The Image of Both Churches in Revelation, Chapter 7
The .vij. Chapter.
THE TEXT.
1 And after that savve I foure Angels, 2. stande on the foure corners of the earthe, 3. holding the foure wyndes of the earth. 4. that the windes shoulde not blowe on the earth, 5. neyther on the sea, 6. neyther on any tree. 7. And I savv another Angell, 8. ascend from the rysing of the sunne, 9. vvhichwhich had th… seale of the lyuing God. 10. And he cryed vvith a loude voyce, 11. to the foure Angels (to vvhō povver vvas giuen to hurt the earth and the sea) 12. saying Hurte not the earth, neyther the sea, neither the trees, 13. till vvee hauehave sealed the seruaūts of our God in their foreheades.
The Paraphrase.
MOre manifestly yet are descrybed héereafter,Apoca. 6, 2. Peter. 2, Acto. 4. …. Cor. 2. still vnderunder ye mysterie of the sixte seale openynge, the Hypocrytes, Antychrystes, Tyrantes, and cruell magistrates, forbidding the truth and condempning the word of God. After this (sayeth Sainct Iohn) I saw fowre Aungels of darknesse suffered but not sent of God. These are the aforesayde hypocrites with their false doctrine,Luke. 22. Iude. 1. 1. Tim. 4, Colos. 2. the Antichristes with their pestilent decrées and traditions, the cruell princes with their tirannous lawes, and the vngodly Maiestrates with their ignoraunce and blindnesse.
2 These stande vponupon the fowre corners of the earth,Esa. 10▪ they reigne in the fowre quarters of the worlde,Esaie. 1…, 1. Tim. 4. Exod. 1, 1. Para. 9. 1. Cor. 2, with lyes in hypocrysie, errorus, in superstition, with tyrrany in power, and crueltie▪ in executinge humayne lawes.
3 They witholde the fowre windes of the earth.Marci. 16 Act. 4. The doctrine of the spyrite, which GOD hath sent to be blowen the worlde ouer, they withstande, resist, stop, vexe, and euermore persecute.
4 least it should blow vppon the earth,Gene. … Ihon. 16 Iaco. 1, Hebr. 13 Marke. 8, Luke. 6, which is the garden of God, dryuinge away from thence all filth and corrupcion.
5 Or on the sea, which is the waueryng conscience, bringing men to a quietous holde and sure stay in the Lord.
6 Or vponupon any trée that is growing héere, which are men whom GOD hath planted on earth to fructifie in Christ to the comfort of other. Wind can be héere no fickle vanitie as the winde of this worlde is,Psalm. 134, Iacob. 1. Apoca. 12 Act. 5. Iohn. 16 Sebastianus Meyer. for so much as it commeth from aboue. These furious Angels care not what crueltie they exercise to driue away this heauēly blast. They lay about them like Termagauntes, they inhibit, sequestre, banish, emprison, sley, hang, head burne, and drown the poore preachers of the verytie, the vessels of the election, and organes of the holy Ghost, and their fiercenesse hath none ende.Act. 9. Prou. 27 Hiere. 12 Math, 23, Apoca. 6. Apoca. 20, Their power in darkenesse prospereth vponupon earth, and shal do till they hauehave fulfilled the whole measuere of their wicked fathers, and made vp the number of Gods chosen flock vnderunder the aulter.
7 And whiles these execrable angels were yet stopping this winde, or lettinge the frée passage of the Gospell preaching, I behelde (sayeth Sainct Iohn) another Angel of a diuers nature from them,Albertus Mala. 3, Math. 11. VVestmeri collectanea. Iohn, 6 for he was the true messenger of God, betokeninge the Prophets, Apostles, and all iust preachers.
8 He came forth from the rising of the sunne,Mar. 16 Luke, 6 or as one taught of God in the syncere doctrine of Christe, he hath stepped forwarde to publish the same, ascending vpward from ye low spirit of méeknes to do ye godly office.
9 He had the seale of ye lyuing God in his hande,Ezech. 9 1. Cor. 1. Psalm. 4. which is the effectuall word of trueth in his mouth, to execute it. The true ministers of Gods verity hauehave power to mark his faithfull seruants vntounto saluation.Ephes. 1, Psal. 44. 2. Cor. 3. Their tongs ar… ye writing pens of the holy ghost, by whō ye word of god is registred in ye harts of them ye beléeue. For faith is the very signe, whereby Gods seruantes are knowne to be the children of adoption, or of the inherytaunce promised by grace.
