The Image of Both Churches in Revelation, Chapter 11
The .xi. Chapter.
VNtoUnto Iohn was deliuered after that he had thus deuoured ye booke, a réede, not vnlyke to the mete wande of sixt cubits long and a spanne, which was geuen vntounto Ezechiell, nor very far different frō ye measuring lyne in Zacharie. And what is this els? but that the administratiō of Gods heauenly verytie is secretly of hym committed vntounto them which hath afore receiued it, and in faith digested it, that they should therewith rightly measure, disterne & iudge all things. None other is it to prophesi again in this sixt age, but thus is to mete the Tēple, the aulter, & the worshippers therin, and to proue them in length, bredth, heigth and depth,
THE TEXT.
ANd than was geuen me a reede, a Lyke vntounto a rod. 3. And it was sayde vntounto me. 4. Arise and mete the Temple of God. 5. And the Aulter. 6. And them that vvorship therein. 7. And the Quire, vvhichwhich is vvithin the Temple, cast out. 8. And mete it not▪ 9. For it is geuen vntounto the Gentiles. 10. And the holy citie shall they tread vnderunder foote xlii. monthes.
The Paraphrase.
1 And there was geuen me (sayeth sainct Iohn) a Réede. Both receiued I the wisdome of God, and also a mouth to vtter it. So yt my tongue became the pen of a redy writer. For so much as I abhorred iniquitie, the Lorde anointed me inwardlye with th… oyle of gladnesse, & gaue me stomack to vtter his word.
2 The réede which god deliuered me was lyke vntounto a rod. For his worde is the rod, of right order, and ye scepture of his kingdome. With this rod sprede he out the heauens, and layde foorth the firste foundation of the earth.
This rod of his power hath the Lord now graciously sent vsus out of Sion by mē hauing his special grace as by Iohn, to hauehave dominion héere in the midst of his enimies.
3 For vntounto Iohn it was sayd for this age. Arise, from vaine studi, from cares of the body, from consideration of earthly causes.
4 And mete the holy Temple of God, whiche is his congregation or Church: Proue all beléeues whether they be right or no. Examine their works, whether they spring of Gods cōmaundements or of mens tradicions. And in so dooing try by the scriptures the corne from the chaffe,
Marke out the people of God from ye synagoge of sathan, and delay not to nourish them with the swéete fruits of the spirit,
5 Measure the Aulter also, which is Iesus Christ, vponupon whom the full sacrifice of redemption was offered. For many false Christes are abrode in the worlde, to seduce the people, The Pope bosteth hymself for Gods owne vicar. Machomet calleth himself ye great Prophet of ye Lord. And both they to subdue the Gospell hath set vp new lawes. The Pope his detestable decrées, and Mahomet his abhominable Alchoran. Both they hauehave wrought such wounders and suche signes in supersticion, as might deduce into erroure (if God were not merciful) the very elect persons. The monkes saith that Christe is in the desert, the pristes saith he is in the box, but admonish my people, that in no case they beléeue it. The Chanons saith he is here, the Fryers saieth he is there, but counsell my flock that they goe not forth. For God dwelleth in nothinge that is made with hand. In the faithfull harte is Christe onelyonly founde. There remaineth he. That is his dwellinge place.
6 Therfore now last of al, measure them also that worshippe in the Temple. Consider them onelyonly to be his people, which séeke hym in spirit and in verytie, and that worship not in outward shadowes, nor in the elements of this world, nor yet with obseruation of dayes and times. They are not his sonnes, that for the leuen of Pharises which is the doctrine of Hipocrits, forsaketh the bread of children, which is his liuing word, They are not his Lambes but vile gotes, that rather attendeth to the voice of straungers, than to the true shepheard Christ.
7 And therfore the quier which is within the Temple caste oute. The prelates, priestes and religions, which are not of the common sort, seclude from Christ, from his Church, and from the company of true worshippers. Throw foorth the bond woman and hir sonne, the Rome church with the hir children, and Mahomet with his rable. For the bonde shall not inherit with the frée.
8 Measure not out that chaunsell of charmers, that college of Balams brethren, those marked Madianits and cursed Ismaelits. Alow thē not by the scriptures, cōmende not their counterfaict rightuousnes. Admit them not for the members of CHRIST, but iudge them to be the synagog of sathan. And speare them out of the kingdome of God, with the key of Dauid. For they are those swine, that treade pearles vnderunder their féete & those cruell dogs that turne agayne to deuoure men. Medle not with that quier, hauehave not to doe with that wicked generation.
