The Image of Both Churches in Revelation, Chapter 1

The Image of Both Churches in Revelation · Chapter 1

The first Chapter.

The Texte.

1 The Reuelation of Iesus Christ, 2, vvhichwhich God gaue vntounto him, 3. for to shevve vntounto his seruauntes the thinges vvhichwhich must shortlye come to passe. 4. And heuen… and shevved by his Angell vntounto his seruaunt Iohn, 5. vvhichwhich bare recorde of the vvorde of God, and of the testimony of Iesus Christ, and of all thynges that he savve, 6. Happy is he that readeth, & they that hear the vvords of the prophecie, & keepe those things, vvhichwhich are vvritten therein, 7. for the tyme is at hande.

The Paraphrase.

OF Iesus Christ▪ the sonne of y^e liuing God,Mat. 16. Ioan. 16. Act. 20. Mat. 28. Iohn. 5. Luce. 10.Matt 16John 16Acts 20Matt 28John 5 this is the wonderfull reuelation, concerning the diuers and doubtfull estate of the Christian church from the Apostles tyme to the latter ende of the world.

2 Which reuelation with all iudgement and power,Phil. 2. Psal. 8. Iohn. 17. 2. Cor. 2. Ephe. 5. 2. Pet. 2. Iohn. 16. Mat. 13.Phil 2Ps 8John 172 Cor 2Eph 52 John 1:16Matt 13 God the euerlasting father hath wholly giuen vntounto hym, now takē vp from the earth, glorified, and set aboue all the workes of hys handes.

3 Euidently to declare, yea, to make manifest and knowne vntounto hys true faythfull seruauntes beleuing in hys words, and walking in his wayes, the tokens, signes, & marueils, which must by hys vnchaungeable ordinaunce, shortly in this latter tyme, folow in effect, without premonishment or warning taken of the wicked sort.

4 And the sayd Iesus Christ sittyng on the right hande of the maiestie of God,Mar. 16. Heb. 1. Iohn. 15. Act. 2. Iohn, 1… Luke. …. Iohn. ….Mark 16 and being muche more excellent then the angels, hath according to his former promise, sent forth his spirit of truth, most specially vntounto his déerely beloued Apostle and peculyar dyscyple sainct Iohn the Euangelist, not only to deduce him into all knowledge and veritie, but also to manifest vntounto him the secrete misteries of thinges to come.

5 Which Iohn hath already (as an earnest doer in his masters cause) most constantly wytnessed his eternall godhead in y^e euerlasting worde,Act. 4. Iohn. 1. Psalm. 118 2. Iohn. 1.Acts 4John 1Ps 1182 John 1 against y^e Hebionites, which denied him to com in the fleshe,Iohn. 19.21 1. Iohn. …. 1. Iohn. 2. 1. Iohn. 4,John 19:211 John 21 John 4 and hath faithfully affirmed his naturall manhode in all that he sawe being conuersaunt with him, agaynste Carpocras and Cerinthus, which blasphemed the same in the vtter confusion of all such Antichristes.

6 Blessed is he (saith Saint Ihon) which after méeke prayer and godly meditacyon,Apoca. 22 Math, 7. 1. Cor. 12. 1. Peter. 4 1. Cor. 4.1 Cor 121 Pet 41 Cor 4 hauinge the gyfte of vnderstanding and grace of interpreting the scripturs, doth sincerly & faithfully without crafte or coloure, publyshe & declare the mistycall wordes of thys heauenly prophecye.Ephe. 4. Math. 5. Luke 2. Iacobi. 2 Math. 7Eph 4Matt 5Luke 2Matt 7 Blessed are they also, which in a feruent faith hongerīg & thristinge for the rightuousnes, and with Simeon and Anna desirous of y^e glorye of God, doth louingly heare and earnestly marke the wholsome words of the same sayd godly prophecye, and that will deligently applye thē selues to obserue the rules, and take the premonishementes of Godly doctrine ther in written.