Gala. 4. Ephe. 2. Hiere. 1. Math, 10, Lutherus Erasmus Occolampadius. Zuinglius10 And the sayde Angell cryed with a lowde voyce, he bouldlye and with an earnest spirit vttered the verytie, fearing no worldy displeasure. This voyce against the vnbeléeuing Antichristes was neuer more earnest than now in our time, as wel in wrightings, as in preachinges. And further hath it gone by bookes wrytten, then by wordes spoken, and much more people conuerted.
11 An earnest message from God was thys voyce to the sayde fowre Angels of hys wrath, which were by his sufferaunce permitted cruelly to handle and to hurte hys people to their saluation and their owne damnation,Daniel. 7, Sebastianus Meyer. Sapi, 3, Franciscus Lombertus which people dwelled as well vponupon the sea, as vponupon the land, as well in the close Ilandes as in the open countrye.
12 And the voice was this. Sequestre your fiercenes for a time,Apoca. 9, & in no case presume after any cruell sorte to harme neither the earth,Robertus tuitiensis, Math. 24, Hiere. 31 Canti. 4, Psalm. 38, Hiere. 22, nor the sea, nor the growing trées. Suffer the Gospell to hauehave his frée course, stop not the passage of Gods worde, let the winde of his verytie blowe without impediment.
Though some hartes be worldlye, some conscinces wauering, and some mindes barren and vnfruitfull, yet may they repent and come to goodnes. When the séede is sowen, some falleth vponupon the good earth,Luke, 8 Math. 13, Luke. 19. Math. 9, Act. 9, Canti. 4 Roma. 8. Ezcch. 9, 2. Cor. 1. Hebr, 11▪ & bringeth foorth fruite in abundaunce. Zacheus of a great extorcioner became a rightuous man, Mathew of a Publycan a true Apostle, and Paule of a fierce persecuter a gentle preacher.
13 Cease therfore from with holding the swéet blast of the Scriptures till we hauehave sealed vp the chosen seruants of our eternall God in theyr foreheades, or emprinted fayth in their hartes by his spirite, which is the marke of saluation, and tyll we hauehave tokened vp the whole number of them.… Thus to be marked vp for the seruants of God, is not onelyonly to beléeue after the minde of Ezechiel,Ezech. 9 Rom. 9. Math. 5. Luke. 23 Apoca. 5 but also to lament the abhominatiō, and bewayle the wickednesse that is done héere. None are of that sorte vnlesse they sorrowfully mourne to se god blasphemed, ye name of Christ disdayned, the trueth troden vnderunder foote, and the perfect Christen church despoyled. By the aforesayde Angell is not ment one Christen preacher alone but many,Strabus Haymo. Albertus Magnus Hier. 26. 1. Tim. 3. Actu. 4. for so much as it is héere sayde. Till we hauehave sealed the seruants, &c. For after that one hath begun, many doth continue it. In that hath bene spoken afore is it manifest that wexe the tirants neuer so mad and persecute they neuer so sore to stoppe Gods worde of hys course, yet canne they not so preuayle againste it, but it commeth to them whome God hath appoynted to be marked vp for his. They with all the deuils in hell cannot withholde it from them,Rom. 8. Math. 16 … whom God hath prefixed to make vp his number. And though that the Antichristes and murtherers thinketh them to be very few, by reson of their wicked lawes,Actu. 70 Sap. 3, cruel constitucions, threatnings, and terrible tormentes, yet is their number infinite lyke as here doth folow.
THE TEXT.
1 And I hearde the number of them which were sealed. 2. And there were sealed an hundreth and xliiii, M. of al the tribes of the Children of Israell. 3. Of the tribe of Iuda were sealed, xii. M. 4. Of the tribe of Ruben were sealed .xii. M. 5. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed .xii. M. 6. Of the tribe of Asser were sealed .xii. M. 7. Of the tribe of Neptalim were sealed .xii. M. 8. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed tvvelue M. 9. Of the tribe of Symeon were sealed xii. M. 10 Of the tribe of Leuy were sealed .xii. M. 11. Of the tribe of Isachar were sealed .xii. M. 12 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelue thousand. 13. Of the tribe of Ioseph vvere sealed tvvelue thousande. 14. Of the tride of Beniamin vvere sealead .xii. M.
The Paraphrase.
