The Image of Both Churches in Revelation, Chapter 16

The Image of Both Churches in Revelation · Chapter 16

The xvj. Chapter.

THE TEXT.

1 And I harde a great voice out of the temple, 2. saying to the seauen Angels, 3. Go your wayes, 4. povvre out your vials of vvrath vponupon the earth, 5. And the first vvent, and povvred out his viall vponupon the earth, 6. and there fell a noysome and a sore botch vpō the mē vvhichwhich had the marke of the beast, 7. and vponupon them that vvorshipped his Image.

The Paraphrase.

AN other great voyce hard Iohn out of y^e temple. A perfect, strōg, and earnest assurance had hée of the Lord by a spirituall premonishment, that y^e vnuariable decrees of his set iudgements should be fulfilled at their tymes of him appoynted. Yea, ascertained he was infallibly that they should in their due seasons come to passe. For vntounto his friendes openeth he his secret counsailes alwayes, as he did in olde tyme vntounto his well beloued Israell, vntounto Moyses, Zachary, Ezechiell, and Daniel, with such other.

2 And the voice was vntounto the seauen Angels vnderunder y^e vij. seals opening, and the vij. trumpettes blowyng after this sorte. Goe your wayes foorth fulfilling the purpose ye be ordeyned vntounto. Powre out your vyalles of wrath vponupon the earth.

3 Declare them first of all to y^e world, to be the reprobate vesselles of dishonour, which of wilfulnesse cōtemneth my eternal veritie. Consequently send them into most déepe errour, that they may waxe worse and worse, and not onelyonly to erre in them selues, but also to bring other into errour, that they may receyue the double reward therof, abyding my most fearfull iudgemēt.

4 And in such tyme as the Lord appointed, the first Angel went foorth vnderunder the first seale opening, and poured out his viall vponupon y^e earth. For in the first age of the church, to trye hyr as golde in the furnace, permitted y^e Lord by his eternall decrée, the malicious Sinagoge of the Iewes to rage, and to doe their vngodly feats. In the which their furious madnesse, not onelyonly dyd they persecute the Apostles and fyrst preachers of Christ from cittie to citie, but also peruerted the earthly mynded multitude, by many and diuers vngodly kindes of false doctrine in hipocrisie. Of this sorte was Himineus & Philetus, becommyng of Saduces, false Christians, and denying the latter resurrection, whom Paul did excommunicate. So were also Phigellus & Hermogenes, bringing in agayne circumcision with certaine ceremoniall obseruacions to bleamishe the Gospell of Christ. These with suche lyke, subuerted whole houses (sayeth Paule) teaching things y^t they ought not to hauehave taught for filthie lukers sake.

6 And whan they were thus by the dec…ed purpose of God shead vponupon the earth, or …e…te vntounto their owne earthly …astlin…sse, all destitute of hys grace for cōtempning his word so graciously …, there lighted a noysome and … botch vponupon those men whych … marke of y^e beast, or an … through their perswasiōs.

7 … vponupon them also that worshipped his Image, or accepted them for godly that made lawes repugnaunt to his lawes. For the great headed Rabines of y^e Iewes did not onelyonly spot y^e consciēces of the Israelites their own natiue cōtrie men, but also of y^e Grekes and Latines, the Asians & Romaines, compelling them for their own tradytions to make Gods commaundemēts of none effect. These hauing a pretence of godly liuing, denied the power therof. Of this sort were they which entered into houses & brought into bōdage supersticious women loaden with sin. For a more déepe vnderstāding hereof, cōfer this with y^e first seale opening, and y^e first trumpet blowing, and lykewise the other vj. folowing.

THE TEXT.

1 And the second Angell shead out his vyall, 2. vponupon the sea, 3. and it turned as it vvere into the bloud, 4. of a dead man. 5. And eueryevery liuing thing dyed in the sea.

The Pharaphrase.

1 After this went foorth the seconde Angel of the second seale opening, effunding hys vyall vponupon the sea. According to the decrée of God almightie for the second age of the Christian church, reigned among the Christians, deceytfull brethren, & peruerse teachers, betraying y^e tru ministers & deliuerīg thē vntounto deth for Iesus Christs sake, y^t his life might be sene in their mortal flesh. For in this life he proueth his electes with Abraham and Iob to saue them, & to make thē iust folowers of Christ, whom it behoo…ed to suffer ere he entred into h…s glory.