9 For it is geuen vntounto the Gentiles, Wholy are those Antichristes addict to the superstitious rytes of the Heathen in their sacrifices, their ceremonies, their obseruations, their holy dayes, their vigils, fastings, prayings, knéelings, and all other vsages, contrarye to the admonishment of Christe. That they should in no wise enter into the waies of the Gentiles. Wherfore God hath detested them with his own mouth, and cleane geuen them ouer vntounto their owne fylthy lusts. Mow reigne they al in their owne wisdom, thinking euermore their owne fleshly fantasies best, wholly they are become gentiles.
10 And the holy citie (of whom glorious thinges are spoken) they shall tread vnderunder foote the space of xlij. moneths. Not the earthly Hierusalem is this citie, builded of men, and made holy by ye outward obseruacions and ceremonies of ye Iewes as many expositours hath fantasied. For of yt (like as Christ prophecied) is not left one stoane standing vponupon an other. But this citie is the sure bulding of God, groū ded vponupon the strong foundation of the Apostles and prophets, euen vponupon the hard rocke stone Iesus Christ. This is the pleasant possession, the wholsome houshold, the sure hold, and the delectable viniarde of the Lorde of hostes. This is the liuing generation of them which feareth, loueth, and seketh their Lord God in faith, spirite and verytie, and not in outward shadowes. These are the children of promis, the true ofspring of Abrahā, the chosen house of Israell, and the kingdome of the holy ghost. Pure, cleane, and holy hath Christe made this citie by none other thinge but ye onelyonly shedding of his precious bloud.
11 This citie tread they vnderunder foote, that kéepeth downe the truth of the gospel, yt persecuteth & sleath gods peple for it, ye defeateth his worde for their owne traditions, that bringeth in the Iewish ceremonies, the Gentiles supersticions, pagans customes, & hethē vsages, yoking men wt imp…rtable burthēs of false worshippings for their owne filthy … & aduauntage. Notwtstandinge thus must they do still by the sufferance of God, tyll the lxij. monthes be finished, whiche is not els but the time, ye times, & the half time, or the thousand, two hundred & lx. daies, in yt God shal shorten the time for his chosen sake. Thus after S. Paul also before the Lordes cōming. There must be a departing. The quier or chauncell must be cast out, yt the man of sin, the sun of perdition, & the aduersary exaltinge hymself aboue God, may be known in his colours. It may not be motē, or alowed by gods word, but reiected as that plant which ye heauenly father hath not planted, yt the mistery of iniqutye may be vttered and perceiued of thē which shal be saued. It must be geuen to ye gentiles, or addict to their supersticions, wt al lying power, signes and wonders, in all deceiuable doctrine, by ye subtile working of sathan. They must also be permitted to do al mischif in vnrightuousnes, vpō ye citizens of God, til he vtterly consūe thē wt the mighty breath of his mouth.
THE TEXT.
1 And I wyll geue power. 2. VntoUnto my two witnesses. 3. And they shall prophecie a thousand, two hundred and threescore dayes. 4. Clothed in sack clothe. 5. These are two oliue Trees. 6. And two Candlestickes. 7. Standing before the God of the earth.
The Paraphrase.
1 And I will geue powre saith the Lorde vntounto my faithfull witnesses, and they shall prophesye a thousande two hundred and lx. dayes against those enimies to the comforte of my people. So that though my citie be troden downe by their cruel lawes of persecution to death, yet shall it not be forsaken. And though my people be ouer loaded with their heathen supersticions and blasphemous worshippinges, yet shall they not be lost nor left all wtout succour.