Apoca. 6 Iohn. 6. Rom. 8▪ Iohn, 17, Deut. 7, 14 &, 26 Exod. 41 And I hearde (sayeth Saincte Iohn) the number of them rehearsed, whiche were sealed with the sure token of faith, and marked vp for the heauenly inheritours with Christ, not for one countrye, but for the whole world. Fyrst were the Israelites named, for so much as they were the peculiar nation, whom God fyrst chose for his owne people. Israell is mine eldest sonne, sayeth the Lorde. After them followed in course the Gentiles as the yonger Sonne, that we shoulde thereby knowe that all people,Esa. 60, Act, 10. whiche feareth god, and worketh rightuousnes, is accepted vntounto him.
2 And there were sealed vntounto the Lorde an hundred and xliij. thousandes of all the tribes of the children of Israell,Numerus signatorum to hauehave the lyfe euerlastinge,Hebr. …, Gene, 20 Hebr. 7. of eueryevery tribe twelue thousande persons.
3 Of the chosen tribe of Iuda the fourth sonne of Iacob, of whō christe descended, were sealed vntounto God .xii. thousand.
4 Of the mighty stock of Ruben the first sonne of Iacob by Lia,1. Para. 5… Gen. 19. were marked vntounto the Lord .xij. thousand.
5 Of the happy kindred of Gad the vij. sonne of Iacob by Zepha,Gen. 30, Nume. …. Gene. 30, Iosue. 18, were tokened vntounto life .xii. thousand.
6 Of the blessed tribe of Asser the eight sonne of Iacob by Zepha were sealed vntounto the heauenlye felowship xii. thousand.Gene. 30, Deu. 33.
7 Of the plentuous ofspring of Neptalim the vi. sonne of Iacob by Bala,Gene. 4… Num. 32 Iudie. 18, Gene. 2…, were signed to be pertakers of ioy with christ .xii. thousande.
8 Of the notable parage of Manasses the eldest sonne of Ioseph in the stede of Dan, because of ye ydolatrie, were noted for the friendes of God twelue thousand
9 Of the humble tribe of Symeon the second sonne of Iacob by Lia, were sealed to the heauens felicitie xii. thousand.
10 Of the sanctified successe of Leuy the thirde son of Iacob by Lia,Deut. 10 Gene, 29 were marked vntounto saluation twelue thousand.
Mala 3 Gen. 30, …. Cor. 2, Gene. 30.11 Of the pleasant posterytie of Isachar the .ix. sonne of Iacob by Lya, were tokened to ye ioyes euerlasting xii. thousand.
2 Thes. 1. Gene. 30 Hebr. 9,12 Of the famous tribe of Zabulon the .x. sonne of Iacob by Lya, were sealed to the kingdom heauenly .xii. thousande.
13 Of the rightuous stock of Iospeh the .xi. sonne of Iacob by Rachell, were sanctified to Christes inheritaunce .xii.M.
Gene. 35 1. Peter. 3, Collectanea VVest meri. Otho brunfel…ius de tropis scripturarum.14 Of the godly kindred of Beniamin the twelf sonne of Iacob by Rachel, were elected vntounto the eternall herytage twelue thousande. This set number of twelue thousande for eueryevery tribe of the Israelits, betokeneth a notable multitude in euer kindred of them, certenly appointed of God vntounto saluation. And it is not to be vnderstanded vponupon them that are past, but rather vponupon them, whom it shall please God to call in this latter age vnderunder the vi. seale opening. Whom Paule calleth the remnant which shal be saued,Rom. 11. Amos. 9 according to the election of grace. For lyke as by the fall of the Iewes Synagoge for vnthankfullye receauinge the veritie, saluation then hapened vntounto the Heathen,Math, 21, …see. 3, Apoca. 17, Rom. 11, Math. 10, Psalm. 85▪ so shal it now againe from their carnall church to the Iewes for the same. god hath not thrust out his people, but their conuersion shall be as is life from the dead. Thys shall the carnall synagoge of Antychristes, hypocrites, tyrauntes, and cruell maiestrates, no more perceiue at that day then they now decerne those poore creatures whom they spightfully persecute and kyll, to be the true Churche of CHRIST. When Helias thought no more true beléeuers but hym selfe left alyue,Sapī, 5, Iohn. 16. 3. Reg. 19. Roma. 13 Iude. 1, Apoca. 13. Iohn, 19. almighty God shewed him of vij. thousand more whom he knew not. If he were then ignoraunt, muche more these fowre Angels of darknesse, which now sleyeth vp God seruants as the Iewes dyd Christ. Not for nothing hath god geuen so much knowledge in the Hebrue tongue. The Iewes muste be sealed with the worde of veritie.Franciscus Lambertus in Apocal. li. 2. part. 3 Roma. 11 Apoca. 