The Image of Both Churches in Revelation, Preface 1
THE IMAGE of both Churches, after the most wonderfull and heauenly Reuelation of sainct Iohn the Euangelist, contayning a very fruitfull exposition or Paraphrase vponupon the same. Wherin it is conferred vvith the other scriptures; and most auctorised histories. Compyled by Iohn Bale an exyle also in thys lyfe, for the faithfull testimony of Iesu.
Goe ye out of Sodome, for the Lord will destroy that Citie.
Gen. 19.
Come away my people, least ye be partakers of hir sinnes.
Apoc. 18.
Flee from filthie Babilon, and go cleane away from the lande of the Caldees.
Hier. 50.
¶Printed at London by Thomas East.
¶ A Preface vntounto the Christian Reader.
SO highly necessary (good Christian Reader) is the knowledge of S. Iohns Apocalips or Reuelation,Apoc. 22. 1. Cor. 6. Rom. 12 whether thou wilt, to him that is a true member of Christes church, as of any other booke of the sacred Byble. For in none of them all are ye faythfull diligent hearers and readers more blessed, nor more liuely so declared obseruing the contentes thereof, thē in this one booke.Apoc. 1. Apoc. 22. Apoc. 4. 1. Iohn 5. Mat. 16. No wher is it more clerely specified, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost to bee one euerlastyng God, and Iesus Christ to be the eternall sonne of that lyuing Father (which are the fyrst and chiefe groundes of our Christian faith) then here. No where is the durable kingdome and priesthoode of the sayde Iesus Christ more plentuously spred,Apoc. 14. Hebr. 7. more playnly proued and more largely vttered, thē in this holy oracle. No where is the doctryne of healthe more purely taught,Apoc. 1. Iohn. 7. Apoc. 21. fayth more throughly commē ded, nor yet rightuousnesse more highlye rewarded, then heere. No where are heresies more earnestly condempned, blasphemous vices more vehemētly rebuked,Apoc. 18. Apoc. 15. nor yet their iuste plagues more fiercelye threatened, then in this compendious worke. Herein is the true christian church (which is ye meeke spouse of ye Lambe without spot) in hir right fashyoned colours discribed.Ephe. 5. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 17. Apoc. 2. So is the proud church of hypocrites, ye rose coloured whore, the paramour of Antichrist, and the sinfull sinagoge of Sathan, in hir iuste proporcion depaynted, to ye mercifull forewarning of the Lordes electes.VVhy this booke is called the Image of both churches. And that is the cause why I hauehave here intituled thys booke, the Image of both Churches. Neyther heere spareth the holy Ghost theyr hypocrisie nor pryde, their Idolatrie nor whoredome, theyr couetousnesse, nor most cruell tyranny, with theyr other outragious myscheues. No, he toucheth them so nyghly that we should ye better know them, and be the more ware of them, that he sheweth them to be such a spirituall sorte as maketh dayly marchaundise of ye bodyes and soules of men.Apoc. 11. Apoc. 18. 2. Pet. 3. Let vsus neuer looke to hauehave a more open marke of that wicked generation, take heede of them if we lust. He that will lyue godly in Christ, and be a pacyent sufferer. He that will stande in Gods feare, & prepare him selfe to temptacyon. He that will be stronge when aduersitie shall come & auoyde all assaultes of Antichrist,2. Timo. 3. Eccle. 2. 1. Pet 5. Ephe. 6. and the diuill, let him giuegive him selfe wholly to the study of this prophecy.
Not one necessary poynt of beleife is in all the other scriptures,A brief sum is this boke of the whol scriptures. that is not heere also in one place or other. The very complet summe and whole knitting vp is this heauēly booke of the vnyuersall verities of the Bible. All that Moyses taught in the lawe, Dauid in the Psalmes, and the Prophetes in theyr wrytinges concernyng Christes spyrituall kyngdome both here & aboue,Luc. 24. Esay. 9. Apoc. 21. meete for thys present knowledge are heerein briefly comprehended.Ephe. 4. Iohn. 16. Hebr. 2. Apoc. 18. So is hys eternall vyctory for vsus, ouer sinne, death, hell, and the dyuill, with hys perpetuall cleerenesse, aucthoritie, and empyre world without ende, compendiously here expressed. Hee that knoweth not thys booke, knoweth not what the church is whereof he is a member.