7 For the perelous dayes are come that the disceytfull swarme of Antichrist peruertinge y^e trueth,Iohn. 13. Psalm. 118 1. Cor. 1 1. Iohn. 4. 2. Thes. 2. Gala. 3. Rom. 1. 1. Tim. 4. Math. 15.John 13Ps 1181 Cor 11 John 42 Thess 2Gal 3Rom 11 Tim 4Matt 15 shal bring the world into pernicious and dampnable errours. And y^e Ieopardous time is at hande, that the wrath of god shal be declared from Heauen vponupon all vngodlynesse of these seducers that with hold his trueth in vnrightuousensse, & set hi… cōmaundementes at nought for their owne vile traditions.1. Tim. 4. Math. 15.1 Tim 4Matt 15

The texte.

1 Ihon vntounto the seuen congregacions which are in Asia. 2. Grace be vvith you. 3. And peace from him wich is, and which vvas and which is to come. 4. & from the seuen spirites which are present before his throne, 5. and from Iesus Christe vvhichwhich is a faythfull vvytnesse. 6. and fyrst begotten of the dead, 7. and prince ouer the kinges of the earthe, 8. VntoUnto him that loued vsus, and vvashed vsus from our sinnes in his ovvne bloud. 9. and made vsus kinges and Priestes vntounto God his father. 10. euen vntounto him be glorye and dominion for euermore, Amen.

The Paraphrase.

1 Iohn the electe Apostle of Iesus Christ sendeth these greatinges to the vii. churches or christian congregations,Iohn. 13.19John 13:19 which are in the land of Asia the lesse.Marc. 16.Mark 16

2 Grace (which is the mercy, fauour, and acceptacion of God) be with you.Psalm. …8.Ps 8

3 And also peace (which is the trauquilitie of conscience in them that beleue in Christ) dwel euer among you,Ephe. 2.Eph 2 Rom. 8. Philip. 4.Rom 8Phil 4from god the father euerlasting which is essencially in and of himselfe,Math. 6 Hiere. 7 Psal. 73. Exod. 15. Miche. 4. 1. Iohn. 5. Apoc. 3.5.Matt 6Ps 73Exod 151 John 5Rev 3:5 and which was before the constitucion of the world, and which shall be after the worlde be finished for euer and euer without ende.

4 The same grace and peace agayne be vntounto you from God the holy Ghost here mencioned vnderunder the tytle of .vij. spirites, for that he is manifolde and plentuous in gyftes.

5 The thyrd tyme also the same said grace and peace be vntounto you from the Lorde Iesus Christ the onelyonly sonne of God,Esa. …. Colo. …. Iohn. 3. Iohn. 14. Esa. 61. 1. Pet. 2.3 John 1:14Isa 611 Pet 2 which being the eternall veritie it selfe, was in preaching his Gospell, a wytnesse therof both faythful, true, and perfect, and in no wyse could lye, that ye should the rather beleue him.

6 He was the fyrst of all men that euer were in this mortall nature or body of death,Colo. 1. 1. Cor. 15. Osec. 13. Act. 1. Phil. 2. 1. Tim. 2 1. Iohn. 2.1 Cor 15Acts 1Phil 21 Tim 21 John 2 recouering againe the fauour of God lost in Adam, and that with victory ouer sinne, hell, deathe, and the diuell, ascended into Heauen, and became in that fleshe glorifyed, the sonne of God, that ye should bée the bolder of him, and the rather take him for your onelyonly aduocate.

7 He is also a m…ste mighty Lorde ouer the kinges, rulers,Psal. 7….Ps 7 Math. 28 Iohn. 17.Matt 28John 17and magistrates of this worlde, hauing now all power geuen him in heauen & in earth,Apoc. 19. Luke. 1. Math. 2…Rev 19Luke 1Matt 2 with a wryting vponupon his vesture that he is Kinge of Kinges, and Lorde of Lords, and that of his kingdome ther shall be no ende, that the wicked tyrauntes should the rather feare, least they féele him a terryble iudge at the latter day.