9. They must hauehave the sure signe of faith. They must know and confesse Christ, whom god afore promised by the Prophetes, that twelue thousand of eueryevery tribe may be sealed vntounto saluation. For that time must the Antichrists cease. Their false interpretations of scripture,Marci. 7, 1. Tim. 4, 2. Pet. 2 Math. 8▪ their wicked traditions, their doctrine of deuilles, their lies in hypocresie, their errours, their stinking chastitie (whom God and his angels abhorreth and the deuill most highly alloweth) with all their other filthynesse they must lay aside. Where as afore time they hauehave immagined other waies of the health and rightuousnesse then by Christe,Gala 3, Rom. 10. 2 Peter. 2 Apoca. 18. Ioannes …ecolampadius in Dani…lē. as by infinit sectes of perdition, Idol worshiping, pardons, and other abhominations wtout number, they must now be compelled against their wil to resigne them, not onelyonly by the manifest truthe, but also by those which as yet are enemies both to them and also to the sayde veritie. I can not sée it but it worketh euen now as it did in the primatiue churche. When the Hethen perceiued the Apostles and Disciples expulsed out of Iewry for the Gospell preachinge,Eusebius Acto. 13 Rom. 11 Esa. 49 Franciscus Lambertus li 2. parte. 3 in apocalipsim. for the hate they had to the Iewes they gladly receiued them, which was vntounto their saluacion, though they thought nothinge lesse.
Not vnlyke is it in this age, but that the true prechers and learned men, compelled also by tiraunts to decline to the Saracens and Turkes, may in lyke maner be accepted of them in spight of the Romishe deuill and his Church, and so conuerte them to the true Christen faith, whiche they before abhorred.Gene. 41. Daniel. 2. Hester. …. Tobie. 1. Math. 24▪ Luke. 19. Gala. 4. Apoca. … Such fauour may they finde amonge them nowe, as did Ioseph, Daniel, Hester, Mardocheus, Zorababel, Nehemias, Es…ras, Tobias and other amonge the infidels then. And lyke as the Iewish sinagoge did at that tyme wholly perish for reiecting Gods word, and neuer could recouer since, so may that false counterfayte churche of Antychrist come to distruction for contempnynge the same and neuer ryse vp agayne.
Muche is it to be feared, yf they stoppe GODS woorde as they hauehave begunne,Act. 4▪ Iosephus Egesippus Mantuanꝰ The sweet wyndes may not blow for these angels of darknesse. least that plague fall on them that lyghted vppon the IEWES at the Siege of Hierusalem, by the TURKE nowe, or by some other worse then he.
For though they suffer the Byble to be abroade in the mother tongue in BRABAND, HOLLANDE, FLAUNDERS, FRAUNCE, SPAYNE, ITALYE, and other places, yet are they styll as they were Angelles of darkenesse, Tyrauntes, Persecuters, Antichristes, and Hypocrites forbiddinge the ryght course of it. And not withstandinge their violence, yet breaketh it foorth so, that innumerable people are dayly sealed vntounto GOD.
THE TEXT.
1 After this I behelde, and loe, a great multitude (vvhiche no man coulde number) 2. Of all nacions, and people, and tongues, 3. Stoode before the seate. 4. And before the Lambe, clothed vvith longe vvhite garmentes, 5. And palmes in their handes, 6. And cryed vvith aloude voyce, saying, 7. Saluation be ascribed to hym, that sytteth vppon the seate of our GOD, 8. And vntounto the Lambe, 9, And all the Aungelles stoode in the compasse of the Seate, 10 And of the Elders, and of the fovvre Beastes, 11, And fell before the Seate on their faces, 12. And vvorshipped▪ GOD, sayinge, Amen.
13, Blessynge, and glorye, and vvisedome, and thankes, and honoure, and povver, and might be vntounto our God for euermore, Amen.
The Paraphrase.
1 After this (saith sainct Iohn) I behelde an exceeding multitude of the Gentiles or Heathen,Psalm. 1…8 Marci. 16. Osee. 1. Gene. 18, marked into the felowship of Christe, whom no man was able to number.
2 These were of all nacions of the earth,Phil, 2 Rom, 14, Acto. 2, of al peoples of the world, and of all languages vnderunder heauen, Gréekes, Latines, Hebrues, Caldeans, Parthyans, Medes, Elamites, Capadocians, Asianes, Phrigian, Egiptianes, Arabianes, Syrians, Affricanes and Indians.