2 Upon y^e sea or wauering multitude was this …al…shed. Only are the false Prophets receiued & taken of y^e folishe fantastic…ll, & …ipper witted sort, as a réed shakē of eueryevery wind Non regardeth them which hath set sure footing vponupon the harde rocke Christ. Such a vial or vessel of Gods Ire was Mair y^e Idon…t which made y^e Talmud of the Iwes, a booke more thā .x. Bibles after Nauelerus & other Historians, ful of blasphemies & lyes condemning y^e doctrine of Christ. So was Rabby, Moyses y^e Egiptian, Rabina, & Rabasses w^t such other cōfirming y^e same.

3 All bloudy was this sea, y^e viall once shed therevpon. Al fleshely were the people in their iudgmentes, theyr harts fulfilled w^t cruelty & murther against christs true witnesses, through their peruerse prechings. Yea, in y^e furious rage they thought they did God great good seruice when they put his seruantes vntounto deth.

4 This blood was also in a maner as the bloud of a dead mā. For dead was the doctrine that they taughte, euen the sleaing letter it selfe. Dead were also their ceremonies, their rites, and their idle obseruations.

So that eueryevery liuing thing died in that bloudy sea. All they which séemed thorough glittering hipocrisie to liue, wā ted y^e very lyfe which is hid in Christ, and that ryseth of fayth in hys lyuing word. So did they also which depended all vponupon the vayne pleasures of thys lyfe, exercising héere tyrannie both in wordes & doings. Neyther were they out of the same daunger, that fel from the veritie once knowne, nor yet they which durst not receyue it for feare of persecution, but both perished in this sea.

THE TEXT.

1 And the third Angell shead out his vial, 2, vponupon the ryuers and fountaynes of vvaters, 3. and they turned to bloud. 4. And I heard an Angell say, 5. Lorde which arte and vvaste, 6. thou arte rightuous and holy, 7. bicause thou hast geuen such iudgements, 8. For they shed the bloud of saintes and prophets, 9. & therfore hast thou geuen them blud to drink, for they are vvorthy, 10. and I hard an other Angel out of the aulter, 11. say, 12. Euen so Lord God almighty, 13. true & rightuous are thy iudgements.

The Paraphrase.

1 Next in his course went out y^e third Angel, vnderunder y^e third seale opening, & he powred out his vyal vponupon the watery floudes & fountaines, & al they became very blud. By his set decrée for y^e third age of the church, suffered y^e Lord false heretyques to rage in al kyndes of errour, strongly to delude y^e vnbeleuers.

2 These lighted vponupon the swéet waters, by whom ar ment y^e sacred scriptures refreshing the drie soules. Who soeuer drinketh (saith Christ) of y^e waters y^t I geue, he shal neuer be more a thirst.

3 Of these waters hauehave they defiled both the riuers and welspringes w^t bloud. Both y^e law and gospel, y^e figure & verity, y^e commaūdement & promise, the doctrine of prophets and Apostles hauehave they corrupted with their false interpretacions & gloses, w^t frowarde driftes and opinions, with vaine tradicions and worshippings, & with carnal wisdom and murtherings. Of this sort wer Eutices & Arrius with such other like, as in the .vii. chapter afore.

4 And I hard (saith saint Iohn) an Angel, betokning those sincere witnesses, to whom God had opened for that age his secret iudgementes. And this Angel sayd.

5 Omnipotent creator & Lord which art not only of thy selfe at this present instāt, but wart also essencially in thy selfe without beginning.

6 Thou heauenly Lord arte faithfull in thy wordes & holy in thy workes.

7 For as it appereth before our eyes, y^e decrées & foreiudgemēts y^t thou madest afore, are now fulfilled in effect.

8 For the religious murtherers y^t of cruelnesse caused the bloud of thy holy saintes & Prophets, Apostles & preachers to be shed, hauehave now by thy iust appointment very bloude to drinke as they are most worthy.