For herein is the estate thereof from Christes ascention to the ende of the world,Col. 1. Apoc. 4. Apoc 12. Apoc. 21. vnderunder pleasaunte figures and elegant tropes decyded, & no where els throughly but heere, the tymes alwayes respected. He that delighteth not to beholde the condition of his own citie, is therevnto no louing citizen. And after the true opinion of sainct Austen,Ephe. 3. August. Apoc. 21. Hier. 50. eyther wee are citizens in the new Hierusalem with Iesus Christ, or els in the old supersticious Babylon with Antichrist ye vicar of sathā. He that with diligēce shall serch yt matter, specially in this presēt reuelatiō shal throughly perceiue the certaintie thereof.Iohn. 5. Mat. 7. Consider the dignytie and worthinesse of this most precious Iewel that the Lord hath left here to our cōsolatiō. Fyrst God the eternall father gaue it vntounto Christ his welbeloued sonne in our māhood.Mat. 13. Rom. 15. Luce. 10. Iohn. 21. Apoc. 1. Iohn. 12. Apoc. 22. Christ now glorified committed it vntounto the holy Ghost, which is here called an Angell or messenger. The holy Ghost deliuered it vntounto Iohn ye peculiarly beloued disciple of Iesu. And Iohn last of all lefte it with the vnyuersall church to theyr christian eruditiō. Mark now if any other treatise of the sacred Bible had euer so worthy a foreward setting forth.Gilbertus porre…a. Mat. 25. Lucc. 11▪ This is not that it should be altogither neglected, and not looked vponupon▪ No man lighteth a candle (sayth Christ) and conueyeth it vnderunder a bushell that men should not see therby.Mat. 5. Mark. 4. Neuer was this gracious gift giuen of God to be hidden as it hath bene of longe tyme, but to be opened to all the congregations. A more necessary doctrine to the christian erudition is not in the whole scriptures; all cyrcumstaunces considered. For besides all that is afore expressed,Iacobus faber super Dionisium. it containeth the vniuersal troubles, persecutions and crosses, that the church suffred in the primatyue spring, what it suffreth now, and what it shall suffer in the latter tymes by the subtile satellytes of Antichrist which are ye cruell mēbers of Sathā.VVhat this booke contayneth.
VVhat it openeth to the Reader.It manifesteth also what premyes, what crownes, and what glory the sayd cōgregatiō shall hauehave after this present conflict with the enimyes, that the promysed rewardes myght quicken the hartes of those that the tormēts feareth.Dyosius Alexādrinus in chiliaste. A prophecye is this Apocalips called, and is much more excellent thē all the other prophecies. Lyke as the lyght is more precious then the shadowe, the veritie then the figure, the new testament then the olde, and the gospell then the lawe, so is this holy oracle more precyous then they. That Esay, Hieremie, Ezechiell, Danyell, Oseas, with all the other Prophets warneth afore hande to follow concerning Christ, and hys churche,Robertus Tuiciensis et Haymo. this mystery declareth effectually fulfilled. It is a full clerenesse to all the cronicles and most notable histories which hath bene written since Christes ascension,Sebastianus mayer in prefacione. opening the true natures of their ages, tymes, and seasons. He that hath store of them, and shall diligentlye serch them ouer conferring the one with the other, time with tyme, and age with age, shal perceyue most wonderfull causes. For in the text are they onelyonly proponed in effecte, and promised to folow in their seasons, and so ratified with the other scriptures, but in the cronicles they are euidently seene by all ages fulfilled. Yet is the text a lyght to the cronycles, and not the cronicles to the text.