2 They shal hauehave my two witnesses wt thē to solace thē in their troubles, & to comfort them in their cares. Both Moyses and Christ, both the law and the Gospell, both the Prophets and the Apostles shal stande vppon theyr side and be vponupon their parte: yea, for so much time as their enimies shall vexe them, and for so much space as their aduersaries sholl trouble them Euen a thousand two hundred and thréeskore dayes, which maketh thrée yeares and an halfe, and is more thē the two and fourty monthes by iiii. skore dayes and fowre. Which signifieth yt the enimies shal not euermore kepe down his word, but their daies shall be shortned for his electe sake. The schoole Doctours with their sophestry hath fantasied the sayd two witnesses to be Enoch and Helyas, and that they should come then frō Paradice terrestre for the same purpose, because that Enoch was taken away of God, and Helias was carried hence in a fyery Charet, neither vnderstanding what Paradice is, nor yet knowing what it is to be taken from hence. Paradice is the swéete rest of God appoynted vntounto them that departe hence in faith. The peculier translations of Enoch and Helias were not only for a confirmation or strenthning of the faith of the fathers for their times, but also yt they shuld be figuers of Christes assention. And what godly wise man can geue more to the figuer than to the verytie? More were not they priuiledged frō death then was Christe, though God wold not then hauehave it so openly knowen, to declare his wonderfull power. Unlike is it yt god should cal witnesses frō the dead, not promising it by his word, hauing power also frō stones to raise vp Abrahās children, and to geue ye spirit of Helias to whō he pleaseth, like as he dyd to Iohn Baptist, & as he doth now to many other more in our age, as al the world may sée and heare. These witnesses are two, for so much as the truth of the Lorde in the mouth of two or thrée godly persons ought to stand.
3 These two witnesses or faithfuli protestours of the aforsayde two testaments hath continued with the people of god since ye death of Stéeuē, for ye more part secretly & vnknowne to ye world. But now they are come abroade by the appointment of God, to the vtter confusion of the great aduersary and man of sin, as Paule doth call hym. And vntounto them in this sixt age of the church, the Lord hath geuen the great power of his liuinge worde, or the spirit of his inuincible verytie in much more ample wise then aforetime, for the abatement of the sayd enimies or synagoge of perdition.
4 Clothed they shall be in sackcloth (sayth the Lord) No pomp shal appeare in their apparrell, no glorye of the world in their behauiour. Neither shall they be accompanied with a garde of ruffelynge rutters. Neyther shall they with Annas and Caiphas sit vponupon life and death. Neither shal they blesse in the streate with miter, crosse and cope. Neither claim the higher seates, in side gownes, shauen crownes, and tippetes. Neyther shall their be sack Fryers, nor Franciscans, monks, Chanons, nor Hypocrits.
They shall not disfigure themselues to séeme religious, nor say long prayers to appere holy, but in a sober conuersacion, auoyding superfluitie, they shall constantly witnesse the trueth of god to the vniuersall world, to his glory and their edification. For sackcloth in the scriptures is a signe of sobrietie, sadnesse and temperaunce, as in Helias and Iohn Baptist.
5 These witnesses are two swéete oliue trées, shedding forth the fatnes of the scriptures, and dulset sanour of the spirit. God hath so blessed them that their lyps are full of grace. He hath annoynted them with the oyle of gladnesse aboue their felowes, of Myrre, Bawme and Aloes, they delectably smell. None other thinges vtter thei but his infallible verities.
6 They are also two shininge Candlesticks, setting forth the light, or clearly opening of the hidden misteries of the scriptures, to the comfort of the gētiles & glory of the Israelits. They are not the light it self but only instrumēts ordeined to beare witnes of ye light. For there is but one light for al. Only are they the vessels of electiō, as was Paule, to carrie that lyght the world ouer.
7 They stand in the presence of the God of the earth, or the Lorde of all, as men of moste high acceptacion before him, readie to doe his will and to fulfill his commaundement and pleasure, hauyng the oyle of hys spirite, and the light of his eternall veritie.
THE TEXT.
1 And if any man vvill hurt them. 2. Fyre shall proceed out of their mouthes. 3. & cō sume their enimies. 4. And if any man vvill hurte them, this vvise must he bee killed. 5. These hauehave povver to shut heauen. 6 that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophesying, 7. and hauehave povver ouer vvaters to turn them to bloud 8. and to smyte the earth. 9. vvith all maner plagues, as often as they vvill.
The Paraphrase.
1 If any man will attempte to doe them scathe, or presumptuouslie séeketh by craftie colours, subtile reasōs, and deceiptful arguments, vpō daungers, doubtes, doctours, old customes, and aucthoritie of fathers to hynder their office, blemishe their message, and darken their light, such fyre shall procéede out of their mouthes as shal consume their enimies.
2 The eternall word of the Lorde that they shall declare (which is the consuming fyre) shall vtterly distroye them. So that nothing shall be séene of that they were afore. Neyther cut shooe, nor corde, coule, nor gray cote, boote, nor blacke hood, rochet, nor scapler, myter, nor crosier, sandale, nor frocke, shauen crown, nor anointing. For all these are their enimies.