9 For sleying of them whose message they contempned, they had theyr iust plague. Not only became they vain in their thoughts, their folish hartes darkened (not vnlike to thē y^t hath eares & heare not, eyes & sée not, but also there remained vntounto them after this life a perpetual vengeaunce without mercy for their cruel oppressiōs as a due rewarde of their errour.

10 Yet an other angel hard I (saith S. Ihō) euē out of y^e alter which is christ. This angel signifieth those witnesses that sometime confessed y^e trueth here, and now resteth frō their labours in y^e Lord. These though they be departed, affirm that the other hath sayd afore, in token y^t now beyng departed they forget not that truth which they afore cōfessed, liuyng stil yet in y^e same, he y^t holdeth my worde (saith Christ) shall neuer tast of death.

11 And this is their saying in mistery or wordes comprehēding their secret confession.

12 Euen so Lord God almighty▪ As y^e liuing beleuers saith of thée by mouth, so say we now in the spirit.

13 That thy decréed iudgemēts are euer more true, & thy merueilous workings rightuous. The first is called in some translatiōs the Angell of waters, the other here reported to come from the aulter, to signify both sortes.

THE TEXT.

1 And the fourth Angell poured out hys vyall, 2. on the sunne. 3. And povver vvas giuē vntounto him to vexe men vvith heate of fyre, 4. And the men raged in great heate, and spake euil of the name of God. 5. vvhichwhich had povver ouer those plagues, 6. and they repented not to giuegive him glory.

The Paraphrase.

1 Consequently, by the appointment of God, the fourth Angel in the fourth seale opening, powred out his vyall of Gods wrath on the sunne. As y^e Lord had eternally prefixed in y^e fourth age of the Christian church. For the whole worldes punishment, was Christ sore bleamished which is y^e cleare sonne of rightuousnesse. Sore did y^e dissembling Antichrists in those dayes darkē y^e true glory of God with their manifold sects of hypocrisie. The Pope had for hys part an innumerable swarm of shorne smered Sodomites, and Mahomete a foule flock of frantike fabillers, which w^t their newlye painted religions and prodigious obseruations, made first all the world to wonder & thā to worship Belial for Christ, taking darkenesse for light, & sin for rightuousnesse.

2 These being very aduersaryes vntounto Christ, tooke vpō them his authority and seat, y^e one boasting him self for his general vicar in earth, y^e other for the great prophet of y^e Lord, & so were receiued of y^e execrate world. Néedes would they seme to be y^e sunne, being the very shadowes of death.

3 Permitted was this hearsackye sunne to vex mē with heat of fyre. Sitting in the temple of God which is w^t in man, with such wicked lawes as they made vnderunder the name of God & of Christ, they tirribly vexed, tormented, and cruciated the weake consciences of men, leauing them commonly in most painful desperation.

4 So y^t the men raged in great heat, speaking euil of y^e name of God, which had power ouer those plages. At their abhominable perswasiōs was Christe of thē not taken for a merciful sauiour and gentil redemer, but for a froward chourle & vntractable tyraunt, vnlesse he were molified by the merites and callings vponupon of other, and that could not be had without money.

5 Power hath the Lord ouer plages, to hold thē or remoue thē. By his rightfull iudgement, at his only pleasure he hardeneth. As the potter may he break thē, or make them vessels of dishonor.

6 In no wyse did this peruerted multitude repēt their wicked blasphemies to giuegive him glory, for all their cōfessyons, masse hearings, pilgrimages &. satisfactions without number. For they were not according to his prescription.

7 After none other sort wil he be plea- and glorified, than he hath by his scriptures appointed. Nothing lesse ar their fantasies than true repentance.

THE TEXT.

1 And the fifte Angell powred out his vyall, 2. vponupon the seat of the beast, 3. & his kingdome vvaxed darke. 4. And they gnevve theyr tongues for sorrovve, 5. and blasphemed the God of heauen for sorovv, and payn of their sores, 6. and repented not of theyr deedes.

The Pharaphrase.

1 In order succéedeth by y^e diuine ordinaūce the fifte Angel vnderunder the fifte seale opening, powring out his vyal of Gods indignation vponupon the seat of the beast. After none other sorte than the Lorde had afore prediffined for mans vnfaithfulnesse sake, was the proude beastly kingdome of the papacie, & the execrable reigne of Mahomet replenished with all filthy abhominations vnderunder the sunne. For in the other age afore they did but créepe into the hartes of men through the glitterings of hypocrisie and dissimulate sanctitie.