3 They stoode all before ye imperyall seate of God.Psalm. 9. Lucke. 8▪ Math. 16 Iohn, 20▪ Esa. 5… It was giuen them by the holy ghost to sée him in faith reigning in hys true church, and to take hym for theyr mercyfull Lorde and father.
4 They stoode also in the presence of the poore Lambe,Apoc. 6. Ephe. 1. Rom. 5, Psalm. 8…, Esa. 45. Iohn, 1, 1. Cor. … beutifully cloathed with long whyte garmentes. They beléeued Christ to be theyr only sauiour and redéemer, and were moste highly accepted before hym for that beléeues sake. They lyued purely according to his worde, & did all things of a sincere conscience, taking him for their only health and comfort.
By hym onelyonly they trusted to hauehave their sinnes forgiuen, wherfore they were by him iustified and restored to perfect innocencie.
5 Palmes had they in their handes large and beutifull,Eucheriu… 1. Iohn. 5. 1. Cor. 15, Hebre. 11. Psal. 113, in token of victorie ouer sinne, hell, death, & the diuill, which they hauehave through Christ.
6 And they cryed all with a loude voyce. In an earnest fayth they made this strong protestacion, saying.
Eph…. 2, …. Cor. 4. Psalm. 3 Daniel. 7.7 No merite, health, nor goodnesse be attributed vntounto vsus, nor yet vntounto any creature in heauen nor in earth for vsus. But all our whole saluacion, lyfe, and deliuerance, be onelyonly ascrybed vntounto hym that sitteth vponupon the throne of our God, reigning by hys spirite not in the false counterfayte church, but in the true christian congregacion.
8 And vntounto the swéete Lambe Iesus Christ,Apoca. 5, Hiere. 11. Psalm. 3. Rom. 9. Isaie. 64 Apoca. 5, which alone dyed for the same. For health is onelyonly the Lordes, so is the eternall blessyng, and neyther of our works, nor yet of our good déeds, for the best of them are defiled.
9 And all the Angelles or ministers of heauen,Daniel. 7. Esai. 9, Apoca. 4 Math, 1… compassed the throne according to their offyce. They assisted the true faithfull church which is the seate of God.
10 The xxiiij. elders they compassed also, so dyd they the .iiij. beastes. For ministers they are to the saincts departed, and seruaunts to them that be yet aliue.
11 They fell downe flatte on theyr faces before the throne. They méekely acknowledged them selues the creatures of God,Phili. 2 Apoca. 5 and seruaunts to hys congregacion.
12 And they worshipped not y• seate, but God which sate on the seat.Psal. …0. Lambertꝰ Luke. …. Colos. 1. Daniel. 7 Apoca. 5 Most highly they magnified him and praysed him for restoring their lost number saying: So be it euermore as we shall now desire.
13 Euerlastyng prayse and glory, perpetuall wisedome and thankes,1. Timo. 6 Nehe. 8, 3. Esd. 9 continuall honour and poure wyth might which can not be measured, be referred vntounto our eternall God of all his creatures for euer and euer, yea for all that he hath wrought in them, Amen.
THE TEXT.
1 And one of the elders answered, saying vntounto me▪ 2. What are these which are arayed in long white garmēts, & whēce came they. 3▪ and I said vntounto hī, 4. Lord thou vvottest. 5. And he sayd vntounto me. 6 these are they vvhichwhich out of great tribulacion, 7. and made theyr garments large, 8. and made them whyte in the bloud of the Lambe. 9. Therfore are they in the presence of the seate of God, 10. and serue him day and night in his Temple. 11. And he that sitteth in the seate, will dvvell among them. 12. They shall hūger no more, neyther thurst, 13. Neyther shall the sunne light on them, 14. neither any heate. 15. For the Lambe vvhichwhich is in the mids of the seate shall feede them, 16. and shall lead them vntounto fountaynes of liuing water. 17. And God shall vvype avvay all teares from their eyes.
The Paraphrase.
Haymo Ansbertus. Sebastianus meyer. Apoca. 6 Esa. 30 Math. 20, Luke. 9, …cm. 81 And one of the auncyent elders (sayth sainct Iohan) made aunswere vntounto that, whiche I was inwardlye most desirous to knowe concernyng this innumerable multytude, saying vntounto me by maner of question.
2 What are these comely persons, which are thus beutifully apparelled in long whyte garmentes, large and fayre? And from whence came they as thou supposest.
3 And I as one ignoraunt of the misteries of God, of myne owne nature without the speciall gifte of hym, answeared after this sorte.