Unto sainct Iohn ye Euangelist were theseGilbertus porreta in prologo Apocalipseos. mysteries of the whole Trinitie reueled (as I shewed afore) such tyme as he was of the Emperour Domicianus exyled for his preaching into the yle of Pathmos at the cruell complayntes of the Idolatrous priestes and bishops, & of him so written & sent out of the same exile into ye congregations. In one day were all these marueils seene and in the same written,Haymo in libro. 6. cap. 18. as witnesseth Haymo with dyuers other expositours, and as seemeth agreeable to the text (which is a great wonder) in tokē yt the Lord as Dauid reporteth hym,Psal. 44. Apoc. 1. Apoc. 21. is a very swift writer, which at ye same time earnestly occupied ye hand of ye sayd Iohn Of suche a nature is ye message of this boke wt the other contentes therof, that from no place is it sent more freely,August. Bedas. opened more cleerely, nor tolde foorth more boldely, than out of exyle. And this should seeme to be the cause thereof. In exyle was it first written, as a little before is mencyoned. In exyle are the powers thereof most earnestly proued of thē that hath faith.Rabanus et alii doctores. Hieronimus in libro deviris illustribus. As appeareth yet by Iustinus the martyr. Militon the Asiane, Hireneus, Hipolytus, Victorinus, and other which were there of the first expositours in the primatiue church, and in the ende suffered for it ye death of their bodyes. And though it were than the laste booke of the Byble,Franciscus Titelmannus de auetoritate Apoca. and hath bene euer since fardest from knowledge & least regarded of them all, yet was it the first that receiued any mans expositiō, as a booke thought most necessary to be knowne of the Christians.
Into the deserte sendeth the Lorde hys church,Apoc. 12. Georgius Aemilius. when the filthy spirite by his spightful spiritualtie speweth out his execrable waters, throwyng the thyrd parte of the starres into the earth with his tayle. He giueth hyr two Egles wings to flye thither with,Psal. 54. Iohn. 13. Luke. 4. Mat. 10. Iohn. 8.12. which are the light precepts & examples of Christ to declyne their mischieues. For he both …ed his selfe when occasions were giuen him, and commaunded hys disciples to flee from citie to citie in time of their persecutions. He prouideth hir there a resting place for iij. yeares and an halfe, which are the dayes of Helyas, Danyell, and Iohn. And all this is not that shee should there be ydle.…. Reg. 17. Dani. 12. Apoc. 11. Flattery dwellyng at home, and sucking there styll his mothers brestes, may neuer tell out the truth, he seeth so many daūgers on eueryevery side, as displeasur of frindes, decaye of name, losse of goodes,Flattery may neuer tell forth the truth. offence of great men, punishment of body, & ieopardy of lyfe, wyth such other lyke. The forsaken wretched sort, hath the Lorde prouided alwayes to rebuke the worlde of sinne for want of true fayth, of hipocrisie,1. Cor. 1. Math. 4. Iohn. 16. for want of perfect ryghtuousnesse, & of blyndnesse, for lacke of Godly iudgement.
For nought is it not therfore yt he hath exiled a certen number of beleuing brethren the realme of Englande, of the which afflicted family my fayth is that I am one.VVhy god exileth the faythfull brethren, Where vponupon I hauehave considered it no lesse then my bounde dutie vnderunder payne of damnation, to admonyshe Christes flocke by thys present reuelation of theyr perills past, and the daū gers to come for contempt of the Gospell whych now reygneth there aboue all in the clergy.Protestaciō of the author hereof
I am not the fyrst which hath attempted thys offyce, or taken vponupon mee thys odyous enterpryse, full of rebukes and slaunders, and that maketh mee the boulder. Iustinus becomming of a prophane philosopher a perfect chrystian,Franciscus Titelmannus libro. 2. de auth. apoc. wrote an exposicion vponupon this Apocalips, and was slayne for the veritie in the yeare from Christs incarnatyon a. C. and liiii. Melyton the Byshoppe of Sardis in Asia (which was one of the vii. congregatiōs vntounto whome Iohn wrote) made also a booke of the same,Hieronimus …. in libro de ilustribus, viris. & lyued about the same tyme in the yeare of our lord a .c.lx. Hyreneus a discyple of Polycarpe byshope of Smyrna (which was also one of the sayde congregations) left behinde hym a commentary vponupon the same booke,Sebastianus meier et frā ciscus Ticelmannus. and suffred stronge martyrdome for the truth in the yeare of our lorde a c.lxxv. Hypolytus a byshope in Aphrica,Petrus equilynus & sophronius Grecus. a man of much godly wysdome and learning wrote vponupon the same about the yeare of our lorde .cc. & .xx. In lyke maner Uictorinus the byshop of Pictauis about the yeare of our lorde cc & .lxx. Ticonius the Aphricane, anno. dom. ccc. &, xc. Saynct Hierome to Anatholius Anno. Dom. cccc. & .x. And saynt Austin also,Ioannes tricemius de scriptoribus eccles… …sticus. Anno dom. cccc. & .xx. with dyuerse other more. Primasius byshoppe of V…icina wrote .v. lytle bookes vpō this Apocalyps vntounto Castorius whereof this is the beginning.Ambrosius …usbertus. Tuis vir illustris et religiose castori (which volume I hauehave redde) and he lyued in the yeare of our Lord .cccc. & .xl.Redas et Meyerus Aprigius byshop of Pacē in Spayne, made a notable work vponupon ye same about ye yeare of our lorde .ccccc. & .xxx. So did Cassiodorus Apulus, as Petrus Equilinus calleth him, anno. dom. ccccc.lxx. & called his booke complexiones in Apocalipsim.