2 But here hauehave they obtayned y^e power, seat, and aucthoritie of the beaste, and so gotten vntounto them the myghtie Monarchies of the vniuersall worlde. Here raigned they without checke in all vain glory, hautinesse, malice, pryd, murther, hipocrisie, superstitiō, Idolatry: and blasphemy of Gods name.

3 And therfore their kingdomes as all one in diuillishenesse, became all darke, without the light of Gods veritie, full of the stinking smoke of y^e bottomlesse pitte. Than went the locusts abroad, and filled the world with ignorance and blyndnesse.

4 EueryEvery where gnewe they theyr tōges for very sorow. In detracting the veritie, muche griefe they suffered in their desperate hartes, their wormes not dying, nor their fyre quenched, the scorpiōs of y^e earth stinging them also.

5 Spitefully they blasphemed y^e omnipotent Lord of heauen for very anguish & dolour of their sores & woūds. For none other are the fruites of a desperate cōscience thā blasphemies of God, as in Cain, Iudas, and such other lyke. None other are the vtterances of an vnpenitent harte, but heauy hatefull murmurings.

6 And therefore it followeth y^t they repented them not of their déeds. For in a cruciate or fearfully vexed conscyence can neuer dwel true repentāce. So vnquietous alwayes is the foolishe desperate mynde, as is the troubled raging sea. A wicked harte is laden with sorrowes heaping sin vponupon sin, the Sinagoge of proude hipocrites hauing no health. In the fifte seale opening and trumpet blowing, is more of this mysterie declared, which agréeth much with this vyall of God, lyke as doeth the other with the other in their numbers, though not in their figures.

The texte.

1. And the sixt Angell poured out his viall. 2. VponUpon the great riuer of Euphrates. 3. And the water dried vp. 4. That the way of the Kings. 5. Of the east should be prepared. 6. And I saw three vncleane spirits like frogs. 7. Come out of the mouth of the dragō. 8. and out of the mouth of the beaste. 9. And out of the mouth of the false prophet. 10. For they are the spirits of deuilles. 11. Workinge miracles to goe out. 12, VntoUnto the kinges of the earth, & of the whole vvorld. 13. to gather thē to the battel. 14. Of the great day of god almightie. 15. Beholde I come as a thiefe. 16. Happy is he that vvatcheth. 17. And kepeth his garments. 18. Least he be found naked. 19 And men see his filthynesse. 20. And he gathered them together into a place 12 called in the Hebrue tonge, Armagedon.

The Paraphrase.

1 In course now followeth the sixte Angel of gods appointment, vnderunder the sixt seal opening, shedding out his ireful viall vpō y^e great riuer Euphrats, a floud of the Assirians or of Babilon, betokening in misterye the pleasaunt possessions and wauering delights of the Papisticall cleargye, with suche lyke.

2 Into all filthy desires of carnal and worldlye lustes gaue the Lorde their hartes ouer in the sixt age of the christian church for their vnbeléeues sake to doe those things which are vncumly and beastly. So that all their study, trauaile, and labour, sought to none other end, but onelyonly to abound in them. Wholly were they geuen therevnto, and nothing to the glory of God in all their practised obseruations.

3 Yet were the waters therof in processe of time dryed vp. Their wealthy pompes, possessions, & pleasures (their false feats once knowne) are & shal be clearely taken away from them. For after Iesus Sirach, the plant of sinne shall be rooted out in the proud Sinagog of the wicked.

4 And all this shal be to prepare the way of the kinges, from the spring of the sunne.

Neuer shall the gouerners walke in the waies of the Lorde, nor rule according to Christes doctrine, nor yet that doctrine be apert & open, til the waters be dryed vp, not one drop remaining. So long as the priests dwell in wanton delights & vaine pleasures, either are the princes childishe or els tyrannous, according as their déeds require.