3 Consumed are they to their saluation that with Mathewe become of Publicans true Apostles, and with Paule of fierce persecutors, charitable teachers. Contrariwise are they consumed to their dampnatiō, which being ouercome by the manifest veritie, wilfully persist in their diuilish errours with Antiochus & Pharao, with the Scribes and Pharisies.
4 For it foloweth. And if any man will hurte them, this wyse must hée be killed. Eyther must he be mortifyed from the olde Adam, and changed into a new man in Christ, or els by the sayd worde must he both be iudged and condempned for the vtter aduersarie of God, with Sathan hys auncient captayn. So must he be killed. And no death will be founde lyke vntounto that death come they once to the féeling of it, though they accompt it now verie light.
5 For these witnesses hauehave power as had Helias, to shut vp heauen, that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophecying, but yet none other wyse then by the aforesayd word. For the word of God is the verie key of Dauid, which openeth the kingdome of god to them that faithfully beléeueth, and that speareth it vp also from thē which dwellith in vnfaithfulnes. For it is said, in the dayes of their prophecying. This power therefore is of the word, and not of the men. The word speareth and openeth, losoneth & bindeth, saueth, and dampneth.
He that beléeueth sayth Christ shalbe saued, he yt beleueth not is iudged alreadie. No moysture of grace nor godly wisedō can light where sturdie frowardnesse is rooted. The dayes of their prophesying in figure is non other thē ye aforesaid tyme, times, and halfe tyme, or the thrée yéeres and vj. monethes of Helias.
6 In those dayes shall it not rayne vponupon the wicked, they shall hauehave no grace to receyue the veritie. In parables and figures shal that be hidden from them, that shall bée euydent inough vntounto the faithful. With eares shall they heare and not vnderstand, with eyes shall they sée, and not deserne. So blynde will their harts be. For such speake the Prophets in fygures. Christ in parables, and the Apostles in mysteries. The open truth of this reuelation shall not the wicked perceyue, till they tast the plages thereof. Such is the nature of Gods wisedom that though it be not in glorious wordes, fyne paynted termes, nor in perswasible reasons of mans witte, but in playne simple speaking, yet can it not be knowē of the worldly wise. The swéete dewe therof wil not be receiued of them, in the aforesayde dayes of prophecie, but hée that is blynde shall be blynde still.
7 These witnesses hauehave also power ouer waters, to turne thē into bloud. When they interprete and sincerely declare ye pure verities of God, which are those holesome waters that restraineth the dampnable drynesse of the soule, that refresheth the conscyence, and clenseth the harte of the sinner, they can not choose but earnestly condempne the peruerse iudgemēts, the couetous lawes and hipocrityshe workes of the vngodly. And then is all vncleane vntounto them, then is all bloudie. The Gospell which was a stumbling stone to the Iewes, & made foolishnesse vntounto the Gentiles, is also now vntounto them naughtie newe learning, seditious doctrine, and abhomynable heresie. Yea, & they iudge them worthie to be burned that doth teach it. Thus is it abhorred of them that shall perishe, & neuerthelesse to them that beléeue, it is the power of God vntounto saluation.
8 Fynallie, they hauehave power to smite the earthe with all maner of plagues, as ofte as they will. Uery earth are they that regard not Gods trueth, as the Lord saide vntounto Adam after his offence. Earth thou art, and vntounto earth shalte thou returne. Nothing they estéeme, but that which is earthly. Nothing they desire, but that is carnal. The froward creature will in no case knowe that is of the spirit. The light is hatefull vntounto sore eyes. Uery painfull is bread to the mouth that is not whole. A great mote was Christ to the Iewes, as his true preachers are vntounto the blynd world yet to this day. For they smite the earth.
9 They touch their liuing, they rebuke their falshoode, they condempne their wickednesse. They reprooue thē of sinne, of rightuousnesse, & of iudgement.
They force not to tell to him of theyr vnfaithfulnesse, fraud, and hipocrisiie of their Philosophers, prelats, & religious. No greater plague is it vntounto ye vngodly thē to hear of their euill dooings. No greater paine, nor yet greater punishment, then to hauehave theyr faultes opened, and theyr clonyng colours condempned. That fretteth them at the verie heart. Death must be sought out for such preachers. No wōder is it though this be here written for this age of the churche. For neuer were more earnest witnesses then are now, & more are lyke héereafter to follow, till the man of sinne be fully knowne, and his kingdome clearely ouerthrowen.