So did Isidorus iunior the bishop of Hispalis in Spaine, Ioannes. Tritemius de scriptori hus Ecclesiasticis.Anno Do. DC.xxx. with all those that here foloweth. Of whom I hauehave sene almost so many, as hauehave there beginnings here registred.
Ex benedictinis monachis.
…edas presbiter Anglus. li. iii apocalipsis saneti Iohannis inqua.
Alcuinus monachus Anglus. li. i.
Haymo Hirsueldēsis Germanus, Petrus equilinus et Hermannus a…edell.li. vii.
Legimus in ecclesiastica historia.
Strabus fuldensis Germanus, lib. i. Sicut in secularibus literis.
Rabanus maurus, Germanus, li. i.
Ambrosius Ansbertus Gallus, li, x. de illustratione afflatus.Ioannes Tritenuus Spanhemē … abba….
Robertus Tuiciensis Germanus, lib. xii. Vt tu quoque venerabilis colo.
Ioachim Abbas Calaber. li. viii. Quia profunda libri huius.
Monachus quidam Cantuariensis, li. i. Legitur Genesis .xxviii. Vidit.
Easterton monachus Anglus lib. i. Posuit castra sua in medio.
Ex Canonicis regularibus.
Richardus de sancto Victore, Scotus, Franciscus citelmānus & Sebastianus meyer.libro primo.
Gaufredus Antisiodorensis, Gallus, lib. i.
Ex Carthusianis monachis.
Henricus de Hassia, Germanus, lib. i,
Dionisius Rikel Germanus, lib. i. Ecce puer meus electus.
Ex sacerdotibus prophaenis.
Ambrosius de septem tubis, li. i. Tempus autem arbitror.Thomas vvalde… Ranulphus c…strensis.
Berengarius Thuronensis, Gallus, lib. i.
Gilbertus porreta, Gallus. li. i. Omnes qui pi… volunt viuere.
Author a centum annis, Anglus, libro. i.
Ioannes Hus, Bohemus, li. i. Cum finierin… testimonium.
Paulus Burgensis, Iudeus, lib. i. Licet opinio expositorum.Otho brunfel…ius et Conradus …ontorius
Mathias Dorinck, Germanus. lib. i. Costasie doctor Anglus, lib. i. Ecce de scripsieam tibi triplic.
Iacobus Stralen, Germanus, lib. i. Vidit Iacob in somno schalam.
Ex Carmelitanis.
Ioannes Baconthorpe, Anglus, lib. i. Apocalipsis Iesu Christi. &c.
Ioannes Tytleshale, Iohannes Tritemius. Arnoldus BostiusAnglus. li. i. Est autem Apocalipsis, Grecus sermo.
Thomas de ylleya, Anglus li. i. Apocalipsis reuelacio dicitur.
Ioannes Barath, Hannonius, lib. i. Ego Ioannes vidi ostium.
Ioannes de Vernone, Gallus, lib. i. Nicolaus de Alsacia, Germanus, lib. i. Ioannes Bloxam, Anglus, lib. i. De apparicione septem sigillorum.