8 For so much as he hath so intyrely loued vsus,1. Iohn. 4.…. Esa. 53. 1. Cor. 15. 1. Tim. 2. Heb. 9.1 John 4Isa 531 Cor 151 Tim 2Heb 9 as to be smytten and woū ded for our offencest, and as to geue his lyfe for our wycked wretchednes, yea for so much as he of most natural kyndenesse would be cruelly slayne to washe vsus, purifie vsus, and clense vsus in his owne most innocent bloud,1. Pet. 1. 1. Iohn. 1.1 Pet 11 John 1 from the moste cankred vylenesse of our sinnes, to prouoke vsus to louelove him agayne.

9 For so much also as he hath made vsus a liuing kingedome to god through fayth in him,Exod. 19.Exod 19 Abacuc. 2.Hab 2and consecrate vsus priestes to offer vp our bodies by a newe Christian life as a sacrifyce holy and acceptable vntounto God his euerlastinge father.Apoca. 5. Rom. 12.Rom 12

Philip. 4. 2▪ Iohn. 5. 1. Timo. 6Phil 410 Unto him wyth the said father & with the holy ghost be perpetual praise glorye, power, and dominyon for euermore. Amen.

The text.

1 Beholde, he commeth with cloudes. 2. and all eyes shall see him, 3. and they also which pearsed him. 4. And all kynredes of the earth shall vvayle. 5. Euen so, Amen.

6. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginninge and the ending (sayth the Lorde almightie) 7. vvhichwhich is, & vvhichwhich vvas, and vvhichwhich is to come.

The Paraphrase.

1 Take hede for moste certayne it is though Christe in his fyrste comminge as a merciful sauiour,Zacha. 9. 2. Cor. 8. Phil, 2, Luke, 25, Iude, 1, Math, 242 Cor 8 apered here vponupon earth poore, simple, & ignominious, yet shal he in his latter comminge appere in y^e cloudes of heauen, with maiestie, power, and glorye,Esaie, 3. Rom, 14 2, Cor, 5 Zach, 12, accō panyed with the infinite hoste of angels as a rigorous iudge,

2 And vponupon him shall all eyes looke, both man and angell shal behold him,Iohn, 19, and stande before hys terrible iudgemente seate, no creature good nor bad exempt.

3 Yea, th…se cruell tyrauntes also shal at that houre appeare befere him, which did not only flée his moste innocente body, but also that hath euer since spightfully persecuted his faithful members vntounto death for the truths sake.

4 And all kinredes of the earth, y^t is to saye, whoremongers, glouttons,Math, 23, Deut, 32, Ephe, 5, 1, Cor, 5, Heb, 13, Sapi, 5, Luke, 25, extorcioners, ydolatours, murtherers and tyrauntes, shall bewayle them selues for the sight of him.

5 Whose ryghtfull iudgemente is not so heatefull vntounto them, but it is as greatly desired of the faithful multitude, saying in their hartes continually. Euen so be it, Amen.Apoca, 22, Rom, 8, Ephe, 1, For they at that houre shall be wholly delyuered, gloryfyed, and sealled vp wyth Christe for the euerlasting children of God.

6 I am he (sayth the Lord God almighty) which hath begun all thinges and finished the same,Apo. 21. Esay. 41 Apoca. 22. Esaye. 44. Zach. 9. Rom. 1. Gene. 17. 1. Iohn 5. Exod. 3. Miche. 5.Isa 41Zech 9Rom 1Gen 171 John 5Exod 3 being signifyed by Alpha (which is the first letter of y^e Greke Alphabete) and Omega (which is the last) because this present reuelacion was written in Greke, and vntounto thē which only knewe y^e Greke tonge.