THE TEXT.
1 And whan they hauehave fynished theyr testimonie, 2. the beast that came out of the bottomlesse pitte, 3. shal make war against them, 4. and shall ouer come them. 5. And theyr bodyes shall lye in the streetes of the great citie, 6. which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypte, 7. where our Lorde is crucified.
The Paraphrase.
1 And when they hauehave once finished their testimonie (sayeth the Lord) the beast that came out of the bottomlesse pit, shall make warre against them. No sooner shall the witnesses of gods veritie in all ages be taken from the worlde, then he hath prefixed. After none other sorte shall they bée sent hence, then he hath appoynted by hys eternall decrée. Iohn Baptist was not imprisoned, nor beheaded, tyll hée had done his office. Christ was not taken, condempned, and crucified tyll his houre was come. Paule was not put vntounto death, til he had fulfilled his course.
2 The beast of the bottomlesse pitte is the cruel, craftie, and curssed generation of Antichriste, the Pope wyth his Bishoppes, prelates, priestes, and religious in Europa, Mahomite with his dotyng doucipers in Affrica, and so foorth in Asia & Iudia, all beastly, carnall, and wicked in their dooings.
3 These maketh war against Gods witnesses, when they hate them, cursse them, blaspheme them, & persecute them. When they withstande them with theyr craftes, impugne them with their lyes, and vexe them with their diuilishnesse, as necessary it is they should doe. For if they hauehave troubled the head, they must vexe also the members. If the housholder be called Belzebub, the hosholde muste suffer the same. No better is the seruaunt then his Lord, nor the messenger, then he that sent him.
4 They shall also ouercome them, not with ye scriptures, but with their beggerly customs, cōstitutiōs, lawes, decrées, and traditions. They shall shall scourge them or disgarde them in their Sinagoges. They shall delyuer them vp to Iustices, debites, and rulars, making them their bochers and slaues, so washing theyr owne holy handes from the sheading of innocentes bloud.
5 They shall kill them also by their counsell, to fulfil the measure of their fathers, that all rightuous bloude may light vponupon them which hath ben shed vponupon earth. Yet shall they not hurte their soules, but thorowe fayth they shall hauehave victorie both ouer thē and the diuill.
6 And their bodyes shall lye in the stréetes of ye great citie. In this world shall their carkasses remayne, where as they hauehave rule and dominion. Here shall they be iudged and condemned. At their pleasure shall it be to hange them, head them, or burne them. And though they lay no handes vpō them for soyling their consecrate fingers, yet muste it be done by their ghostly counsell, and ordred also after theyr spirituall appointment. None other is it to lye in the stréets of their great citie, then after suche lawes as they hauehave practysed to bée brought vntounto death.
7 For spiritually is theyr citie called. A glorious name vsurpe they as though they were none of the world. They will be called the holy church, good ghostly fathers, godly dyuines, and spirituall men, not consideryng of what spirite they are spirituall. They are those into whome the vncleane spirit hath entred with vij. other spirites worse than hym selfe. With the spirite of falshood, the spirit of witchcraft, the spirite of crueltie. And of these onelyonly with such lyke are they spirituall, & of no godly spirit as their fruites declareth. And therfore the spirit of God doth iudge here this great citie not to bée called Hierusalem, but stinking Sodome, and most myserable Egypt the prophecies and other scriptures agréeing to ye same. For looke what filthinesse and abhomination was in Sodom, what Idolatrie and diuilishnesse was in Egipt, ye same is now reigning in this painted spiritualtie, & is accompted theyr great holinesse.
8 Among this consecrate multitude or smered sort is Christ yet crucified, as he was among the Iewes which knewe hym not, and yet boasted them selues outwardly for the peculiar chosen people of God. Not only is Christ amonge them persecuted, scourged, punyshed, & put vntounto death in his members, but also he is proued of thē an vnsuffitient Sauiour without their dayly doings. Their masses must be satisfactorie sacrifices, profyting both the quicke and the deade. And that muste men beléeue vnderunder payne of death and dampnatiō. Thus crucifie they Christ again, and make a mocke of hym as witnessed Paule, and yet doe they call him their Lord, not vnlyke to ye tormentours, which crowned him with thorne, and saluted him with Aue rex Iudeorum.