Ioannes Elyne, Anglorum Heliades Iohannes Balei libro. 2.Anglus, li, i. Secundum Isidorum ethimolo.
Ioannes Tilneye, Anglus, li. i. Septem ecclesijs in Asya.
Henricus Winchingham, Anglus, li. i. Apertum est templum Dei.
Ioannes Thorpe, Anglus, lib. i.
Ioannes Egidius, Gallus, lib. i. Apocalip. &c. Ioanni Euangeliste.
Ioannes Haynton, Anglus, lib. i. Beatus qui legit verba.
Ex Augustinianis.
Augustinus de Auchona, Italus,Ambrosius choriolanus Nicolaus. Bertrandus lib. i.
Iordanes Saxo, Germanus, lib, primo. Bertrandus parayte, Tholosanus, lib, i. Augustinus de Roma, Italus. li, primo, Philippus de Mantua, Italus, li. primo. Ioannes Capgraue, Anglus, li. primo. Syluester Meoccius, Venet. lib. i, Promaiori intelligentia.
Ex dominycanis.
Iordanes Botergius, Germenus.Leander Bonouiensis. Antoninus Archiepiscopus. li. i. Hugo Bar chinonensis, Gaillus lib. i.
Asser pinguis panis eius &c.
Albertus Magnus Germanus lib. i. Confiteor tibi pater.
Stephanus Bisuntinus, Gallus lib. i. Nicolaus Gorham, Gallus li. i.
Bernardus de Trilia. Narbonensis, li. i.
Paganus Bergomensis, lumbardus. li. i.
Aluarus de Caturco, Tholosanus.Nicolaus Bertrandus Sebastianus me…erus. lib. i.
Fredericus de Venecijs, Italus lib, pri,
Ioannes Annius, Viterbiensis li, prim.
Hieronymus Sauanarola, Italus, lib. i
Ex Franciscanis,
Alexander de Hales, Anglus, lib. primo.Titelmanus Bernardus Lutzenburgus. Io…an. Tritemius.
Helias de Hanibalis, Italus, lib primo,
Petrus Ioannis Cathalanus. li. primo,
Ioannes Walleys, Anglus, lib. primo,
Petrus Aureolus, Tholosanus. libro. 1.
Nicolaus Lyranus, Germanus. libro. ij.
Oportet te iterum prophetare.
Astesanus Astensis, Lumbardus, li. i.
Bernardinus Senensis, Italus, li. i. Beatus qui legit et audit.
Theodoricus Andree. Tholosanus, lib. i.
Ioannes de Rupe scissa. lib. i.
Franciscus Titelmannus, Germanus, li. ii. Superioribus diebus eruditis.
Ex neotericis.
Martinus Lutherus, Germanus. lib. i.
Varias prophecias inuenimus in.The wryters of our tyme vponupon the Apocalips.
Sebastianus Meyer, Bernensis. li. i.
De lib. Apocalipseos cum.
Georgius Aemilius, Germanus lib. i.
Mira quedam inest auiditas.
Franciscus Lambertus, Gallus. li. vii. Israeliti… a Mose Dei lege.
Huldricus Zwinglius, Heluecius lib. i.
Ioannis Brencius, Sueuus lib. i.
Ioannes Caluinus, Gallus. li. i.
Melchior Hofman, Germanus. lib. i.
And many other more.
Doctors are folowed agreeing with the scriptures.Of these Commentaries hauehave I taken both example to doe this thing, and also coū sell to vnderstande the text, to none of them wholly addict, but as I perceiued them alwayes agreinge to the Scriptures. What chronographers & historianes I hauehave herein folowed for the tymes and ages of the christian church, besides the Scriptures, it will euidently apeare to the reader in the margēt of this volume.Apoca. 8 Apoca. 11 Apoca. 14. Esay. 1. Gene. 10. Hiere. 23. I know there will be great thonderings, lyghtninges, and earthquakes at the comminge foorth thereof, for so is it here oft promised of the holy ghost.