4 Syr, thou wottest what they are and from whence they come, by such knowledge as the Lorde hath giuen thée.
5 And hée sayde agayne vntounto mée thus.Iohn. 1… ▪ 1. Cor. 14, Hebre. 11 Acto. 14▪ 1. Peter. 3. Iohn. 6.
6 These are they which come vntounto Christ by fayth, out of the great trybulacion of worldly wickednes, fleshly cares, and disquieted consciences.
7 Abhorring the doctrine of mens inuencions, they set sure holde vpō the liuing word of the Lord. There fette they out forgiuenesse of their sinnes,Acto▪ 10 Psalm. 3… and made their garmentes large to couer theyr olde deformities.
8 They washed their lyues in the sorowes of repentaunce,Act. 19, Psalm. 113 Daniel. 12 1. Peter. 1. Apoca. 22, Acto. 10 Ephe. 2. Daniel. … ▪ and fashyoned theyr déedes to his swéete lawes and commaundementes. They made their garments white in the precious bloud of the Lambe, beléeuing to bée purified by the meryte of his death.
9 And therfore are they at this time in the presence of his maiestie, accepted, takē, and alowed for the citizens of heauen.
10 They serue him day & nyght in the Temple of their soules, and they prayse his glorious name in spirite for euer more.
Apoca. 4 Exod. 29 Iohel. 2. Esa. 49,11 The Lord that sitteth on ye throne will alwayes dwell among them, as their most mightie defendor, theyr solace, and their comforte.
Iaco. 1, Esa. 49, Psalm. 12012 The spirit shall so refresh them, they shall no more hunger nor thirst. Though concupiscence dwel in them they shall desire none euill.
Deut. 4. Hiere. 17.13 Neither shall the sunne so lyght on them, which is this worldes prosperitie, that they shall forget theyr Lord God at any season.
14 No heat shall hurt them, nor aduersitie of this worlde ouercome thē,Iohn. 15, Rom. 8. Apoca. 5. but in yt they suffer or doe, all thyngs shall worke to the best.
Math. 18. Iohn, 14, …ggei. 2. Acto, 4. Esa. 60.15 For the innocent Lambe Christ which is in the middest of the seat, or the cōgregacion of God by his word, shall norish, féede, & releue thē wt hys promise, shal preserue, comfort & lead them by his spirit. Yea he shall so order them, they shall hauehave néede of nothyng. And if he bée their light, health, and strength, of whom should they be afrayed
16 He shall bring them vntounto the foū taynes of the lyuing waters,Psalm. 5…, Iohn. 4 Eccle 1. Iohn. 14 Apoca. 2… Iohn. 16, Acto, 5. 1. Iohn. 4 Rom. …, Math. 5, & make them such well springs as shall flow vp into the lyfe euerlasting. His doctrine must doe it and none other, for none commeth to ye father but by him.
17 And God shall wype away all teares frō their eyes. Aduersitie shall be vntounto them a very consolacion. No sorows shal they care for, no tormēts shall they regard, no troubles nor yet death shall they feare, but thinke in their hartes alwayes, yt the suffrings of this lyfe are nothing to the glorie to come.Gene. 4… Psalm. 21 Esaie. 63, Apoca. 1…. The aforesayde elder myght séeme to be Iacob, whose prophecie might tell Iohn, that Christ should washe his garment in wine, and hys mantel in ye blud of grapes. So might it be Dauid or Esay, which also confirmeth the same.
In this as in a glasse may be séene what they are afore god yt at this present age, or vnderunder this sixe seale opening vnfaynedly cleueth to his word,Marke this sixt seale opening. foloweth it in effect, and liueth accordyng vntounto it. Fyrst they are cléere afore God,Rom. 8. Psalm. 31. Sapi. 17. Hebr. 9, Gala. 4, Iohn. 4. Math. 5, Luke. 6 Colo. 3. Hebre. 11. Psalm. 118 2. Corin. 1. and no sinne shall be imputed vntounto them for their faithes sake. Consequently, they are deliuered of a troublous cōscience. The Lambe hath restored them to innocency, & God accepteth them for his children. These séeke no doctryne but the scrypture. They serue God in spirite and in no deade thinges. They hunger not for mens tradycions, they thirst not for hipocrites good works, they are well, and fully contented with the Lambe. They séeke no prosperitie, neyther care they for aduersitie. The word of God is their gyde, and therein they minde to depart. None other but such are sealed vntounto god, nor none els walk before him in whyte garmentes.