THE TEXT.
1 And some of the people, and kinreds, and tongues, and of the nations, 2. shall see their bodies iij. dayes and an half, 3. & shall not suffer theyr bodyes to be put in graues. 4. And they that dwel vponupon the earth, 5. shal reioyce ouer them and be glad, 6. and shall send giftes one to an other, 7. for these two Ptophetes vexed them that dwelte on the earth.
The Paraphrase.
1 And as they lye thus dead in the stréetes, or are contempned as heretikes, and dispised as wicked dooers, some of ye people peruerted by these enimies, some of the kinreds or sects of diuision, some of ye tonges or blasphemous bablers, and some of the nacions of all wicked workers shall be hold their bodyes thrée dayes and an halfe.
2 They shall from all ages abhorre them, hate them, reuyle them, and spightfully report them. In their cronicles shal they wryte them for seducers of the people, and in their stories regester them for damnable heretikes. For the iij. dayes and an half diuided into vij. values, betokeneth the vij. ages of the churche wherein they hauehave and shal still both persecute and blaspheme.
3 And these wicked sortes of people, kinreds, tonges, and nacions, or of false Iustices, priestes, Lawyers, & religious shall not suffer their bodies to be put in graues. But be these witnesses once iudged heretikes by the clargie, and so condempned by the laitie, eyther shall their bodies be resolued into ashes by fyre, or els cō sumed by the foules of the ayre. Seldome shall ye sée a knowne heretike buried amōg them, but most cōmonly burned. Examples of this hath ben lately séene here in England by Thomas Hitton. Thomas Bilney; Iohn Frith, George Bainham, William Tindale, Iohn Lambert, Roberte Barnes, William Hierome, Thomas Garade, Richard Spenser, and in Partrick Hamilton of Scotlande, with many other more. And long afore our tyme in sir Iohn old Castle, the Lorde Cobham, syr Roger Acton knighte, syr Reynold Pecoke Bishop of Chichester, mayster Iohn Ashton, syr William Thorpe, syr Willyam Sawtre, syr Richard With, sir Iohn Bale, sir William Taylour, and syr Williā white, priests wt diuers other. The body of Form…sus was first takē vp by Steuē ye vj. bishop of Rome and disgraded. After was it beheade…, mangled, & throwne into the floud of Tyber by Sergius the third. Sainct Herman after .xx. years from his buriall was taken vp & burned at Ferraria in Italy by Boniface the eight. The bones of mayster Iohn … were taken vp and burned, also the .xl. year after his death, as Walden witnesseth in his booke de Sacramentalibus. Li. ix. Capi. lxxxix. So was of late yeares in Worcester dyoces ye body of maister Williā Trace esquier, & in Londō ye body of Richard Honne merchaūt tailour. Moreouer, Iohn Colet deane of Poules in Londō also was not far from ye same for reading of Pauls Epistls by his life, had not other waightie matters been in the way. Such heretikes shall not rest in their citie, they shal not be buried among them. They shall not bée shrined, cannonised, nor allowed for Saincts, for they builded no monasteries, they set vp no chaunteries, they subdued no Princes, nor yet dyed for the liberties of holy churche. They stood not in defence that priestes dooing Idolatrie, theft, murther, witchcrafte, whoredome, buggerie, with other abhominations should remaine vnpunyshed. But rather to the contrarie and that they should worship but one God, liue by their labours, take wyues of their owne, and teach nothing but Gods lawes.
4 And they that dwell vponupon the earth (sayeth the Lord) or hauehave their felicitie here with the riche glutton, shal reioyce ouer them and be glad.
5 They shall clappe theyr handes when they sée godlye witnesses bée brought out of the way, They shall common, ryote and bancket, hauyng among them selues ioy without measure that the heretikes bée gone, so hatefull is the light to their eyes, and the veritie to theyr wicked hartes.
6 And they shall sende giftes or presentes one to an other for gladnesse, as for example. My Lord byshop hath had a sum of monye of the priestes for doing his part so wel. My Abbot and maister doctour hauehave had phesan…es, plouers, and par… riches, pigges, geese, and capons, for disputing their matters so valyauntly. Master parson hath ben commended for scoldinge, and set Saunder smell smock our parish priest for bearynge false witnesse. Maister Fryer hath had a trentall, and father Lymitour a bushell of malt, or a cheese for playing the knaues also, and hardly my L…rde chiefe iustice hath not bene without his rewarde, nor yet master Chauncelour, neither maister scribe. What made T. More for his tyme with so prodigious tirannie to persecute the truth, and since, Godsalue of Norwiche. Wartō of Bongay Hales & Baker of Kent, wt such other lyke? but Aury sacra fames, as Uirgil doth call it. Thus do they laugh and tryumph when they hauehave wrought mischiefe, and much it delighteth them when they hauehave doone vngodlye thinges.