7 I am the same (saith the sayde Lord God euerlastinge, the father, the sonne and the holy ghoste .iii. distincte persones in one essenciall Godhede) which is essencially in and of him selfe only, which was without beginning, and begunne all thynges,Abacuc. 3. 2. Cor. 9. Nume. 23. Psalm. 138.Hab 32 Cor 9Ps 138 and which shall be whithout endinge and finyshe all thinges, alone able to exhibyte all vertue, power and strength, and alone vnable to execute errours, lyes, and sinne, which is of fragilite, weaknes, and vnperfectnesse.

The Texte

1 I Ihon your brother & companion in tribulacion, 2, and in the kingdom of pacience, which is in Iesu Christ. 3. was in the yle of Pathmos for the word of God, and for the witnessing of Iesu Christ. 4. I was in the spirit on a Sonday. 5. and heard behynde me a great voyce, as it had bene of a trōpe, saying. 6. I am Alpha and Omega, the first & the last. 7. That thou seist write in a booke, 8. & sende it vntounto the congregaciōs, which are in Asia, 9. vntounto Ephesus, & vntounto Smyrna, and vntounto Pergamos, & vntounto Thiatyra▪ 10. and vntounto Sardis, & vntounto Philadelphia, and vntounto Laodicia.

The Paraphrase.

1 I the faythful wryter of this present reuelacion,Apoc. 22. Mar. 3. Mat. 5. Luc. 6. Iohn. 15. Luc. 14.Rev 22Mark 3Matt 5Luke 6John 15Luke 14 called Iohn the Apostle, your naturall louing brother, so inferly caueting your soules helth as … companion of yours also in aduersitie, trouble, and persecucion, for the truthes sake.

2 And a partaker with you in the afflicted kingedome, and in the pacient crosse of s…fferēce in Christ Iesu.

3 Was now of late in a certaine yle of Licia called Pathmos,Hieronymus in cathalogo scriptorum Ecclesiaticorum. exiled for y^e Gospel preaching, & made a vile abiect for testifying the name & word of the sayd Iesus Christ the onelyonly … of the world.

4 I being thus carefully afflicted and driuen from all solase and bodily comfort, on a certayne sunday or day dedicate to the Lordes remembraunce,Luc. 24. Psal. 142. 2. Cor. 12.Luke 24Ps 1422 Cor 12 was in the spirit rapte, and clearly takē vp from all worldly affects (so swéetly did the Lord releue his poore persecuted seruaunt.)

5 And I heard certainly with mine eares a loude shirle voyce behynde mée,Math. 5. Ezech. 3. Rom. 8. Exod. 19.Matt 5Ezek 3Rom 8Exod 19 as I was in this swéete heauē ly traunse, which was so vehement, and stoute to my iudgement, as it had bene y^e noyse of a great trompe, vttering these wordes vntounto mée.

6 I am the first and the last the originall beginner and the … finisher of all thinges,Esai. 58. Apoc. 21. Esai. 48. Apoc. 22.Isa 58Rev 21Isa 48Rev 22 vnderunder A…pha and Omega the first and last Gréeke letters, as vnderunder an allegorie to bée vnderstand.

7 With all dilygence▪ therefore write,Exod. 17. Abac. 2.Exod 17Hab 2 that thou shalte sée here and make a perfect registre of the same.

2. Cor. 11. Mar. 16.2 Cor 11Mark 168 And that done, sende it louingly vntounto the vij. Christen congregatiōs, which are in y^e land of Asia, cōmitted p. 18of the Lorde, vntounto thy administration in his word.

9 Send it vntounto Ephesus, sende it vntounto Smyrna, directe it vntounto Pergamos, commit it vntounto Thyatyra.

10 And vntounto Sardis, & vntounto Phyladelphia, and vntounto Laodicia,Eusebius Cesariensi… in historia ecclesiastic. lib. 5. ca. 23. and finally by them to the .vij. Climates of the vniuersall worlde. For though it be heere to them only lymitted, yet is it to all people vnyuersally ment.

THE TEXT.