The boystuous tyrauntes of Sodoma with theyr great Nemroth Wynchester, and the execrable citizens of Gomorra, with theyr shorne sinered captaines, wyll sturre aboute them. Much payne hauehave they of long tyme taken, and many hauehave they cruelly burned, as was seene of late yeares in Couentrie, London, & in other places more,Fabianu… et alij in chronicis. to obscure the knowledge thereof. Who can suppose thē that they wyll now sit styll theyr mischeues made so manifest? Our worldly wyse brethren also, which are neither hote nor colde, wyll starcle a course at the matter.Apoca. …. Eccle. …0. 2. Cor. 11. I know somewhat is to be suffred at theyr handes also. For they alwayes tarry theyr tymes, & wyll not wake the shrewed curre for hurting themselues.
Graciously hath the Lorde called them, specially now of late,Gala. 1. Esa. 60. Math. 22. but his voyce is nothing regarded. His seruauntes hauehave they imprisoned, tormented, and slayne, hauinge his veritie in muche more contempt then afore. We loked for peace (sayth Hieremye the Prophet) and we fare not the better at all. We wayted for a tyme of health,Hiere. 8. Hiere. 14▪ Psalm. 11…. Apoca. 13. and we fynde here nothing els but trouble. And no marucile, consideringe the beastes head that was wounded, is now healed vp againe so workemanly, as the .xiii. chapter here mē cioneth. The abhominable hipocrisie,Esaie. … Math. 23▪ Apoca. 13. 2. Tim. 3. Apoca. …. Idolatry, pryde, & fylthinesse of those terrible termagaūts of antichrists holy household, those two horned whoremoūgers, those cōiurers of Egipt,2. Pet. 2. Iude. 1. and lecherous locustes leapynge out of the smoke of the pitte bottomlesse, which dayly deceyueth the ignoraunt multytude wyth theyr sorceryes and charmes, must be shewed to the worlde to theyr vtter shame and confusion.
They knowe as dyd Balaam the sorcerer, that ouer a gorgious glittering whore eueryevery fleshely man is inordynatly wanton,Nu. 24. Iude. 1. Proue. …. Hier…. …. …. 6. Apoc. 2. Osce. 8. Apoc. 18. ferce, & greedy. Folowinge hys wayes therefore, they hauehave alwayes for lucres sake, gloriously garnished theyr holy mother, the madame of myschife, and proude sinagoge of Sathan, wyth golde, siluer, pearle, precious stone, veluets, silkes, miters, copes, crosses, cruetes, ceremonies, sensinges, blessinges, bablinges,Gala. 4. Osce. 4. Ezech. 16, Psal. 102. Hiere. 6. brawlynges, processions, popetts, and such other madde mastryes (whereof the church that Christ left here behinde him knewe not one iote) to prouoke the carnal idyotes to hir whoredome in the spyryte. The Lorde hath longe suffered them of mercy,Esay. 58. Psal. 54. Gene. 12. Mat. 19. Act. 5. 1. Iohn. 3. and wythhoulden from thē his rightfull hande of theyr deserued vengeaunce, yet wyll they not fall to repentaunce nor amende theyr dayly mischifes.
To tell them freely of theyr wycked workes by the scriptures, I hauehave exyled my selfe for euer from myne owne natiue countrie, kyndred, fryndes, acquaintaunce (which are the great delyghtes of this lyfe) & am well contented for Iesus Chrystes sake and for the comforte of my brethren there, to suffer pouertie, penury, abiection, reprofe, and all that shall come besides. A commaundement the Lorde hath giuen in this booke vntounto them whome hee hath called of mercye from their wretched beggeries,Apoc. 18. Hier. 50. Apoc. 18. Apoc. 17. to spare no rebukes, but to powre out double vponupon that bloudy …awde & malicious mother of theirs. Neuer was this commaundement more effectually to be folowed then now, hys holye worde of saluation so presently set at nought, despised, and persecuted of hir madde moodie mynisters.1. Cor. 1. Rom. 1. Apoc. 18. Mat. 23. Unto heauen are hir sinnes gone vp in these latter dayes, as S. Iohn heere witnesseth, requiring vengeaunce for the innocents bloud that shee hath so cruelly shed. And the Lord hath remembred hir wickednesse accordyng to his promyse,Apoc. 18. Luce. 13. as partlye hath bene seene in this realme, and in diuers other more.