7 For these two Prophetes (sayth the Lorde) vexed them that dwell on the earth. A great trouble it is to them to hauehave their faults séene, a sore vexation to hauehave their crafts known, and an excéedinge displeasure to be put from their pleasaunt Euphrates by the preaching of such busye herytickes. Much was Herode offended with Iohn, the byshops with Christ, the prelats and religious with Paul, & a sore griefe it was to their harts, when they were rebuked their vices.
THE TEXT.
1 And after three dayes and an halfe. 2. The spirit of lyfe from God, entred into thē. 3. And they stoode vp vppon their feete. 4. And great feare came vppon them whiche savv them. 5. And they hearde a great voyce from heauen, saying vntounto thē come vp hethere. 6. And they asscended vp into heauen in a cloude. 7. And their enimies savve thē. 8. And the same houre vvas there a great earthquake. 9 And the tenth part of the cytie fell. 10. And in the earthquake vvere slayne names of men, seauen thousande. 11, And the remnant were feared. 12. And gaue glory to God of heauen. 13. The seconde wo is past. 14. And beholde the thirde wo wyll come anone.
The Paraphrase.
1 And after thrée dayes and an half (sayth sainct Iohn) dyd the spirit of lyfe by ye power of God enter into them. In the midest of their ioy and triumph when they thinke thēselues well quieted, the heryticks thus taken awaye, an other storme falleth vponupon them much worse then the other. Many more ariseth out of their ashes to their confusion & to the chosens comfort. And the same witnesses they are againe, geuing the same testimonie, though they be not the same persons.
2 The same lyuinge spirit hauehave they, confessing the same verity, that had the other. No long time can christes congregatiō be without faithful testes, he promysing to be with them to the ende of the world.
3 These witnesses stood vp, vponupon their féete. In the time full past is this spoken for the certenty of ye thing though much of it be to come. For so certen is it as it were al finished, an earnest stomack shall they hauehave, and with much bouldnes shal they speak. The rightuous shall stande by (sayth the boke of wisdome) in great feruentnesse of spirit against them that hath extreamely handled them, and taken a way their labours, persecuted them, & blemished their doctrine.
4 And great feare came vponupon them which saw them. When the Antichristes sée they cannot preuayle, much are they inwardly anguished; vexed, and tormented. Then doubte they their fall, than feare they theyr vtter destruction. They tremble and quake when they sée their lawes will no longer stand, nor their insurrections no longer help them, lokyng for a terrible day. With horrible feare shall they wonder (saith the aforsaid booke of wisdome) at the comminge of the sodayne health, groninge for sorowe, and mourninge for very anguish of minde, and sayinge within themselues. These be thei whom we somtime had in derision. Unwisely, we thought their liues to be madnes, and their endes to be without honour. And now they are reckoned among ye children of god & their porciō is among ye Saincts. Therfore hauehave we erred from the way of trueth, and the light of rightuousnesse hath not shined vntounto vsus. We hauehave weryed our selues, in the pathes of wickednesse but the waye of the liuinge Lorde hauehave we not knowen.
5 And they harde a great voyce from heauen, saying vntounto thē. Come vp hether. The Antichrist shall heare this noyse, they shall know them to be in the fauour of god, and great heuines it shal be vntounto them. For this voyce is the frée electiō of god according vntounto grace & not after mans deeruing. And it cōmeth frō heauen as doth all other good gifts, from the father of light. It calleth vp them that afore walked sōwhat after the flesh, and durst not for feare of punishment witnesse the verytie. It commaundeth them to arise vntounto God, to be more perfect, more spirituall, more godly, and to hauehave their conuersation in heauen. They attende vntounto the voice, they obey it, and do after it. For it foloweth.