1 And I turned backe to see the voyce that spake to me. 2. And vvhen I vvas turned, I savve seuen golden Candelstickes. 3. And in the middest of the Cādelsticks, one lyke vntounto the sonne of man, 4. Clothed vvith a lynnen garment dovvne to the grounde, 5. And gyrded about the brest vvith a golden gyrdle, 6. His head and his heyres vvere vvhyte as vahite vvoll, and as Snow.

7. And hys eyes vvere as a flame of fyre. 8. And hys feete lyke vntounto brasse, as thoughe they brent in a fornace. 9. And hys voyce as the noyse of many vvaters. 10. And he had in his right hand vii. starres, 11. And out of his mouth vvent a sharpe two edged svvorde. 12 And his face shone euen as the sonne in his strength.

The Paraphrase.

1 And sodenly I turned back (saith sainct Iohn) ernestly to behold from whence this voyce should come,Iohn. 20. Zacha. 6. Ruth. 2. Iob. 28. Num. 8. Zach. 4.John 20Ruth 2Job 28Num 8Zech 4 or who it should be that should speake these wordes vntounto me.

2 And as I had turned my selfe, anon I beheld .vij. goldē Candelsticks, betokening not only the sayd vij. congregatiōs in Asia, but also y^e vniversall Christianitie of y^e whole world. For vij. in the scripture most cōmonly signifieth all or the whole of that it comprehendeth.Gene. 2. Hebr. 4.Gen 2Heb 4

3 And in the midst of the saide .vij. Candelstickes,Esai. 12. Iohel. 2. Math. 8. Phil. 2. Math. 28. Iohn. 10. 1. Iohn. 2. Act. 7.Isa 12Matt 8Phil 2Matt 28John 101 John 2Acts 7 I sawe one like vntounto Christ, which when he was conuersaunt here among vsus, not onelyonly called him selfe, y^e sonne of man, but also appeared in shape and apparel, as the same. And this betokeneth Christ alwayes to be present and assistēt to his cōgregations, as a shepehard, and aduocate, a teacher, and a redéemer, to kepe them, helpe them, informe them, and saue them.

4 I sawe him clothed with a syde linnen garmēt downe to the groūde,Sapi. 18. Dan. 7. Colos. 2. Dan. 10. Eccl. 45. Esai. 66. Psal. 102. Cant. 7. Iohn. 13. 2. Thes. 3.Dan 7Col 2Dan 10Sir 45Isa 66Ps 102Song 7John 132 Thess 3 signifying his aboundant rightuousnesse wherwith all his faithfull beleuers are in this world largely replenished.

5 Hee was gyrded also about the pappes with a golden gyrdle. Hys pappes are his most swéete wordes and promises replenishing our souls with most suffrane consolation and gladnesse. And they are speared vp togither fast vntounto him with the shynyng cheane of charitie or louelove. Which in y^e whole, betokeneth that he is of rightuousnesse & louelove, fast & sure vntounto vsus in his word & promise.

6 His heade (which is his eternall Godhead) and his heares (which are his infallible verities therof procéeding) are both so purely whyte as snowe,1. Cor. 11. Cant. 1. 1. Iohn. 1. Cant. 5. Psal. 11.18. Mala. 4. Apoc. 2.1 Cor 11Song 11 John 1Song 5Ps 11:18Mal 4Rev 2 in the incomprehensible mysteries of his diuyne maiestie, and so perfectly white as wooll (which is of a meaner sorte) in the lower mysteryes of our redemption.

Hebr. 4. Apoc. 19. Luc. 22. Iohn. 19.Heb 4Rev 19Luke 22John 197 Hys eyes (which are hys Godlye wisdome and knowledge) were as a burning flame of fyre, most effectual, pure and quicke in working.