I doubt not but within short space she shal be wholly turned ouer into the bottomlesse pit again with all hir heathenish ceremonies,Apoc. 1…. Apoc. 9. Apoc. 14. Apoc. 18. Apoc. 21. superstitions and sorceries, and neuer return hetherwarde no more then the great mightie mylstone yt is throwne into the seas bottom, Christ so restored vntounto his right spouse. Wō ders wil appeare cōcerning this & such other matters, to him that shall diligently examine the scriptures & historyes alleged in ye margent. For only minister I an occasion heere vntounto them of a farther serch.2. Cor. 8. Mar. 9. Luce. 11. Mat. 21. Nothing wil be hidden from him, that asketh with meekenesse, seeketh in fayth, and in prayer desyreth the glory of the Lorde. Euident will those secrete mysteries be vntounto him, whiche are priuely hidde vntounto other vnderunder dark ambages and parables.2. Cor. 3. Esay. 6. Col. 2. Apoc. 10. Luce. 8. Though this heauenly treasure of health be vnderunder locke and keye of vnknowne similitudes, and so bee shutte vp from the vntowarde and wicked generation for their vnbeleuers sake, yet will it be playn ynough to the faithfull beleuers instauntlye calling vponupon him which hath the key of Dauid to open vntounto them the dore of his infallible verities.Iacob. 1. Apoc. 3. Col. 4. Iacob. …. Psal. 10…. Ephe. …. They shall be sure to finde there that shall richly delyght them, and that will greatly replenishe the most wholesome desire of their …oules, concerning their necessary saluation in Christ.
The more the figuratiue speech aboundeth heere,Franciscus La…bertus in prefacione. the more let them conferre it with the other scriptures without all honyed colours of retoricke or of crafted philosophy, specially with those which of their owne nature iointly agreeth to the same. Nothing ought heere to be sought of curiositie,Georgius Aemilius in prefacione. but of louelove towards God, for defence of his most pure doctryne, and for auoydance of ye craftie snares of the viuel. A perfect preparation is it to a cōstant soule when the battayle is seene afore, the ende thereof knowne, and the remedies learned. Heere are we admonished afore hande of two most daungerous euils,Gilbertus porreta, & Georgius Aemilius. neyther to agree to those tyrantes which battayleth with the Lambe in his elect members, nor yet to obey those deceiptful bishops yt in hipocrisie vsurpeth the churches tytles. Of suche tirryble plagues of vengeaunce as were comming towardes the Israelites,Esay. …. Hiere, 8. 1. Mac. …. the Lorde euer warned them afore by his Prophets. And none was there that escaped them so cleerely, as they dyd whiche regarded those warninges, watching euermore the conclusions of them. Much lesse harme felte they of Antiochus Epiphanes that had redde Daniels prophecy afore, and marked it,1. Mac. 1. Dan. 11. 1. Mac. 6, Luc, 2. then they which knewe it not when the Tyraunte came vponupon them. Through dyligent expecration in the fayth of Gods promises, receyued iust Symeon and Anna the sauiour of the world in hys tender infancie.