5 Neuer are they kinges from the spring of the sunne, or accordinge to Christs rule, séeking Gods honour w^t Dauid and Iosias. In England by the Gospell preaching hauehave many of these waters bene dryed vp in the suppression of monasteries, priories, couents, & fryers houses, yet are not all things brought vntounto Christes clere institution. A sincere christē order can not yet beséene there, And a great cause why. For all is not yet dryed vp there. The bishops reigne still in as much vaine gloryous pompe, and with as manye Heithenish obseruacions as euer they dyd. As cruelly harted, and as bloudye mynded are they yet as euer they were afore, no mischiefe vnsought to holde in the waters. Mark how Winchester, Durham, York, London, and Lincolne woorketh, w^t such other pleasantly disposed Euphratines. But be of good comfort and pray in the meane time. For the holy ghoste promiseth here they shall wither away, with all that y^e heauenly father hath not plāted. All that generation wyll the Lordes breath consume. Now is the axe layde to the roote of the trée, to hewe downe the vnfruitfull braunches, the withered reserued to vnquenchable fyer.

God graunt the Princes at that daye more christenly, to bestow the waters of Euphrates than they hauehave yet bene bestowed, noe prouision made for the poore, nor yet order set for the gospell preaching. For great part of it is now turned to the vpholdings of dise playing, maskinge, and bankatinge, yea I woulde I coulde not by iust occasions speake it, bribing, whoring, and swearing, the townes, peoples, and housshouldes, miserablye decayed, whiche wyll not one day be vnplaged, vnlesse they repent.

6 Furthermore I saw (sayeth saint Iohn) in the same self vision, thrée vncleane spirits one comming out of the Dragons mouth, which signifieth sathan the deuill, an other out of the beastes mouth, betokeninge the vniuersall Antichrist, and the third out of the false prophets mouth compared afore to the two horned beast. And all they séemed in maner as frogs both in their colours and fashions.

7 Idolatry was that yll spirit, which first went out from the serpent, & hath continued euer since in the world vnderunder the colour of good works, as pilgrimage, deuocion & labour.

8 Errour in abhominable filthynesse was the spirit whiche came from the beastly Antichrist defilinge the whole christianitie with innumerable superstitions vnderunder the colour of chaste lyuing, in pristhod, sacrifices and ceremonies.

9 Hipocrisie was the foule spirite which issued from the false preachers, poysoning the catholyque faith with false doctrine vnderunder the colour of religion, pretending abstinence, prayer, and clennesse. These thrée wicked spirits are not all vnlyke to the wilde fire, smoke, and brimstone, whiche the terrible fierce horses euometed in the ix. chapter of this present prophecye. For cursed, false, and vnpure they are. Their doctrine is wickednesse, lies, & deuilishnesse, and the execrable wisdome of the flesh. In manner of frogs are they here described for their diuersitie of coloures in ceremonyes, doctrine, & sects, for their filthy dwelling in the dyrty tradicions of men, and for crookelyng of theyr vnknowen Psalmodye and seruice, disquietynge with their ydle customes the consciences of the symple multitude.

10 These are the very spirites of deuyls, the ympes of sathan, workinge such signes and myracels as would deceiue the very chosen persons, and bring them into erroure yf it were so possible. But the Lorde euermore defendeth his.

11 A stronge power hauehave they by the workynge of sathan to shewe lyinge wonders & deceyuable signes amonge them that shal perish for detesting the truthe.

12 These shal by the permission of god be suffered to go at large, they shall strongly delude the kings of the earth, and blynde the gouernoures of the vniuersall world, making them dronken with y^e cup of all abhominatiōs.

13 And all this shal they doe to gather them to gether by their wicked counsayles, & to bring them in to one cruel consent of battailing against Christe and his mēbers, to receiue the penalty therof in y^e great day of y^e lord almighty

14 Most busely they gather them to battel, when they moue them to persecute the iust beléeuers with ful vngodly actes, as now most of all in our age, which god hath promised in short space to reuenge.

Of this wil more be spoken in y^e xix. chapter folowing. Least any man knowinge the truthe shoulde tangle his owne conscience with their spirituall sorceryes for feare of princes lawes, vnderunder the vaine hope of repentance, in the end of their liues, it foloweth in playne sentence.