8 And his féete (which are hys humane affections & most swéet desires of our health) were lyke vntounto brasse, most beutiful,Hebr. 4. Prou. 27. Esai. 53.Heb 4Prov 27Isa 53 clean & precious to beholde, and as though they had bene proued, tryed and depured in a whot burnyng fornace. For in them was his frayle, tender, and mortall flesh, by manifolde troubles, sore vexed, persecuted, and slayne.

Act 8. Psal. 67. Ezech. 43.Acts 8Ps 67Ezek 439 Hys voice (which is his holy Testament or Gospel) was as the sound p. 20or noyse of many waters.Dan. 10. Apoc. 5. Phil. 2.Dan 10Rev 5Phil 2 For many peoples of diuers and sundrie nations, kynreds, and languages, hath confessed and still doeth confesse hym God and man by the same, though the one vnderstand not the other.

10 And he had in his right hande (which is his mightie power) seuen starres,Psal. 117. Baruc. 3. Phil. 2. Hier. …. Prou. 3. Esai. 41. Iohn. 9. Rom. 1. Math. 5.Ps 117Phil 2Prov 3Isa 41John 9Rom 1Matt 5 which are not only the seuen preachers of his vij. congregations in Asia, but also all the true minysters of hys word, the worlde ouer. For them hath he in his right hand. They are vnderunder hys gouernaunce, wil, protection, & custodie. So long as he retayneth them, they are wyse, godly, and profitable, but if hee once throw thē forth, then are they blind, wicked, and accursed, yea, and good for nothing but to be cast out, & to be troden vnderunder foote. Blessed are they therfore, which fal not besides y^t hād.

11 Out of his mouth (which is hys holy spirite) procéeded a sharpe two edged sweard. This is hys strong,Apoc. 19. Ephe. 6. Hebr. 4. Iob. 19.Rev 19Eph 6Heb 4Job 19 mightie, and quicke worde, or hys sacred scrypture, so sharpe that it pearceth through,Math. 10. Iere. 17. Luce. 21.Matt 10Jer 17 euen to the diuyding a sunder of the soule and the spirit, and of the Ioynts & the mary. And is a iudger of the thoughts and intentes of the harte, whom finally nothing shall be able to resist.

12 And his face (which is the eternitie of his Godheade,Dan. 10. Math. 27. Hebr. 1. Iohn. 6. 2. Cor. 2. 2. Cor. 1.Dan 10Matt 272 Cor 22 Cor 1 glorified nature, and spirituall kingdome) shone euen as the cleere sonne in his most strength, whose brightnesse no creature can behold without y^e pure sight of an vncorrupt faith. For the fleshly carnall man in no wise vnderstandeth thinges belonging to the spirit of god, but iudgeth them folishnesse.

THE TEXT.

1 And vvhen I savve him, I fell at his feete, euen as dead, 2. And he layed his right hād vponupon me, saying vntounto me. 3. Feare not, I am the first & the last. 4. And am a lyue, & vvas dead. 5. And behold I am a lyue for euermore. 6. And hauehave the keyes of Hell, & of Death. 7. Wryte therefore the thinges vvhichwhich thou hast seene. 8. And the things vvhichwhich are, and the thinges vvhichwhich shalbe fulfilled hereafter. 9. And the mystery of the seuen Starres vvhichwhich thou savvest in my right hand. 10. And the seuen golden Candelstickes. 11. The seuen Starres are the Angells of the seuen Congregacions. 12. And the seuen Candelstickes, vvhichwhich thou sawest, are the seuen Congregacions.

THE PARAPHRASE.

1 And when I had thus séene him (sayth saint Iohn) & dilygently marked all these poyntes in him,Dan. 10. Apoc. 22. Col. 3. Rom. 12. Psal. 43. Rom. 8. Iob. 14. Psal. 137. Iacob. 4. Psal. 87. Dan. 10. Hiere. 1. Esai. 41. Math. 17. Esai. 44. Rom. 6. Iohn. 12. Apoc. 21.Dan 10Rev 22Col 3Rom 12Ps 43Rom 8Job 14Ps 137Ps 87Isa 41Matt 17Isa 44Rom 6John 12Rev 21 I fell down at his féete as one almost dead for feare. Consider in this that y^e nature of the true knowledge of christ, is to throw downe & to mortifie the fleshe with his corrupte affections, and to cast vsus in fear tyll his hidden misteries be throughly perceyued.

