 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 / thō derynges / and lyghtenynges. 6. and there was a great earthquake. 7. soche as was not sens men were vpō 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 vntounto her the cuppe of wyne of the fearcenesse of his wrathe. 13. And euerye Ile fled awaye. 14. and the mountaynes were not founde. 15. And there fell a great hayle. 16. as it had bene talentes. 17. out of heauen. 18. vponupon the men. 19. And the mē 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 vnderunder 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 vnderunder the great aduersarye of God. Neyther is it anye blemishe vntounto 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 / condēpninge by Gods worde their vnyuersall doctrines and deuyllyshnesse. These powers are no lesse than deuyls / whō Christ calleth fowles of the ayre / Peter ā Iohā 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 vntounto 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 ād 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 vponupon the same. What commocyons / heuye complayntes / fearefull tremblynges / sorowes / cryes / grefes / syghynges / waylynges / grudgynges / gruntynges / gronynges / wepynges / and hā des 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 vponupon 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 thē 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 ād 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 vntounto godlynesse. Two partes shall be dispersed (sayth Zacharye) the thirde shall remayne to the lorde. Of them which hauehave 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 vponupon dyuerse fleshelye consideracyons / shall faynedlye fall to the Gospell. The thirde sort onlye of louelove 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 nōbre. Yet shall they for that tyme attempt nothinge agaynst them / the trewthe so strongelye regnynge. Neuer thelesse yet ys yt not to be thought that they shall than hauehave 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 thē / which are his misticall mēbers / alwayes to suffre. For the seruaunt is no better than his lorde / nor the souldiour thā 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 vponupon 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 foūd 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 vponupon 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 vntounto 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 Thā 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 vntounto thē that be on the lande / shall not at that daye be fownde. No confort shall she than hauehave 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 sēsynges / 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 cō mōlye 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 vpō the miserable multytude of them that boasted themselues to be the holye churche / and vponupon their wycked folowers compared here vntounto Babylon.
16 This plage ys here also for non other cause lykened vntounto talentes / bu…r that yt ys in wayght and measure to be mynystred vntounto them by the preordynacyon of God. So moche peyne and sorowe ys due vntounto that whoryshe generacyon / as she hath glorifyed herself in fylthye delyghtes / and so manye ponnyshmentes to be rewarded her. Yea / double must she hauehave 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 vponupon the menne shall yt lyght. For the great whore or the cyte called here Babylon / is in this place to be takē for that yt comprehendeth / euen for menne / in whom also are included womē 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. Vehemēt / ferce and stronge ys the lorde (sayth Esaye) … ys the tempest of hayle breakynge ou… … euerye syde / and bearinge downe strō ge holdes.