6 And they ascended vp into heauen in a cloude. By the power of God they are taken vp. From worldly affects are they chāged to the pure louelove of God, and from carnall prudence to the wisdome of the spirite. In a cloude are they rapt. Compassed are they with this fleshe, the ill desires taken from them. EueryEvery where resemble they Christe, and are dayly better and better. They cease not of their progresse, no payne can seperate them frō ye louelove of Christ, til they perfectly come to ye sight of the God of Gods in the supercelestiall Sion.
7 And their enimies saw them. The Antichrists knoweth yt they are gods seruants, the hipocrits perceiue they hauehave heauenly knowledge, yea, many times thei so report them both in their wordes and writinges. In many of their Chronicles they affirme, ye Berēgarius, Iohnnes Scotus the elder, Iohn wicleue, Iohn Husse. Hierom of Prage. Thomas Thedonensis a white fryer of Bryttaine burned in Rome, Hieronimus Sa…o…rola a black fryer burned in Florēce, and diuers other more were men of most excellent wits, of most high learninge, of most godly conuersation, of a most perfit lyfe, feruent, constant, and vnmoueable in ye tyme of their death. Bylney, Baynhā, Beyféeld, Frith, Tindale, Barnes, and other, are yet reported (yea of some which to this houre hateth their opinions) to hauehave dyed charytably and godly. Yet beléeue they neuer ye better, thei come neuer the sooner to god. Their malice hath so blinded them, and ye cloud of ignorance so darkned their knowledg, yt still they blasphem and most cruelly persecute.
8 And in ye same houre (saith S. Ihon) there hapened a great earthquake. A terrible contradiction ariseth euer from the carnall synagoge, & from among the earthly minded hypocrits, whan the veritie is taught as it was afore time in Christ, and in his Apostels, sepcially in Paul, and now of late dayes in many other poore preachers. When new witnesses arise, then wax they more mad, fierce and fell, then they were afore. Then imprison they, then punishe they, then make they actes and commaunde in payne of death no more to speake in that name. Yet do they rather lose than win, fall then ryse, disprophet, then profite.
9 For the tenth parte of the city fell to the grounde. Their buildinge vponupon sand will in no case endure. That God hath not planted must vp by the rootes. Their holy whoryshe church (which is heere called Sodom and Egipt) is ruinously decaied, their monasteries of monkes, their houses of friers, their coleges of idle priests, with theyr Nuns, Chanons, & chantryes in many places are downe. Tythes are not as they hauehave bene, nor Trentals, nor other deuocions. Images are not sought, nor pardons in confession. The people inclineth to new learning, and goeth from their olde beléeue of holy church. They y• were mōks, priests, & friers are now become gospell teachers. Such as afore were dead, standeth vp now against them boldely. This fallen part is heare the tenth, for it is the Lords by the law. It is the same shéepe that afore was loste, and nowe is brought to Christes folde. These were called away from thence by the witnesses, the other stande yet styll, and are eueryevery daye worse and worse,
10 In the earthquake were slaine names of men, to the number of seuē thousād. An innumerable multitude hath ben sent out of the way by these Antichristes in their fury, but yet nothinge hauehave they slayne but their names. OnelyOnly hauehave they hurt their bodyes, vponupon their soules hauehave they had no power, no more than had Sathan vponupon the soule of Iob. Yet hauehave their not names perished befor god, for of him are they writen in ye booke of lyfe. In no case are the wicked of the godly héere put to death, though some do so vnderstand it, but rather of the wicked the godlie. For they neuer retaile their wronges, but rather pray for their enimies.
11 And the remnaunt or residue were feared (saith saint Iohn) and gaue glory to God of heauen. Of such as were left in their earthquakes or terrible persecutions, some remayned in pryson: Some were beggered, some were exiled, some fled, some lost their estimacion and friends, and yet gaue prayse vntounto God.
12 In all their aduersities they gloryfied the name of their heauenly father, and Lorde. Thus hauehave we héere what is done already, and what is it to come vnderunder this sixt trompet blowyng (where vnderunder we are now) which al belongeth to the second wo.
13 And these thinges once accomplished the second woe wyll be past. And then looke by and by for the third woe, for it wyll folow anone after without faile, yea, so soone as this second woe is done.
14 In the later age of all shall this third woe raigne, such time as Gog and Magog most extremly shall rage. And the vninuersall iudgement shall finishe that woe, as héere after more euidently wyll appeare. But consider yt these woes are to the infideles. The faithfull feareth them not, but receiuinge the worde in a pure hart they bringe forth fruite in pacient sufferaunce.