15 Beholde (sayeth the Lorde Iesus Christ) or earnestly take héede vntounto it, for I come dangerously vnlooked for, as commonly doth y^e thiefe, to thy hinderaunce if thou watch not in fayth, but lyue in superstition.

Though this, not without reasonable cause may be taken in a generaliti for y^e last iudgmēt dai, yet is it here spokē particularly of eueryevery mās departing. As a premonishment, he geueth this here of louelove least any man should perish without warning.

16 Blessed is he (saith that Lorde) which watcheth in the true christian beléeue, and liueth not in the vaine but in the sure hope of life, sealed w^t the iust promises of god. For all that he doth shall prosper, and turne him to great aduantage in the concluston.

17 Happy is he allo that holdeth fast vntounto him his garments, or workes of Gods prescription (which are y^e fruits of the spirite) or that hath done on the Lord Iesus Christ, gyrdinge hym suer vntounto himselfe by faith.

18 Least he be founde a naked hypocrit witout faith, veritye, iustice, charitie, with such lyke, or least the rightuous number at the latter day sée his filthines vncouered, and reioyce at his condemnation.

19 He is blessed whiche at that day shall be couered with the white garment of the Lambe, not hauinge his sinnes imputed vntounto hym.

20 To shewe the certaintie of the aforesayde battayle. Saint Iohn saith that the diuel gathered together those wicked rulers into a certaine place, called in y^e Hebrue tonge Armagedon. The vncleane spirites that afore are named thrée of their diuers workinge in the Dragon, beaste, and false prophet are here brought into one, as all of one lying spirit, whome Christe calleth the father diuell. This one lyinge spirit whiche hath bene a murtherer from the beginning, comprehendinge in hym all vncleane spirites, like as doth the beast all Antichristes, hath combined together into one execrable zeale of fatherly tradicions, all vaineglorious and vngodly minded gouernours against God and his Christe. And this hath not bene withoute the secret permission of God, wyllynge to proue his elects by strōg suffering, that they might receiue at his hand the rewarde of stronge victorye or of his aboundant riches.

21 This place here called in the Hebrue Armagedon, betokneth in mistery an hyll of delectable fruites, interpreted of some for the hyll of the gospell, and is commonly taken of y^e Hebreues for that is swéet or of valew. And this without faile is the churche, whiche▪ …ft times in the Scriptures is called the plentuous hyll of God, the hyll of Gods house, the hyll of mirth, the hyll of oliues, the hyll of Sion, Carmelus, and Libanus, with such other lyke. In this mounte euermore are they bene …o battaile. There slea the… innocent Lambes of Christe. All their power, malice, and tirannye, is there extremely vttered at the Antichrists labour and desire, whiche are excéedingly drunken in the bloude of holye martires, whiche hath bene shed vponupon the earth from the rightuous Abel vntounto this day. But when the almighty setteth kings vpō the earth, it shall be cleare euen in the darknes, that the hill of Basan is Gods hill.

The texte.

1 And the seauenth Angell poured out his vial. 2. Into the ayre, 3. And there came a great voyce out of heauen from the sate sayinge. 4. It is done. 5. And there followed voices, thunderings, and lightninges. 6, And there was a great earthquake. 7. Such as was not since mē were vponupon earth. 8. So mighty an earthquake and so great. 9. And the great citie was deuyded into three parts. 10. And the cities of the nations fell▪ 11. And great Babtlon came in remembraunce before God. 12. To geue vntounto her the cup of Wine of the fiercenesse of hys wrath. 13. And eueryevery Ile fled avvay. 14. And the mountaines vvere not founde. 15. And there fell a great haile. 16. As it had bene talents. 17. Out of heauen. 18. Vppon the men. 19. And the men blasphemed God, beause of the plague of the hayle. 20. For it vvas great, and the plague therof vvas sore.

The Paraphrase.

1 Fynally the seuenth Angell wente forth vnderunder the seuenth seale, opening as God had eternali determined, throwing out the content of his viall into the aire. For the seauenth age of the christen church by the very set purpose of God, are manye conuerted to the truth, and become with Paule the vessels of election, that afore were with Iudas the vessels of wrath vnderunder the great aduersary of God. Neither is it any blemishe vntounto them to be called here, that they were afore, vials of wrath, consyderynge that SIMON Leprosus, beinge once healed of hys leprosie was euer after called a leper. In case lyke Paule, after his conuersion was not ashamed to reporte himselfe both a Pharisie & also the sonne of a Pharasie.