Mencion maketh the holy Ghost heere of Gog and of Magog two tirryble fierce enymies to Christes congregation,Apoc, 20, Ezech, 38▪ and sheweth afore hande their purposed mischieues. Let vsus not suppose it to be a fable,Ezec, 39, Apoc, 13. Num. 23, 1. Ioh, 4, that he so earnestly telleth vsus. Neyther let vsus thinke but this warning is of louelove, if we liste so to take it, and accept it for a trueth. Immedyately after the Apostles preaching▪ was this prophecie giuen to the Christian church (which hath bene alwayes a smal congregation) least they shoulde vnbewares at the subtile suggestions of these two enimyes,VVha… this prophecie was giuen and to what ende. throwe asyde the sinceritie of Christes Gospell. So gloryous are the pretenses of ye Romysh Pope and Mahomete, Ioannes Oecolāpadius in▪that they seeme vntounto them whyche regarde not these warnings, the verye Angelles of lyghte, and theyr churches most holy congregations, being very diuels with their filthy dregges of darkenesse. The Pope in his church hath ceremonyes without number.Ier…miam & Danielē. None ende is there of their babling prayers, their portases, beads, temples, aulters, songes, houres, belles, Images,Popish ceremonies without number, Organes, ornamēts, Iewels, lights, oylings, shauings, religions, disguisings, dyuersitie of feasts, cōstrained vowes, fastings, processions, and pratlings, that a man would think they wer proctours of Paradise. On ye other side Mahomet in his church is plentuous also in holy obseruations.Guihelmus Tripolitanus de statusaracenorum. They washe them selues oft, they frequent their temples, they pray fiue tymes in the day, they reuerently inclyne, they lye prostrate vponupon the grounde, they feruently call to God, they are temperate in feedyng, not curious in theyr buyldynges,Ioannes Cuspinianus de origine turcarum. they abstayne from wyne, they abhorre Idolles, they hate them that are proude, and commende all sobernesse. And these vertuys hauehave they to appeare most innocent liuers. But vntounto what ende thys holynesse leadeth, the sequele heereof declareth. Daniell …aketh these two but one, bycause they are both of one wicked spirite,Dan. 7. Oecolāpapadius in Danielem. … Apoc. 13. and reporteth his blasphemous mouthe to vtter presumptuous things. Sainct Iohn sayeth also that the Dragon speaketh blasphemyes against God in them both. Marke both their voyces, and ye shall fynde these sayings most true. The Pope maketh hys boast, hee is the highe priest, hee is of equall power with Peter, he can not erre,Ioannes Oecolāpadius in Danielem. Theodorus Bibliander in christiana consultatione. he is heade and spouse of the church, and he is Christes immedyate vicar. By this braulyng boaste hee maketh men to beleue, he may constitute lawes, kepe vnderunder the Gospell, distribute kyngdoms, sell promocions and benifices, set vp a Purgatorie, prouyde satisfactions, make new bodyes to Christ, redeme dead mens soules, and remit sinne for money.
Mahomete braggeth also,Ioannes Oecolāpadius in Danielē. that he is ye great prophet, ye promises Messias ▪ ye Apostle of both testamēts, abled both by ye law & the gospel, & that he hath his name frō ye eternall throne of God. He is well contented that Christ be an holy Prophet, and a most worthie creature,Ioannes Cuspinianus et Bibliander. yea▪ the word of God▪ the soule of God▪ and the spirit of God, conceiued of ye holy ghost, and borne of Mary the virgin, but he will in no case graunt hym to be the sonne of God, nor that he dyed here for mans redemp…ion. Both these two mayntayners of mischief alloweth Moyses lawe, the Psalter,Ioannes Oecolāpadius in Danielē. the Prophets and the Gospell, yea, they commende them, auaunce them, sing them, reade them, honour them, and reuerently vse them in all their doyngs.Theodorus Bibliander in christiana consultatione. Yet will they hauehave their owne filthy lawes preferred aboue them, the Pope his execrable decrees, & Mahomete his wicked Alchorane, els will they murther men without measure. Thus though they outwardly appeare very vertuous (yet are they the malignaunt ministers of Sathan, denying the Lord which hath redenied them. By these may wee measure their inferiour marchandies,Mat, 23, Apoc, 13, 2, Tim, 4, Apoc, 18, Hier, 50, hauing their lyuery and marke.
Of these hath our louing Lord premonyshed vsus in this heauenly worke of his, and graciously called vsus away from their abhominations, least we shoulde bee partakers of theyr sinnes, and so receyue of their plagues. If we vnthankfully neglect it, the more daū ger is ours. Let no man take the corrections of this booke to mallice.A christian request of the Author But if hee chaunce in it as in a cleare glasse to perceiue him selfe spotted, let him washe away the deformities, for Gods worde spareth no mans iniquytie. Read my whole Commentary, els iudge me not. In no wyse rebell I heere agaynst any princely power, or aucthoritie giuen of God, but agaynst Antichristes filthy tytles.Antichristes titles are not of God, The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ bee euer more with thee (good faythfull Reader) and with all those good men that intierly hunger for his rightuousnesse, Amen.
Thus endeth the Preface of the Image of both Churches, out of Sainct Iohns Apocalips.