2 And he (sayth saint Iohn) to cō fort my weaknesse, layd hys ryghte hand vponupon me. He releued me with his power, grace, and helpe, when he saw me humbled before his face, and fearfully astonyed at the woonderfull brightnesse of his high misteries: And not without his worde, for he sayd vntounto me.

3 Let not fearefulnesse ouercome thée, nor doutfull dread oppresse thée. But take vntounto thée fayth (which is the chiefe remedie in feare) & know that I am the first and the laste, the maker & the restorer of all creatures. I am he, of whō all things depēd and vntounto whom all things belong.

4 I am now alyue, as thou séest euydently, and the very lyfe it selfe, yet was I slayne now of late, and my body dead and buryed.

5 Behold me therfore earnestly, for now in a gloryfied nature,Iohn. 14. 1. Cor. 15. Rom. 6. 1. Pet. 4. Hebr. 7. 1. Iohn. 2. Rom. 6.John 141 Cor 15Rom 61 Pet 4Heb 71 John 2 in a bodie impassyble and immortall, I am a lyue for euer & euer, readie to make interpellatiō, & to obtaine mercy for all the worldes sinnes, death hauing ouer me no more dominion.

6 I hauehave in my hands & vnderunder my power,Esai. 22. Apoc. 3. Math. 16. Rom. 8. Apoc. 21. 1. Iohn. 1.Isa 22Rev 3Matt 16Rom 8Rev 211 John 1 the keyes both of hel & death, y^t neither hell nor sin, death nor y^e diuil, shall be frō hēceforth able to preuayle agaynst my electes. No cōdemnation shall be vntounto them that are surely grafted in me.

7 Take penne and incke therfore,Rom. 8. Apoc. 21.Rom 8Rev 21 and seriously wry…e y^e thinges which p. 22thou hast alreadie séene.

8 And note faythfully y^e meruayls which are by the power of God accomplyshed,1. Iohn. 1. Iohn. 5. Luc. 21.1 John 5Luke 21 and the wonders also which shall be fulfilled hereafter.

9 Marke first of all with due cyrcumspection the secrete mystery of the vij. shyning starres,Apoc. 3. Dan. 12. Act. 11.Rev 3Dan 12Acts 11 which thou sawest now of late in my right hand.

10 And diligently consider y^e seuen golden Candelstickes also.Zach. 4. 1. Cor. 15. Dan. 12.Zech 41 Cor 15Dan 12

11 The vij. starres in signification are the messengers of Gods word or the Apostolike preachers appointed to the vij. congregatiōs in Asia,Math. 5. Eccl. 50. 1. Pet. 2. Phil. 2. Iohn. 15. Apoc. 2.Matt 5Sir 501 Pet 22 John 1:15Rev 2 and in them to all y^e world. These ought in the church, as the starres in y^e firmamēt to shine in holsome doctrine, and in godly conuersatiō, and as the lightes of the world, neyther in life nor preachyng to mynistre any maner of darkenesse.

12 Consider also the seuen golden Candelstickes which thou sawest about me,Iohn. 8. Luc. 2.John 8Luke 2 to be the sayd .vij. cōgregations. Upon whom I ought to shine, which am the lyght of the worlde. In whose workes I oughte to appere,Par. 28. Ephe. 1. 1. Cor. 7. 1. Pet. 1.Eph 11 Cor 71 Pet 1 which am the clerenesse of the Gentiles. They are called here .vij. Golden Candelsticks, as most precious in value, for so much as they ar precious in the sight of God, & were also redéemed, and boughte with a great price euen with the precious bloud of the vndefiled lambe Iesus Christ.