2 These, by the mighty determination of Gods stronge iudgemente, are sent into the ayre. Most effectually are they lightened with the spirit of god, and prouoked stifly to stand vp against the aereall powers regning in the fickle fantasticall Antichriste and hypocrites, condempninge by Gods worde their vniuersall doctrines and deuillishnes. These powers are no lesse than diuilles, whome Christe calleth fowles of the ayre, Peter and Iohn mans aduersaries, and saint Paul the gouerners of these darknesses in spirituall wickednes.

3 Whiles these things are in doing, out of heauen, which is the vniuersal congregation, yea, from the verye throne of god whiche is the elect faithful number (for thei are y^e only seat of God) came a voyce of reioysinge, saying after this sort.

4 It is done. All things are finished. Christs glory once manifestly knowne the world is at an ende. The wicked hath done all their mischies, and the number of our brethren is fulfilled. Thus shall they preache a full deliueraunce of the captiues, & y^e peaceable yere of y^e Lord. This is y^e silence of an halfe houre space, mencioned afore in y^e viii. chapter, and the returne of this world vntounto Christ in the .xii. chapter. Not that there shall in those dayes be no enemies (for the remnaunte shall styll remayne) but that they shall not then openly dare rage, persecute, and kyll, the world being at such a vniuersal quiet.

5 Yet shall there happen in those dayes, voyces, thunderings, and lightnings. Uoyces of swéete blessings and delectable promises to y^e faithful cōgregation. Thunderings of terror to the vnfaithful multitud cōmanding thīgs contrary to y^e flesh. And feareful lightnings of condemnation to there probate hipocrits and desperat obstinats.

6 And al from one word of the Lord, or one gospell preaching in diuerse respects, no small earthquake folowyng vponupon the same. What commocions, heuye complayn tes, fearfull tremblynges, sorowes, cryes, griefes, sighynges, waylynges, grudginges, gruntynges, gronynges, wepynges, and handes wryngyng wyl be among y^e earthly minded Antichrists and hypocrits, bishops, priests, prelates, holy watter mongers, and parrish clarkes, lawiers, whores, caruers, paynters, & waxe sellers, whan their whoryshe church shal be turnedouer by iudgmēt of the sayd word is easy to coniecture.

7 Such a one wyll this earthquake be (saith the text) so mighty & so strōg, as neuer was yet since men were vponupon the earth, or since that earthly generation first beganne. Than shall be cleane taken away the carnall church of Antichrist or the smered Sinagoge of shauelings. Neither shall the Pope with his disgysed rable any more be séene here, nor yet Mahomet with his monstrous muster.

8 In such wise shal their laws, sects & ceremones be destroied in those daies that no man shal be found so bolde as once to allow one of thē openly. Than shal y^e glory of Christs name shine the world ouer, he making of his enimies his footestoole.

9 Moreouer in this terrible earthquake the great spirituall cytie called Sodom and Egipt, or the holy whorish mother the church shall be diss…uered into thrée parts, of the which two shal styll be wicked, the third cōuerted vntounto godlines. Two partes shall be dispersed (saith Zachary) the thirde shall remaine to the Lorde. Of them which hauehave and shall go out of minsters and monasteries, colleges and couentes, churches and cloysters, parrishes, and nunneries, one sort shal inwardlye be geuen to Antichrists superstitiousnes and hipocrisie. An other sorte vponupon diuers fleshly consideracions, shall faynedly fall to the Gospel. The thirde sort onelyonly of louelove towardes God and zeale of helth in their neighbors, shall vnfainedly cleaue to the scriptures.

Thus shal y^e vngodly sorte be coupled stil w^t y^e godly in eueri land & prouince & be y^e much greater number, yet shal they for y^e time attēpt nothing against them, the truthe so strongly regning. Neuertheles yet is it to be thought y^t they shal then hauehave nothing to suffer, cōsidering y^t it is a kingdome of sufferance. Christ to be head of that congregation suffered once incommoditie or other alwaies, so long as he was here lyuing. It shall therfore behoue them which are his misticall members, alwayes to suffer. For the seruant is no better then his Lord, nor the soldiour then his head capitayne. And to make this good, the lord sayeth in Zachary. The same third part will I leade thorow fire, and purge it as siluer or gold in the furnace. Then shall eueryevery godly creature follow Christ in bearinge his crosse. They shall mortyfie theyr fl…shly members, sleyng al fornicatiō, filthynes, …dolatry, couetousnes, pride anger, and malice.

They shall helpe, suffer, and forbeare one an other, hauing pittifull compassion vponupon the weake, sicke, and néedy. No duty beséeminge a christian shal they leaue vndone.

10 Therfore this great or generall cytie thus deuided, al other perticuler or national cities muste also fall. The blasphemous Pantheō of Rome once perishing, all other churches of y^e vnfaithfull must néedes folow soone after in their course. For the foūdation takē away, y^t buildyng cannot endure. So y^t from thenceforth shall be no Popish sects, no supersticious ceremonies, no Hethenish obseruatiōs, nor opē Idolatry in all the world▪ But when y^e remnāt of the wicked shal attempt afresh to raise vp again such abhominatiōs, the Lord shal sodainly without warning fal vpō them with his most fearfull & tirrible last iudgment.

11 Great Babilō the aforsaid mother of all whordom & filthinesse, shal than come in remembrance before god. He shall than consider hir abhominable blasphemye, hir pryde, crueltye, murther, & sinnes without number, waying them in righte ballance according vntounto iustice.

12 He shal also reward hir to drinke the fierce cup of his wrath or wine of his great indignacion, which is y^e perpetual death of soule. The very dregges of his Ire shal shée taste, yea vnspeakable sorowes & paynes without ende. For none other is it to come in remembraunce before him at y^t day, but to be cōdempned, & receiue punishment according to hir déedes.

13 Then shall eueryevery Ile (which is a place of refuge within y^e sea) flée away and not tarry. The mountaynes that are wonte to giuegive succour vntounto them that be on the land, shal not at y^e day be founde. No comforte shall shée thē hauehave nor sure helpe any where.

14 No remedy will be at that day to flée from the fearful face of the Iudge. Then will neither merites nor yet soule masses helpe, neyther blessinges nor knéelings, sacrifices nor sensings, wawlings, nor ringings, bussings nor singings, but will she nyll shée, néedes must shée abyde his heauy and tirrible sentence.

15 And there fell great hayle (sayeth the texte) as it had bene waightie talents. Alwayes must it be remembred that commonly the tyme paste is vsed in this hrophecie for the tyme to come, for the certayntie of the things héere spokē. This haile is none other thē the heauy tempest or plague of y^e said fearfull & tirrible iudgements of y^e Lord, which shal on y^t woful day fal sodaynly as a thicke hayle vponupon the miserable multitude of them y^t boasted thē selues to be y^e holy church & vponupon their wicked folowers, cōpared here vntounto Babilon.

16 This plague is here also for none other cause lykened vntounto talents, but for y^t it is in wayght & measure to bée ministred vntounto them by the preordination of God. So much paine and sorow is due vntounto that whorish generation, as shée hath glorified hir selfe in filthy delightes, & so many punishmentes to be rewarded hir. Yea, double must shée hauehave according to hir workes.

17 Out of heauen shall this vehemēt hayle fall, from the fearful sentence of the Lord Iesus Christ, which shal than sit as a Iudge in the myddest of hys faithful congregatiō; they fitting with him as the body with the head in condempnation of the wicked.

18 And vponupon y^e men shal it light. For the great whore or y^e citie called héere Babilō, is in this place to bée takē for that it comprehendeth, euen for men, in whom also are included women by the common vsage of the scriptures.

19 These men shall spightfully blaspheme God bicause of y^e hayle, plague, or terrour of their torments. They shall crye out of him, wishing that hée had no such power so to torment them.

20 For the tempest is great, and the sufferaunce thereof excéeding painfull. As the Lorde is mightie, so are hys iudgements whan they fal. Uehemēt, fierce, and strong is the Lorde (sayeth Esay) as is the tempest of hayle breaking out on eueryevery side, & bearing down strong holdes.